EFTA01655880.pdf

From: FBI News Briefing To: "FBINewsBriefing" Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - August 16, 2024 Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2024 10:15:03 +0000 Importance: Normal View in Browser Federal Bureau of Investigation August 16, 2024 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 • Director Wray Issues Warning After Jordanian Man Threatened to 'Explode All of America' • Continued Reporting: Trump Assassination Attempt COUNTERTERRORISM • Border Agents Warned of Entry Attempt by Man on Terror Watchlist • Palestinian Terror Watchlist Suspect Nabbed at Southern Border • Connecticut Resident Who Lied About Family Ties to ISIS in Citizenship Process Sentenced • Continued Reporting: Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Threats Against Government Officers COUNTERINTELLIGENCE • FBI Resumes Flagging Foreign Disinformation to Social Media Giants • Evidence Suggests Trump Adviser Susie Wiles Was Among Iran Hack Targets • Ahead of DNC, Suit Aims to Ban Police Bodycams With Chinese Chip From Political Events • How a Persecuted Religious Group Grew into a Global Movement • House Committee Urges Probe of Chinese Wifi Router Company Over Security Concerns • Continued Reporting: U.S. Army Sergeant Pleads Guilty To Selling Secrets To China CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • NYC Mayor Eric Adams and Others Subpoenaed in Long-Standing Federal Probe • Mexico Waiting on U.S. For Flight Details Behind Capture of Drug Kingpins • Bob Menendez to Be Replaced by New Jersey Governor's Former Top Aide • Vermont State Police, FBI Investigate Damage to FAA Station • Prominent California Lawyer Abused Pandemic Loan Program, Prosecutors Say EFTA01655880  • Former Alabama Police Officer Agrees to Plead Guilty in Alleged Drug Planting Scheme • Federal Authorities File Additional Charges Against Chinese-Linked Biolab in Central California • Two Recalls, an FBI Raid, a Gavin Newsom Intervention: What's Happening in Oakland? • Reward for Escaped Murderer in North Carolina Grows to $50K • FBI Bribery Probe May Have Looked at Other Mississippi Councilmembers • Federal Agents Visited Californian Council Member's Home, Document Shows • Why Did the FBI Take U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles' Phone? • Minnesota Investigators Identify Baby Found Dead in Box 35 Years Ago • Tennessee Guardsman Found Dead and Bound With Zip Ties in 2019 Was Shot Over Custody Dispute, Authorities Say • Video Shows Arrest of Suspect in Maryland Mom's Murder • Man Accused of Using Fentanyl To Murder Girlfriend and Two Children • A Student Was Raped and Murdered in Her Fiancé's Apartment on Valentine's Day. Forty Years Later, Genealogists Finally Crack the Case • Continued Reporting: Illinois Deputy Police Chief Pleads Not Guilty to Bankruptcy Fraud Charges • FBI Raids Virginia County Property of Well-Known Russia Expert • Pennsylvania Man Accused of Making Threats to FBI Found Incompetent to Stand Trial • FBI Alerts Kansas Police to Alleged Threat at Junior High • Philadelphia-Area Man Charged With Sexually Abusing Seven Children, Recording Abuse • Kentucky Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison After Child Porn Investigation by FBI • Four Men Arrested in Undercover Sting Targeting Online Exploitation of Children • Minnesota Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Armed Bank Robbery • Houston Men Convicted of Robbing Louisiana Jewelry Store Receive Lengthy Federal Prison Sentences • Chicago FBI Seeking Public Help to Find Person Involved in Bank Robbery FINANCIAL CRIME & CORPORATE SCANDALS • Inside the $93 Million Wall Street Heist That Stemmed From Russia CYBER DIVISION • Motorists Warned As Parking Lot Cyber Scammers Strike • Former FBI Agent Gives Insight on Columbus, Ohio Cyberattack • FBI, Michigan Attorney General Investigating Ransomware Attack on Flint City Hall INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS • New Zealand to Extradite Internet Mogul Kim Dotcom to the U.S. • White House Calls for Release of U.S. Journalist Austin Tice Held in Syria —After High-Profile Russian Prisoner Swap CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS • Missouri Man Gets Ten Months in Prison for Joining Jan. 6 Capitol Riot • New York Men Arrested on Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach • Nearly 900 Have Pleaded Guilty to Charges Linked to Jan. 6 Insurrection OTHER FBI NEWS EFTA01655881  • Law Enforcement Brace as Anti-Israel Groups Vow to Bring Tens of Thousands of Protesters to DNC in Chicago • New York Police, FBI Team up in Wake of Rise in Overdoses INTERNATIONAL NEWS • Ukraine's Troops Are in Trouble on the Eastern Front • Gaza Cease-Fire's Biggest Obstacles Are Israel's and Hamas's Leaders • Alexei Navalny's Widow Has New Details of His Death. She Doesn't Believe Them. • U.S.-Russian Citizen Sentenced to 12 Years in Penal Colony for Ukraine Donation • Prosecutors Accuse Argentina's Former President of Beating First Lady • Indian Rape and Murder Case Shows Doctors' Vulnerability, Medics Say • Closed for Months, a Gateway for Aid to Famine-Stricken Sudan Swings Open • A Mob Attack on a Toppled Party Shows Bangladesh's Dangerous Vacuum • Peruvian Gang Leader Arrested in New York OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • Medicare Announces Lower Prices on Ten Common, High-Cost Drugs • Five Arrested in Connection With Matthew Perry's Death From Effects of Ketamine • Mark Meadows Tries to Move His Charges in Arizona's Fake Electors Case to Federal Court • Columbia University President Resigns in Wake of Campus Protests Over Gaza War • Harvard Settles Lawsuit Alleging It Ignored Sexual Harassment • New Jersey Governor to Name Temporary Successor to U.S. Senator Menendez, Source Says • Kamala Harris to Unveil Housing Initiatives Aimed at First-Time Buyers • Colleges Are Rewriting Their Campus Rules to Outmaneuver Protesters • TikTok Compares Itself to Foreign-Owned American News Outlets as It Fights Forced Sale or Ban BIG PICTURE • New York Times • Wall Street Journal • Washington Post • ABC News • CBS News • NBC News • Fox News • CNN WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS Director Wray Issues Warning After Jordanian Man Threatened to 'Explode All of America' The Associated Press (08/15, Staff Writer) reported that a Jordanian man, Hashem Younis Hashem Hnaihen, was charged with vandalizing a Florida solar power facility and several businesses due to their perceived support for Israel. According to the article, Hnaihen left behind warning letters with political demands and threats to "destroy or explode everything here in whole America. Especially the companies and factories that support the racist state EFTA01655882 of Israel." The article noted that Hnaihen was arrested following a multi-agency investigation on July 11on local charges after another warning letter was discovered at an industrial propane gas distribution depot in Orlando, officials said. Fox News (08/15, Wallace) quoted a statement from Director Wray: "Under the guise of expressing his beliefs, the defendant allegedly attacked a power facility and threatened local businesses, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. Violence and destruction of property to threaten and intimidate others will never be tolerated. The FBI and our partners will work together to pursue and hold accountable those who resort to violence." The article also quoted U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland: "We allege that the defendant threatened to carry out hate-fueled mass violence in our country, motivated in part by a desire to target businesses for their perceived support of Israel. Such acts and threats of violence, whether they are targeting the places that Americans frequent every day or our country's critical infrastructure, are extremely dangerous and will not be tolerated by the Justice Department." Additional reporting on the story was provided by Reuters (08/15, Singh), the New York Times (08/15, Thrush), ABC News (08/15, Mallin), CNN (08/15, Lybrand), USA Today (08/15, Nurse), Washington Times (08/15, Dinan), The Hill (08/15, Jacquez), Daily Caller (08/15, Hopkins), UPI (08/15, Hughes), Jerusalem Post (08/15, Staff Writer), Daily Mail (08/15, Raasch), Newsmax (08/15, Reyner), and Algemeiner (08/15, Pierre). Continued Reporting: Trump Assassination Attempt Secret Service Beefs up Securityfor Trump, Including With Bulletproof Glass CNN (08/15, Lybrand) reported that the Secret Service has initiated enhancements to Donald Trump's security, planning to incorporate bulletproof glass at his campaign rallies. According to the article, these measures, prompted by an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, include an increased number of agents and the implementation of new technological strategies. The article noted that the logistics of positioning ballistic glass across anticipated rally sites are complex, with a dedicated team handling the preparations for events leading up to the November 2024 presidential election. An editorial from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (08/15, Editorial) assessed that the Secret Service demonstrated significant incompetence in handling security for former President Trump, which almost resulted in a catastrophic event. The author emphasized the need for profound reforms and greater transparency within the agency to restore public trust and ensure such failures are not repeated. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Reuters (08/15, Singh, Ward, Ljunggren), CBS News (08/15, Sganga), Washington Post (08/15, Leonnig, Dawsey), New York Post (08/15, King), ABC News (08/15, Faulders, Katersky, Barr), NBC News (08/15, Doyle, O'Donnell, Allen), The Hill (08/15, Beitsch), Newsweek (08/15, Slisco), The Daily Beast (08/15, Folk), Newsmax (08/15, Staff Writer), The Independent (08/15, Kilander), and Washington Times (08/15, Morton). FBI Probed for Info on Alleged Iranian Agent's Assassination Plot Targeting Trump Fox News (08/15, Johnson) reported that bipartisan senators are seeking explanations from Director Wray and DHS Secretary Mayorkas about an alleged Iranian agent, Asif Merchant, charged with plotting to assassinate a U.S. official, potentially former President Trump. According to the article, the FBI monitored Merchant before allowing him into the U.S. to gather sufficient evidence for his arrest, raising questions about the timing and communication of his entry and intentions. The article noted that senators have requested further details on the FBI's and DHS's knowledge of Merchant's plot and its possible connections to a recent assassination attempt against Trump, with the FBI confirming receipt of these inquiries but declining to comment further. "This dangerous murder-for-hire plot exposed in today's charges allegedly was orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian playbook," Director Wray said in the press release. "A foreign-directed plot to kill a public official, or any U.S. citizen, is a threat to our national security and will be met with the full might and resources of the FBI." Back to Top COUNTERTERRORISM Border Agents Warned of Entry Attempt by Man on Terror Watchlist News Nation Now (08/15, Bradley) reported that U.S. Border Patrol has issued a bulletin alerting agents to watch for Issa Musa Musa Darfarhat, who is on the terror watchlist and has previously attempted to enter the U.S. According to the article, there has been a significant increase in the number of encounters with individuals on terror watchlists, with 172 such encounters in fiscal year 2023, up from 100 in 2022 and 16 in 2021. At least 99 EFTA01655883 people from the FBI terror watchlist crossed into the country illegally and were released after being apprehended by border agents last year, according to Department of Homeland Security data obtained by the House Judiciary Committee. The article noted that despite the urgency, the latest alert did not reach all agents, particularly those in the Del Rio Sector, raising