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U.S. Attorney: Two Men Plead Guilty for Their Respective Roles in Illegally Possessing Firearms Stolen From Jefferson County Patrol Vehicle
ST. LOUIS, Missouri, May 17 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri issued the following news release:
Timothy Hopkins, 43, of O'Fallon, MO, and Richard O'Hara, 30, of Richwoods, MO, each pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Each appeared in federal court this afternoon before U.S. District Judge John A. Ross who accepted the pleas. Sentencing for both Hopkins and O'Hara has been set for August 27, 2019.
According to court documents, on June 20, 2018, Hopkins, a previously convicted felon, was arrested by a Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy
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ST. LOUIS, Missouri, May 17 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri issued the following news release:
Timothy Hopkins, 43, of O'Fallon, MO, and Richard O'Hara, 30, of Richwoods, MO, each pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Each appeared in federal court this afternoon before U.S. District Judge John A. Ross who accepted the pleas. Sentencing for both Hopkins and O'Hara has been set for August 27, 2019.
According to court documents, on June 20, 2018, Hopkins, a previously convicted felon, was arrested by a Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputyafter leaving a gas station without paying for gasoline. The deputy identified Hopkins as having an active arrest warrant. Hopkins was handcuffed behind his back and placed in the front passenger seat of the patrol car. He maneuvered his handcuffs to the front, slid over to the driver's seat, and fled the scene by stealing the deputy's patrol car. In the car was a 12-gauge shotgun, an AR-15, and firearm magazines.
Hopkins proceeded on a joy ride in the stolen patrol car. He arrived at a residential home near Richwoods, Missouri, where co-defendant James Martin was temporarily living. Hopkins identified himself, stated he was not a deputy, and asked Martin to cut off the handcuffs, which Martin did. After cutting off the handcuffs, Hopkins gave Martin the 12-gauge shotgun and the AR-15. Hopkins also allowed Martin to search the patrol car and take other items, including a law enforcement badge, flashlight, and multi-tool from the car. Martin, in turn, transferred the AR-15 to Richard O'Hara, also a previously convicted felon.
Hopkins left the Richwood area and continued to drive around Washington County, Missouri. Air and ground units from multiple law enforcement agencies were engaged in the search for Hopkins. Law enforcement located Hopkins on a dead-end street and blocked the road. Hopkins, still in the stolen patrol car, reversed direction and drove through fields and along trails in wooded areas. Numerous patrol cars sustained damage, including the stolen patrol car. Hopkins eventually crashed the stolen patrol car in a ditch. He escaped the vehicle by climbing through a window. Hopkins tripped on debris and fell to the ground, enabling deputies to place him into custody.
"We are proud of the actions taken by our deputies and department to ultimately apprehend Mr. Hopkins and in assisting the U.S. Attorney's Office in securing these convictions. We are equally proud of the efforts, training and measures we have undertaken department-wide since this incident occurred to ensure that it does not happen again. Stated simply, we continually strive to serve our community in a safe and professional manner," said Jefferson County Sheriff David Marshak following today's changes of plea. Sheriff David Marshak
Hopkins faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and a fine of not more than a $250,000. He could receive both a prison sentence and a fine. In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.
Co-defendant James Martin pled guilty in March 2019 to possession of a stolen firearm/ammunition and will be sentenced on June 27, 2019.
This case was investigated by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Washington County Sheriff's Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Jason Dunkel is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
U.S. Attorney: Houston Man Sentenced for Federal Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Violations
BEAUMONT, Texas, May 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, Joseph D. Brown, issued the following news release:
A 41-year-old Houston man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking and money laundering violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.
John D. Leontaritis, owner and operator of Vanderhall Exotics of Houston, and former owner operator of Global Motorcars of Houston, car dealerships that specialized in exotic, luxury automobiles, was found guilty by a jury on Dec. 4, 2018 of conspiracy to possess with intent
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BEAUMONT, Texas, May 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, Joseph D. Brown, issued the following news release:
A 41-year-old Houston man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking and money laundering violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.
John D. Leontaritis, owner and operator of Vanderhall Exotics of Houston, and former owner operator of Global Motorcars of Houston, car dealerships that specialized in exotic, luxury automobiles, was found guilty by a jury on Dec. 4, 2018 of conspiracy to possess with intentto distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, as well as, conspiracy to commit money laundering, which were committed from 2013 to 2017 in both the Houston and Beaumont areas. Today, he was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.
