EFTA01655980.pdf

From: FBI News Briefing To: "FBINewsBriefing Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - May 30, 2025 Date: Fri, 30 May 2025 10:15:12 +0000 Importance: Normal View in Browser it Federal Bureau of Investigation May 30, 2025 Seal Federal Bureau of Investigation Daily News Briefing (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs) Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here. Table of Contents IN THE NEWS • Federal Authorities Probe Effort to Impersonate White House Chief of Staff • Deputy Director Bongino Tells 'Fox & Friends' Progress Is Being Made on High-Profile DC Cases • Bernard Kerik, Who Led NYPD on 9/11 Before Prison and Pardon, Has Died at 69 • Continued Reporting: FBI Sounds Alarm on Disturbing Rise in Assassination Threats Against President Trump • White House Pressure for Increased Immigration Arrests Strains Law Enforcement Agencies • FBI Email Instructs Employees Not to Promote Pride Month on Bureau Time COUNTERTERRORISM • Man Who Says Far-Right Content Led Him to Threaten Election Officials Is Sentenced to Three Years • Woman Gets Two Years Probation for Synagogue Bomb Threat • Africa Terror Group Ramping up Ability to Strike Inside the U.S., General Says • Jewish Community Faces Unprecedentedly High Threat Environment • Venezuela Weaponized Tren de Aragua Gang to Hurt the U.S., FBI Warned in January • FBI, Mississippi Sheriff's Office Warn of Online Terrorist Group • Michigan Gov. Whitmer Says Trump Promised Not to Pardon Kidnapping Plotters COUNTERINTELLIGENCE • China Targets U.S. Military Members in Overseas Spy Operations, Former CIA Station Chief Warns • Intelligence Agency Employee Accused of Attempting to Leak Classified Documents Out of Frustration With Trump • Continued Reporting: Nellie Ohr Lied In Trump-Russia Probe Testimony, FBI Docs Allege • Rubio's Visa Announcement Follows Several Incidents of Federal Charges EFTA01655980 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Multimillion-Dollar Medicare Fraud Conspiracy • FBI Targets Memphis Cargo Thefts to Combat Rising Crime • FBI Releases Covenant School Shooting Suspect's Journal • FBI and Marshals Join Search for Convicted Killer in Arkansas • Local Charges Dropped as Feds Target Venezuelan Accused of Posing as Teen at Ohio High School • FBI Analyst Possessed More Than 1,000 Real and Al Generated Child Porn Images, Investigators Say • Cash Reward Hiked to $50,000 as Manhunt Continues for Two New Orleans Jail Escapees Still at Large • Man Shot, Killed by St. Louis Police and FBI Fugitive Task Force Member • Prosecution Rests in Trial of Karen Read Who's Charged in Death of Boston Police Officer Boyfriend • Feds Target Chinese Couple Accused in $9 Million Crypto 'Pig Butchering" Scam • FBI and Others Investigating Possible Florida Permit Fraud • Pittsburgh-Area Community Leaders Receive Reports About Two Immigration Raids • Passenger Accused of Dragging American Airlines Flight Attendant • Hawaii Investigation Draws FBI and Police Presence • Dangerous Child Abuser Is No Longer a Fugitive • Georgia Man Sentenced to Nearly Two Years for Threatening FBI Agent • FBI Warns Tragic Illinois Case Reminder for Parents to Stay Alert • Armed Bike-Riding Bank Robber Sought by FBI in New Jersey CYBER DIVISION • Treasury Sanctions Crypto Scam Facilitator That Allegedly Stole $200M From U.S. Victims • Former FBI Agent Explains Why Cellcom Has Stayed Quiet About Cyber Incident Investigation • Continued Reporting: FBI Warns Gmail Users of Sophisticated AI-Driven Phishing Attacks INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS • Continued Reporting: Dada Joe's Team Denies Reports of Alleged FBI Arrest OTHER FBI NEWS • Biden Failed to Investigate 65,000 Reports of Immigrant Children in Possible Danger • El Paso FBI Leader Talks of Immigration Enforcement, Tren de Aragua Gang and More • The U.S. Is Storing Migrant Children's DNA in a Criminal Database • FBI Donates Body Armor to Iowa Police Department • Larry Hoover 'Deserves to Be in Prison,' Chicago FBI Boss Says of Gangster Disciples Founder as Lawyers Praise Trump Choice • ManTech's FBI Protest Once Again Falls Short • Seattle Mayor Denies Allegations of an FBI Investigation Following Protests INTERNATIONAL NEWS • Israel Fears Being Boxed In by Trump's Iran Talks • Case Against Soccer Star Maradona's Medical Team Ends in Mistrial • North Korea Sent Missiles and Other Arms to Russia in Violation of Sanctions, U.S. and Allies Say • How China Uses Work to Reshape Uyghur Identity and Control a Strategic Region • Russia Appears to Launch New Offensive in Ukraine Amid Peace Talks EFTA01655981  • British Man Faces 7 Charges Over Liverpool Parade Car Crash • New U.S. Envoy Makes First and Symbolic Trip to Syria • U.K. Weighs Sanctions on 2 Israeli Cabinet Ministers as Gaza Crisis Worsens • U.S. Proposes 60-Day Ceasefire for Gaza, Plan Shows • Pakistan, India Close to Completing Border Troop Reduction, Senior Pakistani General Says • Saudi Warned Iran to Reach Nuclear Deal With Trump or Risk Israeli Strike • Paris to Deploy 5,400 Police for Champions League Final OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • Kristi Noem Said a Migrant Threatened to Kill Trump. Investigators Think He Was Set Up • Justice Department Tells American Bar Association It Will No Longer Comply With Ratings for Judicial Nominees • Trump Administration Publishes List of Sanctuary Cities and Counties to Target • Out of DOGE, Elon Musk Returns to His Bruised Business Empire • Chinese Students Rattled by Trump Plan to 'Aggressively' Revoke Visas • Trump's Flurry of Pardons Signals a Wholesale Effort to Redefine Crime • Trump Summons Fed's Powell, Tells Him He's Making a Mistake on Rates • Trump's Tariffs to Remain in Effect After Appeals Court Grants Stay • U.S. Formally Moves to Dismiss Prosecution Against Boeing and Asks Judge to Cancel Trial Over Crashes • Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Effort to Strip Harvard's Foreign Student Visas WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS Federal Authorities Probe Effort to Impersonate White House Chief of Staff The Wall Street Journal (05/29, Dawsey) reported that federal authorities are investigating an effort to impersonate White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, who had her personal cellphone contacts hacked. The impersonator has been contacting prominent Republicans and business executives by text and phone, using artificial intelligence to imitate Wiles's voice and making requests that appeared to be official. The article noted that the FBI and White House are looking into the matter, with the FBI stating that they do not believe a foreign nation is involved and are working to determine the goal and identity of the impersonator. "The FBI takes all threats against the president, his staff, and our cybersecurity with the utmost seriousness," Director Patel said in a statement. "Safeguarding our administration officials' ability to securely communicate to accomplish the president's mission is a top priority." Additional reporting on the story was provided by BBC (05/30, Chater), Breitbart (05/29, Bois), CBS News (05/29, Jacobs), The Daily Beast (05/30, Harvey), The Hill (05/29, Scully), The Independent (05/30, Papenfuss), New York Post (05/30, Nava), Reuters (05/29, Staff Writer). Deputy Director Bongino Tells 'Fox & Friends' Progress Is Being Made on High-Profile DC Cases Fox News (05/29, Colombo) reported that the FBI is closing in on suspects in the case of pipe bombs planted in Washington, D.C. on the eve of the Jan 6 Capitol riots in 2021, according to Deputy Director Bongino. According to the article, the FBI has renewed its focus on the case, releasing new video footage and details about the suspect, including their physical characteristics, and has followed hundreds of leads and conducted over 1,000 interviews. "I want answers on this, and I'm pretty confident that we're closing in on some suspects," Deputy Director Bongino told "FOX & Friends" on Thursday, noting the case is a top priority. "We were told by partisan actors out there, this was the insurrection, the world was going to fall apart, and no one seemed to show any interest in this case," he argued, adding that he and Director Patel have made the pipe bomb investigation a priority for their department. Then Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was inside the DNC's offices when the pipe EFTA01655982 bomb was discovered. Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) also passed by the bomb before it was discovered and safely removed by authorities. The Washington Examiner (05/29, Notheis) reported that Deputy Director Bongino also stated on Fox & Friends that evidence from former FBI Director James Comey's time at the agency was found, which he said was in a room "hidden from us." "I wouldn't call it hidden, but hidden from us at least and not mentioned to us, and then we found stuff in there and a lot of it's from the Comey-era, and we are working our damndest right now to declassify," he said. "And just so you know, because I get the public, I totally understand people saying, 'Well, do it now: The process is that not all information is ours to declassify; some is from other intelligence agencies, it's not— we literally can't do it. Once that gets done and that gets out there, and you read some of the stuff, we found that, by the way, was not processed through the normal procedure, digitizing it, putting it in FBI records. We found it in bags hiding under Jim Comey's FBI, and you're going to be stunned!" The New York Post (05/29, Crane, King) reported that Deputy Director Bongino announced that the FBI will release video footage to debunk conspiracy theories surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's death. The video allegedly shows that no one was present in Epstein's jail cell at the time of his death, supporting the conclusion that he died by suicide. Deputy Director Bongino stated that the footage will be released after it has been cleaned up and enhanced, and will include the original video to ensure transparency. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Daily Mail (05/29, Chain), Daily Wire (05/29, Jewell), HuffPost (05/29, Moye), LA Times (05/29, Jarvie), NBC News (05/29, Kosnar, Dilanian, Rohde), Newsweek (05/29, Aitken, Versano) (2), NJ.com (05/29, Cohen), New York Daily News (05/29, Timotija), People (05/29, Pelisek), Raw Story (05/29, Edwards), The Daily Beast (05/29, Tomazin), The Hill (05/29, Timotija), The Times (05/29, Ensor), Washington Examiner (05/29, Goldsberry), Washington Times (05/29, Staff Writer) (2). Bernard Kerik, Who Led NYPD on 9/11Before Prison and Pardon, Has Died at 69 The Associated Press (05/29, Staff Writer) reported that Bernard Kerik, the former New York City police commissioner, has died at the age of 69. Kerik led the NYPD on 9/11 and was later nominated to head the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, but pleaded guilty to tax fraud and served nearly four years in prison. He was pardoned by President Donald Trump in 2020, after a dramatic fall from grace that followed his heroic actions on 9/11. The article noted that Director Patel said that Kerik's death on Thursday came after an unspecified "private battle with illness!' Additional reporting on the story was provided by WABC (ABC-7) (05/29, Staff Writer), CBS News (05/29, Staff Writer), CNN (05/29, Cohen, Voytek), Fox News (05/29, Whitten, Margolis), Just the News (05/29, Severi), Newsmax (05/29, Staff Writer), New York Daily News (05/29, Rayman, Jacobson), New York Post (05/29, Devine, Campanile, et al.), New York Times (05/29, Roberts), NY1 (05/29, Staff Writer), Reuters (05/29, Ward), Rolling Stone (05/29, Madarang), USA Today (05/29, Connolly), Wall Street Journal (05/29, Otis), Washington Post (05/29, Jeong). Continued Reporting: FBI Sounds Alarm on Disturbing Rise in Assassination Threats Against President -frump Daily Mail (05/29, Potter) and the Washington Times (05/29, Wilson) reported that Director Patel