EFTA00160334.pdf

From: FBI News Briefing <[email protected]> To: "FBINewsBriefing" <[email protected]> Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - March 30, 2023 Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2023 10:10:02 +0000 Importance: Normal View In Browser Federal Bureau of Investigation March 30, 2023 Seal Federal Bureau of Investigation Daily News Briefing (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs) Mobile version and searchable archives available at https://fbi.barbaricumanalytics.com Table of Contents IN THE NEWS • Director Wray Stresses China Threats in Anderson University Appearance • Biden Administration Warns of 'Damaging' Effects From GOP Budget Plans • FBI Informant Testifies for Proud Boys Defense COUNTERTERRORISM • AG Garland Defends School Memo at Senate Hearing Against GOP Criticism • Teen Who Prosecutors Say Planned Attack on Chicago Houses of Worship Reaches Plea Deal • DOJ Charges Two More People for Attacks Against Florida Pro-Life Pregnancy Center • DNA From Half-Eaten Burrito Ties Ex-Wisconsin Doctoral Student to Pro-Life Center Firebombing Attack COUNTERINTELLIGENCE • AG Garland Says FBI Needs Spying Powers to 'Fight the Chinese' • Biden Condemns Spyware in Democracies Amid Israel Row • DI-IS and FBI Rely on Chinese Drones That Russia Is Using in Ukraine War • Rand Paul Hits the Brakes on Hawley Push to Ban TikTok • Continued Reporting: Newly Released Documents Reveal Secret FBI Investigation of Ivana Trump CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • Nashville Shooter Audrey Hale's Manifesto to Be Released After FBI Review • Trump Falsely Claims Presidential Records Act Requires Prolonged 'Talk, Talk, Talk' Over Returning Documents • Shanquella Robinson's Family Still Demands Answers Five Months After Mysterious Death in Mexico EFTA00160334  • Woman Accused of Double Murder Tries To Get Inmates To Kill Witness • He Fatally Shot His Girlfriend. Then He Wrote About It in His Diary. • Several Face Charges in Killings of Gay Men Who Were Drugged and Robbed • Quinton Simon's Remains Returned to Georgia as Mom Faces Charges • NYC Drug Ring Peddled Pills • Pennsylvania Businessman Accused of Stealing $3.5M From Company Sentenced to Prison • California Man Faces up to 40 Years for Marijuana Trafficking, COVID-19 Insurance Fraud • FBI Offering $20K Reward in Manhunt for Former Maryland Governor • Georgia Teens in Trent Lehrkamp Torture Identified by Police • Two Black Men, One Shot in the Mouth, Plan to Sue Mississippi Deputies • Pennsylvania DA Hopeful That Discovered Remains Belong to Restaurant Owner Who Went Missing in 2017 • Illinois Man Charged With Robbing Bank, Shooting Security Guard CYBER DIVISION • U.S. to Provide $25 Million to Costa Rica for Cybersecurity • FDA Requires Medical Devices Be Secured Against Cyberattacks • Arrests Spotlight Online Threats, Harassment in Hacker Community LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES • How 'Swatting' Calls Spread as Schools Face Real Threats CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS • Federal Judge Says Mike Pence Must Testify in Jan. 6 Probe • AG Garland Refuses to Examine Civil Rights Claims of Jan. 6 Defendants • Trump Appeals Order Directing Meadows, Other Aides to Testify in Jan. 6 Probe • Woman Who Joined Conservative Dating Site Reveals She Sent January 6 Rioters' Details to FBI • Rep. Loudermilk Looks to Clear His Name During Jan. 6 Committee Reinvestigation • Donald Trump Is Back on Social Media, and Nobody Knows What Happens Next • Arkansas Man Deserves Acquittal in Capitol Riot Case, His Lawyer Argues • South Carolina Man Arrested for Spraying Police With Bear Spray During Capitol Riot • Man Charged in Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Waives Jury Trial, Guardian Dines With Trump • Feds Want Florida Man to Spend a Year in Prison for Role in Capitol Riot • Opinion: Words That Cause Catastrophes OTHER FBI NEWS • Congress to Consider New No-Fly List for Unruly Passengers • Cruz Demands Big Tech Answer on Coordination With Government Over Misinformation • Opinion: Trump Says the Justice System Has Been Weaponized. He Would Know. INTERNATIONAL NEWS • Taiwan's President Lands in the U.S. Amid Threats From China • Mexico Investigates Migrant Deaths in Border City Fire as Homicide Case • Taiwan's President Lands in the U.S. Amid Threats From China EFTA00160335  • Israel-U.S. Tensions Rise Over Judicial Overhaul • Zelensky Urges China's Xi to Visit Ukraine • Soldiers Massing Near Ukrainian Nuclear Plant, U.N. Official Warns OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • A Majority of Americans Think a Criminal Indictment Should Disqualify Trump for 2024 • House Republicans Lining up to Defend Trump, Helping in GOP Primary • Biden Heralds Midterm Elections as 'Rejection' of 'Extremism' Undermining Democracy • Michigan Democrats Rise, and Try to Turn a Battleground Blue • Congress Must Fight D.C.'s 'Shocking' Crime Trend, Says Rep. James Comer • Possible Trump Indictment Pushed Back as New York Grand Jury to Break for a Month — As It Happened • White House to Call for New Midsize Bank Rules After SVB, Signature Failures • Shooting Prompts a Shrug in Washington, as G.O.P. Rejects Pleas to Act • After Mass Shootings, Republicans Expand Access to Guns • G.O.P. Lawmakers Override Kentucky Governor's Veto on Anti-Trans Law BIG PICTURE • New York Times • Wall Street Journal • Washington Post • Financial Times • ABC News • CBS News • NBC News • Fox News WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS Director Wray Stresses China Threats in Anderson University Appearance The Herald Bulletin (03/29, Wood) reported that Director Wray has warned that China poses a serious threat to U.S. interests, particularly in terms of economic security and innovation. Speaking at Anderson University on Wednesday, Director Wray highlighted the links between the parent company of TikTok and the Chinese government, suggesting that giving the latter access to information held by the former would be unwise. "Would you want the Chinese government — which is an