According to information presented in court, Leontaritis acted as a financier in a large-scale Houston-based drug trafficking organization that was distributing large amounts of drugs from Mexico to various cities in the United States for several years. Specifically, Leontaritis laundered drug profits through his luxury automobile dealership in Houston by accepting cash from known drug dealers in return for luxury vehicles. As part of the conspiracy, he used fraudulent dealer invoices to hide the true identity of the buyers from law enforcement. The conspiracy spanned many years and involved hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine, and millions of dollars laundered through the dealership. The court sentenced Leontaritis to 240 months (20 years) on each count to run concurrent and those sentences to run consecutive to a Southern District of Texas federal conviction for theft of public money in 2018.
"People who help launder drug money are critical to the conspiracies that allow the drug trade to operate," said U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown. "Law enforcement worked very hard, and stayed after this case doggedly to make sure every participant was prosecuted."
"Today's lengthy prison sentence for John Leontaritis is another example of how aiding and abetting a drug trafficker can be just as risky as drug trafficking itself," said Houston DEA Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy. "We will investigate and prosecute anyone who supports these criminal enterprises."
This case is the result of an extensive joint investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation's illegal drug supply.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Houston Police Department and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle S. Englade and Michael Anderson.
U.S. Attorney: Former Washington State Bank CEO Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Multi-Year Tax Fraud of More Than $865,000
SEATTLE, Washington, May 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, Attorney Brian T. Moran, issued the following news release:
* * *
- Defendant took $2.3 million in Fees and Failed to Report the Income on His Taxes
* * *
The former Chief Executive Officer of a Pacific Northwest community bank was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Wisconsin to one year and a day in prison and one year of supervised release and a $150,000 fine for filing a false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. Between 2010 and 2016, VICTOR KARPIAK, 64, now of La Crosse, Wisconsin,
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SEATTLE, Washington, May 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, Attorney Brian T. Moran, issued the following news release:
* * *
- Defendant took $2.3 million in Fees and Failed to Report the Income on His Taxes
* * *
The former Chief Executive Officer of a Pacific Northwest community bank was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Wisconsin to one year and a day in prison and one year of supervised release and a $150,000 fine for filing a false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran. Between 2010 and 2016, VICTOR KARPIAK, 64, now of La Crosse, Wisconsin,failed to report more than $2.3 million in income on his taxes. KARPIAK previously served as President and CEO of First Savings Bank Northwest based in Renton, Washington. He retired in 2013 and moved from the Seattle area. KARPIAK was charged in the Western District Washington, but chose to have the case resolved near his new home in Wisconsin. U.S. District Judge William M. Conley imposed the sentence.
According to records filed in the case, between 2010 and 2016, KARPIAK served as a trustee and consultant for a woman who was the beneficiary of a family and a marital trust. KARPIAK became a trustee because the woman's late husband was a significant customer for the bank. Over those years, KARPIAK paid himself fees of $3,265,072 but on his taxes KARPIAK reported less than a third of that income ($943,322). The tax loss on more than $2,321,750 in income is $867,540. KARPIAK will pay $867,540 to the IRS as well as any interest or civil penalties the IRS imposes in the case. The interest alone in this case could total more than $143,647.
In their sentencing memo, prosecutors noted that that KARPIAK engaged in the tax fraud even as he earned significant salary and benefits as the bank CEO. "Our system of government relies on individuals --- particularly high-earners such as Karpiak --- to pay a modest portion of earnings toward communal projects and programs... (T)he true victim of Karpiak's greed remains the public and his fellow taxpayers, from whom he effectively stole," prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo. Now with four homes across two states, multiple luxury vehicles and a pension alone of more than $150,000 annually, KARPIAK did not need to cheat on his taxes to make ends meet. As part of his sentencing hearing, KARPIAK made a payment on his tax obligation of more than $1 million.
"Today Mr. Karpiak was held accountable for willfully and intentionally violating his legal duty to declare and pay his taxes," said Justin Campbell, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Seattle Field Office. "The U.S. tax system works because honest law-abiding taxpayers know that everyone, including corporate officers, are paying their fair share."
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven Masada of the Western District of Washington and Elizabeth Altman of the Western District of Wisconsin.
U.S. Attorney: Federal Jury Convicts Champlin Man For String of Twin Cities Robberies
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, May 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, Erica H. MacDonald, issued the following news release:
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the conviction of MARTAVIS SHAWN DEMAR JAMES, 38, for the robbery and attempted robbery of 10 Twin Cities businesses. Following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson, the jury found JAMES guilty on all counts.
United States Attorney Erica MacDonald said, "Over the course of several weeks, Mr. James carried out a brazen crime wave across the Twin Cities, targeting businesses
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MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, May 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, Erica H. MacDonald, issued the following news release:
United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the conviction of MARTAVIS SHAWN DEMAR JAMES, 38, for the robbery and attempted robbery of 10 Twin Cities businesses. Following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson, the jury found JAMES guilty on all counts.