told Fox News' Bret Baier that the FBI has seen a rise in threats against President Trump's life after former FBI Director James Comey shared a controversial Instagram post with the numbers "86 47". Director Patel said that the post has led to numerous "copycat" threats, forcing the bureau to redirect resources away from other important investigations, such as child sex predators and fentanyl traffickers. Fox News (05/29, Singman) explained that Comey's post, which some interpreted as a threat to Trump, has been described as a "political stunt" that has caused chaos and forced the FBI to divert time and resources. The Washington Times (05/29, Picket) added that Director Patel stated in the interview that the FBI is preparing to reveal information about the bureau's sources at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, which he says will "surprise" and "shock" people. The information relates to the presence of confidential human sources or informants at the Capitol during the riot, with at least 25 reported to be present. An investigation by the Department of Justice Inspector General confirmed that the FBI had more than two dozen informants in the area, with some entering the building with protesters, but found no evidence that they were authorized to break the law or encourage others to do so. White House Pressure for Increased Immigration Arrests Strains Law Enforcement Agencies CNN (05/29, Alvarez, Perez, et al.) reported that the Trump administration is pushing to triple daily immigration arrests, with a goal of a million deportations a year, putting pressure on law enforcement agencies. According to the article, the FBI has reassigned hundreds of agents to immigration-related duties, potentially hindering national security investigations, and is offering incentives such as overtime pay and transfers to agents who participate in EFTA01655983 enforcement and removal operations. The article noted that other law enforcement agencies, including the US Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, are also being diverted to support immigration enforcement efforts, straining their resources and raising concerns about prioritization. The article highlighted that top FBI officials have provided little guidance to field offices on how agents are expected to increase immigration arrest numbers while also working their top priority cases, the sources said. The article stated that FBI agents have been told by supervisors not to document moving resources away from high-priority cases toward immigration-related work, according to one person familiar with the matter. "While the FBI does not comment on specific personnel decisions, our agents and support staff are dedicated professionals working around the clock to defend the homeland and crush violent crime — a mission which certainly overlaps with the consequences of the previous administration's four-year open border policies," FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson said in a statement to CNN. "We are proud to work with our interagency partners to keep the American people safe." The article added that the all-hands-on-deck-for-immigration approach is raising critical questions inside the FBI and other law enforcement agencies about how they use limited resources to execute their mission. "Should we have highly trained FBI agents going to support OHS priorities?" the former FBI agent said. "Is this just a surge that's going to be temporary?" FBI Email Instructs Employees Not to Promote Pride Month on Bureau Time Fox News (05/29, Miller) reported that the FBI has instructed employees not to promote Pride Month in their professional capacity, as stated in an email from Assistant Director for Public Affairs Ben Williamson. According to the article, employees are allowed to participate in Pride Month activities in their personal capacity, but not using FBI resources or their Bureau affiliation. "I've received several questions about the FBI's stance on Pride Month and what related activities FBI divisions and employees should or should not participate in," Williamson said in the email. "So, I want to take the opportunity to make FBI leadership's expectations clear: There should be no official FBI actions, events, or messaging regarding Pride Month." The article noted that the email comes after the Trump administration has shifted away from diversity, equity, and inclusion messaging and programs in the federal government, instead focusing on meritocracy and the individual missions of departments. "Let good cops be cops— and rebuild trust in the FBI," Director Patel said in his first statement after being sworn in to lead the bureau. Back to Top COUNTERTERRORISM Man Who Says Far-Right Content Led Him to Threaten Election Officials Is Sentenced to Three Years The Associated Press (05/29, Slevin) reported that Teak Ty Brockbank, 45, was sentenced to 3 years in prison for making online threats to kill Democratic election officials in Colorado and Arizona. According to the article, Brockbank pleaded guilty to the threats, which he claimed were influenced by his exposure to far-right extremist content, and apologized for his actions. U.S. District Judge S. Kato Crews handed down the sentence, stating that it was necessary to deter others from making similar threats against public officials. The 2024 press release noted that the FBI Denver Field Office investigated the case. Additional reporting on the story was provided by CBS News (05/29, McRae), The Center Square (05/29, Mason), and the New York Times (05/29, Ortiz). Woman Gets TWo Years Probation for Synagogue Bomb Threat WLUK (Fox-11) (05/29, Kerhin) reported that Pauline Beyer, 66, was sentenced to 2 years of probation for making a bomb threat to Congregation B'Nai Israel, a synagogue in Oshkosh. According to the article, Beyer pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of misuse of a phone and obstruction and apologized for her actions. "She indicated that she decided to call in a bomb threat on today's date