Pompeii

Who's in the News? ▫️Operation Secret Admirer: Attorney General Bonta, Law Enforcement Partners Secure 18 Arrests in Sexual Predator Sting Operation The suspects were arrested for various charges, including contacting a minor with the intent to commit a sex crime, arranging to meet with a minor for lewd purposes, attempted lewd/lascivious acts with a child under 14, distribution of harmful material to a minor, and attempted production of child pornography. » https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/online-predators-sacramento-county-task-force/ » https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article272904090.html » https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-law-enforcement-partners-secure-18-arrests-sexual ▫️Operation Press Your Luck: Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced Friday the arrests of three child sexual predators The AG’s Office partnered with several other agencies to target and locate individuals who were attempting to lure children they met online for sex or child pornography. As a result of the operation, officers served five search warrants, with investigations ongoing that may lead to additional arrests. https://www.dailyleader.com/2023/03/10/ag-3-child-predators-arrested/ ▫️Man arrested in undercover sting by Dickson County, TN Internet Crimes Against Children unit DICKSON COUNTY, Tenn. - In some cases, authorities with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit of the sheriff’s office pretend to be kids as they surf the web in order to catch sexual predators. The sheriff’s office shared body cam footage from Wednesday, March 8 with News 2. It shows an undercover law enforcement officer driving into a parking lot and arresting 59-year-old Timothy Mazny of Nashville. Mazny, who is charged with solicitation of a minor, is being held in the Dickson County Jail under a $75,000 bond. According to the Department of Justice, ICAC task force programs like the one in Dickson County conducted more than 137,000 investigations in 2021, resulting in the arrests of more than 10,000 people. https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/man-arrested-in-undercover-sting-by-dickson-county-internet-crimes-against-children-unit/ (VIDEO) ▫️Cyber tip led to child sexual exploitation charge for ex-NC school principal, sheriff says GRAHAM, N.C. — Former school principal Robert Edward Drummond, 43, in the Alamance Burlington School System has been charged with sexual exploitation of a minor. On Wednesday, investigators with the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Division, Special Victims Unit and Electronic Forensics Intelligence Team opened an investigation from a cyber tip. » https://www.cbs17.com/news/north-carolina-news/cyber-tip-leads-to-child-sexual-exploitation-charge-for-nc-man-sheriff-says/ » ▫️Florida man attempted to meet with 14-year-old for sexual relations PENSACOLA, Fla. — A Florida man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly attempting to meet with a minor for sexual relations. 74-year-old Frank Blaine Rhobotham is charged with obscene communication to a minor via computer and use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony. https://fox23maine.com/news/nation-world/florida-man-attempted-to-meet-with-14-year-old-for-sexual-relations-report-says-frank-blaine-rhobotham-obscene-communication-operation-peek-at-you-pensacola-police-arrest-documents ▫️Waco man arrested for kidnapping attempted to lure girl into his car WACO, Texas — A Waco man is in custody after trying to snatch a 10-year-old girl from a parking lot and force her into his vehicle, police said. Jimmy Don Rich, 60, was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service around noon on Friday after police say federal authorities were there to arrest him for an unrelated aggravated kidnapping case in Leon County. https://www.kxxv.com/hometown/mclennan-county/60-year-old-man-arrested-in-waco-for-attempted-kidnapping-of-a-10-year-old-girl ▫️Day care owner Sifredo Martinez charged for child sex crimes The 33-year-old owner of a day care in New York City has been arrested and charged with a slew of child sex crimes after he was allegedly caught with “tens of thousands of images of child pornography” and sexually exploited at least one child under his care, authorities announced. As alleged, while operating a licensed day care facility, he enticed an 11-year-old child to engage in sexually-explicit conduct and made recordings of the conduct. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Sifredo Castillo Martinez appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein on Friday where he was formally charged with sexual exploitation of a child and production of child pornography, as well as receipt, distribution, and possession of child pornography. » https://lawandcrime.com/crime/nearly-unimaginable-nyc-day-care-owner-allegedly-filmed-sexual-abuse-of-child-in-his-care-possessed-thousands-of-child-porn-images-and-videos/ » https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/bronx-daycare-provider-charged-sexual-exploitation-child-and-production-receipt-and ▫️Former teacher at Catholic school charged with rape, molestation of student A former teacher at Holy Cross Catholic School in Santa Cruz, a small community in far north Santa Fe County, faces counts of rape and molestation after a former student alleged he abused her in 2021, when she was 13. According to an arrest warrant affidavit, the girl came forward in January in a safe house interview with accusations against Calvin Robinson of Española. » https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/former-teacher-at-catholic-school-charged-with-rape-molestation-of-student/article_bdc8fbd4-bf63-11ed-9272-c77a331ff286.html » https://www.bishop-accountability.org/2023/03/former-teacher-at-catholic-school-charged-with-rape-molestation-of-student/ ▫️CBP officers at Washington Dulles International Airport arrested two men on March 10, 2023, on Maryland warrants for felony sex offenses CBP officers arrested Kadian Andre Mitchell, 42, of Alexandria, Va., as he attempted to board a flight to Panama. Mitchell is wanted by the Prince Georges County, Maryland, Sheriff’s Office on felony 2nd degree rape charges. Later, CBP officers arrested Alexander Mercado Amaya, 31, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, as he attempted to board a flight to El Salvador. Mercado Amaya is wanted by the Montgomery County, Maryland, Police Department for felony 2nd degree sex offense and 4th degree sex offense. Mercado Amaya is also illegally present in the United States. https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/dulles-cbp-officers-arrest-two-accused-felony-sex-offenses-fleeing ▫️Union City, NJ, Man Admits Producing Images of Child Sexual Abuse Federal authorities say a man from Hudson County has admitted to producing child pornography. 36-year-old Ramon Zelaya of Union City pleaded guilty earlier this week to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, according to U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger. https://wpgtalkradio.com/union-city-nj-man-admits-producing-images-of-child-sexual-abuse/ ▫️St. George detectives fly to New Mexico to arrest suspect facing aggravated sexual abuse charges ST. GEORGE — A New Mexico man accused of sexually abusing a child during a family gathering in Utah in 2020 was returned to Utah by two St. George Police detectives and was booked into jail in Washington County. Wesli James Pearce, 31, of Artesia, New Mexico, was extradited to Utah Friday on a first-degree felony warrant involving three counts of aggravated sex abuse of a child. https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2023/03/11/cbg-st-george-detectives-fly-to-new-mexico-to-arrest-suspect-facing-aggravated-sexual-abuse-charges/#.ZAzMnHbMLDd ▫️Colorado District Attorney's Office announces arrest of sexual assault suspect On Feb. 28, 2023, Justin Whittaker was charged with four counts of Sexual Assault on a Child by One in a Position of Trust. It is alleged that between 2009 and 2017, Mr. Whittaker had sexual contact with several children while they were visiting his home on Westin Drive in Erie. The District Attorney’s Office and the Erie Police Department believe there may be additional victims or witnesses. If you have information related to this investigation, please contact Detective Shannon Crow with the Erie Police Department at 303-926-2827 or scrow@erieco.gov. https://www.longmontleader.com/news-releases/colorado-district-attorneys-office-announces-arrest-of-sexual-assault-suspect-6681077 ▫️North Augusta police seek man wanted for criminal sexual conduct with minor Police are looking for a man wanted for criminal sexual conduct with a minor. Michael Leroy Vaughn has active warrants from the North Augusta Department of Public Safety in reference to criminal sexual conduct with a minor, according to a media release from the North Augusta Department of Public Safety. Vaughn also has an active warrant from the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Parole. Anyone with any information on Vaughn's whereabouts should call North Augusta Public Safety at 803-279-2121. https://www.yahoo.com/news/north-augusta-police-seek-man-005900653.html ▫️Fort Myers man sentenced to 8 years in prison for raping child FORT MYERS, Fla. — A man has been sentenced to eight years in prison and five years of sex offender probation for raping a child at a Fort Myers home in 2018. According to officials, Eltora Norman Lee Jr., 41, pled guilty to familial or custodial sexual battery on day two of a trial after three witnesses testified. https://nbc-2.com/news/crime/2023/03/10/fort-myers-man-sentenced-to-8-years-in-prison-for-raping-child/amp/ ▫️Report: Minnesota man kills sex offender using moose antler and shovel GRAND MARAIS, Minn. — A Minnesota man was charged Friday with fatally beating an elderly man previously convicted of child sexual assault, who he believed had stalked his young daughter in the past. Levi Axtell, 27, was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Lawrence V. Scully, 77, who was beaten to death Wednesday at his home in Grand Marais. » https://www.kxii.com/2023/03/11/report-minnesota-man-kills-sex-offender-using-moose-antler-shovel-sheriff-says/ » https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/sheriff-minnesota-man-kills-sex-offender-using-17832886.php ▫️Former tribal police chief convicted for sex abuse of young children PORT ANGELES, Wash. - A former Lower Elwha S’Klallam tribal councilmember and police chief on the Hoh Reservation was found guilty of nine federal charges related to the sexual abuse of minors. In 2021, three victims came forward and said that they had been abused by 69-year-old Joseph Anthony Turrey. Two of the victims were as young as six and seven years old when the sexual assaults occurred. » https://www.q13fox.com/news/former-tribal-police-chief-convicted-for-sex-abuse-of-young-children » https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/former-police-chief-convicted-sexually-abusing-young-children ▫️5 more arrested in deadly kidnapping of Americans in Mexico Mexico City - Mexican authorities Friday arrested five more men in connection to the kidnapping of four Americans and the murder of two of them in the border city of Matamoros, said the attorney general. Six people have been detained for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping and the murder, Tamaulipas Attorney General Irving Barrios Mojica said. The Gulf Cartel, a criminal group operating in the area, had turned over five members and apologized for the kidnapping and the murders. https://www.laprensalatina.com/5-more-arrested-in-deadly-kidnapping-of-americans-in-mexico/ ▫️19-year-old woman found after alleged kidnapping from Georgia Waffle House parking lot Georgia deputies have located a 19-year-old woman who they believe was kidnapped outside a Waffle House. The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office said Zkyla Avonce Rhodes was last seen with 59-year-old Willie Walker in the restaurant’s parking lot off 2057 Gordon Highway in Augusta around 11:30 p.m. Thursday. WJBF-TV in Augusta reported a witness saw Walker grab Rhodes and drag her into his car. The witness also said Walker pointed a gun at them. Anyone with information on the location of Walker is urged to contact Investigator Tyler Steerman or any violent crimes investigator at 706-821-1427 or 706-821-1080. » https://www.wjbf.com/news/crime-news/augusta-man-wanted-for-allegedly-kidnapping-19-year-old-from-waffle-house-parking-lot/ » https://www.yahoo.com/news/19-old-woman-kidnapped-georgia-153045089.html ▫️Transgender Daycare Worker Charged With Sexually Abusing Baby A trans-identified male is awaiting arraignment on charges of sexually abusing a baby while working at a daycare center. Maria Childers, 25, had been employed at the Explore Learning Academy in Paducah, Kentucky when the abuse is said to have occurred last November. Police became involved in February of this year after the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) received an anonymous tip from someone working inside the academy. Childers has been charged with first-degree sexual abuse of a victim under the age of 12, and is currently housed in the McCracken County Jail with a bond set at $100,000. https://reduxx.info/transgender-daycare-worker-charged-with-sexually-abusing-baby/ ▫️Suburban Catholic Priest Steps Aside from Ministry Amid Sex Abuse Allegation A Catholic priest in south suburban Evergreen Park has agreed to step aside from ministry while authorities investigate an allegation that he sexually abused a minor as a layman decades ago, according to the Archdiocese of Chicago. Rev. Paul Guzman serves as associate pastor Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Evergreen Park. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/catholic-priest-archdiocese-of-chicago-sexual-abuse-allegations/3092446/ ▫️Pedophile Priest Alejandro Flores, Joliet Diocese Face Sex Abuse Suit JOLIET, IL —The Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet, the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus, Holy Family Catholic Church and deported pedophile priest, Father Alejandro Flores face a new Will County civil lawsuit filed on behalf of a young man who died last year. The boy, identified in the Will County lawsuit as John Doe, was 8 and 9 years old and had attended religious education programs through St. Ray's and Holy Family. Last year, at age 21, the sexual abuse victim of Father Flores died in California, the lawsuit stated. John Doe suffered sexual violence, including manipulation, isolation, control, exploitation, abuse and assault abuse at Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus by Father Alejandro Flores, the lawsuit contends. » https://www.bishop-accountability.org/2023/03/pedophile-priest-alejandro-flores-joliet-diocese-face-sex-abuse-suit/ » https://patch.com/illinois/joliet/pedophile-priest-alejandro-flores-joliet-catholic-diocese-sued

