Department of Defense

Waldorf Air Force Lieutenant Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of Child Pornography

Waldorf Air Force Lieutenant Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of Child Pornography

U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Jason Daniel Ort, age 36, of Waldorf, Maryland, to 11 years in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, for transportation of child pornography, specifically videos Ort had surreptitiously recorded using a hidden camera in a bathroom, as well as other images and videos he...
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NAS Patuxent River to Close Cedar Point Road and Cedar Point Beach for Equipment Transport on Tuesday, May 3, 2022

NAS Patuxent River to Close Cedar Point Road and Cedar Point Beach for Equipment Transport on Tuesday, May 3, 2022

NAS Patuxent River will close Cedar Point Beach and a portion of Cedar Point Road between Cartier Road and Utgoff Road (near Atlantic Test Ranges) from 11:00 a.m., to 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, 2022 for equipment transport operations. Personnel are directed to use alternate routes during these times. There will be no thoroughfare...
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Intoxicated and Distracted Driver Receives 20 Years in Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash

Intoxicated and Distracted Driver Receives 20 Years in Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash

Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess announced that Guarav “Sonny” Rawal, 38, the owner of Champs Pizza in Glen Burnie, was sentenced to 20 years of active incarceration for negligent manslaughter and failing to remain at the scene of a collision involving in the death of Anthony Jean-Louis, 37. Rawal was sentenced...
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NAS Patuxent River Transitions Back to Health Protection Condition Alpha, Effective Thursday, April 7, 2022

NAS Patuxent River Transitions Back to Health Protection Condition Alpha, Effective Thursday, April 7, 2022

NAS Patuxent River transitioned from Health Protection Condition (HPCON) Bravo to HPCON Alpha as of April 7, 2022 as a result of falling COVID cases within the surrounding counties of Southern Maryland. HPCONs are protocols for health protection during public health emergencies, such as a pandemic. Commanders review and update these HPCONs based on...
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NO INJURIES – Student in Custody After Incident at Green Holly Elementary

NO INJURIES – Student in Custody After Incident at Green Holly Elementary

On Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at approximately 11:30 a.m., police responded to the Green Holly Elementary School located at 46060 Millstone Landing Road in Lexington Park, for the reported disturbance. The 911 caller reported a male student broke a glass mirror and was threatening to harm himself and staff with the glass. The student...
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Congressman Hoyer Governor Hogan and Others Applaud the Inclusion of Language Providing for the New FBI Headquarters in President Biden’s 2023 Budget

Congressman Hoyer Governor Hogan and Others Applaud the Inclusion of Language Providing for the New FBI Headquarters in President Biden’s 2023 Budget

Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Congressman Anthony Brown (MD-04), Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks released the following statement after the President unveiled his budget for the Fiscal Year 2023, which includes language to ensure the FBI will have a...
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NAS Patuxent River Sets Noise Advisory for Webster Field March 28, to March 30, 2022

NAS Patuxent River Sets Noise Advisory for Webster Field March 28, to March 30, 2022

Communities surrounding the NAS Patuxent River and Webster Field airfields are advised that helicopter nighttime testing events are scheduled to take place March 28 and March 30, 2022 from 6:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. As with all operations, NAS Patuxent River takes precautions to lessen the impact of testing activities on the community. For...
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Final Environmental Impact Statement for Testing and Training Activities in the Patuxent River Complex Available

Final Environmental Impact Statement for Testing and Training Activities in the Patuxent River Complex Available

The Department of the Navy (Navy) has completed the final version of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Testing and Training Activities in the Patuxent River Complex. It has been filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality,...
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NAS Patuxent River Sets Noise Advisory for Solomons Island on March 25, 2022

NAS Patuxent River Sets Noise Advisory for Solomons Island on March 25, 2022

Communities surrounding the naval air station are advised that NAS PAX River plans to make a single low level pass of Solomon’s Island, Maryland with 10 jets flying in formation. The event is scheduled to take place Friday, March 25, 2022. The event is scheduled to occur between noon – 1 p.m. As with...
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NAS Patuxent River Gate 1 Closed on Friday, March 18, 2022 for Maintenance