in order to get the FBI to come to her residence and help her," the complaint stated. WBAY (ABC-2) (05/29, Staff Writer) also reported on the story. Africa Terror Group Ramping up Ability to Strike Inside the U.S., General Says ABC News (05/29, Flaherty) reported that the Sahel region in Africa has been identified as the "epicenter of terrorism on the globe" by Gen. Michael Langley, the head of U.S. Africa Command, due to the significant increase in terror factions' presence over the past three years. Gen. Langley warned that these terror groups, particularly one faction aligned with al-Qaeda known as "JNIM", are ramping up their ability to launch attacks inside the U.S., with JNIM having expanded fourfold since 2022 and now controlling much of Burkina Faso. The article explained that the U.S. is keeping a close eye on JNIM because of its potential capacity to attack the U.S. homeland, and Gen. Langley emphasized that extremist groups are gaining ground and expanding their ambitions, posing a threat to the EFTA01655984 homeland as they gain in capability and capacity. The situation in the Sahel region is further complicated by the influence of China and Russia, which are investing heavily in the region and forging alliances with local governments, as evidenced by the U.S. being asked to leave a military base in Niger last year, which was then occupied by Russian troops. The article noted that Gen. Langley's warning comes at a time when the Trump administration is canceling aid programs across the continent and considering consolidating military leadership in Africa with one already overseeing troops in Europe, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and attention to the growing terrorist threat in the region. The article highlighted that a former Army guardsman was arrested before an ISIS-inspired terror attack. The article mentioned that the FBI says the former Army guardsman thought he was conducting the attack with two ISIS radicals, but they were actually undercover FBI agents. Fox News (05/29, Casiano, Friden) also reported on the story. Jewish Community Faces Unprecedentedly High Threat Environment ADL (05/29, Staff Writer) reported that the Jewish community is facing an unprecedentedly high threat environment, with 15 terrorist plots or attacks targeting Jews, Zionists, or Jewish institutions in the US since January 2020. Eight of these incidents occurred in the past 11 months, including the May 21, 2025, murders of Israeli Embassy staffers Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim in Washington D.C. Other notable incidents include the arrest of individuals such as Forrest Pemberton, Abdullah Ezzeldin Taha Mohamed Hassan, and Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, who were allegedly plotting to harm Jewish targets, and the attacks by individuals like Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, Hashem Younis Hashem Hnaihen, and Asghar Ali, who targeted Jewish individuals or institutions. The article noted the FBI's involvement in several of the ensuing investigations. Venezuela Weaponized Tren de Aragua Gang to Hurt the U.S., FBI Warned in January Miami Herald (05/29, Delgado) reported that a newly surfaced FBI memo from January stated that the Venezuelan regime, led by Nicolas Maduro, is using the Tren de Aragua gang to destabilize the U.S. and other neighboring countries. The gang, classified as a "megagang," has been deliberately enabled by the Venezuelan government to expand its operations across Latin America and into U.S. cities, including New York and Chicago. The FBI believes that senior Venezuelan officials, including Maduro, are involved in the gang's daily operations, using them as a covert arm of the country's security state to assassinate dissidents, threaten exiled opposition figures, and weaponize migration as a geopolitical tool. In response, the FBI calls for enhanced coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement, increased education on TDA tactics, and robust intelligence-sharing protocols. Legal attaches across the Americas have reportedly built strong partnerships with regional police forces—networks the FBI believes are critical to tracking TDA across borders. FBI, Mississippi Sheriff's Office Warn of Online Terrorist Group WHBQ (Fox-13) (05/29, Bilyeu) reported that the FBI and Marshall County Sheriff's Office are warning parents about a satanic, neo-Nazi terrorist group called "764" that targets children online. According to the article, the group uses social media and online games to contact children, encouraging them to harm themselves and others, and has been known to target victims as young as 9 years old. The article explained that parents are advised to be vigilant and watch for warning signs such as sudden behavior changes, new online friends, and unexplained injuries, as the FBI and law enforcement work to combat the group, with two leaders already arrested last month. Michigan Gov. Whitmer Says Trump Promised Not to Pardon Kidnapping Plotters The Washington Post (05/29, Vazquez) reported that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer claims President Donald Trump promised not to pardon two men, Barry Croft Jr. and Adam Fox, who were convicted of plotting to kidnap her. Trump recently stated he would consider pardoning the men, contradicting his alleged previous promise to Whitmer. Responding to Trump's comments, Whitmer told Michigan Public Radio, "I talked to the president about a month ago and he asked me how I'd feel about this, and I said, 'I think it would be the wrong decision.' When asked if she thinks Trump is serious about the potential pardons, Whitmer said that wasn't clear. "When I talked to him before, we had a thoughtful conversation about it, and he said he'd drop it. So, I'm not sure what to make of this new revelation," she said in Thursday's interview. The article noted that federal and state officials originally charged multiple people in the plot against Whitmer, arresting the men in an October 2020 sting that