United States Attorney Erica MacDonald said, "Over the course of several weeks, Mr. James carried out a brazen crime wave across the Twin Cities, targeting businessesin densely populated areas and robbing employees at gunpoint. Under the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, I have dedicated significant resources to pursuing violent criminals and combating gun-related violent crime such as this. When it comes to protecting our communities, we will not relent."
As proven at trial, between March and June of 2018, JAMES robbed or attempted to rob at least 10 businesses located across the Twin Cities metro area, including locations in Anoka, Hennepin, and Ramsey Counties. The robberies mostly involved CVS Pharmacy stores across the Twin Cities metropolitan area, as well as a Dollar Tree Store in Coon Rapids and a Blaine BigLots store. In each successful robbery instance, JAMES wore a black hooded coat, a black mask and black gloves. He would point a firearm at the store employee(s), demand access to the business safe, order the employee(s) to put the cash into a duffel bag, and order them to the ground before fleeing.
As proven at trial, after gathering information on the robberies, law enforcement identified JAMES and began conducting surveillance on him. On June 1, 2018, law enforcement agents followed JAMES as he drove to a CVS store in Eden Prairie. Law enforcement agents and officers, as well as CVS security personnel, were able to lock the front doors of the CVS store prior to JAMES' arrival, preventing him from gaining entry when he ultimately approached. When JAMES returned to his vehicle he was apprehended law enforcement.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from multiple local agencies and departments that initially investigated the robberies that occurred in their jurisdictions. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat violent crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter tried the case.
Defendant Information:
MARTAVIS SHAWN DEMAR JAMES, 38
Champlin, Minn.
Convicted:
* Hobbs Act Robbery, 8 counts
* Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery, 2 counts
U.S. Attorney: Eight People From Northwest Ohio Indicted for Firearms Violations or Armed Robbery Charges As Part of Continued Collaborative Effort to Reduce Violent Crime in Toledo Area
CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Justin Herdman, issued the following news release:
Eight people from Northwest Ohio were indicted for firearms violations or armed robbery charges as part of a continued collaborative effort to reduce violent crime in the Toledo area.
Among those indicted are people accused of illegally having firearms after domestic violence convictions, making illegal straw purchases of firearms, possessing stolen firearms, armed robbery and other offenses.
Indicted are: Brock Andrzejak, 23, of Toledo; Marco Roane, 35, of Sandusky;
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CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 17 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Justin Herdman, issued the following news release:
Eight people from Northwest Ohio were indicted for firearms violations or armed robbery charges as part of a continued collaborative effort to reduce violent crime in the Toledo area.
Among those indicted are people accused of illegally having firearms after domestic violence convictions, making illegal straw purchases of firearms, possessing stolen firearms, armed robbery and other offenses.
Indicted are: Brock Andrzejak, 23, of Toledo; Marco Roane, 35, of Sandusky;Teresa Jackson, 46, of Sandusky; Filmel Williams, Jr., 19, of Toledo; Joseph Mathis, 42, of Toledo; Willie Hall, 31, of Toledo; Marcus Bailey, 34, of Toledo, and James Robert Morgan, 33, of Bryan.
"These cases involve people who are not allowed to have firearms because of past crimes, such as domestic violence, as well as people lying to get guns or obtaining stolen weapons," U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. "We will continue to work with police and federal agencies through Project Safe Neighborhoods and the Public Safety Partnership programs to make Toledo and Northwest Ohio safer."
"Reducing gun crime is one of ATF's core missions," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. "We are committed to working with our partners at the federal, state, and local level to investigate crime guns as well as identify and remove the most violent criminals from our streets."
"While any one of these individual indictments on their own may not seem like a significant blow to overall violent crime, it is the totality of these cases that shows the significant work local and federal law enforcement partners are doing on a daily basis to make Toledo safer" said Toledo Police Chief George Kral. "As we have stated many times in the past, we appreciate our federal partnerships and we will continue to help bring federal cases against those who wish to do others harm in our community."
These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN was reinvigorated in 2017 as part of the Department's renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney's Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Toledo is also a National Public Safety Partnership city, in which the Justice Department selects cities for increased training and technical assistance focused on violent crime. Toledo, as a PSP city, was also selected last year for more than $492,000 in federal funding to pay for hardware and software designed to improve information-sharing capacity.
Andrzejak is charged with interference with commerce by threats of violence and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Andrzejak is accused of pointing a rifle at a cashier while robbing the Stop and Go on Bennett Road in Toledo.