Oh by the way ..

Firefall - Just Remember I Love You

Atti enjoying his first Pens game on Saturday!!

Just another... "This CAN NOT be REAL!!"

The LIES JUST KEEP ON BUILDING UP!!!! Hey @allmattNYT of @nytimes Remember me? 🤗 With Tucker’s revelations about J6th, and your statements as a NYT reporter last year that “There were a ton of FBI informants who attacked the Capitol…” and “The lefts overreaction in some places were so over the top”….“They [media] were making too big a deal [of Jan6]. They were making this an organized thing that it wasn’t.” … maybe you’ll reconsider speaking on the record to me about this now? OKeefeTips@protonmail.com

Peter Surkala, Age 93 of Falls Creek, PA entered Heaven on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Born on October 20, 1929 in Elnora, PA he was the son of the late George and Mary Fedorchak Surkala. On December 17, 1955 he married his wife of 63 years, Reetha L. (Fillers) Surkala. She preceded him in death on September 25, 2019. Pete was a veteran of the United States Army having served during the Korean War. He retried from Rockwell International Manufacturing as a nightwatchman. Previous to that, Pete had worked at the Crescent Brick Company as a pressman and the B.& O Car Shop as a carman. Pete attended the Gospel Center and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He especially loved his three cats, Kimba, Reeko, & Mikey. He is survived by four daughters;(Dixie Powers & her husband Mark of Falls Creek, PA, Debbie Farrall her husband Bill of Milford, DE, Dottie Shindledecker & her husband Jeff of Falls Creek, PA, and Danita Bishop & her husband Don Jr. of Reynoldsville, PA), a sister (Julia Voyten of Ohio), and five grandchildren; (Peter Bishop, Tyler, Jesse, Dustin and Alexis Shindledecker). Pete was preceded in death by 7 brothers (Michael, Arthur, George, Jr., Charles, John, Nicholas, & Joseph), and 4 sisters (Mary, Pauline, Anna, & Rose) Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Baronick Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 1 p.m. from the funeral home with Pastor Mark Myers officiating. Burial will follow in Beechwoods Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Gateway Humane Society, P.O. Box 678, Falls Creek, PA 15840 and/or Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 4550 Montgomery Ave., Suite 1100N, Bethesda, MD 20814. Online condolences may be made to http://www.baronickfuneralhome.com/condolence

Susanna Hoffs Hazy Shade of Winter Live 2022

They were at it again. Rasta made his weekly visit, and Bernell was ready and waiting. He showed off his tricks to everyone, which were crowd-pleasers for sure, gave love to all, and was the cause of many huge smiles. We just love that dog!!!!! >>> DuBois Continuum of Care Community Inc.