involved the use of informants and undercover FBI agents. The officers embedded with the men, who were associates of a militia group known as the Wolverine Watchmen. Additional reporting on the story was provided by the New York Post (05/29, Reilly), The Daily Beast (05/29, Vaillancourt), Washington Examiner (05/29, O'Keefe). Back to Top EFTA01655985 COUNTERINTELLIGENCE China Targets U.S. Military Members in Overseas Spy Operations, Former CIA Station Chief Warns Fox News (05/30, Sabes) reported that a former CIA station chief, Dan Hoffman, warns that China is targeting U.S. military service members and government employees in its overseas spy operations. According to the article, two active-duty Army soldiers, Jian Zhao and Li Tian, were arrested for allegedly selling "Top Secret" information to individuals based in China, highlighting China's efforts to gather sensitive information. The article explained that China is using "cut-outs" to recruit individuals with access to US government information, and experts say the country will use any tactics necessary to obtain military secrets, with the goal of gaining an advantage in a potential war with the U.S. "While bribery and corruption have thrived under China's Communist Party, this behavior cannot be tolerated with our service members who are entrusted with sensitive military information, including national defense information," said Director Patel on the charges. Intelligence Agency Employee Accused of Attempting to Leak Classified Documents Out of Frustration With Trump Politico (05/29, Bianco) reported that the Department of Justice has accused Nathan Villas Laatsch, an employee of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), of attempting to leak classified documents to a foreign government due to his frustration with President Donald Trump. Laatsch, who worked in the DIA's Insider Threat Division, a unit responsible for detecting employees who might disclose sensitive information, allegedly offered to share classified material with a "friendly foreign government" in an email, stating that he disagreed with the values of the current administration. The FBI obtained the email and set up an undercover operation, posing as representatives of the foreign country, and received classified material from Laatsch at a pre-arranged location in northern Virginia, leading to his arrest on Thursday. According to court documents, Laatsch expressed his dissatisfaction with the current administration and stated that he intended to act in support of the values that the United States once stood for, and he was also seeking citizenship in a foreign country due to conditions in the U.S. The FBI Washington Field Office is investigating the case, and Laatsch is scheduled to make an initial court appearance in Alexandria, Virginia. "This case underscores the persistent risk of insider threats;' Director Patel wrote on X. "The FBI remains steadfast in protecting our national security and thanks our law enforcement partners for their critical support." Additional reporting on the story was provided by AlxNow (05/29, Belmore), Associated Press (05/29, Staff Writer), Hindustan Times (05/29, Vaidyanathan), WUSA (CBS-9) (05/29, Cremen). Continued Reporting: Nellie Ohr Lied In Trump-Russia Probe Testimony, FBI Docs Allege Daily Caller (05/29, VanBuskirk) reported that Nellie Ohr allegedly lied to Congress during her 2018 testimony about her role in the Trump-Russia investigation, according to newly declassified FBI documents. The documents suggest that Ohr's statements contradict her husband Bruce Ohr's testimony and the FBI's findings, which indicate she conducted research on Donald Trump and Paul Manafort's alleged ties to Russian organized crime. The FBI alleges that Nellie Ohr's denial of involvement in the Steele dossier was materially false, and Republican Senator Chuck Grassley has criticized the DOJ for not holding her accountable for apparent felonies. Just the News (05/29, Spicer) and The Blaze (05/29, Garcia) also reported on the story. Rubio's Visa Announcement Follows Several Incidents of Federal Charges Fox News (05/29, Oliver) reported that the Trump administration increased scrutiny on Chinese nationals at U.S. universities due to alleged espionage and misleading activities. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to "aggressively revoke" visas of Chinese students linked to the Chinese Communist Party. The article explained that several incidents involving Chinese nationals at U.S. universities include espionage charges, illegal entry into military bases, and unauthorized photography of defense sites. The article highlighted DOJ charges against five University of Michigan students last year after a sergeant major encountered them at Camp Grayling in 2023. They were all Chinese nationals attending the University of Michigan as part of the school's joint program with a Shanghai-based university, an FBI official wrote in the complaint, noting some of them had taken photos of Camp Grayling's military installations and operations. The FBI asked the court to issue arrest warrants for the students for making false statements and destroying records. Politico (05/29, Mackinnon, Eimil, Kine) reported that the FBI's China Initiative, established during President DONALD TRUMP's first term to protect U.S. science and technology from Chinese espionage, was shuttered after a review during the Biden administration found that it created a "harmful perception" of racial bias. A number of researchers and academics with Chinese roots have been wrongly accused of espionage. EFTA01655986 Back to Top CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Multimillion-Dollar Medicare Fraud Conspiracy KCTV (CBS-5) (05/29, Scammahorn) reported that a Kansas City man pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicare by billing millions in claims for unnecessary tests. According to court documents, Jamie P. McNamara, 49, of Kansas City, ran call centers that preyed upon vulnerable Medicare recipients