NAS Patuxent River Gate 1 Closed on Friday, March 18, 2022 for Maintenance

The NAS Patuxent River announced that Gate 1 will be closed for maintenance on Friday, March 18, 2022 from 9:00 a.m., to 12:00 p.m. During these hours NAS Patuxent River’s Gates 2 and 3 will be open for traffic.
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Leonardtown Woman Pleads Guilty to Organizing a Conspiracy to Fraudulently Obtain Over $1 Million in Disability Benefits

Leonardtown Woman Pleads Guilty to Organizing a Conspiracy to Fraudulently Obtain Over $1 Million in Disability Benefits

UPDATE 3/11/2022: Angela Marie Farr, age 36, of Leonardtown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit theft of government property and two counts of theft of government property in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain disability benefits from the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA).  The...
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Noise Advisory – FCLP Training Flights Scheduled March 16 to March 31, 2022

Noise Advisory – FCLP Training Flights Scheduled March 16 to March 31, 2022

Communities surrounding the naval air station are advised that noise-generating testing events are scheduled to take place Wednesday, March 16 – Thursday, March 31, 2022 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Pilots at NAS PAX will be conducting Field Carrier Landing Practices (FCLPs). FCLPs are simulated carrier landings conducted to prepare the pilot to...
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NAS Patuxent River Updates COVID Mask Policy Effective March 2, 2022

NAS Patuxent River Updates COVID Mask Policy Effective March 2, 2022

NAS Patuxent River announced March 2 that indoor mask-wearing is not required for DoD personnel in all but two DoD spaces at NAS Patuxent River, regardless of vaccination status. The two exceptions to this policy are the Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River and NAS Patuxent River Child and Youth Programs spaces, where masks are...
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Final Four Defendants, Including Former Correctional Officer, Plead Guilty to Federal Racketeering Conspiracy Charge in Connection With a Prison Corruption Scheme at Jessup Correctional Institution

Final Four Defendants, Including Former Correctional Officer, Plead Guilty to Federal Racketeering Conspiracy Charge in Connection With a Prison Corruption Scheme at Jessup Correctional Institution

A former Correctional Officer, two inmates, and an outside “facilitator” have pleaded guilty to a federal racketeering conspiracy at the Jessup Correctional Institution (JCI), involving inmates and outside facilitators paying bribes to correctional officers to smuggle contraband, including narcotics, alcohol, tobacco, and cell phones into the prison. As a result of the guilty pleas,...
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State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess Announces Juvenile Justice Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Project

State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess Announces Juvenile Justice Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Project

Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess is pleased to announce the formation of the Juvenile Justice Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Project. The project’s goal is to help at-risk youth enrolled in Anne Arundel County schools avoid involvement in the juvenile justice system. The innovative, smart prosecution program is funded by a grant awarded...
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Twin Prince George’s County Brothers Facing Federal Charges for Allegedly Obtaining Over $1 Million in Covid-19 Loans and Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Twin Prince George’s County Brothers Facing Federal Charges for Allegedly Obtaining Over $1 Million in Covid-19 Loans and Unemployment Insurance Benefits

A federal criminal complaint has been filed charging Jerry Phillips, age 24, of Temple Hills, Maryland, for the federal charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft; and Jaleel Phillips, age 24, of Temple Hills, Maryland, for wire fraud, in relation to an alleged scheme to unlawfully obtain COVID-19 relief loans and unemployment benefits....
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Inmate Sentenced to Over Four Years in Federal Prison and Second Inmate Pleads Guilty For Participation in a Racketeering Conspiracy at Maryland Correctional Institution Jessup

Inmate Sentenced to Over Four Years in Federal Prison and Second Inmate Pleads Guilty For Participation in a Racketeering Conspiracy at Maryland Correctional Institution Jessup

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced inmate Todd Holloway, age 36, to 50 months in federal prison, consecutive to the state sentence he is currently serving, followed by three years of supervised release, for a racketeering conspiracy charge related to his participation in a scheme to smuggle contraband into the Maryland Correctional Institution Jessup...
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Wife of Maryland Nuclear Engineer Pleads Guilty to Espionage-Related Offense

Wife of Maryland Nuclear Engineer Pleads Guilty to Espionage-Related Offense

On Monday, February 14, 2022, Jonathan Toebbe, 43, of Annapolis, pleaded guilty to count one of the indictment charging him with conspiracy to communicate Restricted Data which carries a maximum statutory penalty of up to life in prison, a fine up to $100,000, and term of supervised release not more than five years. Pursuant...
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Lexington Park Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Distribution of Fentanyl and Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition

Lexington Park Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Distribution of Fentanyl and Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition

DeAundre Tyrique Keys, a/k/a “Dre,” age 25, of Lexington Park, Maryland, plead guilty to federal charges of distribution of fentanyl and to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod...
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Ridge Volunteer Fire Department Celebrates Firefighter/Paramedic Darius Hawkins for Black History Month

Ridge Volunteer Fire Department Celebrates Firefighter/Paramedic Darius Hawkins for Black History Month

Continuing our celebration of Black History Month showcasing African-American contributions to the Fire/EMS services, Ridge VFD would like to spotlight the many accomplishments of one of our members… Firefighter/Paramedic Darius Hawkins. For more than 20 years, Darius has dedicated his time/life to the Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Southern Maryland, and beyond....
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Message from NAS Patuxent River Commanding Officer Regarding Traffic Delays Associated with CS-SC 22 Exercise

Message from NAS Patuxent River Commanding Officer Regarding Traffic Delays Associated with CS-SC 22 Exercise

NAS Patuxent River and Mission Partner Personnel, During yesterday afternoon’s Solid Curtain 2022 antiterrorism exercise we saw a dramatic traffic backup. The delays were excessive and I own that. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused you or your families. In addition, we are reviewing our response plans to prevent such events with...
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Department of Justice Sentence Fourteen Former NFL Players for Nationwide Health Care Fraud Scheme

Department of Justice Sentence Fourteen Former NFL Players for Nationwide Health Care Fraud Scheme

Player history is included at the bottom of the article. Wednesday, February 9, 2022 – A former National Football League (NFL) player was sentenced today to five years in prison for orchestrating a nationwide scheme to defraud a health care benefit program for retired NFL players. According to court documents, Robert McCune, 42, of...
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Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Sending Violent Threats to Maryland Doctor Who Had Been a Vocal Advocate of the COVID-19 Vaccine

Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Sending Violent Threats to Maryland Doctor Who Had Been a Vocal Advocate of the COVID-19 Vaccine

Scott Eli Harris, 51, of Aubrey, Texas, pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of willfully transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure a Maryland doctor who had been a vocal proponent of the COVID-19 vaccine. According to documents and statements made in connection with the plea hearing, Harris sent a...
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National Institute of Justice Funded Research Amasses Details of a Half Century of United States Mass Shootings

National Institute of Justice Funded Research Amasses Details of a Half Century of United States Mass Shootings

The Office of Justice Programs’ National Institute of Justice (NIJ) today published an article discussing the NIJ-supported and publicly available Violence Project Database that identifies common traits of persons who engaged in mass shootings between 1966 and 2019. During that time, mass shootings in the United States notably increased, with more than half occurring after...
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Patuxent River Safety Department Display Results of Recent Electrical Safety Sweep

Patuxent River Safety Department Display Results of Recent Electrical Safety Sweep

NAS Patuxent River’s Safety Department recently did a sweep of installation buildings within the NAS Patuxent River fence line and acquired quite a haul of unsafe electrical devices. Pictured are the Safety personnel and all the devices they found, some serviceable and others rendered inoperable for safety purposes. The Pax Safety Department cites NASPAXRIVINST...
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