Former Air National Guardsman Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Unlawfully Disclosing Classified National Defense Information

A former member of the U.S. Air National Guard (USANG), Jack Douglas Teixeira, 22, of North Dighton, Massachusetts, was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for retaining and transmitting hundreds of pages of classified National Defense Information (NDI), including many documents designated top secret, on an online social media platform in 2022 and 2023. Teixeira, was sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Teixeira was also barred from having contact with foreign agents.

In March, Teixeira pleaded guilty to six counts of willful retention and transmission of classified information relating to the national defense. Teixeira was arrested in April 2023 and charged by criminal complaint with retention and transmission of NDI and unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or materials. He was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in June 2023. He has remained in federal custody since his arrest.

“Jack Teixeira repeatedly shared classified national defense information on a social media platform in an attempt to impress anonymous friends on the internet – instead, it has landed him a 15 year sentence in federal prison,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Teixeira’s profound breach of trust endangered our country’s national security and that of our allies. This sentence demonstrates the seriousness of the obligation to protect our country’s secrets and the safety of the American people.”

“This sentencing is a stark warning to all those entrusted with protecting national defense information: betray that trust, and you will be held accountable,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Jack Teixeira’s criminal conduct placed our nation, our troops, and our allies at great risk. The FBI will continue to work diligently with our partners to protect classified information and ensure that those who turn their backs on their country face justice.”

“Mr. Teixeira is responsible for engaging in one of the most significant leaks of classified documents and information in United States history, which resulted in exceptionally grave and long-lasting damage to the national security of the United States,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts. “He exploited his Top-Secret security clearance to share critical defense information online. In doing so, he exposed sensitive defense information involving our allies, putting our intelligence community and our troops at risk. It is vital that our classified information remains just that – classified. Leaking and distributing this kind of information poses significant and real consequences across the globe. This is disturbing conduct that will not go unnoticed and unchecked.”

Teixeira enlisted in the USANG in September 2019. Until his arrest in 2023, he served with the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis USANG Base in Massachusetts as a Cyber Defense Operations Journeyman. Teixeira's primary responsibility was maintaining and troubleshooting the classified workstations of other members of the 102nd Intelligence Wing. In order to perform his job, Teixeira was granted a Top-Secret//Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance in 2021. Beginning in or around January 2022, Teixeira unlawfully retained and transmitted NDI classified as “TOP SECRET” or “SECRET” and/or Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), onto the social media platform Discord to persons not authorized to receive such information.

Teixeira used a secure workstation at the Otis USANG Base to conduct hundreds of searches for classified documents containing NDI that were unrelated to his duties. On two separate occasions, Teixeira’s superiors warned him not to take notes on classified intelligence information and to stop conducting “deep dives” into classified intelligence information. Despite these warnings and his considerable training, Teixeira purposefully and repeatedly removed classified information and documents containing NDI without authorization from the secure facility where he worked. Teixeira subsequently transmitted the information by typing it into an online social media platform, where it was further transmitted by other users. Teixeira also posted images of hundreds of classified documents to a social media platform, nearly all of which bore standard classification markings – including “SECRET,” “TOP SECRET” and SCI designations – indicating that they contained highly classified U.S. government information. The documents and information illegally disseminated by Teixeira discussed a range of topics including descriptions of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and troop movements on a particular date. The information he retained and disseminated was derived from sensitive U.S. intelligence, gathered through classified sources and methods.

Shortly before his arrest in April 2022, Teixeira took steps to conceal his disclosures by destroying and disposing of his electronic devices, deleting his online accounts, and encouraging his online acquaintances to do the same.

The FBI Washington and Boston Field Offices investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Governor Hochul Provides Update on Wildfires Impacting New York State

Governor Announces Statewide Burn Ban In Effect Until November 30 Due to Increased Fire Risk

Jennings Creek/Sterling State Park Fire Has Increased in Size to 5,000 Acres Spreading Across New York and New Jersey

Largest Wildfire To Affect New York State Since 2008

State Has Deployed Resources To Respond to Fires in Orange and Ulster Counties, Including Four Helicopters From the New York State Police and National Guard

National Weather Service has Issued Red Flag Warnings for Mid-Hudson, New York City, Long Island, Capital Region and Portions of the Southern Tier and Mohawk Valley Regions Through 6 p.m. Tuesday 

Governor Kathy Hochul today provided an update on wildfires burning across New York State and has deployed a multi-agency response to fires in Orange and Ulster counties in close coordination with local fire departments and first responders. Aerial investigation shows the Jennings Creek/Sterling State Park wildfire, which is in both New York and New Jersey, now encompasses 5,000 acres, half of which is in New York, and is 10 percent contained in both states. The fire in the Town of Denning, Ulster County is 95 percent contained within 630 acres. Governor Hochul also announced a statewide burn ban is in effect until November 30th due to an increased fire risk as the State continues to experience drought conditions.