to agree to tests they did not need. To obtain the orders, McNamara paid illegal kickbacks and bribes, which he disguised through sham contracts. McNamara concealed his ownership and control of the Texas and Louisiana call center labs by listing family members' names as owners. According to the article, in approximately one and a half years, McNamara's labs submitted more than $174 million in claims to Medicare for genetic testing. McNamara received $55 million in reimbursements. The government also seized several luxury vehicles and more than $7 million in bank accounts. "McNamara lined his pockets by preying on vulnerable Americans concerned about their health. The genetic tests Medicare patients were lured into receiving did not provide them with any answers...and cost taxpayers millions of dollars," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp. FBI Targets Memphis Cargo Thefts to Combat Rising Crime WREG (CBS-3) (05/29, Coleman) reported that the FBI task force is setting its sights on the Bluff City to help combat crime in rising cargo thefts. Memphis is known as America's distribution center, a major hub for storing, packing, and shipping goods, but according to the FBI, it's also a hotspot for cargo theft. Jeremy Baker, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Memphis field office, told the outlet about the problem of boxcar bandits and why he also says Memphis needs additional resources to help reduce our high homicide rate. "FBI headquarters recognizing we have a significant transportation infrastructure that converges here in Memphis with rail, FedEx, I- 40, and 55 with the Mississippi River, FedEx Super Hub. And all of that, unfortunately, presents a lot of opportunities for criminals," said Baker. Baker said that they see insiders are often the ones committing crimes in warehouses and trucking firms. He is reminding business owners and operators to be vigilant. FBI Releases Covenant School Shooting Suspect's Journal The Tennessean (05/29, Shoup) reported that the FBI released the Covenant School shooter's journal without an explanation on May 29. The release comes less than two months after the Metro Nashville Police Department closed its investigation into the March 27, 2023, shooting where three children and three staff members were killed at the Covenant School. According to the article, Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney and Hallie Scruggs, all 9, as well as Covenant School staff members Michael Hill, Katherine Koonce and Cynthia Peak were killed when a shooter entered the school armed with two assault-style rifles and a handgun. The FBI uploaded a 112-page journal on May 29 without an explanation. A spokesperson for the local FBI office declined to comment, referring all questions to the bureau's national press office. A spokesperson from the national press office of the FBI declined to comment on the journal's release. WSMV (NBC-4) (05/29, Wethington), WKRN (ABC-2) (05/29, Video), WTVF (CBS-5) (05/29, West), and WZTV (Fox-17) (05/29, Staff Writer) also reported on the story. FBI and Marshals Join Search for Convicted Killer in Arkansas The Associated Press (05/29, Demillo, Ingram, et al.) reported that Arkansas authorities are looking at whether a job in the prison kitchen played a role in the weekend escape of a convicted former police chief known as the "Devil in the Ozarks." Grant Hardin, 56, was housed in a maximum-security wing of the medium-security Calico Rock prison, where he also held a job in the kitchen, Arkansas Department of Corrections spokesperson Rand Champion said Thursday. Authorities have said Hardin escaped Sunday by donning an outfit designed to look like a law enforcement uniform. According to the article, the kitchen is divided into two shifts of about 25 workers each, according to a 2021accreditation report that involved an extensive review of the prison. In the kitchen, "tools and utensils were stored on shadow boards with proper controls for sign out/in of all tools," the report states. "A check of the inventory control sheets found them to be accurate and up to date." Hardin, the former police chief in the small town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border, was serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape. He was the subject of the TV documentary "Devil in the Ozarks." The article mentioned that local, state and federal law enforcement are continuing their search for Hardin, and the FBI announced Thursday it was offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest. Champion said officials remained confident that Hardin was in the north-central Arkansas area. KARK (NBC-4) (05/29, Battles), the Independent (05/29, Cavallier), NBC News (05/29, Video), THV (CBS-11) (05/29, Romano), THV (CBS-11) (05/29, Video), the Arkansas Democrat Gazette (05/29, Staff EFTA01655987 Writer), Newsnation (05/29, Whiteside, Walton), WCYB (NBC-5) (05/29, Farrar, Baribeau), and KHBS/KHOG (ABC- 40/29) (05/29, Roberts) also reported on the story. Local Charges Dropped as Feds Target Venezuelan Accused of Posing as Teen at Ohio High School Fox News (05/29, Price) reported that an illegal immigrant from Venezuela who was allegedly caught posing as a high school student in Ohio will no longer face local charges and is now being prosecuted in a federal court. Anthony Labrador-Sierra, 24, was arrested May 21, after he allegedly enrolled in a public high school using fraudulent documents. According to the article, on Thursday, the Perrysburg Municipal Court confirmed to Fox News Digital all local charges had been dropped against Labrador-Sierra and that his case had been handed over to federal authorities. The article added that according to a criminal complaint, Perrysburg Schools reported to the Perrysburg Police Department that they had received information that Labrador-Sierra, a student attending Perrysburg High School, was actually a 24-year-old man who fraudulently enrolled. Detectives worked with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and