Williams is charged with four counts of possession of stolen firearms and ammunition and three counts of possession of a firearm by a person adjudicated to be mentally defective. Williams on January 2, 2019, possessed a .45-caliber pistol, a 7.62x39mm rifle, a 5.56 pistol and ammunition, knowing the firearms were stolen. He also possessed firearms despite having been adjudicated by the Wayne County (Michigan) Probate Court to be mentally defective, according to the indictment.
Morgan was charged with possession of a firearm by a person with prior misdemeanor domestic violence convictions. Morgan, at various points in 2018 and 2019 possessed a Ruger .22-caliber pistol, a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver, a German Sports Guns .22-caliber pistol and a Hermann Weihrauch .38-caliber revolver, despite a previous conviction for domestic violence, according to the indictment.
Mathis is charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Mathis possessed Taurus .380-caliber pistol and six rounds of ammunition on March 14, 2019, and a Smith & Wesson .380-caliber pistol and 34 rounds of ammunition on September 16, 2018, despite previous convictions for drug trafficking and possession of crack cocaine, according to the indictment.
Hall is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hall possessed a Smith & Wesson 40-caliber pistol and six rounds of ammunition on March 22, 2019, despite previous convictions for robbery, attempted burglary and having a weapon under disability, according to the indictment.
Roane and Jackson are charged with four counts of making false statements during the purchase of a firearm. Jackson falsely represented that she was the buyer of four firearms - a Savage Arms 5.56 rifle, a Glock 9 mm pistol, a Taurus 9 mm pistol and a Radical Firearms 5.56 pistol - between August 2017 and January 2019, when, in fact, Roane was the true buyer of the firearms, according to the indictment.
Bailey is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Bailey had a 9 mm pistol and 16 rounds of ammunition on March 20, 2019, despite previous convictions for burglary and tampering with evidence, according to the indictment.
If convicted, the defendants' sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants' prior criminal records, if any, the defendants' role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Toledo Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. They are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Simko, Robert Melching and Ashley Futrell.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Soldiers Train With Army's First Personal Unmanned Aerial System
FORT BELVOIR, Virginia, May 17 -- The U.S. Army issued the following news release:
By Patrick Ferraris
Public Affairs
Imagine a battlefield where Soldiers have access to near-real time video transmitted back to them on a handheld device. Program Executive Office Soldier (PEO Soldier) fielded the first personal Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) in the U.S. Army to Soldiers of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, April 29 -May 3, 2019 at Fort Bragg, NC.
Soldiers did more than just inventory and take possession of the system during the week-long fielding. The Soldiers were also trained
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FORT BELVOIR, Virginia, May 17 -- The U.S. Army issued the following news release:
By Patrick Ferraris
Public Affairs
Imagine a battlefield where Soldiers have access to near-real time video transmitted back to them on a handheld device. Program Executive Office Soldier (PEO Soldier) fielded the first personal Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) in the U.S. Army to Soldiers of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, April 29 -May 3, 2019 at Fort Bragg, NC.
Soldiers did more than just inventory and take possession of the system during the week-long fielding. The Soldiers were also trainedvia classroom instruction about the system's capabilities, its controls, and how to operate it.
Soldiers received hands on training of the system and flew the drone through various scenarios which culminated in an exercise that tested everything they learned throughout the week. It was all done in preparation for the BCT to take the system with them on their upcoming deployment, making this the first personal UAS to deploy at the squad level within a unit in the Army.
New Army technology like the Soldier Borne Sensors (SBS) mitigates future losses of life and injuries by having a drone complete dangerous work that combat Soldiers would usually perform on their own such as sending a fire team to gain reconnaissance information, or sending out dismounted Soldiers for route clearance operations. PEO Soldier delivers systems and equipment like this to our Soldiers to ensure they remain decisive and dominant throughout the full spectrum of military operations.
The UAS is part of PEO Soldier's SBS program and it consists of multiple components; the ground control system, which is composed of a base station with hand controller and display unit, and two air Vehicles (one day and one night). The display acts as the main hub for Soldiers to interact with the system, while the air vehicles are small, highly maneuverable airborne sensors with low visual and audio signatures that support pre-planned and on-the-fly reconnaissance missions.
"This system is something new that not a lot of Soldiers have touched or even seen before, so it's cool to test it out and push it to its limits before we take it with us on our deployment" said Sgt. Dalton Kruse, one of the operators being trained on the system. "Most of us have never flown a drone before, but this training gave us the confidence and knowledge to use the system, making us more comfortable to use it while deployed. It was easy to pick up and fly, very user-friendly, and I can already tell that this system will benefit my unit downrange."
The potential of having a personal UAS equipped to every squad gives them the ability to asses a situation from a cover and concealed position, mitigating the risk to the Soldier.
John Paul Kruszewski, Lead Engineer for the unmanned systems at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (CCDC SC), likens the system to a flying pair of binoculars. "Using this system, Soldiers can understand their operational environment better so they can make better decisions and make these decisions quicker than ever. It makes Soldiers more effective while reducing their tactical risk." The CCDC SC is dedicated to using science and technology to ensure America's warfighters are optimized, protected, and lethal.
This means that the SBS provides a type of protection to Soldiers that they've never experienced before, and this protection is what Soldiers like Sgt. Ryan Subers, another operator of the system, values the most.
"I was really impressed with the system, its capabilities, and what it offers Soldiers in terms of risk reduction. This kind of technology will be a life-saver for us because it takes us out of harm's way while enhancing our ability to execute whatever combat mission we're on. I'm very grateful for technology like this and to be a part of the first unit to use it."
The initial fielding of the SBS paves the way for a system that will eventually equip every squad with an organic UAS in the future.
"It is the start of an era where every squad will have vision beyond their line of sight," said Nathan Heslink, Assistant Program Manager, SBS, PEO Soldier. "The squad will not have any dead space within its area of operations and this allows Soldiers to detect threats earlier than ever, meaning it is more likely Soldiers won't be harmed during their missions."
Air Force Research Laboratory Launches ARCNet, Autonomy Research and Development Portal
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio, May 17 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news:
By John Van Winkle
Public Affairs
The future of autonomy research is a click away, with the launch of the Air Force Research Laboratory's ARCNet portal.
ARCNet is the Autonomy Research Collaboration Network, and is a new electronic platform and business opportunity which facilitates collaborative research and development related to autonomous technologies for AFRL.
This newest AFRL activity, ARCNet, is a critical component of AFRL's strategy to accelerate the pace of technology transition, utilizing
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WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio, May 17 -- The U.S. Air Force issued the following news:
By John Van Winkle
Public Affairs
The future of autonomy research is a click away, with the launch of the Air Force Research Laboratory's ARCNet portal.
ARCNet is the Autonomy Research Collaboration Network, and is a new electronic platform and business opportunity which facilitates collaborative research and development related to autonomous technologies for AFRL.
This newest AFRL activity, ARCNet, is a critical component of AFRL's strategy to accelerate the pace of technology transition, utilizingspeed and communication to advance autonomy research. The speed comes from an agile, streamlined contracting process. ARCNet membership is open to academia, large and small businesses, start-ups and all of AFRL, and allows ARCNet to serve as a conduit for the communication between potential research partners.
"This platform creates a 'new collaboration paradigm' for autonomy technology development," said Dr. Corey Schumacher, ARCNet Chief Technology Officer. "The consortium platform allows for a deeper dialogue between the government and potential performers on research projects, allowing the potential performers to participate in defining the requirements and execution strategy for a project."
ARCNet is now open for business and adding new members every day, he said.
"The response from potential consortium members has been remarkable and reflects the energy and diverse knowledge base around autonomy technologies," said Schumacher.
ARCNet was established Feb. 6 through a $196 million cooperative agreement between AFRL and the SPG Institute, a technology-driven Ohio nonprofit organization. SPG Institute administers ARCNet, assisted by the Ohio University Russ Research Center.
ARCNet's first project is ready for release to its membership, and AFRL has multiple additional funded research projects currently being prepared for release to the ARCNet membership.
Membership in the consortium streamlines several aspects of the contracting process, resulting in project awards in less than 60 days. Members also agree to a standard set of terms and conditions for R&D projects upon joining, which simplifies the process of awarding projects.
Any AFRL entity can now use ARCNet to conduct research and development into autonomy, and it may also be used by other DOD organizations. To start an ARCNet project, the project sponsor must provide a draft or final Request for Project Proposal, startup funding for the project, and participate in the proposal evaluation and selection.
ARCNet is also critical to AFRL's implementation of the Air Force 2030 Science and Technology Strategy. ARCNet complements several aspects of this strategy -- which requires cutting edge application of autonomy technologies -- and directly aligns with the strategy's third objective to Deepen and Expand the S&T Enterprise.
"ARCNet is ideally situated to assist AFRL in achieving this objective, by cultivating partnerships, engaging more closely with university research, and enhancing dialogue between the AF S&T enterprise and potential sources of innovation," said Schumacher. "That is what the S&T Strategy has asked for - and it is what ARCNet is designed to do."