autocratic government that has shown over and over again contempt for the rule of law and international norms — would you want to give the Chinese government, the Chinese communist party, the Chinese intelligence services everything you have on TikTok?" Director Wray also addressed the FBI's investigations into the attack on the U.S. Capitol, stating that the FBI was only targeting individuals who had used violence or threatened to use it. "To me, the whole thing is part of a broader phenomenon in society that's troubling. It's the tendency on the part of people, when they're angry about something or angry with someone, to express that anger through violence. When it comes to violence, I don't really care what you're angry about or who you're angry with, you don't get to express it through violence, including attacking law enforcement." The article noted that he also talked about the challenges of leading the FBI and the agency's conclusions regarding the origins of COVID-19. Biden Administration Warns of 'Damaging' Effects From GOP Budget Plans EFTA00160336 The Washington Post (03/29, Romm, Sotomayor) reported that GOP lawmakers have submitted new demands to President Biden to cleave roughly $130 billion from federal agencies and programs in the 2024 fiscal year. Speaker Kevin McCarthy is pushing for austerity, and party lawmakers convened a hearing to highlight the government's growing debt, which is currently at about $31 trillion. According to the article, the Republicans have made a broad commitment to slim down federal health care, science, education, and labor programs while leaving defense untouched. The article noted that at the Justice Department, officials warned about "significant furloughs" at the FBI and other key law enforcement agencies, including those that focus on intercepting fentanyl, a GOP priority. The Washington Examiner (03/29, Bullis) posted a video of Attorney General Merrick Garland's testimony before the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday concerning the DOJ budget. The article noted that the budget seeks to bolster federal law enforcement, requesting $11.3 billion for the FBI to help the agency carry out its complex mission. The funding would go toward a multitude of serious and evolving threats, including terrorism, espionage, and cyber threats. FBI Informant Testifies for Proud Boys Defense The Associated Press (03/29, Kunzelman) reported that an FBI informant identified only as "Aaron" testified on March 23 at the trial of former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and four lieutenants charged with seditious conspiracy for allegedly plotting to keep Donald Trump in the White House after the 2020 presidential election. "Aaron," a defense witness, claimed he didn't know of any plans for the far-right extremist group to invade the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, and didn't think they inspired the violence that day. However, prosecutors suggested that "Aaron" sent a text message to his FBI handler only after he realized he and other members could be in serious trouble. The prosecutor also showed a video that captured "Aaron" helping another Proud Boy use a podium to block a security gate from closing. According to the article, the trial has raised fresh questions about intelligence failures before the Capitol riot, and prosecutors said that another person the defense had wanted to put on the witness stand secretly worked as a government informant for two years after the Jan. 6 attack. Back to Top COUNTERTERRORISM AG Garland Defends School Memo at Senate Hearing Against GOP Criticism USA TODAY (03/29, Jansen) reported that Attorney General Merrick Garland told a House panel Wednesday that a controversial 2021 memo he wrote said the FBI received 22 reports of threats against school officials and referred six cases to state and local authorities to investigate. Garland issued his memo to FBI agents about assisting local law enforcement days after receiving a letter from the National School Boards Association, which followed widespread reports of parents threatening school board members, administrators, and teachers over COVID-19 policies. According to the article, House Republicans accused the Justice Department of targeting parents protesting at school boards, but Garland denied it, saying that his memo was aimed at violence and threats of violence and that parents protesting at school boards are protected by the Constitution. The article noted that Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) said Garland should withdraw the memo because it resulted in federal counterterrorism agents investigating Americans protesting at school boards rather than leaving conflicts for local authorities. "Six were actually investigated by the counterterrorism division of the FBI, citizens of this country who were trying to make their voices heard at their school board meetings and instead were tagged by the FBI as terrorists by agents of this government seeking to silence their voices," Cline said. The article also noted that the school board memo has become one of the highest-profile inquiries House Republicans have focused on, and they have called another hearing to question the FBI and Education Department about providing more documents dealing with school board investigations. Fox News (03/29, Kasperowicz) and The Epoch Times (03/29, Lord) also reported on the story. Teen Who Prosecutors Say Planned Attack on Chicago Houses of Worship Reaches Plea Deal CBS News (03/29, Staff Writer) reported that federal prosecutors reached a plea deal with a teen who was charged with having unregistered explosive devices and had plans to travel to Chicago to attack houses of worship. According to the article, the defendant, Xavier Pelkey, of Waterville, Maine, agreed to plead guilty to a charge of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, according to court documents filed Wednesday. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to move to dismiss a second criminal charge. Pelkey could still be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison and be ordered to pay a maximum fine of $250,000. The article noted that last year, investigators said they conducted a search warrant on Pelkey's home and found homemade explosive devices composed of bundles of fireworks and sharp metal objects such as staples, pins, and thumbtacks. The article added that an FBI bomb EFTA00160337 technician determined that the items were designed to increase the amount of shrapnel propelled if they were detonated. Pelkey claimed he only had "fireworks" in his apartment and had taped them together for a "bigger boom," but did not answer as to why they were full of staples and other sharp objects, investigators said. DOJ Charges Two More People for Attacks Against Florida Pro-Life Pregnancy Center Fox News (03/29, Herlihy) reported that the Dal has charged two more individuals for their involvement in a targeted attack on a pro-life pregnancy center in Winter Haven, Florida. According to the article, Gabriella Oropesa and Annarella Rivera were indicted by a federal grand jury for engaging in a conspiracy to prevent employees of reproductive health services facilities from providing those services. They allegedly targeted a pro-life pregnancy center and vandalized the facilities with spray-painted threats. Similar facilities in Hollywood and Hialeah, Florida, were also allegedly targeted. The article noted that the DOJ has accused the individuals of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) by using threats of force to intimidate and interfere with the employees of the pro-life center in Winter Haven that were providing or seeking to provide reproductive health services and by intentionally damaging and destroying the facility's property. DNA From Half-Eaten Burrito Ties Ex-Wisconsin Doctoral Student to Pro-Life Center Firebombing Attack Fox News (03/29, Wallace) reported that a former university research assistant has been arrested and charged with attempting to cause damage by means of fire or an explosive in connection with the firebombing of a pro-life center in Madison, Wisconsin. According to the article, Hridindu Sankar Roychowdhury, 29, was identified by DNA found in a half-eaten burrito he discarded in a public trash can, which law enforcement officers later recovered. The attack on the headquarters of Wisconsin Family Action took place on Mother's Day 2022, about a week after the leak of a Supreme Court draft opinion that would later overturn Roe v. Wade. The article noted that Roychowdhury is accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail inside the building and leaving graffiti that read "If abortions aren't safe then you aren't either." "Violence is never an acceptable way for anyone to express their views or their disagreement," Assistant Director Robert R. Wells of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division said. "Today's arrest demonstrates the FBI's commitment to vigorously pursue those responsible for this dangerous attack and others across the country, and to hold them accountable for their criminal actions." Back to Top COUNTERINTELLIGENCE AG Garland Says FBI Needs Spying Powers to 'Fight the Chinese' The Epoch Times (03/29, Lord) reported that during a recent hearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland defended the FBI's use of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), arguing that the surveillance apparatus is critical to "fight the Chinese." According to the article, FISA Section 702, a post-9/11 section of the U.S. Code, is controversial for its wide-ranging application in surveilling American citizens. A court-ordered report found that the FBI had used that controversial section of U.S. law to illegally spy on over 3.3 million Americans without a warrant, including an unnamed sitting member of Congress. The article noted that House Republicans have been mounting investigations into what they allege is the "weaponization" of the federal government for partisan ends, leading to increased mistrust of the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies among Republican voters. The article added that despite concerns about FISA abuses, Garland argued that Section 702 provides "an extraordinarily large proportion of the intel we get" and is a necessary tool to fight the Chinese. The Washington Examiner (03/29, Dunleavy) also reported on the story. Biden Condemns Spyware in Democracies Amid Israel Row The Washington Examiner (03/29, Gehrke) reported that President Joe Biden has condemned the use of commercial spyware by governments in a repudiation of Israeli-made surveillance technology, coinciding with deepening anxiety about Israel's democracy under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking at the 2023 Summit for Democracy, Biden stated that one key focus of their work will be in ensuring that technologies are developed to advance democratic governance and not undermine it. According to the article, Biden couched that statement as an assurance that U.S. agencies would not use such systems just months after revelations that the FBI considered the use of spyware developed by an Israeli tech company. The article noted that this move puts a spotlight on an embarrassing subject for Netanyahu, as the two leaders clash about a proposed overhaul of the Israeli judiciary that Biden and Netanyahu's domestic critics regard as a threat to Israel's system of governance. EFTA00160338 DHS and FBI Rely on Chinese Drones That Russia Is Using in Ukraine War The Washington Examiner (03/29, Dunleavy) reported that several U.S. federal agencies, including the FBI and DHS, have been using Chinese-made drones from Shenzhen DJI Sciences and Technologies (DJI), despite national security concerns and sanctions imposed on the company. According to the article, in 2021, 75% of the flights conducted by the Department of Interior were conducted by WI drones, while the Secret Service purchased multiple DJI drones in 2022. DJI drones were also found to be a key part of the Russian military's toolkit during its invasion of Ukraine, with China reportedly selling more than $12m in drones and drone parts to Russia since early 2022. The article noted that congressional Republicans have demanded that the White House take more drastic steps to challenge Beijing's support of Russia, and a bipartisan American Security Drone Act was introduced in February 2023 to prohibit federal agencies from procuring certain drones from countries identified as national security threats. The article also noted that the Commerce Department added DJI to its blacklist in December 2020, and the Treasury Department designated it as a "Chinese Military-Industrial Complex" company in December 2021, in part because it "has provided drones to the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau, which are used to surveil Uyghurs in Xinjiang." Rand Paul Hits the Brakes on Hawley Push to Ban TikTok The Washington Examiner (03/29, Sivak) reported that Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) blocked a move by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) to ban TikTok in the United States, citing concerns over censorship and free speech. According to the article, Hawley introduced the No TikTok on United States Devices Act, which he warned was necessary to protect Americans from surveillance by TikTok's Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance. However, Paul argued that a ban on the app would be an infringement on free speech rights and likened it to Chinese government censorship. While most GOP senators agree that TikTok poses a national security threat, a handful of progressive House Democrats have come out against a ban, citing anti-China "hysteria." Senate Democrats have generally voiced deep reservations about the app's potential use by the Chinese government for spying on Americans. The article noted that Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) has partnered with Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) on the RESTRICT Act, a White House-endorsed bill to address those concerns that have so far garnered 21 co-sponsors, 10 Democrats and 11 Republicans. An additional article from the Washington Examiner (03/29, Hutton) reported that the RESTRICT Act will not restrict the use of virtual private networks (VPNs), according to Warner's office. The bill aims to allow the Commerce Department to ban companies such as TikTok, Kaspersky, and Huawei that create national security risks for the United States. Newsweek (03/29, Feng) added that during his congressional hearing, TikTok chief executive Shou Zi sought to highlight TikTok's operational independence from its Chinese owners and pledged to onshore all U.S. user data. The app was safer than most of its competitors, Chew added, but he failed to assuage fears about fundamental control over the app's proprietary algorithm. According to the article, Director Wray told the House Intelligence Committee on March 9 that "the control of the recommendation algorithm could be used to conduct influence operations." He added that this wouldn't be "easily detected or ruled out." A day earlier, Director Wray agreed with members of the Senate Intelligence Committee that, in a future crisis, TikTok's curated video feeds could be manipulated to display pro-China narratives. Continued Reporting: Newly Released Documents Reveal Secret FBI Investigation of Ivana Trump The Epoch Times (03/29, Athrappully) reported that recent documents obtained by Bloomberg under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that Ivana Trump, former President Donald Trump's first wife, was under FBI investigation in the late 1980s and early 1990s. According to the article, the heavily-redacted documents indicate that the investigation involved agency assets from Canada and Europe, with sources feeding information to agents and the department procuring data from Trump's life in Czechoslovakia, her emigration to Canada, and work status in the US. The article noted that although the reason for initiating the investigation remains unknown, the agency said that some of the related files were destroyed, and hundreds of others are being studied by other government departments. Back to Top CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS Nashville Shooter Audrey Hale's Manifesto to Be Released After FBI Review The New York Post (03/29, Pagones) reported that Audrey Hale's manifesto, which was left behind by the transgender Nashville school shooter who killed six people, will be released to the public after the FBI and criminal EFTA00160339 profilers have completed a detailed analysis of its contents. Hale, 28, left behind detailed maps of the school she was planning to attack, and her attack was pre-planned and targeted. She used two assault rifles and a handgun to carry out her heinous suicide mission, killing three schoolchildren and three staff. Police have not yet released information on her motive. Trump Falsely Claims Presidential Records Act Requires Prolonged 'Talk, Talk, Talk' Over Returning Documents CNN (03/29, Dale) reported that former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump continues to inaccurately describe the Presidential Records Act. According to the article, in a Fox interview that aired on Monday, Trump criticized the FBI for searching his Mar-a-Lago resort in August for presidential documents and argued he should have been allowed to engage in further discussions with the government over these records. In fact, Trump said, the "very specific" Presidential Records Act actually requires extended talks with the National Archives and Records Administration. Shanquella Robinson's Family Still Demands Answers Five Months After Mysterious Death in Mexico NBC News (03/29, Bellamy, Essamuah) reported that Shanquella Robinson's family is still seeking answers five months after Robinson, 25, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was found dead in a Mexican beach resort. According to the article, at a news conference with the victim's family last week, attorneys Ben Crump and Sue-Ann Robinson (no relation to Shanquella Robinson) said that no arrests have been made and that they will continue to fight for justice. The article mentioned that White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre offered her condolences to the family at a recent news briefing but said that because of the pending FBI investigation, there is "very little about what we can say." Woman Accused of Double Murder Tries To Get Inmates To Kill Witness Newsweek (03/29, Anglesey) reported that a Florida woman jailed on suspicion of a double murder tried to get fellow inmates to kill a key witness in the case, according to police. Police at the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office originally arrested Fatima Garcia Avila, 21, following murders in Dover and Thonotosassa, near Tampa, in July 2022. According to the article, police said a witness came forward months after the arrest and claimed Avila asked inmates at the Falkenburg Road Jail to kill a key witness. The article stated that evidence presented at the trial showed Buselli sent messages via an encrypted mobile app, in order to "solicit the murder of her estranged husband." But the person who Buselli solicited to carry out the murder reported the request to law enforcement. An undercover agent then stood in as the acquaintance and spoke with Buselli about the plot, which in turn led to the arrest. When Buselli spoke with the FBI agent, she ultimately negotiated a downpayment of $5,000 in order to carry out the murder. He Fatally Shot His Girlfriend. Then He Wrote About It in His Diary. The New York Times (03/29, Tully) reported that James R. Ray III, a former Marine, is charged with killing Angela Bledsoe in the home they shared in an affluent New Jersey commuter town. The article quoted Gregory W. Ehrie, then the special agent in charge of the FBI's Newark office, who said, "If you commit a crime in the state of New Jersey, we will not forget, we will not forgive and we will find you." According to the article, Mr. Ray, an entertainment lawyer and former Marine, fled to Cuba after Angela Bledsoe, the mother of his then 6-year-old daughter, was found shot to death in 2018 in the home they shared in Montclair, N.J. He was arrested after a weeklong international manhunt. Several Face Charges in Killings of Gay Men Who Were Drugged and Robbed The New York Times (03/29, Stack) reported that assailants used facial recognition to unlock phones and then looted financial accounts. The crimes, which occurred in Hell's Kitchen, spread fear in New York's nightlife. According to the article, several defendants face charges in connection with murders and robberies at Manhattan bars that terrorized the city's gay community, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. The article mentioned that John Umberger, 33, and Julio Ramirez, 25, were killed after they left bars in Hell's Kitchen in what the medical examiner's office ruled were murders committed in the course of "drug-facilitated theft." The article mentioned that the police department has said it is investigating a pattern of similar crimes at both straight and gay bars, and that the victims have been a mix of heterosexual and L.G.B.T.Q. people. Detectives believe more than one group may be involved in the crimes, according to two of the officials with knowledge of the investigation. Quinton Simon's Remains Returned to Georgia as Mom Faces Charges EFTA00160340 The New York Post (03/29, Land) reported that the remains of Quinton Simon, the toddler whose body was found in a landfill after he went missing last fall, have been returned to Georgia as his mother faces multiple charges stemming from his death, police said. According to the article, Quinton, 20 months, was first reported missing from his family's Savannah home by his mother, Leilani Simon, on Oct. 5. The article mentioned that his partial remains were found in a landfill six weeks later. The body was brought back to Georgia this week, WJCL reported, after undergoing additional testing at the FBI lab in Quantico. NYC Drug Ring Peddled Pills The New York Post (03/29, Gibbon) reported that nine people — four of them family members — were busted for running a sprawling fentanyl-, meth- and coke-trafficking ring that included peddling pills shaped like Donald Trump, Mickey Mouse, bitcoin, and even Legos, authorities said Wednesday. According to the article, cops seized $2.5 million worth of the drugs in taking down the multi-state drug pressing and peddling operation after a two- year joint investigation, New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan said. The article mentioned that the colorful tablets — some of them fake oxycodone pills laced with highly lethal fentanyl — were made into nearly a dozen recognizable shapes that included dominoes, spades, Iron Man, bitcoin, Legos, and green and yellow silhouettes of the 76-year-old former president. The article stated that the task force, which included members of the FBI, the DEA, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, and the NYPD, raided two Manhattan apartments and the Bronx building near Yankee Stadium as part of the joint investigation. Pennsylvania Businessman Accused of Stealing $3.5M From Company Sentenced to Prison KDKA (CBS-2) (03/29, Staff Writer) reported that a businessman accused of stealing more than $3.5 million from a Morgantown construction company was sentenced to over three years in prison, prosecutors announced on Tuesday. According to the article, Michael Allen, 60, pled guilty to wire fraud and money laundering in November. The Department of Justice said he admitted to diverting $3.5 million in company funds while he was the manager of Accelerated Construction Services. The article mentioned that prosecutors said he spent $154,000 on vehicles, including a 2020 Ranger Rover and a classic car restoration. He also bought a 5.19-carat diamond ring for over $113,000 and spent an estimated $19,000 on other jewelry, like a Breitling watch, the Department of Justice said. Allen was sentenced to 46 months in prison. He will also have to pay $3.5 million in restitution to the company. The IRS and Monongalia County Sheriff's Office investigated the case with the help of the FBI. California Man Faces up to 40 Years for Marijuana Trafficking, COVID-19 Insurance Fraud CBS News (03/29, Staff Writer) reported that a California man pleaded guilty Tuesday to multiple crimes, including conspiracy to distribute marijuana, aggravated identity theft, and obstruction of justice, federal prosecutors said. According to the article, Quenten Giovanni Moody, aka Christano Rossi, 38, admitted transporting marijuana out of state, committing insurance fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, and creating fake FBI documents to attempt to get two of his government-seized vehicles released back to him. The article noted that as part of its investigation, the U.S. government seized two vehicles from Moody in April 2022 that were purchased with money he obtained illegally, a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro and a 1956 Chevrolet pickup truck, prosecutors said. The article stated that the vehicles were transported to an FBI field office for storage, but on May 8, a flat-bed truck arrived at the facility and the driver told FBI security personnel that he had been instructed to take the vehicles out of federal custody. The driver gave the FBI security team a document that purported to be an order issued by a judge ordering the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI to release the vehicles. The documents were fake, however, and were created by Moody. FBI Offering $20K Reward in Manhunt for Former Maryland Governor Fox News (03/29, Norman) reported that federal authorities are now offering a combined $20,000 reward in the manhunt for the former chief of staff of Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who has disappeared after failing to show up at his criminal trial. According to the article, the increased reward comes two weeks after the FBI raided the home of Roy McGrath in Florida on March 15. The 53-year-old was supposed to be in Baltimore for the beginning of his criminal trial. "A federal arrest warrant was issued by the United States District Court, District of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, on March 13, 2023, after he was charged with Failure to Appear," the FBI says. The New York Post (03/29, Christenson), Washington Examiner (03/29, Schilke), and the Epoch Times (03/29, Morgan) also reported on the story. Georgia Teens in Trent Lehrkamp Torture Identified by Police Fox News (03/29, Rosenberg) reported that Georgia police announced Wednesday that they've identified the teens involved in the torture of Trent Lehrkamp — as his family called on community members to pray for his recovery. EFTA00160341 Glynn County Interim Police Chief O'Neal Jackson III told reporters that investigators had tracked down the minors seen in disturbing photos and videos showing the 19-year-old's abuse. According to the article, investigators had tracked down 20 minors present or involved in both incidents. He did not reveal the date the video was recorded but said it was prior to the incident that landed the young man in the hospital. The article noted that the police department previously said it is working with the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the district attorney's office. CBS News (03/29, Tabachnick), and NBC News (03/29, Video) also reported on the story. Two Black Men, One Shot in the Mouth, Plan to Sue Mississippi Deputies The New York Times (03/29, Hauser) reported that two Black men, one of whom said he was shot in the mouth by a deputy while handcuffed, plan to sue a local sheriff's department in Mississippi, claiming that deputies beat them and used "waterboarding techniques" and a stun gun on them during a raid in January, according to their lawyer. According to the article, the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI Jackson field office are conducting a larger investigation into the Rankin County Sheriff's Department in Brandon, Miss., for possible civil rights violations and other violent encounters with Black men. Pennsylvania DA Hopeful That Discovered Remains Belong to Restaurant Owner Who Went Missing in 2017 Fox News (03/29, Wehner) reported that Pennsylvania investigators discovered human remains on Tuesday and are hopeful they are those of a restaurant owner who went missing in 2017. According to the article, Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell's office announced the discovery of human remains on Facebook on Tuesday, addressing concerns from the public about a significant law enforcement presence in the Connell's Patch section of Old Forge. The article mentioned that in the post, the DA's office said the activity was related to the active investigation into the disappearance of Robert Baron Sr. in 2017. The article added that with the assistance of the Old Forge Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, and the FBI, Powell said, unexplored investigative avenues involving recent advancements in forensic technology will be pursued. Illinois Man Charged With Robbing Bank, Shooting Security Guard CBS News (03/29, Staff Writer) reported that a man has been charged with robbing a Chicago bank earlier this month and shooting a security guard before making his getaway. The article mentioned that according to the charges, the FBI was able to connect him to the robbery because he gave his phone number to a woman outside the bank just before the heist, and she recognized him from news coverage of the robbery. Back to Top CYBER DIVISION U.S. to Provide $25 Million to Costa Rica for Cybersecurity The Wall Street Journal (03/29, Rundle) reported that the U.S. will provide cybersecurity support to the government of Costa Rica, officials said, almost a year after a ransomware group laid siege to its critical infrastructure and triggered a state of emergency. According to the article, the State Department will commit $25 million to help build a security operations center within Costa Rica's Ministry of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications to monitor cyber threats to government agencies and critical infrastructure, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday. The official said that the funds will also help Costa Rica with strategic and technical cyber planning, training, hardware, and software licenses. The article added that a grant to Costa Rica follows similar efforts from the U.S. to assist Albania in recovering from a cyberattack, which the federal government has since linked to Iran. Tehran has denied involvement. In that instance, the U.S. provided an incident-response team from the FBI and a further $25 million in funding to shore up defenses and aid with recovery efforts. The U.S. has provided similar assistance to countries such as Moldova in recent years. FDA Requires Medical Devices Be Secured Against Cyberattacks CNN (03/29, Korn) reported that the Food and Drug Administration will now require medical devices to meet specific cybersecurity guidelines after years of concerns that a growing number of internet-connected products used by hospitals and healthcare providers could be hit by hacks and ransomware attacks. According to the article, under FDA guidance issued this week, all new medical device applicants must now submit a plan on how to "monitor, identify, and address" cybersecurity issues, as well as create a process that provides "reasonable assurance" that the device in question is protected. Applicants will also need to make security updates and patches EFTA00160342 available on a regular schedule and in critical situations, and provide the FDA with "a software bill of materials," including any open-source or other software their devices use. The article noted that a 2022 report released by the FBI cited research finding 53% of digital medical devices and other internet-connected products in hospitals had known critical vulnerabilities. The report listed a number of medical devices that are susceptible to cyber attacks, including insulin pumps, intracardiac defibrillators, mobile cardiac telemetry, and pacemakers. "Malign actors who compromise these devices can direct them to give inaccurate readings, administer drug overdoses, or otherwise endanger patient health," according to the FBI report. Arrests Spotlight Online Threats, Harassment in Hacker Community Bloomberg (03/29, Turton) reported that the recent arrests of three alleged cybercriminals provide a glimpse into the kind of hijinks that go down on the modern dark web. The article mentioned that on March 15, the FBI arrested Conor Brian Fitzpatrick in Peekskill, NY, and charged the recent high school graduate with operating BreachForums, an online market where users sold stolen databases names, passwords, and email addresses hacked from almost 1,000 websites. Back to Top LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES How 'Swatting' Calls Spread as Schools Face Real Threats The Associated Press (03/29, Hollingsworth) reported that a pate of threats and false reports of shooters have been pouring into schools and colleges across the country for months, raising concerns among law enforcement and elected leaders. According to the article, schools in Pennsylvania were the latest targeted by so-called swatting. Computer-generated calls on Wednesday made claims about active shooters, but it was all a hoax. One day earlier, nearly 30 Massachusetts schools received fake threats. School officials are already on edge amid a backdrop of deadly school shootings, the latest Monday at a Christian school in Nashville. The article noted that the FBI in Pittsburgh nodded to the risk, noting in a statement about the school threat cases that it "takes swatting very seriously because it puts innocent people at risk." The article added that an FBI official said in November that they believe the wave of false threats focused on schools may be coming from outside of the country. The Hill (03/29, Shannon), and CBS News (03/29, Video) also reported on the story. Back to Top CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS Federal Judge Says Mike Pence Must Testify in Jan. 6 Probe Truthout (03/29, Walker) reported that former Vice President Mike Pence's efforts to block his testimony in the special counsel's investigation on the plot to overturn the 2020 U.S. presidential election have largely been rejected by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg. According to the article, Pence had argued that as the vice president and therefore the president of the U.S. Senate, he was protected from divulging information to the grand jury under the Constitution's "speech or debate" clause. However, the judge ruled that while Pence could remain silent on some topics related to his work as president of the Senate, he would have to disclose information related to alleged illegality on former President Donald Trump's part. The article noted that Pence is expected to compete for the Republican nomination against Trump in 2024. ABC News (03/29, Shepherd) reported that Pence stated that he has "nothing to hide" about events surrounding Jan. 6 and that he believes they did their duty under the Constitution on that day. MSNBC (03/29, Benen) provided an opinion piece on the story. AG Garland Refuses to Examine Civil Rights Claims of Jan. 6 Defendants Fox News (03/29, Kasperowicz) reported that during a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Attorney General Merrick Garland declined a request to examine whether the civil rights of some Jan. 6 defendants have been violated due to the lack of a speedy trial. According to the article, Republican Rep. Andrew Clyde argued that detaining these people for so long violates the 6th Amendment to the Constitution. However, Garland argued that it is their lawyers' job to make that argument in court. Garland added that the judge has the authority to dismiss a case for violating the Speedy Trial Act, and each defendant is entitled to a lawyer who can make a speedy trial argument in court. Garland didn't commit to examining the defendants' cases and said he didn't know the specifics EFTA00160343 of individual cases. The article noted that several House Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, met with the Jan. 6 defendants in the Washington, D.C. jail last week. Trump Appeals Order Directing Meadows, Other Aides to Testify in Jan. 6 Probe The Hill (03/29, Beitsch) reported that former President Trump's legal team has appealed a decision by D.C. District Court Judge Beryl Howell ordering former chief of staff Mark Meadows and other Trump White House officials to testify in the Justice Department's investigation into the January 6th insurrection. The officials include Dan Scavino, Trump's communications adviser, as well as several national security officials. According to the article, the sealed decision from Judge Howell rejected Trump's claims of executive privilege over the officials. The matter will come before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, where a three-judge panel recently upheld another of Howell's decisions ordering Evan Corcoran, Trump's attorney in the Mar-a-Lago probe, to cooperate with investigators. The article noted that Meadows and the other officials could have valuable insight for prosecutors as they directed meetings with GOP lawmakers and coordinated with officials at the Department of Justice and in Georgia. Woman Who Joined Conservative Dating Site Reveals She Sent January 6 Rioters' Details to FBI Daily Mail (03/29, Lepore) reported that Caitlin Berg is claiming that she was able to infiltrate a conservative- leaning dating app and ended up reporting several profiles to the FBI for saying they'd participated in the January 6 riots. According to the article, Berg found many men on the app who had photos of the January 6 riot and started screenshotting their profiles and sending their information to the FBI. The article noted that Berg went under a pseudonym and sent an email to the company in order to get a referral code. After gaining access to the app, Berg connected with men who had said they were at the Capitol on January 6 and asked them for an Instagram or Linkedln account to prove they were real. She then screenshotted their entire profile and gave their information to the FBI. Rep. Loudermilk Looks to Clear His Name During Jan. 6 Committee Reinvestigation Roll Call (03/29, Papp) reported that Rep. Barry Loudermilk has released findings from the House Administration Committee's reinvestigation of the Capitol attack, in an attempt to clear his name and criticize the Jan. 6 Select Committee. According to the article, Loudermilk was investigated by the select committee for allegedly giving a reconnaissance tour on Jan. 5, 2021, to a group of up to 15 people, some of whom took photos of stairwells, security checkpoints, and entry points to the Capitol. Loudermilk contends that no one on the tour entered the Capitol after it was breached. The Georgia Republican released letters, videos, and a timeline of events focused on his situation. The article noted that Democrats have characterized Loudermilk's release as an attempt at revisionism, with Rep. Bennie Thompson stating that Loudermilk was never formally accused by the committee of any wrongdoing. Donald Trump Is Back on Social Media, and Nobody Knows What Happens Next CNBC (03/29, Vanian) reported that Donald Trump has warned of "potential death and destruction" if he is indicted for a crime. According to the article, the former U.S. president's warning, made on his Truth Social messaging platform, echoed the rhetoric he used leading up to the final days of his presidency that led to his removal from Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Trump has since been reinstated on those platforms. The article noted that the advocacy group Accountable Tech has said that over 350 Trump posts on Truth Social would have violated Facebook's safety rules. The clearest restrictions on Trump come from Truth Social, which has an exclusivity deal with him until June. Arkansas Man Deserves Acquittal in Capitol Riot Case, His Lawyer Argues The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (03/29, Bowden) reported that Richard Barnett, a man found guilty on eight charges related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, should be acquitted for several reasons, according to his attorney, Jonathan Gross. According to the article, in a federal court filing in Washington, D.C., Gross argued that Barnett did not enter the Capitol of his own volition, did not impede police officers, and did not disrupt Congress' certification of Joe Biden's electoral victory in the 2020 presidential election. He also claimed that the government had misrepresented trial evidence, that Barnett was swept into the Capitol by the crowd, and that his statements to police officers did not constitute evidence of wrongdoing. The article noted that Barnett faces a maximum penalty of 47 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 3. South Carolina Man Arrested for Spraying Police With Bear Spray During Capitol Riot WCBD (NBC-2) (03/29, Laudenslager) reported that Thomas Casselman, a man from South Carolina, was arrested on March 28, 2023, for allegedly assaulting officers during the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the United States EFTA00160344 Capitol. According to the article, the FBI identified him after releasing several images of him, and tipsters told the FBI that Casselman bragged about being at the Capitol that day and showed them photos and videos of the trip. Casselman was interviewed by the FBI and admitted to being in Washington on January 6, 2021. He was charged with multiple crimes related to the riot, including assaulting officers, entering and remaining in a restricted building with a dangerous weapon and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a Capitol building. Man Charged in Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Waives Jury Trial, Guardian Dines With Trump Naples Daily News (03/29, Rodriguez) reported that Trish Priller, legal guardian for Christopher Worrell, a man linked to the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol insurrection, recently dined with former President Donald Trump at Mar-a- Lago. Worrell's trial has been delayed multiple times due