“I'm incredibly grateful to the first responders and those on the frontlines that are working around the clock to stop the spread of these fires to protect their fellow New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “As we experience drought conditions and an increased fire risk across the State, now is not the right time to be burning outdoors, and I urge everyone to heed our warnings as we continue to take the necessary precautions to keep all New Yorkers safe.”

Orange County Jennings Creek/Sterling Forest State Park

The main fire co-located in New York and New Jersey is now estimated at 5000 acres, including 2,500 acres on the New York side, and is 10 percent contained. This includes acreage that is actively burning and acreage that has already been burned. Tragically, a New York State Parks employee lost his life responding to this fire. A second 42-acre fire is located near West Mombasha Road and the Appalachian Trail and is contained. New York officials are working in close coordination with New Jersey officials.

On Monday, 277 emergency responders, including firefighters from 44 companies with 230 personnel; six law enforcement agencies with 28 staff members and four EMS crews with 19 personnel, responded to the wildfire. This also includes representatives from Orange County, the New Jersey Fire Service, Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, New York State Police, Department of Transportation and State Parks. Crews worked throughout the night widening and reinforcing existing fire lines between the fire and areas of Wah Ta Wah Park and Sylvan Park.

There are four helicopters responding including two operated by the New York State Police. DMNA is providing two Blackhawk Helicopters to support the response on Monday in addition to the two NYSP helicopters already assisting. The two UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter buckets can carry 660 gallons of water. On Monday, helicopters dropped over 100 buckets of water on the fire.

There have been no mandatory evacuations, however, as a precaution, 12 homes in the Town of Warwick, Orange County voluntarily evacuated.

Potable water is available for the public at 18 Church Street at Village of Greenwood Hall.

Whitehouse Fire

The fire in the Town of Denning, Ulster County is 95 percent contained within 630 acres. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers are coordinating the response. Twelve rangers worked on the fire with the unified command of Sullivan and Ulster County 911 Centers and volunteer fire departments. Twenty fire departments provided over 185 firefighters with apparatus from engines, brush trucks, tankers, bull dozers and UTV's.

NYC DEP aviation and NYS Police aviation provided support with bucket drops and aerial imaging. Two structures burned in Ulster County, an abandoned house and outbuilding.

From 2007 to 2023, New York State had an average of 117 wildfires per year, with an average of 1,400 acres burned per year. The wildfire at Jennings Creek-Sterling Forest State Park in the Town of Warwick, Orange County supersedes the amount of acreage burned in wildfires in 14 of the 17 years of available data per the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in New York State. In 2008, the Overlooks Fire in the Town of Rochester, Ulster County burned a total of 2,855 acres. The largest brush fire to occur in New York State was the Adirondack Fire of 1903, which lasted for six weeks and burned a total area of 600,000 acres.

New York State Agency Response

Department of Environmental Conservation

• In addition to their direct response to the fires in the Hudson Valley, personnel are assigned to fire watch and response duties on Long Island and other communities across the State

Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services

• 14 staff including members of the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, Office of Emergency Management and Office of Interoperable and Emergency Communications are on site in Ulster County.
• Incident Management Team members in GIS, logistics and finance
• Communications engineers
• Portable radio tower
• Satellite communications truck with additional equipment
• An AT&T/FirstNet site on wheels providing cellular services including cellular 911 capability
• 5 Office of Fire Prevention and Control staff working in Orange County.
• Fire Operation Center is open
• The NY Fire Mobilization and Mutual Aid Plan has been activated to assist Orange County

NYSP

• 2 helicopters doing water drops
• Drones
• Helping staff command post coordinating of assets

NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

• 1 bulldozer and operator
• 5 wildland firefighters
• 1 Park forest ranger
• 1 public information officer
• 2 regional emergency managers
• 1 park police SGT

DMNA

• 2 National Guard Blackhawk helicopters and 8 aircrew

DOT

• 4 Bulldozers in Orange County

Ways to reduce smoke exposure include:

• Be aware of your air: Before heading out to work, exercise, or to the park with the kids, check the AQI forecast and adjust your outdoor activities if there is poor air quality. Plan ahead by signing up for email air quality alerts.
• Stay inside: Keep windows and doors closed to keep indoor air clean. If smoke gets inside, buy or make your own portable air cleaner to reduce particles indoors, or use HEPA air filters in your HVAC system.
• Wear a mask: If you must go out, a properly worn N95 mask can filter out large smoke particles, reducing the amount of PM you breathe in.
• Take it easy: Avoid strenuous outdoor activities that may cause you to breathe heavier.
• Protect the vulnerable: Caretakers of children, the elderly and those with asthma should be especially careful. When the AQI is elevated, be sure to limit their outdoor activities to keep them safe.
• Take care of four-legged friends: Keep outdoor trips with your pet brief and low-key to protect them from the same nose, eye, throat and lung irritation people experience.
• For people who spend time outdoors, when air quality is unhealthy, wearing a well-fitting face mask is recommended. A N95 or KN95 will work best. More information about the New York State Air Quality forecast is available here. To check your location's current air quality, go to www.airnow.gov.

New York State has implemented a statewide burn ban in effect until November 30 due to increased fire risk. This burn ban prohibits the starting of outdoor fires statewide for purposes of brush and debris disposal, as well as uncontained campfires, and open fires used for cooking. Backyard fire pits and contained campfires less than three feet in height and four feet in length, width, or diameter are allowed, as are small, contained cooking fires.

Recent dry conditions are resulting in a “High” fire danger for the Hudson Valley, Catskills, Long Island, Upper Hudson Valley/Champlain and St. Lawrence Fire Danger Rating Areas. A high fire danger means all fine, dead fuels ignite readily and fires start easily from most causes, including unattended brush and campfires. The current fire danger map is available on the DEC website. The northern regions were elevated today due the expected gusty winds and lower relative humidities forecasted during the existing prolonged dry spell. Any notable rainfall from the weekend was not areawide. While the winds are expected to calm down after today, dry conditions are expected to continue until the next weather system is expected to arrive later this week.

Fires may become serious and controlling them difficult unless attacked successfully while still small. Burning garbage or leaves is prohibited year-round in New York State and several municipalities have burn bans currently in effect.

MAYOR ADAMS CELEBRATES INCLUSIVE DECISION TO WELCOME LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY TO MARCH IN STATEN ISLAND ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

 

Mayor Adams Supported First-Ever LGBTQ+ Inclusive St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Staten Island in March 2024 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today celebrated a decision by the Richmond County St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee to allow LGBTQ+ groups to march in the borough’s annual celebration of Irish heritage for the first-time ever in 2025. 

  

“From day one, our administration has been clear that celebrations in our city should be welcoming and inclusive, which is why we brought the community together, along with the Staten Island Business Outreach Center, to create the first-ever — and incredibly successful — fully-inclusive St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Staten Island earlier this year,” said Mayor Adams. “We are thrilled that, this year, Staten Island’s LGBTQ+ community will finally be welcome to march under their own banner in the Richmond County St. Patrick’s Day Parade and we applaud the committee for coming to this decision, which was a long-time coming. Congratulations to the Staten Island community, including the Pride Center of Staten Island and the Lavender and Green Alliance, for their long advocacy for inclusion.” 

  

Earlier this year, Mayor Adams announced the first-ever LGBTQ+ inclusive St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Staten Island — which took place in March 2024 — bringing an end to a decades-long conflict. The longstanding Richmond County Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the last in the world to continue to prohibit the LGBTQ+ community from participation. Mayor Adams is the first mayor to participate in the March 2023 “Rainbow Run” in solidarity with the excluded LGBTQ+ community. In November 2022, Mayor Adams also became the first mayor in city history to visit the Pride Center of Staten Island.      

  

News, updates and more from NYC Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr.

 

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

HONORING VETERANS DAY

 

Veterans Day serves as a reminder of the great sacrifices that our veterans and their families have made in service to our country. 

On behalf of District 17, I offer our respect and immense gratitude to all those who bravely served to uphold the sacred values of America — extending a special shoutout to my favorite veteran, my wife Jessenia. 