discovered Labrador- Sierra is a 24-year-old from Venezuela. The article mentioned that Sen. Bernie Moreno, (R-OH), called the discovery and allegations "shocking." The senator shared a letter he sent to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Director Patel on X, writing, "Unreal. Thanks to Joe Biden's abuse of TPS, a 24-year-old illegal alien was caught on a fake asylum claim pretending to be a teenager at a high school in Ohio." FBI Analyst Possessed More Than 1,000 Real and Al Generated Child Porn Images, Investigators Say KIRK (ABC-13) (05/29, Ryan) reported that a Texas FBI analyst is accused of possessing more than 1,O00 pornographic images that investigators say depict both real children and children generated by artificial intelligence. Brian Rausch, 51, is facing four felony charges in Harris County linked to the purported images. A magistrate set bail for Rausch at $100,000 on Thursday morning. Documents show he bonded out of the Harris County Jail hours after the hearing. According to the article, a Montgomery County Precinct 3 spokesperson confirmed the material was reportedly recovered during a raid at Rausch's Cypress home on Tuesday. The Dallas Express (05/29, Staff Writer) also reported on the story. Cash Reward Hiked to $50,000 as Manhunt Continues for Two New Orleans Jail Escapees Still at Large CBS News (05/29, Weis) reported that as the search continues for the last two New Orleans jail escapees who are still at large, several agencies have pitched in to increase the cash reward for information leading to their arrests. The reward has been hiked to $50,000 per escapee, authorities announced Thursday, a hefty increase from the $20,000 amount that had been in place for more than a week following the brazen May 16 escape of 10 inmates from the Orleans Justice Center. Eight of the 10 have been captured. According to the article, one of the men still at large — Derrick Groves — was convicted of murder for the shooting deaths of Jamar Robinson and Byron Jackson in 2024. The other escapee — Antoine Massey — was being held on charges of domestic abuse involving strangulation prior to the jailbreak. Louisiana State Police Col. Robert Hodges said in a news conference Thursday that while he does not believe Groves or Massey have the resources to flee the U.S., they may have escaped Louisiana thanks to the help from other potential accomplices, and given the amount of time that has passed. Authorities said even some family members of the 10 escapees have called in with tips to help track down the escapees. "Some of you might be reporting a friend, a loved one, a relative," said Jonathan Tapp, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI New Orleans Field Office, during the news conference. "It might not be easy." The article noted that officials with the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Louisiana State Police and the New Orleans Police Department said Thursday they remain laser-focused on getting Massey and Groves back in cuffs. ABC News (05/29, Deliso), WWL (CBS-4) (05/29, Moses), Nola.com (05/29, Wilkinson), NBC News (05/29, Burke), and CNN (05/29, Yan) also reported on the story. Man Shot, Killed by St. Louis Police and FBI Fugitive Task Force Member KSDK (NBC-5) (05/29, Clancy) reported that after an armed robbery investigation lead to a car chase and foot pursuit from law enforcement, a man was shot and killed by a St. Louis police officer and a member of the FBI Fugitive Task Force on Thursday. According to a social media post from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the man was rushed to the hospital after the shooting and was pronounced dead a short time later. According to the article, St. Louis police said officers spotted a car at about 11 a.m. that was wanted in connection with an armed business robbery earlier this month. When they tried to pull the car over, the driver sped off and led officers on a chase. When the chase ended near the intersection of Natural Bridge and Clara avenues, the man ran from the car and into the brush along the train tracks. Police said law enforcement officers found him at around 11:40 and gave him verbal commands. The post said a St. Louis police officer and a member of the FBI Fugitive Task EFTA01655988 Force fired multiple shots at the man. "We just know at some point during the search law enforcement officers gave verbal commands and at some point, shots were fired," said St. Louis police spokesperson Mitch McCoy. Prosecution Rests in Trial of Karen Read Who's Charged in Death of Boston Police Officer Boyfriend The Associated Press (05/29, Whittle, Casey) reported that the prosecution in the second trial of Karen Read rested Thursday after about a month of testimony spotlighting evidence from the scene and witnesses who heard the defendant repeatedly say "I hit him" in reference to the killing of her Boston police officer boyfriend. According to the article, Read, 45, is accused of backing her SUV into her boyfriend, John O'Keefe, and leaving the 46-year-old officer to die on a snowy night in the front yard of another officer's home after she dropped him off at a party there in January 2022. Her lawyers say she was framed in a police conspiracy and someone in the home that night killed him. A mistrial was declared last year and the second trial has attracted massive media attention and become the subject of a Hulu documentary series. Read's second trial on charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene has often looked similar to the first trial. If she is found guilty of the most serious charge of second-degree murder, she could spend the rest of her life in prison. The trial could easily continue several more weeks as Read's defense team makes its case. Read has said the defense's case will be "more robust" this time. It listed over 90 witnesses who could testify. Read's defense has vigorously questioned the prosecution's witnesses and called into question the evidence presented about O'Keefe's death