concerns about the effectiveness of communication across border agencies. Palestinian Terror Watchlist Suspect Nabbed at Southern Border The National Desk (08/15, Galka) reported that Omar Shehada, a 35-year-old Palestinian on the terror watchlist, was apprehended at the Southern border in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. According to the article, Shehada, caught with a group of seven, was linked to using explosives and is now facing removal proceedings, highlighting ongoing concerns about terrorism-related activities at the border. The article noted that this incident follows recent apprehensions of other individuals with possible terror ties, with Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares expressing concerns over the potential risks of terrorism via border crossings. "Ask yourself this question: If you're on the FBI terrorist watch list, why are you trying to sneak into this country? So many of us in law enforcement are so worried that the next 9/11 isn't going to be planes hijacked, it's going to be someone crossing at the southern border," Miyares told Fox News this week. Connecticut Resident Who Lied About Family Ties to ISIS in Citizenship Process Sentenced Hartford Courant (08/15, Staff Writer) reported that Mohamed Najm Kamash, a Connecticut resident, was sentenced for lying about his family's ties to ISIS during his citizenship interview. According to the article, an FBI affidavit revealed that Kamash falsely claimed he did not know anyone involved with a terrorist organization, despite evidence from Facebook messages indicating his brothers' involvement with ISIS. The article noted that Kamash was sentenced to two months in prison, time already served, and two years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to making a false statement in a naturalization proceeding. Continued Reporting: Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Threats Against Government Officers Bloomberg (08/15, Staff Writer) reported that Michael Lee Tomasi of Rio Verde, Arizona, pleaded guilty to making online threats against various public servants, including FBI agents, aiming to incite violence and impede their duties. According to the article, Tomasi posted specific threats on social media, expressing violent intentions toward FBI personnel and indicating readiness to act on these threats. The article noted that the FBI is investigating the case, with federal prosecutors emphasizing the serious risks such threats pose to public safety and the functioning of government. "Threatening law enforcement officers and elected officials strikes at the heart of our communities and our democracy," said Director Wray in the press release. "The men and women of the FBI work tirelessly every day to defend our homeland and protect the American people. I am proud of their selfless spirit — putting themselves in harm's way to keep others safe — and we will hold accountable anyone who threatens them." Back to Top COUNTERINTELLIGENCE FBI Resumes Flagging Foreign Disinformation to Social Media Giants The New York Times (08/15, Myers) reported that the FBI has recommenced its coordination with major social media platforms to counteract foreign disinformation aimed at influencing U.S. elections, following a temporary halt due to legal challenges. According to the article, this renewed effort is a response to escalated disinformation activities by foreign adversaries like Russia and Iran, with the FBI playing a key role in identifying and communicating these threats to platforms like Facebook and X. The article noted that the FBI's involvement has been critical in enabling social media companies to take down harmful content, with new operational guidelines ensuring that these actions respect First Amendment rights and are based on credible intelligence linking the disinformation to foreign entities. NBC News (08/15, Collier) added that Meta announced Thursday that pro- Russian propagandists are still working to influence Americans ahead of the 2024 presidential elections. In the company's latest quarterly Adversarial Threat Report, Meta said that it had dismantled five distinct Russian propaganda campaigns in the last three months. The article noted that Meta's investigation began as a tip from the FBI, the company said. The FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force has routinely warned U.S. social media companies when the U.S. intelligence community has noticed foreign influence operations targeting Americans. The practice was suspended for months last year following a lawsuit by Republican state attorneys general against the U.S. EFTA01655884 government. The article added that the FBI resumed it by March, and the Supreme Court threw out the lawsuit in June. Evidence Suggests Trump Adviser Susie Wiles Was Among Iran Hack Targets The Washington Post (08/15, Barrett, Dawsey) reported that the FBI is investigating potential foreign hacking attempts directed at U.S. presidential campaigns, focusing on alleged Iranian hacks targeting Trump adviser Susie Wiles and others. According to the article, the FBI, along with private computer security experts, identified spear- phishing attacks that compromised the email accounts of individuals like Roger Stone. The article noted that the FBI's investigations are part of a broader effort to address foreign interference in the 2024 presidential contest, highlighting ongoing concerns about cyber threats from Iran, Russia, and China. Ahead of DNC, Suit Aims to Ban Police Bodycams With Chinese Chip From Political Events Politico (08/15, Ng) reported that a lawsuit has been filed to ban police body cameras with Chinese-made chips from political events, citing espionage risks. According to the article, concerns have escalated to the point where last September, the FCC chair requested that the Justice Department, the National Security Agency, and the FBI consider adding Quectel, the chip manufacturer, to a list of entities covered under national security concerns. The article noted that the lawsuit by GovernmentGPT claims these cameras could potentially enable real-time surveillance and data interception by foreign adversaries, emphasizing the gravity of the security threats posed. How a Persecuted Religious Group Grew into a Global Movement The New York Times (08/16, Hong, Rothfeld, May) reported that the Falun Gong, a spiritual movement founded in China in the 1990s, has faced severe persecution by Chinese authorities. According to the article, despite the Chinese government's efforts to suppress the movement, Falun Gong has grown into a global phenomenon, partly visible through cultural initiatives like the Shen Yun Performing Arts. The article noted that the FBI has been involved in recent cases within the U.S., investigating and addressing Chinese government activities targeting Falun Gong practitioners, highlighting ongoing concerns over espionage and foreign interference. The article explained that last month, two men pleaded guilty in New York to bribing someone they believed to be an I.R.S. agent as part of a plot to target Falun Gong practitioners in the United States. They admitted to acting as illegal Chinese government agents. Their goal, according to federal prosecutors in Manhattan, was to revoke the tax-exempt status of an entity run by Falun Gong practitioners. The two men had also surveilled Falun Gong followers at the group's headquarters in Orange County, N.Y., according to an F.B.I. interview cited in a court document. House Committee Urges Probe of Chinese Wifi Router Company Over Security Concerns The Epoch Times (08/15, Yang) reported that Representatives John Moolenaar and Raja Krishnamoorthi, members of the House Select Committee on China, are calling for a federal investigation into TP-Link Technology Co due to security concerns related to potential cyber attacks on the United States. According to the article, the lawmakers expressed concerns about the company's compliance with Chinese national security laws that might require data sharing with the Chinese government, highlighting the use of TP-Link routers in various cyberattacks attributed to Chinese-sponsored groups. The article noted that recent research and government warnings have underscored vulnerabilities in TP-Link's devices, leading to calls for action to address these espionage-related risks. The article noted that during an April congressional hearing, Director Wray said Chinese hackers have the ability to strike a "devastating blow" at any time, as they are already connected to critical infrastructure in the United States. Director Wray told Congress that the CCP hacking campaign known as Volt Typhoon, which began in 2021, has already burrowed into several American companies in telecommunications, energy, water, pipeline operations, and other critical industries. Continued Reporting: U.S. Army Sergeant Pleads Guilty To Selling Secrets To China The Morning News (08/15, Messamore) reported that U.S. Army Sergeant Korbein Schultz has pleaded guilty to selling classified military documents to the Chinese government. According to the article, the FBI and the Department of Justice are still investigating the extent of Schultz's espionage, which involved selling sensitive information on U.S. rocket systems and military tactics for $42,000. The article noted that Schultz's actions are part of a broader investigation into his contacts and the data he provided on U.S. defense strategies, including those concerning Taiwan. Back to Top EFTA01655885 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS NYC Mayor Eric Adams and Others Subpoenaed in Long-Standing Federal Probe CNN (08/15, Pazmino, Morales) reported that New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been issued a federal grand jury subpoena as part of an investigation into corruption and illegal campaign donations, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The article mentioned that City Hall and Adams' 2021mayoral campaign committee also received a set of subpoenas, which were issued in July and cover a variety of materials including text messages, communications and other documents, one of the sources said. The subpoenas are the latest development in the monthslong investigation into Adams and his campaign that has focused on possible public corruption and foreign influence. Adams was not personally served, according to a source familiar. There's no appearance and no deposition in this request. Letters were delivered to his attorneys and to City Hall's counsel. The article noted that it is not the first time Adams has been the target of federal investigators. Last year, FBI agents seized his cellphones and iPad pursuant to a court warrant. The article added that CNN has previously reported the investigation into Adams is focused on campaign money, possible favors and foreign influence. The investigation has dragged on for several months and first became public after it was reported the FBI and investigators with the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York raided the home of Brianna Suggs, Adams' chief fundraiser. The New York Post (08/15, McCarthy, Bhole, et al.), Fox News (08/15, Whitten), CBS News (08/15, Brennan), ABC News (08/15, Katersky), Bloomberg (08/15, Porzecanski), the Daily Beast (08/15, Folk), New York Daily News (08/15, Sommerfeldt), New York Times (08/15, Rashbaum, Rubinstein), Reuters (08/15, Staff Writer), and the Gothamist (08/15, Lane) also reported on the story. Mexico Waiting on U.S. For Flight Details Behind Capture of Drug Kingpins Reuters (08/15, Diaz) reported that Mexico's attorney general's office said on Thursday it has yet to receive detailed information from U.S. authorities about a flight that carried two notorious drug traffickers to the U.S. last month, amid rising tensions between the two countries over the arrests. In a statement, the office said it requested details from the DOJ about the flight, including detailed records on its pilot, the aircraft, and related migration and customs authorizations. The article stated that Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, a co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, was detained on July 25 at a New Mexico airfield along with one of the sons of his incarcerated Sinaloa Cartel co- founder Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Mexico is investigating the events to determine whether treason was committed via the forcible abduction of a Mexican citizen and their delivery to U.S. authorities. The dramatic arrest was a major coup for U.S. law enforcement but has provoked consternation from the Mexican government, which was not given prior warning and was not involved. The Associated Press (08/15, Peitz) reported that Zambada, 76, has so far appeared in U.S. federal court in El Paso, Texas, which is in one of the jurisdictions where he has been indicted. He has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and other charges. Federal prosecutors in Texas asked a court Thursday to hold a hearing to take the procedural steps needed to move him to the New York jurisdiction that includes Brooklyn, where the elder Guzman was convicted in 2019 of drug and conspiracy charges and sentenced to life in prison. If prosecutors get their wish, the case against Zambada in Texas would proceed after the one in New York. Bob Menendez to Be Replaced by New Jersey Governor's Former Top Aide The Associated Press (08/15, Catalini) reported that New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy will name his former chief of staff George Helmy to serve as interim senator when Bob Menendez resigns later this month after his conviction on federal bribery charges, according to a person familiar with the decision. Helmy served as Murphy's top aide from 2019 to 2023 and is now an executive at RWJ Barnabas Health, a large health care provider in the state. He was formerly an aide to Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision was not yet public ahead of an expected announcement on Friday in Newark. The article noted that Menendez wrote in a letter to Murphy last month that he's resigning on Aug. 20, just over a month after the jury's verdict. He said he planned to appeal. The article mentioned that Menendez, 70, was convicted of charges that he sold the power of his office to three New Jersey businessmen who sought a variety of favors. Prosecutors said Menendez used his influence to meddle in three different state and federal criminal investigations to protect his associates. They said he helped one bribe-paying friend get a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund and another keep a contract to provide religious certification for meat bound for Egypt. He was also convicted of taking actions that benefited Egypt's government in exchange for bribes, including providing details on personnel at the U.S. embassy in Cairo, ghostwriting a letter to fellow senators regarding lifting a hold on military aid to Egypt. FBI agents found stacks of gold bars and $480,000 hidden in Menendez's house. EFTA01655886 Vermont State Police, FBI Investigate Damage to FAA Station WPTZ (NBC-5) (08/15, Cusanelli) reported that Vermont State Police and the FBI are investigating after a Federal Aviation Administration facility in Washington, Vermont, was seemingly vandalized back in June. According to the article, in July, FAA officials in Burlington reported a vandalism incident at the Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range, or VOR, station in Washington on Cyr Heights Road, after inspectors noticed damage at the station on July 2. Officials later confirmed that service at the station had been disrupted several days before, on June 30. The article stated that the damage included monitor antennas that had been removed from the station, panels smashed on the HVAC unit, a door handle torn off a second-story structure access door, and antennas inside the structure being bent out of shape. The article added that the facility is an automated monitoring station that aids in navigation for the nearby EF Knapp State Airport in Berlin. While the station is primarily used as a backup emergency navigation station for pilots in the area, it is used to assist commercial pilots with navigation information particularly during periods of bad weather, according to the FAA. Prominent California Lawyer Abused Pandemic Loan Program, Prosecutors Say Reuters (08/15, Thomas) reported that prominent California attorney Lisa Bloom and her law firm will pay more than $274,000 to resolve claims that they gave the U.S. government false information in connection with a COVID- 19 pandemic relief program, federal prosecutors said Thursday. The Bloom Firm will pay approximately $204,000 while Bloom and her husband Braden Pollock will each pay more than $35,000 to settle allegations under the False Claims Act, prosecutors said. The article stated that Bloom, Pollock and the law firm denied the allegations, and are not admitting any liability by settling the claims, according to documents prosecutors provided. Bloom is known for taking on high-profile cases, including representing women who accused now-deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein and comedian Bill Cosby of sexual assault. Her past clients have also included disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The article mentioned that prosecutors alleged that the Bloom Firm falsely certified it used funds from the U.S. Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program during the pandemic for eligible payroll expenses, when it actually used the money to pay several workers who were ineligible to receive the PPP funds or were not working for the firm. Fox News (08/15, Price) also reported on the story. Former Alabama Police Officer Agrees to Plead Guilty in Alleged Drug Planting Scheme The Associated Press (08/15, Staff Writer) reported that a former Alabama police officer has agreed to plead guilty in connection with an alleged scheme to plant drugs on motorists, federal prosecutors announced Thursday. The article stated that court records show that Michael Kilgore, a former police officer with the Centre Police Department, has signed a plea agreement on a charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. It describes how a package containing methamphetamines, oxycodone and marijuana was planted in a woman's car with the help of a co-conspirator. According to the plea agreement, the scheme began in early 2023 when Kilgore found methamphetamines and marijuana in a car and offered to let the driver avoid drug charges by working with him as a confidential informant. The article mentioned that Kilgore told the co-conspirator that he wanted to make a narcotics case and the two arranged for a package of drugs to be attached to the undercarriage of a vehicle, according to the plea agreement. On Jan. 31, 2023, Kilgore pulled the car over during for an alleged traffic violation and searched it and produced the drugs, prosecutors said. Kilgore and his co-conspirator had planned a second drug plant, prosecutors added, but the co-conspirator discarded the drugs and reported the scheme to law enforcement. A DOJ press release noted that the FBI investigated the case. Federal Authorities File Additional Charges Against Chinese-Linked Biolab in Central California Fox News (08/15, Price) reported that federal authorities announced new charges against the operators of an illegal underground biolab found in a Central California community last fall. Jia Bei Zhu, 62, a citizen of China, was previously indicted for distributing bogus and misbranded COVID-19 test kits in violation of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. He was also charged with making false statements to authorities about his identity and involvement with the biolabs. Additional charges have now been filed against Zhaoyan Wang, 38, also a citizen of China, who officials described as a "romantic and business partner." The article stated that according to court documents, from August 2020 through March 2023, Zhu and Wang conspired to defraud buyers of UMI and PBI's COVID-19 test kits. They imported hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 test kits from Ai De Ltd., which was a company in China that they controlled, and falsely represented to the buyers that the test kits were made in the United States. A DOJ press release noted that this case is the product of an investigation by the FBI and the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations. Two Recalls, an FBI Raid, a Gavin Newsom Intervention: What's Happening in Oakland? EFTA01655887 Politico (08/15, White) reported that Oakland, California, is navigating one of its most turbulent moments in decades. Its mayor and top prosecutor are fighting efforts to oust them from office in November, fueled by voter frustration over shootings, robberies and store closures. Mayor Sheng Thao is now also facing further pressure amid a federal investigation linked to an influential family that has donated to her and other elected officials. The article stated that Oakland's woes have bitterly fractured local liberals, spurring the involvement of two ascendant officials in Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta. If they can't help fix Oakland, it could become a drag on their future ambitions. The article mentioned that days after the anti-Thao effort qualified for the November ballot and a mass shooting erupted at a popular lake, FBI agents searched Thao's home as part of a probe that has also ensnared a politically connected family that runs a waste management company. Thao has denied any wrongdoing and said she is not a target of the investigation. In a fiery speech after the raid, she lambasted the FBI action as unjustified and condemned the recall effort as a "waste of time and public resources" by "a handful of billionaires" who "are hellbent on running me out of office." Reward for Escaped Murderer in North Carolina Grows to MK NBC News (08/15, Lenthang, Romero) reported that a $50,000 reward is being offered for information on the whereabouts of an escaped North Carolina inmate convicted of killing a 1-year-old girl. Ramone Alston, 30, fled Tuesday morning as he arrived at a hospital for a medical appointment. The reward sum has grown since his escape and now stands at $50,000 - $30,000 authorized by Gov. Roy Cooper, $10,000 from the U.S. Marshals Service, and $10,000 from the FBI. The article noted that Alston escaped at around 7 a.m. Tuesday shortly after his transport vehicle arrived at the UNC Hospitals Hillsborough Campus. He freed himself from leg restraints and jumped out of the vehicle, and while still in handcuffs, he ran into the adjacent woods, the Department of Adult Correction said. In a news conference Wednesday, Keith Acree, the communications director for the Department of Adult Correction, said officials are "pretty certain" Alston is no longer in the immediate area of his escape. FBI Bribery Probe May Have Looked at Other Mississippi Councilmembers MTV (CBS-12) (08/15, Lake) reported that since former Jackson City Councilwoman Angelique Lee pled guilty to federal charges, others on the Jackson City Council shared their experiences with who they believe to be undercover FBI agents. Lee pled guilty to accepted more than $13,000 in cash and purchasing multiple luxury items with a credit card given to her by FBI informants. The informants posed as real estate developers from Nashville, and Lee was not the only city official they approached. The article added that Councilmen Vernon Hartley and Ashby Foote said they attended meetings with out-of-town real estate developers in February 2024. They said the meetings were set up by Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens. The article quoted Hartley, who said, "I was over in the Fondren area at Walker's, and the meal was very good. And I gladly paid my $24, and I moved on. Never heard back from anybody again. I may not know what undercover agents look like, but I know what business folks would look like. And I'm about the business. I expected them to roll out some type of schematic or plan or this is what we had. I didn't see any of that, we're out there trying to draw businesses in, you shouldn't color outside the lines when doing that." Hartley said there was no quid-pro-quo deal offered to him by the individuals. Federal Agents Visited Californian Council Member's Home, Document Shows The Press Democrat (08/15, Booth) reported that the FBI visited the home of St. Helena council member Eric Hall on Aug. 7, according to a document. The article stated that the visit came on the same day federal agents served a search warrant at the Upper Valley Disposal Service facility. Hall is married to former Upper Valley Disposal Service chief operating officer Christy Pestoni. A day before the FBI visit, Hall had announced he would not be seeking reelection. The article mentioned that the FBI is conducting a sprawling investigation in Napa County, which has targeted some of the elite and powerful names in the county. The Upper Valley Waste Management Agency, a quasi-governmental agency that oversees waste services in upper Napa County, was targeted by federal subpoenas received by Napa County in December 2023. Why Did the FBI Take U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles' Phone? The Tennessean (08/15, Jones) reported that federal agents recently took possession of U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles' cell phone as part of an investigation he believes centers around his federal campaign finance filings. Ogles, R- Columbia, is seeking reelection in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District in the November election, with former President Donald Trump's endorsement. This month, he won a competitive Republican primary against well-funded challenger Metro Nashville Council member Courtney Johnston. The article stated that the day after declaring victory, Ogles' phone was confiscated by the FBI. The congressman faces ongoing scrutiny over his federal campaign finance filings and personal finance disclosures. According to the article, it's not clear exactly what the EFTA01655888 FBI is investigating. Ogles has faced scrutiny and multiple complaints over his federal campaign finance disclosures for more than two years. In a statement confirming that the FBI had taken his phone, Ogles immediately mentioned "mistakes" in his campaign's "initial financial filings." Ogles has said he intends to cooperate with the FBI and the Federal Election Commission. Minnesota Investigators Identify Baby Found Dead in Box 35 Years Ago CBS News (08/15, Moser) reported that Minnesota investigators on Thursday closed a decades-old case without filing charges. On April 23, 1989, a baby girl was discovered dead inside a box by the roadside in Santiago Township in Sherburne County. The case remained unsolved for more than 35 years as investigators were unable to identify the baby or her parents. According to the article, last year, Sherburne County investigators revisited the case with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI. Investigators say they were able to use DNA to identify the mother, who, in interviews, admitted to concealing her pregnancy and the birth from her family. She told authorities that the baby was not alive at birth and that, in a state of panic, she did not know how to handle the situation. The article mentioned that the original 1989 autopsy and re-examination done last year could not definitely determine if the baby had been born alive. Sherburne County officials say that two pathologists believe the baby was likely stillborn. Sherburne County Attorney Kathleen Heaney reviewed the case earlier this month before closing the case, citing the statute of limitations. Tennessee Guardsman Found Dead and Bound With Zip Ties in 2019 Was Shot Over Custody Dispute, Authorities Say NBC News (08/15, Stelloh) reported that after an investigation that spanned nearly five years and included hundreds of possible suspects, authorities in Tennessee said they believe a custody dispute was behind the killing of a National Guard member who was bound with zip ties and fatally shot in 2019. Officials in Loudon County said Tuesday that Amanda Bishop, 39, and Eric Byrd, 39, were charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Jacob Bishop, a member of the Tennessee National Guard who had returned from a deployment to Poland in the months before he was fatally shot. Amanda Bishop, of Kingston, and Byrd, of Lenoir City, were arrested Tuesday, the sheriff's office said in a news release. The article noted that the sheriff's office said in a news release Tuesday that more than a dozen law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation, including the FBI; the Secret Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and a sheriff's office in Texas. Video Shows Arrest of Suspect in Maryland Mom's Murder CBS News (08/15, Kushner, Thompson) reported that the outlet obtained video from the night police in Oklahoma arrested Victor Martinez Hernandez, the man charged in the murder of Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five. Martinez Hernandez was taken into custody in June at a bar in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 10 months after Morin was found murdered off the Ma & Pa Trail in Harford County. The article stated that the video shows Martinez Hernandez being escorted out of the bar, put in handcuffs and into the patrol car. He was later extradited to Maryland where he is facing charges of first and second-degree murder, rape, sex offense and kidnapping. Investigators said they were tipped off that the Martinez Hernandez was in the Tulsa area after he fled Maryland. The article mentioned that the video starts inside a bar on a late Friday night in Tulsa when police and FBI agents approached Martinez Hernandez sitting at a bar. At first, Martinez Hernandez denied his crimes. Officers walked him outside and then asked to see his identification. But Martinez Hernandez told the officers he didn't have an ID and provided a fake name. Moments later, Martinez Hernandez was placed in handcuffs and into the patrol car after officers uncovered his real identity. Man Accused of Using Fentanyl To Murder Girlfriend and Two Children Newsweek (08/15, Mehrara) reported that ater a North Carolina woman and her two young children were found dead from fentanyl poisoning in March in a Charlotte apartment complex, her boyfriend has been accused of their triple homicide. The article stated that Benjamin Joseph Taylor, 34, has been charged with first-degree murder and failure to report death for the murders of Markayla Johnson, 22, her daughter Miracle, 4, and her baby Messiah, 7 months. After Johnson's family began receiving "strange text messages that they did not believe were coming from her," according to investigators, they reported her and her children missing on March 3. Following an investigation by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Homicide Unit (CMPD), Johnson and her two children were found in bags with diapers and blankets on their faces. When authorities went to find Taylor days later, they learned he left the state on a bus via surveillance tape footage, according to a probable cause affidavit. The article added that Johnson and her children all had fentanyl in their systems, as well as other drugs, according to the EFTA01655889 autopsy report. Taylor was subsequently found and arrested in Imperial County, California by the CMPD and the FBI on March 16, according to a press release from the CMPD. A Student Was Raped and Murdered in Her Fiancé's Apartment on Valentine's Day. Forty Years Later, Genealogists Finally Crack the Case The Independent (08/15, Hawkinson) reported that genealogists have identified the man suspected of killing a 22- year-old Texas college student in a 40-year-old cold case. Tern McAdams was at her fiancé's Arlington, Texas apartment on Valentine's Day, 1985. Her fiancé was out of town on a business trip, so McAdams decided to make him a heart-shaped cake. Afterward, she called her soon-to-be sister-in-law, CBS News reports. However, moments after hanging up the phone, someone entered through a sliding door in the bedroom before beating, sexually assaulting and killing McAdams. Her body was found in the apartment by a maintenance worker. The article stated that for nearly 40 years, McAdams' case went unsolved. However, advanced technology and "investigative genetic genealogy" have allowed police to identify her suspected killer: Bernard Sharp. The article added that nine months after Sharp is thought to have killed McAdams, he was involved in another string of killings in Arlington. He shot three people, killing two, before dying by suicide, police said. The article mentioned that for decades, police could not link Sharp to the murder because they had no DNA samples. However, earlier this year, investigators identified a close relative who provided DNA. Using their sample, genealogists determined Sharp was a genetic match to the DNA found in the apartment of McAdams' fiancé. The article quoted Chad Yarbrough, a Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Dallas, who said, "Investigative genetic genealogy is one of the most valuable tools that law enforcement has access to today." KWTX (CBS-10) (08/15, Ashley), and the Huffington Post (08/15, Moorhouse) also reported on the story. Continued Reporting: Illinois Deputy Police Chief Pleads Not Guilty to Bankruptcy Fraud Charges CBS News (08/15, Ramos) reported that Dolton's acting police chief appeared before a federal judge and pleaded not guilty on Thursday to multiple charges of bankruptcy fraud and perjury, among others. It was just the latest in an ongoing saga of controversy surrounding the Dolton village government. Acting police chief Lewis Lacey made his initial appearance in court for his arraignment. The judge ordered that he turn in his gun and FOID card as a pre- trial condition. The article stated that in court, federal prosecutors laid out the nine-count indictment against Lacey, claiming he devised a scheme to defraud, by way of filing a bankruptcy in an effort to hide assets and income to avoid paying more than $40,000 in a lawsuit settlement that goes back nearly a decade. Prosecutors said as part of the scheme, Lacey repeatedly lied about his monthly income and concealed multiple bank accounts that he controlled. He also lied, they said, about being separated from his wife. Lacey said he lived alone, which prevented creditors from going after her. The article mentioned that the federal indictment happened in the shadow of ongoing turmoil in the Village of Dolton where Mayor Tiffany Henyard has been under investigation for alleged misuse of village funds. A recent report released by former Chicago mayor-turned special investigator Lon Lightfoot showed that the village had a staggering $3.5 million budget deficit. The report also highlighted how some village employees racked up overtime, specifically Lacey, who received almost $216,000 in overtime since 2022. FBI Raids Virginia County Property of Well-Known Russia Expert Rappahannock News (08/15, Staff Writer) reported that federal agents descended on a Huntly property Tuesday and have maintained a steady presence there since. The article quoted FBI spokesperson Samantha Shero, who said, "The FBI conducted court-authorized law enforcement activity. We have no further comment as this is an ongoing matter." The article stated that Rappahannock County Circuit Court records show the 132.6-acre property was sold by Katherine Krebser to Dimitri K. Simes and his wife Anastasia R. Simes for $1.63 million in July 2021. Dimitri Simes, 76, has been well known in the Washington, D.C., diplomatic world for decades and is considered an expert in Russian affairs. He was the longtime president and chief executive officer of the Center for the National Interest, a public policy think tank founded by former President Richard Nixon. Simes left the center in 2022. Pennsylvania Man Accused of Making Threats to FBI Found Incompetent to Stand Trial