BRONX TIMES   CM Salamanca allocates $310K towards technology upgrades for five Bronx community boards.  Read more https://www.bxtimes.com/cm-salamanca-allocate-310k-technology-upgrades-five-bronx-community-boards/ Visit our District Office at:  1070 Southern Boulevard Bronx, New York 10459 (718) 402-6130 salamanca@council.nyc.gov

Governor Hochul, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Representative Paul Tonko Announce Home Heating and Energy Efficiency Assistance to Help New Yorkers Lower Heating Costs This Winter

Eligible New Yorkers Can Receive up to $1,000 in Heating Assistance as They Prepare for Upcoming Colder Temperatures

Related State Programs Provide Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Services To Help Lower Energy Costs

Eligible New Yorkers Can Apply for Assistance Today at ny.gov/heat

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that funding is available to help low- and middle-income households and older adults lower their energy costs and keep their homes warm during cold winter months. Applications for the Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP, which can provide up to $996 to eligible households, are currently open to New Yorkers. More than 1.7 million HEAP benefits were issued last winter, putting more than $397 million dollars back in the pockets of families across the state.

“New Yorkers should not have to choose between heating their home or putting food on the table, and we’re offering critical financial assistance to protect vulnerable New York households as the weather gets colder,” Governor Hochul said. “The Home Energy Assistance Program puts money back in the pockets of New Yorkers — helping households stay warm through the winter and providing much-needed financial relief. I urge all eligible New Yorkers to apply today.”

Through HEAP, a federally funded program, New Yorkers caring for vulnerable family members including those who are under the age of 6, individuals aged 60 and above or residents who are permanently disabled, are eligible to receive up to $996 in heating assistance. HEAP benefits are also available to eligible homeowners and renters depending on their income levels, household size and operative heating systems. A family of four may have a maximum gross monthly income of $6,390, or an annual gross income of $76,681, and still qualify for benefits, marking a significant increase from last year’s maximum of a monthly gross income of $5,838, and an annual gross income of $70,059.

Eligible households can receive one HEAP benefit per season and could also be eligible for up to two Emergency HEAP benefits if they are in danger of running out of heating fuel or having their utility service shut off. Applications for HEAP benefits are now being accepted, while applications for Emergency HEAP benefits will open on January 2, 2025.

Eligible New Yorkers can apply at ny.gov/heat. Applications for assistance are also accepted at local departments of social services and can be submitted through the mail or in person. Additionally, older adults needing assistance with HEAP applications can contact their local office for the aging or contact the NY Connects helpline at 1-800-342-9871.

2023-2024 HEAP Recipients 

Region	Total Benefits Issued
New York City	989,330
Long Island	84,354
Hudson Valley	111,123
Capital Region	79,593
Western New York	171,321
Central New York	70,525
Finger Lakes	101,886
Mohawk Valley	61,163
North Country	51,587
Southern Tier	66,813
Total	1,787,695

Resources are also available to assist eligible homeowners if their primary heating system is not safe, inoperative, or if the boiler must be repaired or replaced. Benefit amounts through the HEAP Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement program are based on the actual cost(s) needed for heating equipment improvements, allowing up to $4,000 for a repair and $8,000 for a replacement.

Eligible homeowners can also now apply for a HEAP Heating Equipment Clean and Tune benefit to ensure that their home’s primary heating source works reliably. These services can include chimney cleaning, minor repairs, and installation of carbon monoxide (CO) detectors or programmable thermostats. Homeowners may also be eligible for benefits if their heating system is over 12 months old or has not been professionally cleaned within the last 12 months. Benefit amounts of up to $500, are based on the actual cost(s) incurred to provide clean and tune services. Applicants for these benefits should contact their local department of social services for more information.

HEAP complements numerous state programs designed to help low- and middle-income New Yorkers keep money in their pockets through direct utility bill credits, discounts and assistance. Additionally, a variety of incentives and support are available for cost-saving energy efficiency improvements.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) EmPower+ program can provide low energy efficiency services to HEAP-eligible homeowners and renters, such as comprehensive home energy assessments that help determine plans for lower home energy usage. Specifically, there is funding available for energy efficient improvements in homes including air sealing, insulation, heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, electrical service and wiring upgrades.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) administers the Weatherization Assistance Program which helps HEAP-eligible households reduce energy costs, conserve energy, and improve safety and health standards. WAP services, provided through a statewide network of local service providers, includes the installation of insulation of attics and walls, lighting and refrigeration repairs and sealing of cracks and holes.

The Energy Affordability Program (EAP) provides financial relief to approximately 2.7 million New York households through monthly bill discount opportunities on electric and/or natural gas utility bills. The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) monitors the program and approves measures as needed to strengthen and improve the program.