Who's in the News? ▫️Operation Threat Level Midnight - Four arrested in sex trafficking, child porn sting: GBI Each person arrested traveled from areas around South Georgia with the intent to meet a child for sex, the GBI says. The former statewide coordinator for Children’s Week at the Capitol was arrested in an undercover sting operation in Georgia targeting online child predators. Jason Zaborske, 48, of Tallahassee, was among four people charged in “Operation Threat Level Midnight,” according to a news release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Zaborske was charged with sexual exploitation of a child. » https://news.yahoo.com/former-childrens-week-coordinator-arrested-150125436.html » https://gbi.georgia.gov/press-releases/2023-03-06/operation-threat-level-midnight-targets-online-child-predators » https://www.wtxl.com/news/local-news/gbi-four-arrested-in-sex-trafficking-child-pornography-sting » https://www.wctv.tv/2023/03/07/tallahassee-cook-cairo-plumber-among-those-arrested-crimes-against-children-sting/ ▫️Bloods Gang Members Indicted for Sex Trafficking on Long Island A 15-count indictment was unsealed charging David M. Amin (D. Amin) and Bryce K. Amin (B. Amin), who are brothers, with sex trafficking by force, interstate prostitution, and distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and cocaine base. As alleged in court filings, D. Amin and B. Amin are both members of the Bloods street gang. D. Amin was arrested this morning and will be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Lee G. Dunst. B. Amin is presently incarcerated on state narcotics charges and will be arraigned at a later date. » https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/bloods-gang-members-indicted-sex-trafficking-and-illegal-drug-distribution-long-island » https://patch.com/new-york/deerpark-northbabylon/2-brothers-indicted-sex-trafficking-illegal-drug-sales-feds ▫️Michigan family doctor arrested after planning to pay 15-year-old $200 for sex A Michigan family doctor has been charged after meeting what he thought was a 15-year-old girl for sex, but was actually a police decoy used to arrest the predator. The Genesee County Sheriff's office Genesee Human Oppression Strike Team (GHOST) conducted an operation involving a sheriff’s deputy posing as a 15-year-old girl on an online platform which led them to a Michigan doctor- 61-year-old Dr. Parminder Jaswal. According to Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson, Jaswal was planning to pay $200 to have sex with the child, and brought wine coolers, Coca-Cola, and Oreos with him. https://www.foxnews.com/us/michigan-family-doctor-arrested-planning-pay-15-year-old-200-sex-sheriff ▫️US border area, Mexico: 103 children in container, police say human trafficking 343 people found inside a truck trailer that was found abandoned without a driver. Women and children were rescued from a container lorry found abandoned on a highway in Veracruz, eastern Mexico. » https://www.bitchute.com/video/8xmzvjpJs43j/ (VIDEO) » https://news.yahoo.com/moment-343-migrants-including-children-100216904.html (VIDEO) » https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11827691/343-migrants-bound-United-States-rescued-abandoned-tractor-trailer-Mexico.html » https://india.postsen.com/world/292107.html » https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/mexico-finds-343-migrants-abandoned-truck-trailer-97661015 ▫️Ventura County Child Exploitation Task Force Arrests Moorpark Man VENTURA, California – The newly formed Ventura County Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force today announced the arrest of a Moorpark man who is charged in a federal criminal complaint with soliciting on social media platforms sexually explicit photos from two individuals he thought were 14-year-old girls. Thomas Gissell, 27, of Moorpark, was taken into custody Monday morning by federal and state authorities participating in the Task Force. Gissell is charged with attempted enticement of a minor, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/ventura-county-child-exploitation-task-force-arrests-moorpark-man ▫️Tennessee Man Wanted for Rape of a Child Captured by U.S. Marshals in Kentucky Carroll County, TN – Damian Daniel Campos, 20, who was wanted by the Carroll County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office for multiple counts of Rape of a Child and Aggravated Sexual Battery was captured yesterday in Kentucky after a joint investigation by U.S. Marshals in Western Tennessee and Kentucky. On September 9, 2022, a bench warrant for Campos’ arrest was issued out of Carroll County after a grand jury indicted him for three counts of Rape of a Child and one count of Aggravated Sexual Battery. https://www.usmarshals.gov/news/press-release/tennessee-man-wanted-rape-of-child-captured-us-marshals-kentucky ▫️Hitchcock police shoot sexual assault suspect to death in Houston Hitchcock police officers Tuesday shot and killed a man wanted for sexual assault of a child after a pursuit in Houston, authorities said. The department sent two officers to find George Alejandro, 54, who was sought on a warrant for sexual assault of a child, Police Chief Wilmon Smith said. » https://news.yahoo.com/hitchcock-pd-officers-shoot-kill-230200475.html (VIDEO) » https://www.fox26houston.com/news/hitchcock-pd-officers-shoot-sexual-assault-suspect-shortly-after-brief-chase » https://www.galvnews.com/news/police/hitchcock-police-shoot-sexual-assault-suspect-to-death-in-houston/article_5f5da323-f527-5753-9794-6003935fa9ac.html ▫️Man harbors missing child, arrested for sexual assault SAN ANTONIO – A man has been arrested for sexually assaulting a formerly missing juvenile. According to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, on Jan. 23, deputies were dispatched to a residence on Park Lake in East Bexar County to find a missing juvenile. Upon arrival, deputies located the missing juvenile inside the residence of 46-year-old Malcolm Barge. Afterward, Barge was arrested on a charge of harboring a runaway. BCSO Child Safe Investigators learned that Barge was sexually assaulting the juvenile at his home over several instances. https://foxsanantonio.com/newsletter-daily/man-harbors-missing-child-arrested-for-sexual-assault ▫️Sault Ste. Marie man charged with human trafficking, sexual assault CHIPPEWA COUNTY, Mich. - Cody McCoy, 30, from Sault Ste. Marie has been arrested and charged on multiple counts, including human trafficking and sexual assault, according to the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office. McCoy supplied drugs to women and coerced them into having sex with him, the sheriff's office said in a press release. https://wsbt.com/news/regional/sault-ste-marie-man-charged-with-human-trafficking-sexual-assault ▫️Carr’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit Obtains Guilty Verdict in Minor Sex Trafficking Case in Clayton County ATLANTA, GA – Attorney General Chris Carr today announced that Theodore Browne, Jr., age 31, of Clayton County, has been found guilty on four counts of Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude and one count of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree. The Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit has now successfully convicted all four men – two buyers and two sellers – who were charged as part of this multi-defendant case that involves one minor victim. https://law.georgia.gov/press-releases/2023-03-07/carrs-human-trafficking-prosecution-unit-obtains-guilty-verdict-minor-sex ▫️Man Who Served As Youth Pastor In Multiple States Sentenced To 45 Years For Sexually Exploiting Children Memphis, TN – Joshua Henley, 34, formerly of Benton County, has been sentenced to 45 years in federal prison for producing sexually explicit images of a minor, transporting, and possessing child exploitation material, and transporting a minor interstate with the intent to engage in sexual activity. According to the information presented in court, from 2017 until April 2021, Henley was the pastor at Holladay Church of Christ and coached the girls’ basketball team at Holladay Elementary. https://breaking911.com/man-who-served-as-youth-pastor-in-multiple-states-sentenced-to-45-years-for-sexually-exploiting-children/ ▫️Sam Bateman used jail phone for 'sexual conversations' with minors: Feds A polygamous leader accused of kidnapping underage girls “brazenly” used the jailhouse phone system to have “explicit sexual conversations” with children, a federal filing states. While in custody last November on suspicion of sex trafficking, Samuel Rappylee Bateman referred to a 13-year-old girl as his “sexy darling” during a video call that included his adult wives, the US attorney in Arizona alleged in documents filed on March 3. Bateman, 46, also asked the young teen, identified as Jane Doe 4, about “all the sacred times” they shared together, in addition to more explicit sexual remarks. The accused child trafficker also reportedly made similarly vulgar remarks during the same call to two 16-year-olds known as Jane Doe 10 and Jane Doe 11, the document claims. » https://nypost.com/2023/03/07/sam-bateman-used-jail-phone-for-sexual-conversations-with-minors-feds/ » https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11832279/Mormon-cult-leader-Samuel-Bateman-used-jailhouse-phone-explicit-conversations-kids.html ▫️Border Patrol Rescues Infant from Suspected Child Trafficker SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. – Border Patrol agents assigned to the San Clemente Border Patrol Station Checkpoint prevented a suspected incident of child trafficking Friday. The incident occurred at approximately 1:40 a.m. when agents referred a vehicle containing a man and an infant to the secondary inspection area. Agents conducted an immigration inspection and questioned the driver. The driver said he picked up the infant in Otay Mesa and did not know the child’s name or where he was taking the child. » https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/border-patrol-rescues-infant-suspected-child-trafficker » https://ktla.com/news/local-news/infant-rescued-from-suspected-human-trafficker-in-san-clemente/ » https://myfox8.com/news/border-report/border-patrol-agents-rescue-baby-from-suspected-child-trafficker-in-california/ ▫️Chesterfield Police arrest nine after online sex sting operation CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. — Nine people are in custody after an online sex chat sting operation carried out by police in Chesterfield County. The operation was conducted on March 3 by detectives from the Special Victims and Vice and Narcotics unit. The suspects are accused of soliciting who they believed to be minors for sex via social media. When the suspects arrived at the designated meeting location, they were arrested. Recently, detectives from Chesterfield County Police also stopped a man traveling from North Carolina to solicit sex from who he believed to be a woman and an underaged girl. https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/chesterfield-county/chesterfield-police-arrest-nine-after-online-chat-sting-operation/ ▫️D.A. Bragg Announces Takedown of Sex Trafficking Ring – Including A Greyhound Employee – That Targeted Women In Port Authority Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg today announced the indictment of CHRISTOPHER WITHERSPOON, 38, a/k/a “MANIAK,” LOUIS AUSTIN, 51, a/k/a “TROUBLE,” and Greyhound employee PAUL MIDDLETON, 49, for operating a sex trafficking ring that aimed to recruit vulnerable women at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The men are charged in a New York State Court indictment with Sex Trafficking, Promoting Prostitution in the Fourth Degree, Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree. There are reasons to believe there may be more survivors of this operation. Please call us at 212-335-3400. » https://www.manhattanda.org/d-a-bragg-announces-takedown-of-sex-trafficking-ring-including-a-greyhound-employee-that-targeted-women-in-port-authority/ » https://www.audacy.com/1010wins/news/local/3-men-arrested-for-sex-trafficking-ring-at-port-authority ▫️Orthodontist headed to trial after child porn investigation KENT COUNTY, Mich. — A West Michigan orthodontist who was suspended from his practice is now headed to trial. Thomas Shannon, 41, of Byron Township, is accused of possessing child pornography and soliciting underage girls for explicit photos and videos, the Kent County Sheriff's Office alleges. https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/crime/west-michigan-orthodontist-headed-to-trial/69-900874af-8ba1-4236-b9ca-4f67ee9959e2* (VIDEO) ▫️Jeffersontown Police: 25-year-old crashed into police vehicle during human trafficking arrest LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Justin Aubrey, 25, drove to Jeffersontown Tuesday night because he reportedly planned to pay for sex with a 14-year-old he met online according to Jeffersontown Police (JPD). Aubrey is now charged with Attempted Human Trafficking, Use of a Minor in a Sexual Performance, Evading Police by motor vehicle, Evading Police on foot, assault of a police officer, wanton endangerment and criminal mischief. In the process, records show Aubrey crashed into a police vehicle. » https://www.whas11.com/article/news/crime/lmpd-crash-human-trafficking-minors-police-louisville-jeffersontown/417-740c153e-d5d1-4472-8afe-9b95ecc1dfc6 » https://www.wave3.com/2023/03/08/louisville-man-facing-attempted-human-trafficking-charges/ ▫️BCSO: Maryville man charged with multiple sex crimes against children MARYVILLE, Tenn. — A Maryville man was arrested on Monday for sex crimes he committed against two boys over several years starting in 2018, according to the Blount County Sheriff's Office. In February, BCSO and the Maryville Police Department opened an investigation after the boys told them that Christian Gregory, who was a close family friend, touched them inappropriately and solicited sexual acts from them in 2018 and continued until February 2023, according to BCSO. The boys were 10 and 12 years old when the abuse began. Gregory, 38, was arrested in Gatlinburg Monday afternoon by the U.S. Marshals Service Smoky Mountain Fugitive Task Force and Sevier County Street Crimes Unit. https://www.wbir.com/article/news/crime/man-charged-with-multiple-sex-crimes-against-children-blount-county/51-a4102a4e-3ed3-484b-bdf7-b03907968d2a ▫️Sex trafficking arrests made after investigation at Hanover home HANOVER COUNTY, Va. - A man and woman were arrested and charged with commercial sex trafficking, child neglect, and other crimes following an investigation centered on a Hanover County home, according to the Hanover Sheriff's Office. The investigation into Tara Rhiannon Inman, 45, and James Louron Inman, 49, began in January 2023 at a home along the 9200 block of Tall Oaks Lane in Mechanicsville, Virginia. https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/inman-arrest-march-8-2023 ▫️OKCPD: 12 arrested in prostitution operation OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City Police Department says 12 people have been arrested during an ongoing prostitution investigation. https://kfor.com/news/local/okcpd-12-arrested-in-prostitution-operation/ ▫️Lubbock man indicted on 20 federal charges, caught with video of child sexual abuse LUBBOCK, Texas — A man who was previously arrested in Lubbock and charged with Possession of Child Pornography was indicted on federal charges on Wednesday. Justin Cale Jones, 31, was arrested in February in the 4300 block of 41st Street. His arrest was part of a massive North Texas child pornography investigation. Court records stated that Jones’s cellphone had “at least one image that contained child pornography” involving a prepubescent minor and a child younger than 12-years-old. Federal court records also accused Jones of persuading or coercing a child into making pornography. https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/lubbock-man-indicted-on-20-federal-charges-caught-with-video-of-child-sexual-abuse/ ▫️Orange County Man Accused of Raping a Minor A joint investigation between multiple police agencies has led to the arrest of 22-year-old Jamarr Smith, of Newburgh, NY who allegedly raped someone under the age of 17 according to the New York State Police. Smith has been charged with five felonies including, use of a Child in a Sexual Performance, one count of Promoting a Sexual Performance by a child, one count of Possession of a Sexual Performance by a Child, two counts of Rape in the 3rd Degree, and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a misdemeanor. https://hudsonvalleycountry.com/orange-county-man-accused-of-raping-a-minor/ ▫️Registered Sex Offender From Malta Rapes Child Under Age 13, Police Say Saratoga County resident James Forgett, age 52, of Malta, was arrested Friday, March 3, following an investigation by State Police. Troopers were initially contacted in August 2022 with a report that an adult had physical and sexual contact with a child. Investigators determined that Forgett had sexual intercourse with a child beginning in 2017, when the victim was under the age of 13, police said. » https://dailyvoice.com/new-york/saratoga/news/registered-sex-offender-from-malta-rapes-child-under-age-13-police-say/858460/ » https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/registered-sex-offender-arrested-accused-of-having-sex-with-young-child ▫️Therapist Charged with Sexual Assault on a Child; Detectives Searching for Additional Victims BOULDER, Colo. – The Boulder Police Department has charged a man with sexually assaulting at least two children and believe there could be more victims. Mark A. Hochwender, 72, was arrested yesterday, March 8, and charged with two felony counts of sexual assault on a child by a person in position of trust-pattern of abuse. Anyone with any information related to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Lutz at LutzC@bouldercolorado.gov or 303-441-4374 reference case 20-11516. » https://bouldercolorado.gov/news/therapist-charged-sexual-assault-child-detectives-searching-additional-victims » https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/boulder-therapist-mark-hochwender-arrested-accused-sexual-assault-child/ » https://www.9news.com/article/news/crime/therapist-sexual-assault-arrested-boulder/73-4b21df36-7ae5-4d8a-812a-0d9d0e16ddcf ▫️Retired AU prof arrested on child solicitation and drug charges ANDERSON — A retired Anderson University literature professor has been arrested on child solicitation and drug charges. Scott Bennett Borders, 63, 100 block of Northshore Boulevard, was arrested Tuesday by Anderson police on felony charges of child exploitation following a sting by Predator Catchers of Indiana. https://sports.yahoo.com/retired-au-prof-arrested-child-232900351.html ▫️Texas man admits to abusing minor relative to produce child sexual abuse material LAREDO, Texas — A South Texas man pleaded guilty March 7 to sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography following an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Laredo Police Department. Aaron Negrete, 26, from Laredo, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña. He also sexually abused a minor relative, recorded himself doing so, and shared the recordings and photographs online. https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/texas-man-admits-abusing-minor-relative-produce-child-sexual-abuse-material ▫️‘Teacher of the year’ accused of child sex abuse An elementary school teacher who was previously named “teacher of the year” was arrested and accused of sexually abusing a child, according to California officials. Jacqueline Ma, an elementary school teacher in the National City School District, faces three counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and three counts of “oral copulation with a child under 14,” according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. https://www.fresnobee.com/news/california/article272911455.html ▫️C-K Elementary Janitor Charged With Sexual Abuse Of Children For Possession of Child Pornography On March 7, 2023, Greenfield Township Police Department filed 75 counts of sexual abuse of children; one count of attempted corruption of minors; and one count of copying obscene material against Claysburg resident Ethan Colpetzer. These charges developed from a multi-department investigation that included the Claysburg-Kimmel school security officer and members of the Pennsylvania State Police in conjunction with Greenfield Township Police and the Blair County District Attorney’s Office. At the time of the offense, 30-year-old Colpetzer served as a janitor for the Claysburg Elementary School. » https://www.mcheraldonline.com/story/2023/03/09/news/c-k-elementary-janitor-charged-with-sexual-abuse-of-children-for-possession-of-child-pornography/13936.html » https://www.foxnews.com/us/pa-elementary-school-janitor-was-girls-secret-admirer-had-74-sexual-images-children-his-phone-da ▫️NJ man jailed for allegedly sexually assaulting two little girls A Bedminster man has been arrested on accusations that he sexually assaulted two minor children stemming from two incidents in the township. Somerset County prosecutors say that 45-year old Marcelo D. Schonhauser was involved in the sexual assault of an 8-year old girl and a 7-year old girl on March 4 at a social event. https://wobm.com/bedminster-nj-sexual-assault/ ▫️More sexual abuse survivors come forward against Maine Catholic Diocese PORTLAND, Maine - More sexual abuse survivors are suing the Maine Catholic Diocese. A civil complaint details claims from six additional victims of abuse allegedly committed by Father Lawrence Sabatino from 1958 to 1967. These lawsuits now total 20 against the Diocese by law firm Berman and Simmons. » https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/six-more-sexual-abuse-survivors-220019826.html (VIDEO) » https://www.wabi.tv/2023/03/08/more-sexual-abuse-survivors-come-forward-against-maine-catholic-diocese/ » https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/more-sexual-abuse-survivors-come-foward-against-maine-catholic-diocese/ar-AA18nXAD ▫️Albany Medical Center nurse admits role in sex trafficking ring ALBANY— A registered nurse from Albany pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court to helping her boyfriend operate a multi-state sex trafficking ring that authorities said preyed upon underage victims. Ashley L. McCloskey, 38, a nurse at Albany Medical Center Hospital with no prior criminal record, admitted that she assisted Christopher Thomas, a reputed sex trafficker and pimp from Colonie who allegedly directed his sex trade at times from within the Albany County jail, between 2019 and May 8, 2020. McCloskey pleaded guilty to one count of use of interstate commerce to promote unlawful activity, which in this case was identified as Thomas’ alleged sexual trafficking operation. https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/albany-medical-center-nurse-admits-role-sex-17826651.php ▫️TN DCS employee arrested for soliciting sex with underage girl MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A now former employee with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services has been arrested and charged with trying to solicit sex with an underage girl. Christopher Baker, 50, was arrested by police in Jackson, Tennessee, after they were called for help with an investigation by Bolivar Police. He is charged with solicitation of a minor. » https://www.localmemphis.com/article/news/crime/bolivar-tennessee-department-of-childrens-services-employee-arrested-soliciting-sex-with-underage-girl/522-d67468a6-9f90-407d-b702-1bbe40cce5c1 (VIDEO) » https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/current-dcs-employee-arrested-for-child-sex-crime/article_55776b14-be8d-11ed-b6d0-ab6728fe4dd1.html » ▫️2 of 5 men arrested in DPS-led sting targeting child predators indicted AMARILLO, Texas — Two of the five men arrested in an online sting targeting child predators were indicted. A Randall County grand jury indicted Mickey Joe Tosh II, 39, of Amarillo, and Rudolph "Rudy" Mireles, Jr., 25, of Plainview for online solicitation of a minor sexual conduct. https://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/two-men-arrested-in-dps-sting-indicted-for-online-solicitation-of-minor-amarillo-texas-mickey-joe-tosh-rudolph-rudy-mireles-jr-plainview-texas-child-sexual-predators-homeland-security-investigationswest-texas-am-police-department-us-marshals ▫️High-risk sex offender previously on “Most Wanted” in custody BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A parolee and high-risk sex offender who was previously featured on Golden Empire Most Wanted has been taken back in custody. The U.S. Marshals office confirmed Thursday Cutter Halleman, 36, was arrested in Redondo Beach over the weekend. https://www.kget.com/most-wanted/high-risk-sex-offender-previously-on-most-wanted-in-custody/ ▫️Council Rock teacher arrested after video vigilante encounter A Council Rock high school teacher is facing felony charges for allegedly attempting to meet with who he believed was a 13-year-old boy for a sexual encounter. Instead, Steven Struzinski appears to be the latest target of video vigilantes. Struzinski, 42, of Doylestown Township, was arraigned Thursday on charges of attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a minor and attempted unlawful conduct with a minor. https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/crime/2023/03/09/council-rock-north-teacher-arrested-after-video-vigilante-encounter/69990099007/ ▫️Miami Beach Doctor Arrested on Human Trafficking, Soliciting Sex Activity With a Minor Charges A Miami Beach doctor has been arrested on human trafficking and other charges involving alleged sexual activity with minors, court records showed. Dr. Jefferey David Kamlet, 68, was arrested Thursday on more than half a dozen charges including human trafficking, using a computer to lure a child to engage in sexual conduct, soliciting unlawful sexual activity with a minor, and delivering a controlled substance to a child, Miami-Dade court records showed. https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/miami-beach-doctor-arrested-on-human-trafficking-soliciting-sex-activity-with-a-minor-charges/2990220/ ▫️California Man Jailed After Allegedly Entering High School And Sexually Assaulting 3 Girls CALIFORNIA – A Glendale man named Patrick Nazarian, age 22, has been taken into custody for kidnapping and sexual assault. The Burbank police arrested him for allegedly sexually assaulting at least three teenage girls inside Burbank High School on Monday. According to investigators, Nazarian entered the school through an unlocked door in the student parking lot around 9 a.m. He approached a 14-year-old girl who was using a bathroom inside the school and sexually assaulted her. https://breaking911.com/california-man-jailed-after-allegedly-entering-high-school-and-sexually-assaulting-3-girls/ ▫️85-year-old Rapid City registered sex offender arrested again RAPID CITY, S.D. - Dallas Krausch, an 85-year-old registered sex offender in Rapid City, was arrested Wednesday on several warrants. Krausch is under investigation for solicitation of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, and loitering in a community safety zone. https://www.kotatv.com/2023/03/09/85-year-old-rapid-city-registered-sex-offender-arrested-again/

Christopher M. “Mike” Cyphert, Age 45 of DuBois, PA died Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at Penn Highlands DuBois Hospital. Born on July 29, 1977 in Brookville, PA, he was the son of Donald Cyphert, Sr. who survives and lives in Jacksonville, FL, and Susan Lingenfelter who survives and lives in DuBois, PA. Mike enjoyed playing softball, hunting, and fishing. He also loved watching football, NASCAR, and above all, Imagine Wrestling. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his fiancé of many years, Nancy Boyer, two sons, David Cyphert and Michael Murray, III, both of DuBois, PA two brothers, Donnie Cyphert of DuBois, PA, and David Miller of Brookville, PA, and 3 half-sisters. There will be no visitation and a memorial service will be announced at a later date. The Baronick funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences can be made to http://www.baronickfuneralhome.com/condolence

Supertramp - The Logical Song

DACS Kindergarten had many great guest readers for Read Across America 📖

One Thing, Jesus Christ. Stations of the Cross Series, Station #4, Friday, March 10th by Fr. Ben Daghir & Luke Daghir Editor's Note: Fr. Ben Daghir and Luke Daghir will have 14 articles based upon the stations of the cross. The 14th article will conclude on Easter Sunday. Article: The 4th Station: Jesus meets His Mother. The death of a child before that of the parents is contradictory to the natural order of life. In a special way, Mary represents every parent who is grieving the loss of their child. Also, Jesus represents every child who has died prematurely. Sometimes in thinking about Jesus, Mary, and Joseph we can forget about the hardship and adversity that they endured as a family. The Passion narratives do not mention Joseph and it is likely that he had died prior. Therefore Mary had lost her husband and in the 4th Station she meets her Son who is approaching His death by crucifixion. Mary understands the pain and grief felt when a loved one dies. She understands the suffering. Mary gets it. “We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you; because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.” ======================== Bio and picture: Luke Daghir is a seminarian for the Diocese of Erie from St. Marys, Pa. He currently studies at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore.

School Board Meeting

Oh by the way ..

Prayers out to the Benton Family. Lance was the founder of Buck's Pizza and one of the nicest guys you would ever meet. Rest in Peace, sir.

Lance B Benton, age 73 of DuBois, PA passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Lance was born on October 24, 1949 in Monterey, CA. He was the son of the late Herbert A. and Evelyn Ruth (Beachy) Benton, the second of four children. He was a graduate of Kittanning Senior High School in 1967 and of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1971. On August 22, 1970 in Kittanning, PA, he married his wife of 52 years, Evelyn L. (Dunmire) Benton. Lance attended IUP and entered the US Army through ROTC. Upon graduation, he entered Armor training school in Fort Knox, Kentucky. He graduated from Armor school near the top of his class, however in 1971 the Army was reducing forces, so Lance was transferred to the PA National Guard to fulfill his military duty. With his career ambition of serving active duty military now unavailable, he found a perfect fit with an Armor unit in Ligonier and he returned to his college job at the Indiana Gazette in the circulation department. Lance retired as Captain of Co. A 1/103rd Armor, 28th Division, National Guard of Ligonier, PA in 1982. While Lance loved his job at the Gazette, he soon learned that he truly wanted to be an entrepreneur. In 1977, Lance began his journey in business. Lance eventually founded Buck’s Pizza with his wife and family which he grew as a franchise across the nation for many years before finally opening local locations in 2010. Lance had a gift for marketing and loved being in business to develop employees and serve customers. He was dedicated to serving food that he was proud to take home to his own family. Besides spending time with his family and friends, Lance enjoyed reading, traveling, hunting, fishing, cooking and clearing his farm property - his fortress of solitude. In Lance’s younger days, he also enjoyed boating, golfing and snow skiing. Lance’s passion for food extended to his home. He loved to feed his family. Food was one of his love languages. Lance had a gift for storytelling and enjoyed a great sense of humor. He was authentic, thoughtful, and caring. No one who met Lance could forget his infectious smile and love for others. Lance was a family man. Family meant everything to him. He is survived by his loving wife, Evy, his two sons, Nathan Benton and Joshua (Wendy) Benton of DuBois PA, and his daughter, Gretchen (Ryan) Meyers of Westfield, NJ. He is also survived by his three siblings, Christian (Alana) Benton of DuBois, PA, Susan (Rip Ballou) Benton of Washington, DC, and Amy (Tom Chase) Benton of Frederick, MD. He has 10 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild – Brandon (Maggie) Benton, Kayla (Anthony) Black, Laurel Benton, Hunter Benton; Lincoln, Olivia, Naomi and Josephine Meyers; Hank and Julia Benton; and Sienna Black. He is also survived and loved by his wife’s siblings: Denny Dunmire (deceased) and Karen Dunmire, Anne (Terry) Bumpers, Jeanne (Bruce) Watson, Robbie (Bob) Jack, Marian (John) Morris, Kaye (Mike) Woytowish, Arleen (Rob) Pryde, Carole (Greg Wyant) Shepard, Nancy (Tim) Bowser, Laura (Charles) Himes. He is also beloved by many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his in-laws, Robert and Gertrude (Henry) Dunmire. There will be no public visitation. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, March 13, 2023 at 10 a.m. from St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church with Msgr. Richard Siefer as celebrant. Burial will follow in Morningside Cemetery where full military honors will be accorded by the members of the DuBois Area Honor Guard. A celebration of life at Buck’s Pizza will directly follow the mass. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend. Memorial donations may be sent to Evelyn Ruth Benton Nursing Scholarship Armstrong County Community Foundation, 220 S. Jefferson St., Suite B, Kittanning, Pennsylvania 16201 Or Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard Staten Island, NY 10306.taten The Baronick Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc. is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences can be made to http://www.baronickfuneralhome.com/condolence

Matt Taibbi 1. TWITTER FILES: Statement to Congress THE CENSORSHIP-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX 2. “MONITOR ALL TWEETS COMING FROM TRUMP’S PERSONAL ACCOUNT/BIDEN’S PERSONAL ACCOUNT” When #TwitterFiles reporters were given access to Twitter internal documents last year, we first focused on the company, which at times acted like a power above government. 3. But Twitter was more like a partner to government. With other tech firms it held a regular “industry meeting” with FBI and DHS, and developed a formal system for receiving thousands of content reports from every corner of government: HHS, Treasury, NSA, even local police: 4. Emails from the FBI, DHS and other agencies often came with spreadsheets of hundreds or thousands of account names for review. Often, these would be deleted soon after. 5. Many were obvious “misinformation,” like accounts urging people to vote the day after an election. But other official "disinfo" reports had shakier reasoning. The highlighted Twitter analysis here disagrees with the FBI about accounts deemed a “proxy of Russian actors": 6. Then we saw "disinfo" lists where evidence was even less clear. This list of 378 “Iranian State Linked Accounts” includes an Iraq vet once arrested for blogging about the war, a former Chicago Sun-Times reporter and Truthout, a site that publishes Noam Chomsky. 7. In some cases, state reports didn’t even assert misinformation. Here, a list of YouTube videos is flagged for “anti-Ukraine narratives”: 8. But the bulk of censorship requests didn’t come from government directly. 9. Asked if Twitter’s marketing department could say the company detects “misinfo” with help of “outside experts,” a Twitter executive replied: 10. We came to think of this grouping – state agencies like DHS, FBI, or the Global Engagement Center (GEC), along with “NGOs that aren’t academic” and an unexpectedly aggressive partner, commercial news media – as the Censorship-Industrial Complex. 11. Who’s in the Censorship-Industrial Complex? Twitter in 2020 helpfully compiled a list for a working group set up in 2020. The National Endowment for Democracy, the Atlantic Council’s DFRLab, and Hamilton 68’s creator, the Alliance for Securing Democracy, are key: 12. Twitter execs weren’t sure about Clemson’s Media Forensics Lab (“too chummy with HPSCI”), and weren’t keen on the Rand Corporation (“too close to USDOD”), but others were deemed just right. 13. NGOs ideally serve as a check on corporations and the government. Not long ago, most of these institutions viewed themselves that way. Now, intel officials, “researchers,” and executives at firms like Twitter are effectively one team - or Signal group, as it were: 14. The Woodstock of the Censorship-Industrial Complex came when the Aspen Institute - which receives millions a year from both the State Department and USAID - held a star-studded confab in Aspen in August 2021 to release its final report on “Information Disorder.” 15. The report was co-authored by Katie Couric and Chris Krebs, the founder of the DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Yoel Roth of Twitter and Nathaniel Gleicher of Facebook were technical advisors. Prince Harry joined Couric as a Commissioner. 16. Their taxpayer-backed conclusions: the state should have total access to data to make searching speech easier, speech offenders should be put in a “holding area," and government should probably restrict disinformation, “even if it means losing some freedom.” 17. Note Aspen recommended the power to mandate data disclosure be given to the FTC, which this committee just caught in a clear abuse of office, demanding information from Twitter about communications with (and identities of) #TwitterFiles reporters. judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subs… 18. Naturally Twitter’s main concern regarding the Aspen report was making sure Facebook got hit harder by any resulting regulatory changes: 19. The same agencies (FBI, DHS/CISA, GEC) invite the same “experts” (Thomas Rid, Alex Stamos), funded by the same foundations (Newmark, Omidyar, Knight) trailed by the same reporters (Margaret Sullivan, Molly McKew, Brandy Zadrozny) seemingly to every conference, every panel. 20. The #TwitterFiles show the principals of this incestuous self-appointed truth squad moving from law enforcement/intelligence to the private sector and back, claiming a special right to do what they say is bad practice for everyone else: be fact-checked only by themselves. 21.While Twitter sometimes pushed back on technical analyses from NGOs about who is and isn't a “bot,” on subject matter questions like vaccines or elections they instantly defer to sites like Politifact, funded by the same names that fund the NGOs: Koch, Newmark, Knight. 22. #TwitterFiles repeatedly show media acting as proxy for NGOs, with Twitter bracing for bad headlines if they don't nix accounts. Here, the Financial Times gives Twitter until end of day to provide a “steer” on whether RFK, Jr. and other vax offenders will be zapped. 23. Well, you say, so what? Why shouldn’t civil society organizations and reporters work together to boycott “misinformation”? Isn’t that not just an exercise of free speech, but a particularly enlightened form of it? 24. The difference is, these campaigns are taxpayer-funded. Though the state is supposed to stay out domestic propaganda, the Aspen Institute, Graphika, the Atlantic Council’s DFRLab, New America, and other “anti-disinformation” labs are receiving huge public awards. 25. Some NGOs, like the GEC-funded Global Disinformation Index or the DOD-funded Newsguard, not only seek content moderation but apply subjective “risk” or “reliability” scores to media outlets, which can result in reduction in revenue. Do we want government in this role? 26. Perhaps the ultimate example of the absolute fusion of state, corporate, and civil society organizations is the Stanford Internet Observatory (SIO), whose “Election Integrity Partnership” is among the most voluminous “flaggers” in the #TwitterFiles: 27. After public uproar “paused” the Orwellian “Disinformation Governance Board” of the DHS in early 2020, Stanford created the EIP to “fill the gaps” legally, as director Alex Stamos explains here (h/t Foundation for Freedom Online). 28. EIP research manager Renee DiResta boasted that while filling “gaps," the EIP succeeded in getting “tech partners” Google, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter to take action on “35% of the URLS flagged” under “remove, reduce, or inform” policies. 29. According to the EIP’s own data, it succeeded in getting nearly 22 million tweets labeled in the runup to the 2020 vote. 30. It’s crucial to reiterate: EIP was partnered with state entities like CISA and GEC while seeking elimination of millions of tweets. In the #TwitterFiles, Twitter execs did not distinguish between organizations, using phrases like “According to CIS[A], escalated via EIP.” 31. After the 2020 election, when EIP was renamed the Virality Project, the Stanford lab was on-boarded to Twitter’s JIRA ticketing system, absorbing this government proxy into Twitter infrastructure – with a capability of taking in an incredible 50 million tweets a day. 32. In one remarkable email, the Virality Project recommends that multiple platforms take action even against “stories of true vaccine side effects” and “true posts which could fuel hesitancy.” None of the leaders of this effort to police Covid speech had health expertise. 33. This is the Censorship-Industrial Complex at its essence: a bureaucracy willing to sacrifice factual truth in service of broader narrative objectives. It’s the opposite of what a free press does. 34. Profiles portray DiResta as a warrior against Russian bots and misinformation, but reporters never inquire about work with DARPA, GEC, and other agencies. In the video below from @MikeBenzCyber, Stamos introduces her as having "worked for the CIA": 35. DiResta has become the public face of the Censorship-Industrial Complex, a name promoted everywhere as an unquestioned authority on truth, fact, and Internet hygiene, even though her former firm, New Knowledge, has been embroiled in two major disinformation scandals. 36. This, ultimately, is the most serious problem with the Censorship-Industrial Complex. Packaged as a bulwark against lies and falsehood, it is itself often a major source of disinformation, with American taxpayers funding their own estrangement from reality. 37. DiResta’s New Knowledge helped design the Hamilton 68 project exposed in the #TwitterFiles. Although it claimed to track “Russian influence,” Hamilton really followed Americans like “Ultra Maga Dog Mom,” “Right2Liberty,” even a British rugby player named Rod Bishop: 38. Told he was put on the Hamilton list of suspected “Russian influence” accounts, Bishop was puzzled. “Nonsense. I’m supporting Ukraine,” he said. 39. As a result of Hamilton’s efforts, all sorts of people were falsely tied in press stories to “Russian bots”: former House Intel chief Devin Nunes, #WalkAway founder @BrandonStraka, supporters of the #FireMcMaster hashtag, even people who used the term “deep state”: 40. Hamilton 68 was funded by the Alliance for Securing Democracy, which in turn was funded by the German Marshall Fund, which in turn is funded in part by – the Department of State. 41. The far worse scandal was “Project Birmingham,” in which thousands of fake Russian Twitter accounts were created to follow Alabama Republican Roy Moore in his 2017 race for US Senate. Newspapers reported Russia seemed to take an interest in the race, favoring Moore. 42. Though at least one reporter for a major American paper was at a meeting in September, 2018 when New Knowledge planned the bizarre bot-and-smear campaign, the story didn’t break until December, two days after DiResta gave a report on Russian interference to the Senate. 43. Internally, Twitter correctly assessed the Moore story as far back as fall of 2017, saying it had no way if knowing if the Moore campaign purchased the bots, or if “an adversary purchased them… in an attempt to discredit them.” 44. Twitter told this to reporters who asked about the story contemporaneously. Moreover, after the story broke, Twitter's Roth wrote: “There have been other instances in which domestic actors created fake accounts… some are fairly prominent in progressive circles.” 45. Roth added, “We shouldn’t comment.” Repeatedly in the #TwitterFiles, when Twitter learned the truth about scandals like Project Birmingham, they said nothing, like banks that were silent about mortgage fraud. Reporters also kept quiet, protecting fellow “stakeholders.” 46. Twitter stayed silent out of political caution. DiResta, who ludicrously claimed she thought Project Birmingham was just an experiment to “investigate to what extent they could grow audiences… using sensational news,” hinted at a broader reason. 47. “I know there were people who believed the Democrats needed to fight fire with fire,” she told the New York Times. “It was absolutely chatter going around the party.” 48. The incident underscored the extreme danger of the Censorship-Industrial Complex. Without real oversight mechanisms, there is nothing to prevent these super-empowered information vanguards from bending the truth for their own ends. 49. By way of proof, no major press organization has re-examined the bold claims DiResta/New Knowledge made to the Senate – e.g. that Russian ads “reached 126 million people” in 2016 – while covering up the Hamilton and Alabama frauds. If the CIC deems it, lies stay hidden. 50. In the digital age, this sprawling new information-control bureaucracy is an eerie sequel to the dangers Dwight Eisenhower warned about in his farewell address, when he said: “The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists.” 51. Thanks to @ShellenbergerMD and reporters/researchers @Techno_Fog, @neffects, @bergerbell, @SchmidtSue1, @tw6384, and others for help in preparing this testimony. The Twitter Files searches are performed by a third party, so material may have been left out.