Feds Target Chinese Couple Accused in $9 Million Crypto 'Pig Butchering" Scam USA TODAY (05/29, Hughes) reported that federal officials are trying to seize more than $6 million in cryptocurrency they say represents the ill-gotten gains of a Chinese couple's "pig butchering" scam left behind when they fled the United States one step ahead of the cops. Prosecutors say the $6 million sitting in four electronic wallets was left behind by Feng Chen and Tianqiong Xu as they fled to China last year, days after the FBI searched their home. They were indicted in June 2024 by a federal grand jury in Vermont. According to the article, court records filed May 22 indicate the married couple specifically targeted people of Chinese heritage across the United States. Prosecutors accuse the couple of ripping off at least $9.5 million from from least 120 victims, operating from their five-bedroom house in Frisco, Texas. FBI and Others Investigating Possible Florida Permit Fraud WINK News (05/29, Jean) reported that hundreds of homes in Collier County are now under scrutiny as part of a federal, state, and local investigation into questionable permits. A retired architect's seal is at the center of the controversy, and the investigation is raising concerns for homeowners affected by the unauthorized use of the seal. Gene Cravillion, a well-known architect, is now 91 years old and has lived in a north Naples assisted-living facility since August 2022. Gene's son said that as he grew older, he developed dementia, which ultimately led to him retiring from a 60-year career working in several states including Wisconsin, California and Florida. According to the article, even after Cravillion's retirement, it appears several people continued using his architect's seal to obtain permits. Now, the FBI and the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design with the DBPR and are some of the agencies that have opened investigations. In February at a committee hearing, Collier County officials revealed that at least 400 permits are involved, affecting both single-family homes and commercial buildings. That number has likely grown. John McCormick, Collier County's Director of Building Review and Permitting called this situation "substantial fraud." Pittsburgh-Area Community Leaders Receive Reports About Two Immigration Raids CBS News (05/29, Bah) reported that Jaime Martinez, the community defense organizer with Casa San Jose, said the non-profit organization's hotline received multiple reports on Wednesday about Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the eastern part of the city. "We heard of five different detentions yesterday alone," said Martinez of Casa San Jose, which serves immigrant communities. According to the article, one of the detentions happened in Wilkinsburg. Video shows a Hispanic man in handcuffs being walked by FBI agents into a van. The outlet has learned those agents were assisting the Department of Homeland Security with immigration enforcement. In a statement, a spokesperson for the FBI wrote, in part, "The FBI in Pittsburgh continues to provide investigative, technical, and analytical support to our partners at the Department of Homeland Security in their immigration operations all over the region as directed by the attorney general." Passenger Accused of Dragging American Airlines Flight Attendant CBS News (05/29, Breen) reported that a Kansas man who allegedly dragged an American Airlines flight attendant up the aisle of a plane is facing charges, the DOJ said on Wednesday. Julius Jordan Priester, 24, was traveling from EFTA01655989 Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, to Chicago on Tuesday night, the DOJ said. American Airlines said in a statement that the plane was bound for O'Hare International Airport. According to the article, the flight took off around 9:30 p.m. Less than an hour into the flight, Priester allegedly stood up, began to take off his shirt, and ran to the back of the plane yelling "Help me," federal prosecutors said. Priester then allegedly grabbed a seated flight attendant and shouted "You're coming with me," the DOJ said. Priester allegedly pulled the flight attendant to the ground, then attempted to drag the attendant up the aisle. Other staff and passengers intervened in the incident, the Dal and American Airlines said. Priester was returned to his seat, but continued to "act erratically and make incoherent statements." The pilot declared an emergency, and the flight was diverted back to Bradley International Airport. The article noted that once the plane landed, the Connecticut State Police removed Priester. He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, the DOJ said. The FBI and the Connecticut State Police are investigating. Hawaii Investigation Draws FBI and Police Presence Island News (05/29, Staff Writer) reported that a developing situation unfolded on Kilihau St. in the Mapunapuna area that involved the FBI and the Honolulu Police Department. According to HPD they are assisting the FBI as they lead an investigation. The FBI confirmed that they are conducting a court-authorized law enforcement activity at the location. There has been no official word released on the nature of the activity. Dangerous Child Abuser Is No Longer a Fugitive WPLG (ABC-10) (05/29, Torres) reported that Reginold Nelson used the "Nova Coagula" online pseudonym after a fictional DC Comics transgender superhero hacker, according to FBI Miami. But there was nothing heroic about Nelson, 32, an armed and dangerous child sex abuse suspect also known as James Morgan and Reginold Lamont Nelson II, according to FBI Miami special agents. The article noted that the federal agents searched for Nelson, who was born in South Carolina, for about a year after accusing him of producing child pornography and enticing a minor to send him child pornography. Records show a federal judge in Miami issued a warrant for his arrest on May 31, 2024, and the FBI offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading