EFTA01655899.pdf

From: FBI News Briefing To: "FBINewsBriefing" ce. Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Daily News Briefing - August 13, 2024 Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2024 10:10:03 +0000 Importance: Normal View in Browser PtFederal Bureau of Investigation August 13, 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 • Trump and Musk Talk About Assassination Attempt and Deportations During Glitchy Chat on X • FBI Is Investigating Suspected Iranian Hack Attempts Against Trump and Biden Campaigns • Trump Plans to Sue DOJ Over Mar-A-Lago Search and Prosecution • U.S. Prepared for Possible Significant Attacks in Middle East by Iran, White House Says • Bipartisan Task Force Launches Investigation into Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump COUNTERTERRORISM • Former Cornell Student Sentenced to 21 Months in Jail for Threats Against Jews • Sikh Activists in U.S., Canada Face Threats a Year After Trudeau Linked Leader's Killing to India • U.S. Government Sued Over Alleged Discrimination Against Palestinian Americans • FBI Seeks Information in Disappearance of Afghan American Business Contractor • Continued Reporting: Improvised Explosive Devices Recovered in Maui by FBI COUNTERINTELLIGENCE • Famed Spy Catcher Warns of Foreign Penetration of U.S. Government Happening Now CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • Former Colorado Clerk Tina Peters, One-Time Hero to Election Deniers, Convicted in Computer Breach • Hunter Biden's Attorneys Dispute Prosecutors' Accusations of Influence-Peddling Scheme with Romanian Client • Ex-Law Enforcement and Former Military Officers Charged in Alleged Sham Raid to Extort California Man at Behest of Chinese National • Gold Bar Scams Net Millions in Maryland EFTA01655899  • Man Accused of Voting in Both Florida and Pennsylvania Faces Charges • Arkansas Officer Fired After Being Caught on Video Beating Inmate in Back of Patrol Car • FBI Assists in Investigation Into Kentucky Mass Shooting • Dolton, Illinois Police Officer Charged in Federal Court With Bankruptcy Fraud • TikTok Influencer Who Peddles Riches Through Real Estate Is Arrested on Wire Fraud Charges • Judge Rules to Continue Federal Case Against Girlfriend of South Carolina Killer • FBI Investigating Addiction Treatment Provider That Partners With Kentucky Jail • Alaska FBI Looking for Suspect in Bank Robbery Attempt • FBI and Knoxville Police Search for a Suspect Who Robbed Tennessee Bank at Gunpoint FINANCIAL CRIME & CORPORATE SCANDALS • SEC Probe of B. Riley Widens as Struggling Firm's Stock Drops More Than 50% on Profit Warning CYBER DIVISION • They Looked Like An Ordinary Texan Family. The FBI Says The Parents Are Pig Butcherers Who Stole $10 Million. LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES • Illinois Assault Weapons Ban Triggers Gun Buying Boom, FBI Data Shows INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS • International Investigation Leads to Shutdown of Ransomware Group • Border Patrol Issues Warning After 'Significant Rise' In Attacks On Agents CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS • 'J6 Praying Grandma' Avoids Prison Time and Gets Six Months Home Confinement in Capitol Riot Case • FBI Arrests North Carolina Man Accused of Assaulting Multiple Officers on Jan. 6 OTHER FBI NEWS • FBI's Ryan Young Wants to Collaborate With Industry at 2024 Intel Summit • FBI Shares Tips With Farmers on How to Protect Agriculture Infrastructure • Director Wray Names FBI Special Agent in Charge for OKC • FBI to Host Teen Academy in West Virginia • DC Church Wrestles With FBI Connection • Data Gaps Allow Campaigns to 'Pick and Choose' Their Own Crime Story: Criminologist INTERNATIONAL NEWS • War Tears Apart Sudan's Capital City • Ukrainian Soldiers Describe Rapid Offensive Across Border as Russians Fled • Betrayal and Capture of Sinaloa Cartel Leaders Spark Fears of Turf War • Bangladesh's New Leader, Muhammad Yunus, Says He Answers to Protesters • Britain's Anti-Immigrant Riots Pose Critical Test for Starmer • Russian Artist Released in Swap Builds a New Life in Germany, Now Free to Marry Her Partner EFTA01655900  • A Ship in the Red Sea Is Targeted in a Third Attack by Suspected Houthis • Crews Battle Scattered Fires in Athens Suburbs, Helped by Calmer Winds and Reinforcements • More Indian Hospitals Hit by Doctors' Protest Against Alleged Rape and Murder • Turkish Police Arrest Masked Man After Five People Stabbed OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • Break-in Reported at Trump Campaign Office in Virginia • 4.4-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Southern California • Dozens of Pregnant Women, Some Bleeding or in Labor, Are Turned away From ERs Despite Federal Law • Sparks' Dearica Hamby Sues WNBA, Aces Over Pregnancy Discrimination • Immigrants Are Becoming U.S. Citizens at Fastest Clip in Years • Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Cannot Appear on New York Ballot, Judge Rules • Trump Flew on Charter Jet Previously Owned by Jeffrey Epstein • Judge Rules Against RFK Jr. In Fight to Be on New York's Ballot, Says He Is Not a State Resident • American Airlines Flight Attendants Injured During Turbulence on Florida Flight BIG PICTURE • New York Times • Wall Street Journal • Washington Post • ABC News • CBS News • NBC News • Fox News • CNN WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS Trump and Musk Talk About Assassination Attempt and Deportations During Glitchy Chat on X The Associated Press (08/12, Kinnard, Peoples) and Reuters (08/12, Cowan, Sullivan) reported that former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk discussed a range of topics including the assassination attempt of Trump and mass deportations during a glitchy chat on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. According to the articles, Trump recounted the assassination attempt in vivid detail, stating, "If I had not turned my head, I would not be talking to you right now — as much as I like you." Musk, reflecting on Trump's resilience, remarked, "There's some real tough characters out there. And if they don't think the American president is tough, they will do what they want to do." The conversation, which was intended to reconnect Trump with millions of voters, suffered from significant technical difficulties, delaying the start by over 40 minutes and frustrating many users. Musk later apologized, attributing the issues to a "massive attack" on the platform's system. During the discussion, Trump also mentioned his plans for the largest deportation in U.S. history and hinted at bringing Musk into a potential second administration to help cut government regulations. The articles explained that Musk, once a critic of Trump, has since shifted to supporting him. This shift was notable as Musk had previously expressed skepticism about Trump's suitability for office. The event highlighted the evolving personal relationship between Trump and Musk and underscored the changing dynamics of U.S. politics, with Trump leveraging Musk's platform despite previously being banned for spreading disinformation that contributed to the January 6 Capitol attack. The articles noted that EFTA01655901 disinformation on X has increased under Musk's leadership, but the issue was largely ignored during their conversation, save for a brief mention by Trump of a "rigged election." The New York Post (08/12, Christenson) reported that while Musk stated that a "massive" cyberattack delayed his Spaces interview with Trump on Monday night, company insiders spilled to the Verge (08/12, Valle, Robison) that likely no such cyberattack took place. The article noted that one insider went as far as to say there was a "99% chance" that Musk had lied about it. "There appears to be a massive DDOS attack on X. Working on shutting it down," Musk posted 18 minutes after the scheduled start time for the interview. The article added that the conversation kicked off a little after 8:40 p.m., with the X owner saying, "As this massive attack illustrates, there's a lot of opposition to people just hearing what President Trump has to say." Additional reporting on the story was provided by the Wall Street Journal (08/12, Salama, Corse, Leary), Washington Post (08/12, Thadani, Harwell), New York Times (08/12, Conger, Mac), Fox News (08/12, Wulfsohn), CNN (08/12, Sullivan, Duffy, Bradner), The Hill (08/12, Samuels), CNBC (08/12, Picciotto), USA Today (08/12, Jackson), Politico (08/12, Gibson), The Guardian (08/12, Montgomery), The Epoch Times (08/12, Burg), Los Angeles Times (08/12, Jarvie), and NPR (08/12, Bond, Kurtleben, Allyn). FBI Is Investigating Suspected Iranian Hack Attempts Against Trump and Biden Campaigns The Wall Street Journal (08/12, Volz, Ward, McMillan) reported that the FBI is investigating suspected Iranian hacking attempts against both the Trump and Biden-Harris campaigns, reflecting concerns that Iran has become a major foreign election threat to the U.S. According to sources, the FBI began investigating in June after at least three Biden-Harris campaign staffers were targeted with spear-phishing emails, though these attempts were reportedly unsuccessful. The article added that the FBI also confirmed that it is probing a successful cyberattack that led to the theft of internal documents from the Trump campaign, which was disclosed to the public and attributed to Iran. This investigation marks the first indication that the U.S. government is seriously addressing the threat of Iranian interference in the upcoming presidential election. The article noted that Roger Stone, a close Trump ally, revealed that he was notified by the FBI and Microsoft about the compromise of his personal email accounts by a foreign nation-state, with the aim of phishing Trump campaign officials. Stone confirmed his cooperation with the investigation, stating, "I am cooperating with the investigation." Additionally, the article explained that Iran has quickly emerged as the chief election security concern within the U.S. government. Just last month, U.S. intelligence officials told media reporters that Russia was the "pre-eminent threat" to the November vote and viewed Iran as a lesser concern seeking solely to generate discord. But weeks later, they shared that their assessment on Iran had changed: Tehran wasn't just hoping to spread chaos, they said, but aiming to harm Trump's candidacy, as it haphazardly sought to do four years ago. Iran was also attempting to directly engage Americans in its influence operations and even provide funding to support Gaza protests on college campuses, officials said, while relying on "vast webs of online personas and propaganda mills to spread disinformation." Additional reporting on the story was provided by the Washington Post (08/12, Barrett, Dawsey, et al.), New York Times (08/12, Goldman, Haberman, Thrush), Reuters (08/12, Lynch), Associated Press (08/12, Miller, Balsamo), Politico (08/12, Gerstein, Sakellariadis), Fox News (08/12, Betz), CNN (08/12, Lyngaas, Perez, Holmes), NBC News (08/12, Collier, Dilanian, Luce), CBS News (08/12, Triay, Legare), Washington Examiner (08/12, Knox), The Hill (08/12, Beitsch), Forbes (08/12, Bohannon), The Epoch Times (08/12, Morgan), and New York Post (08/12, Nava). NBC News (08/12, Video), CBS News (08/12, Video), and MSNBC (08/12, Video) provided video reporting on the story. MSNBC (08/12, Figliuzzi) provided an opinion piece on the story. Trump Plans to Sue DOJ Over Mar-A-Lago Search and Prosecution NBC News (08/12, Rubin, Gregorian) reported that an attorney for former President Donald Trump has filed a legal notice announcing that his client plans to sue the DOJ and the FBI for $11S million for alleged "malicious political prosecution" and "abuse of process." The article stated that the notice baselessly accuses DOJ leadership and special counsel Jack Smith of having perpetrated a "malicious political prosecution aimed at affecting an electoral outcome to prevent President Trump from being re-elected" — a frequent accusation that Trump makes online and during campaign events. The article added that the filing complains that the FBI's court-approved search for classified documents at Trump's Florida estate in August of 2022 was improper, as was Trump's subsequent indictment for the scores of sensitive classified documents that agents turned up during the search. According to the article, the filing said the search violated "well-established protocol" involving former presidents and cites a Trump social media post after the search saying the government could have had the records "anytime they wanted." CNN (08/12, Polantz, Reid) reported that the claim alleges that Attorney General Merrick Garland and Director Wray, who signed off on the search, made the decision inappropriately, with negligence and that Trump and his attorneys said they were surprised by the FBI's arrival at the property. The article quoted the EFTA01655902 claim, which said, "The raid should have never occurred, Garland and Wray should have ensured their agents sought consent from President Trump, notified his lawyers, and sought cooperation." The Daily Mail (08/12, Earle), National Review (08/12, Lynch), the Guardian (08/12, Helmore), Business Insider (08/12, Musumeci), Newsweek (08/12, Fung), New York Post (08/12, Christenson), Fox News (08/12, Singman), Forbes (08/12, Durkee), News Nation Now (08/12, Dean), Washington Times (08/12, Wilson), New York Daily News (08/12, Goldiner), Independent (08/12, Liddell), Washington Examiner (08/12, Deese), CBS News (08/12, Video), Daily Beast (08/12, Fiallo), Epoch Times (08/12, Phillips), and Law and Crime (08/12, Naham) also reported on the story. U.S. Prepared for Possible Significant Attacks in Middle East by Iran, White House Says The Associated Press (08/12, Baldor) and the Wall Street Journal (08/12, Abdel-Baqui, Lieber, Youssef) reported that on Monday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a guided missile submarine to the Middle East and directed the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to expedite its journey to the area. According to the information, the decision was made due to the U.S. government's concerns that Iran or its allies might launch an attack against Israel in the upcoming week. The Defense Department announced these actions on Sunday in response to heightened worries about a potential retaliation from Iran and Hezbollah following the killings of militant leaders in Tehran and Beirut. The articles mentioned that John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, stated that Iran's response to the killings might occur sometime this week. Still, it's currently uncertain what form it might take. He also said the U.S. and its allies were bracing for a potentially significant series of attacks. The story was also reported on by the Washington Examiner (08/12, Birle), ABC News (08/12, Martinez, Gomez, Kingston), Axios (08/12, Ravid), BBC (08/12, Gillett), Bloomberg (08/12, Williams), CBS News (08/12, Ott), CNBC (08/12, Turak), CNN (08/12, Liebermann), The Guardian (08/12, Staff Writer), The Hill (08/12, Nazzaro), NBC News (08/12, Silva, Kube), New York Times (08/12, Schmitt), and the Washington Post (08/12, Rubin, Pannett, et al.). Bipartisan Task Force Launches Investigation into Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump The National Review (08/12, Lynch) reported that a new bipartisan House task force has initiated an investigation into the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Representatives Mike Kelly and Jason Crow, leading the task force, have formally requested all relevant documents and information from the Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, and Secret Service, prioritizing this inquiry over other legislative requests. According to the article, the task force's urgent actions follow significant security lapses highlighted in hearings with Secret Service and FBI leadership, revealing how the assailant, Thomas Matthew Crooks, managed to execute his plan. The Washington Times (08/12, McPherson) explained that one month after the assassination attempt on former President Trump, several critical questions remain unresolved, particularly concerning the oversight failures by the Secret Service and the FBI's ongoing investigation into the assailant's motives. According to the article, the FBI has not yet determined why Crooks targeted the former president, nor has the Secret Service fully explained the security lapses that allowed the attack to occur. The article highlighted that Ronald Rowe, acting director of the Secret Service, expressed regret over the incident, stating, "What I saw made me ashamed," and acknowledged the need for better security measures, including possibly utilizing drone technology for surveillance at future events. Additional reporting on the story was provided by the New York Times (08/12, Broadwater), Washington Examiner (08/12, Mondeaux), The Hill (08/12, Brooks), Fox News (08/12, Elkind), Daily Mail (08/12, Phillips), Politico (08/12, Carney), and Daily Wire (08/12, Mahieu). Back to Top COUNTERTERRORISM Former Cornell Student Sentenced to 21Months in Jail for Threats Against Jews Reuters (08/12, Singh) reported that Patrick Dai, a former Cornell University student, was sentenced to 21months in prison for posting online threats against Jewish students, including threats of death and violence. According to the article, the U.S. Justice Department highlighted the serious nature of the threats, which significantly impacted the sense of safety within the Cornell community. The article noted that Dai's threats were part of a larger context of rising antisemitism and Islamophobia in the U.S., particularly following recent conflicts between Israel and Hamas. "Mr. Dai's actions serve as a disturbing reminder of the terrifying hatred our Jewish communities encounter simply because of their beliefs," said Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli of the FBI Albany Field Office. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Associated Press (08/12, Staff Writer), New York Times (08/12, EFTA01655903 Shanahan), Fox News (08/12, Wehner), New York Post (08/12, DeGregory), USA Today (08/12, Craig), CNN (08/12, Brown), National Review (08/12, Kessel), and New York Daily News (08/12, Bamburger). Sikh Activists in U.S., Canada Face Threats a Year After Trudeau Linked Leader's Killing to India Reuters (08/12, Lynch, Lone, Garcia) reported that Dr. Jasmeet Bains, a Sikh American elected to the California Assembly, has faced significant threats and harassment since advocating for recognition of the 1984 Sikh genocide in India. According to the article, after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau implicated the Indian government in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader, Bains received heightened security assessments and contact from the FBI regarding threats at her office. The article noted that the FBI has been actively involved in warning Sikh community members about potential dangers, emphasizing the risk of "transnational repression" and advising vigilance against threats originating from foreign states. Additionally, the FBI has facilitated meetings for Sikh advocacy groups to discuss security concerns amid ongoing investigations into assassinations and assassination attempts of Sikh leaders in North America, attributed to possible Indian government involvement or its supporters. U.S. Government Sued Over Alleged Discrimination Against Palestinian Americans Reuters (08/12, Singh) reported that the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has filed a lawsuit against the FBI and other U.S. government agencies, alleging discriminatory practices that resulted in the placement of two Palestinian Americans on a watch list. According to the article, the lawsuit challenges the placement of Mustafa Zeidan on the no-fly list and the seizure of Osama Abu Irshaid's electronic device by federal agents, who questioned him about his activism related to Israel's actions in Gaza. The article noted that the FBI's Terrorist Screening Center, responsible for administering the no-fly list, stated that individuals are not listed based on race, religion, or free speech activities, although the plaintiffs argue their rights were violated under these very grounds. FBI Seeks Information in Disappearance of Afghan American Business Contractor UPI (08/12, Cone) reported that the FBI is actively seeking information regarding Mahmood Shah Habibi, an Afghan American business contractor who disappeared two years ago in Afghanistan, believed to have been taken by Taliban forces. According to the article, while 29 other employees of the Asia Consultancy Group were taken along with Habibi and later freed, Habibi himself has not been heard from since the incident. The article noted that Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed they are holding only two American citizens and denied holding Habibi, amidst discussions of a possible prisoner exchange involving U.S. prisoners held by the Taliban. "It has been two years since Mr. Habibi's disappearance, and the FBI continues to work diligently to return him to his family," David Sundberg, assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, said in a news release. "The FBI has a commitment to our citizens, victims and their families to seek answers on their behalf. We are once again asking for the public's help and encourage anyone who has information to contact the FBI." Continued Reporting: Improvised Explosive Devices Recovered in Maui by FBI Fox News (08/12, Arias) reported that the FBI and Maui police are investigating after several improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found and one caused significant damage and injury in Hawaii. According to the article, an IED exploded on August 8, injuring a driver and damaging a vehicle significantly; this event has prompted authorities to recover additional IEDs from various hidden locations and to call for public vigilance. The article noted that the FBI is conducting a forensic review to understand the configuration of these devices and continues to work with local police to identify the perpetrators behind these dangerous acts. CBS News (08/12, Video) also reported on the story. Back to Top COUNTERINTELLIGENCE Famed Spy Catcher Warns of Foreign Penetration of U.S. Government Happening Now Washington Times (08/12, Lovelace) reported that Eric O'Neill, a former FBI investigator renowned for his role in capturing Robert Hanssen, a notorious Russian spy, warned of ongoing foreign espionage activities within the U.S. government. According to the article, O'Neill, speaking at the Black Hat USA conference, expressed concerns about current threats from insiders akin to Hanssen, stating, "There probably is somebody else right now somewhere in a government agency giving up secrets." The article noted that despite advancements in security protocols since the Hanssen case, O'Neill remains cautious, emphasizing that espionage has evolved with technology, making it easier for foreign entities to exploit digital vulnerabilities rather than relying solely on human spies. EFTA01655904 Back to Top CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS Former Colorado Clerk Tina Peters, One-Time Hero to Election Deniers, Convicted in Computer Breach The Associated Press (08/12, Slevin) reported that former Colorado clerk Tina Peters, the first local election official to be charged with a security breach after the 2020 election as unfounded conspiracy theories swirled, was found guilty by a jury on most charges Monday. Peters, a one-time hero to election deniers, was accused of using someone else's security badge to give an expert affiliated with My Pillow chief executive Mike Lindell access to the Mesa County election system and deceiving other officials about that person's identity. The article stated that Lindell is a prominent promoter of false claims that voting machines were manipulated to steal the election from Donald Trump. His online broadcasting site has been showing a livestream of Peters' trial and sending out daily email updates, sometimes asking for prayers for Peters and including statements from her. Prosecutors said Peters was seeking fame and became "fixated" on voting problems after becoming involved with those who had questioned the accuracy of the 2020 presidential election results. The article noted that the breach Peters was charged of orchestrating heightened concerns over potential insider threats, in which rogue election workers sympathetic to partisan lies could use their access and knowledge to launch an attack from within. The Washington Post (08/12, Sanchez, Marley), Huffington Post (08/12, Shuham), CPR News (08/12, Birkeland, Hesse), the Hill (08/12, Robertson), Axios (08/12, Frank), Colorado Sun (08/12, Lofholm), and CBS News (08/12, Erblat) also reported on the story. Hunter Biden's Attorneys Dispute Prosecutors' Accusations of Influence-Peddling Scheme with Romanian Client The National Review (08/12, Lynch) reported that Hunter Biden's legal team is disputing the DOJ's recent description of an influence-peddling scheme involving a Romanian businessman and millions worth of payments. The article stated that the younger Biden's attorneys filed court papers Sunday to support their motion to remove allegations of political corruption and influence from his upcoming tax trial — allegations federal prosecutors believe are relevant because they expect one of his former business partners to testify that Romanian oligarch Gabriel Popoviciu paid Biden and his associates to lobby the U.S. government on his behalf. The article quoted Biden's attorneys, who said, "While going through the motions of filing Business Associate l's grand jury transcript under seal in support of its response to the Motion, the government included an inflammatory and incomplete, and therefore misleading, characterization of that testimony in a public filing, surely knowing it would make news." The article added that federal prosecutors said they were expecting one of Biden's business partners to testify about a business agreement designed to conceal the true nature of the work for Popoviciu, namely lobbying the U.S. government to influence the Romanian investigation into his suspected corruption. The business partner appears to be Rob Walker, whose holding company received roughly $3 million from Popoviciu from November 2015 to May 2017, according to bank records House Republicans released last year. All but one of the payments took place when Hunter's father, Joe Biden, was vice president during the Obama administration. The payments to Walker were mentioned in the sweeping indictment against Biden last year containing the nine federal tax charges he will stand trial for in September. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. ABC News (08/12, Bruggeman), and the New York Post (08/12, Christenson) also reported on the story. Ex-Law Enforcement and Former Military Officers Charged in Alleged Sham Raid to Extort California Man at Behest of Chinese National The Associated Press (08/12, Antczak) reported that two former Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies and two former foreign military officials have been charged with threatening a Chinese national and his family with violence and deportation during a sham raid at his Orange County home five years ago, federal prosecutors said Monday. The four men also demanded $37 million and the rights to the man's business, according to the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles. Authorities have not released the businessman's name. The men were arraigned Monday on charges of conspiracy to commit extortion, attempted extortion, conspiracy against rights, and deprivation of rights under color of law. All pleaded not guilty. The article stated that prosecutors said the group drove to the victim's house in Irvine on June 17, 2019, and forced him, his wife and their two children into a room for hours, took their phones, and threatened to deport him unless he complied with their demands. Authorities said the man is a legal permanent resident. The article noted that the men slammed the businessman against a wall and choked him, prosecutors said. Fearing for his and his family's safety, he signed documents relinquishing his multimillion-dollar EFTA01655905 interest in Jiangsu Sinorgchem Technology Co. Ltd., a China-based company that makes rubber chemicals. Federal prosecutors said the man's business partner, a Chinese woman who was not indicted, financed the bogus raid. The two had been embroiled in legal disputes over the company in the United States and China for more than a decade, prosecutors said. A DOJ press release quoted Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, who said, "The defendants in this case allegedly believed they could carry out vigilante justice by using official police powers to enter the home of vulnerable victims and extorting them out of millions of dollars, the FBI will not tolerate civil rights violations by anyone who takes the law into their own hands for personal gain or otherwise." CBS News (08/12, Staff Writer), Los Angeles Times (08/12, Mejai, Blakinger, Ormseth), and NBC News (08/12, Planas) also reported on the story. Gold Bar Scams Net Millions in Maryland The Washington Post (08/12, Morse) reported that fraudsters pose as federal agents, finding targets online or over the phone. They tell them their bank accounts are no longer safe. Eventually, after a series of communications, the swindlers persuade their targets to buy pricey gold bars and hand them over for safekeeping. The article stated that in Montgomery County, Md. — an area just north of Washington with large pockets of wealth — the scam is hitting hard. At least seven victims, authorities said Monday, have given up $6.3 million in gold bars over the last year — gold bars that they've never seen again. And that is just the cases being prosecuted. The number of actual victims, authorities said, is probably much higher. The article quoted FBI Supervisory Special Agent Keith Custer, who said, "The scammers are asking for gold because it is a transaction that looks somewhat more normal than an elderly victim walking to a bank and attempting to withdraw $50,000 in cash, when looked at from the outside, the purchase of gold bullion is a normal investment activity. Lots of people want to invest in gold. So if a senior wires $50,000 to an online vendor, it looks like a normal transaction." The article quoted Bill DelBagno, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau's Baltimore Field Office, who said, "They shuffle you around between fake agencies about your bank accounts being compromised. The scammers are very convincing. People are losing their life savings, their homes, their trust, their security. Unfortunately, it's happening across the United States." CBS News (08/12, Mendez) also reported on the story. Man Accused of Voting in Both Florida and Pennsylvania Faces Charges The Associated Press (08/12, Scolforo) reported that a man faces federal charges that he voted in both Florida and in Pennsylvania for the 2020 presidential election, and twice in Pennsylvania during the November 2022 election. The U.S. attorney's office in Philadelphia said Friday it had filed five charges against 62-year-old Philip C. Pulley of Huntingdon Valley, alleging he violated federal election law by falsely registering to vote, double voting and engaging in election fraud. The article stated that Pulley is accused of using a false Philadelphia address and Social Security number when in 2020 he registered in Philadelphia while already being registered to vote in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and Broward County, Florida. That year he requested a mail-in ballot in Philadelphia and voted in both Montgomery and Broward, according to the criminal allegations. A Dal press release noted that the case was investigated by the FBI and the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office. The Philadelphia Inquirer (08/12, Bernard), and Newsweek (08/12, Lewis) also reported on the story. Arkansas Officer Fired After Being Caught on Video Beating Inmate in Back of Patrol Car The Associated Press (08/12, Demillo) reported that an Arkansas police officer has been fired after he was caught on video beating a handcuffed inmate in the back of his patrol car, and the police chief says he will refer the case to prosecutors. Jonesboro Police Chief Rick Elliott fired Officer Joseph Harris on Friday, the day after Harris was caught on his patrol car video punching, elbowing and slamming the car door on an inmate being transferred from a local hospital back to the county jail. The article stated that Elliott reviewed the video after receiving a complaint from the county sheriff's office about the incident. The department also posted the video on its YouTube page and announced the officer's firing. Elliott said he would be referring the case to the local prosecutor and was putting together paperwork in the coming days to send to the prosecutor. The article mentioned that Elliott also said he had contacted the FBI's Little Rock office about the incident and would ask the state to decertify Harris as a police officer. FBI Assists in Investigation Into Kentucky Mass Shooting WDKY (Fox-56) (08/12, Goins) reported that the FBI is assisting Lexington police in the investigation into a midnight mass shooting that left one man dead. Lexington police said that it happened around 12:19 a.m. on Friday outside El Cid. The article stated that security footage showed a car pull up outside El Cid and a man got out of his car and fired several shots before fleeing. The shooter left five people injured and one man dead in the aftermath. EFTA01655906 Antoine Clay, 31, was pronounced deceased at an area hospital, per the Fayette County coroner. According to the article, Katie Anderson, FBI Louisville, said that the Bureau is aware of what happened that night and is assisting the Lexington Police Department with the investigation. However, since it's an ongoing investigation, she was unable to share additional information. Dolton, Illinois Police Officer Charged in Federal Court With Bankruptcy Fraud CBS News (08/12, Feurer) reported that former Dolton Deputy Police Chief Lewis Lacey was indicted Monday on federal charges accusing him of lying about his income in an attempt to avoid paying a settlement in a lawsuit. Lacey, 61, has been charged with five counts of bankruptcy fraud, two counts of making false statements in a bankruptcy case, and two counts of perjury. Federal prosecutors said Lacey has filed several personal bankruptcy petitions since the 1980s, including petitions in 2019 and 2020, after agreeing to a $55,000 settlement agreement in 2017 in a lawsuit filed against him in state court. Those bankruptcy petitions automatically stayed enforcement of the settlement agreement, for which he still owed $43,000 at the time. Prosecutors said Lacey repeatedly lied about his monthly income in the bankruptcy cases and concealed multiple bank accounts that he controlled. A DOJ press release noted that the FBI participated in the announced indictment. TikTok Influencer Who Peddles Riches Through Real Estate Is Arrested on Wire Fraud Charges The Independent (08/12, Rohrlich) reported that a TikTok-famous real estate flipper whose videos have racked up more than 3 million views is now facing federal charges over accusations he sold unwitting clients wildly lucrative "investment opportunities" in properties he never actually owned. The article stated that on Monday, a criminal complaint against Miller, 34, was unsealed in West Virginia federal court, charging him with one count of wire fraud. Miller, who does not yet have an attorney listed in court records, appeared Monday afternoon before a U.S. magistrate judge in Charleston, West Virginia. He was ordered detained pending a preliminary hearing. The article noted that the FBI has been investigating Miller since March 14, 2023, when agents received a tip from the West Virginia Securities Commission that a complaint had come in about Miller selling unregistered securities to the public through a company called Bear Industries LLC. Judge Rules to Continue Federal Case Against Girlfriend of South Carolina Killer WMBF (NBC-32) (08/12, Boles, Owens) reported that the federal case against the longtime girlfriend of Brittanee Drexel's killer was continued. A federal judge in Charleston ruled to continue 56-year-old Angel Vause's case on Monday. Vause previously agreed to plead guilty to two counts of making a false statement to a federal agent Monday afternoon. In the courtroom, new information came to light that would change the length of a potential sentence for Vause. That information concerned different guidelines from another federal district regarding those charges which would bring her maximum sentence to 16 years as opposed to 10. Vause previously faced five years on each of her counts, but now faces eight on each count based on the new information. The article stated that Vause's attorney then asked for a 10-day continuance to decide whether or not she wanted to take the plea deal or move forward with a trial. If she chooses to move forward with a trial, it would begin in the fall. The article noted that in May 2022, Vause's boyfriend, Raymond Moody, confessed to law enforcement that he and Vause picked up Drexel on April 25, 2009. Drexel was walking down the street, and Moody asked her if she wanted to party and smoke marijuana. The three ended up at a campsite in Georgetown County, where Moody kidnapped, raped and killed the teenager. Her remains were found in the Harmony Township area over a decade later. Vause talked with the FBI around May 11, 2022, and told an agent she went to pick up keys during the killing but was driving in another direction for a different reason, court documents state. She also said that Drexel kept her cell phone when the FBI alleges Vause took Drexel's phone and dumped it between Georgetown and Charleston counties. Vause added that Drexel voluntarily joined her and Moody, but the FBI said Drexel was actually abducted "under false pretenses." FBI Investigating Addiction Treatment Provider That Partners With Kentucky Jail The Cincinnati Enquirer (08/12, Baarlaer) reported that a prominent addiction treatment provider that recently formed a partnership with the Kenton County Detention Center is under investigation for healthcare fraud by the FBI's Louisville division, according to a request for information on the FBI's website. Addiction Recovery Care, also known as ARC, is the organization at the center of the FBI's investigation. The for-profit organization based in Louisa, Kentucky, operates more than 30 licensed addiction treatment centers across Kentucky, including an outpatient center in Crestview Hills. The article stated that the FBI's request for information, which was published on July 30, asks people to fill out a questionnaire if they believe they were "victimized by ARC or have information relevant to this investigation." ARC is not facing criminal charges at this time, according to the FBI's EFTA01655907 post. The FBI's questionnaire asks respondents if they worked for ARC or were a patient at an ARC facility since Jan. 1, 2019, and if they received any medical procedures, exams or services from ARC that "were not medically necessary or were not adequately rendered." It also asks respondents to list services they received that they believe weren't billed appropriately. The article added that the investigation announcement comes after ARC started running the substance use program at the Kenton County Detention Center in July. In late 2023, Kenton County Jailer Marc Fields issued a request for proposals seeking a third-party to run the jail's substance use program, a treatment program for inmates with addiction. Alaska FBI Looking for Suspect in Bank Robbery Attempt KTUU (NBC-2) (08/12, Palsha) reported that an unidentified woman gave a note demanding money from a bank employee at a First National Bank Alaska branch in Anchorage. The article quoted Zachary Pomerantz, an assistant special agent in charge with the FBI office in Anchorage, who said, "We take violent crime very seriously here at the FBI." According to the FBI office in Anchorage, the attempted bank robbery happened last Thursday around 5:30 p.m. FBI and Knoxville Police Search for a Suspect Who Robbed Tennessee Bank at Gunpoint The Knoxville News Sentinel (08/12, Riley) reported that a man with a gun robbed a Truist Bank branch in Bearden on Aug. 12, Knoxville police say. He handed a teller a note demanding cash at about 1:15 p.m., police said. The article noted that the FBI and Knoxville police are searching for the suspect and have not made any arrests. Back to Top FINANCIAL CRIME & CORPORATE SCANDALS SEC Probe of B. Riley Widens as Struggling Firm's Stock Drops More Than 50% on Profit Warning The New York Post (08/12, Kosman) reported that the feds have widened a probe of financial irregularities at B. Riley, sources said — even as the struggling Wall Street firm suspended its dividend and warned on profits Monday, sending its stock tumbling more than 50%. Short sellers in June and July continued to deliver information on B. Riley to the Securities and Exchange Commission — and the SEC has asked them for additional material in a continuing probe, according to emails and texts. The article added that SEC investigators are interested in loans B. Riley may have guaranteed for its former business partner Brian Kahn, a source with direct knowledge of the situation said. In January, Kahn resigned as CEO of the Franchise Group, which owns Vitamin Shoppe and Sylvan Learnings tutoring centers. Kahn stepped down after news reports linked him to Prophecy Asset Management, an investment firm that collapsed in March 2020 which prosecutors have alleged hid Kahn's trading losses. Khan has not been charged and he has denied wrongdoing. The article stated that Prophecy reportedly collapsed when it was supposed to invest with diverse money managers and instead allegedly invested mainly with one, suspected to be Kahn's Vintage Capital, which lost all its money, roughly $300 million. The co-founder of Prophecy John Hughes pled guilty to a conspiracy to commit securities fraud in 2023 and his sentencing was recently postponed to Feb. 5, 2025, according to court records. There is speculation he is cooperating with prosecutors. The article quoted Richard Langham, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Division, who said, "Hughes actively led clients to believe they were investing responsibly, putting their money into low-risk funds, as these lies continued and the losses mounted, he engaged in a cover-up, trying to conceal the staggering fraud." Back to Top CYBER DIVISION They Looked Like An Ordinary Texan Family. The FBI Says The Parents Are Pig Butcherers Who Stole $10 Million. Forbes (08/12, Brewster) reported that living in a large house in the affluent city of Frisco, Texas, Feng Chen, his wife Tianqiong Xu, and their two children appeared to be a normal, if wealthy, family. The FBI, however, has alleged that they are behind a $10 million online "pig butchering" scam, according to search warrants and an indictment. In January this year, they left Texas and returned to China, where they are citizens, the documents say. According to the article, Chen and Xu are facing wire fraud charges for allegedly creating a number of rogue cryptocurrency investment platforms, which were then used to scam victims. The FBI has accused the pair of working with unnamed co-conspirators to trick people to invest their crypto through the fake exchanges, which would then show EFTA01655908 their money growing, convincing them to invest more. But the apps were fraudulent; and after milking all they could, the accused would allegedly run off with their victims' money — what's known as a pig butchering scam. The article stated that the FBI said it had so far identified "approximately 120 victims with losses of approximately $9,547,180 associated with this schemer according to a search warrant for the suspects' cryptocurrency wallets. Individual victims were losing between $100,000 and over $800,000 each to the fraudsters, the court documents show. In 2022, Chen and Xu bought a house in Frisco valued by Zillow at $1.5 million; they own another property in Allen, Texas, and drove in a $100,000 Porsche Cayenne, the FBI said. The article added that the FBI had been chasing the couple since 2021 and had acquired access to their Google and Binance accounts as they prepared to file the charges in June, the documents show. But the family managed to leave the country earlier this year and have not returned. In January, Chen, Xu and their two children received new Chinese passports from the Chinese Consulate in Houston, Texas, bought tickets to go to China and departed three days later, the court documents show. They later liquidated their assets in the U.S., according to the government narrative. Back to Top LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES Illinois Assault Weapons Ban Triggers Gun Buying Boom, FBI Data Shows Patch (08/12, Meadows) reported that following last year's passage of a statewide ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, Illinoisans responded by purchasing more guns than ever. The article stated that legal gun sales in Illinois increased by 5 percent from 2022 to 2023, marking the second-largest increase in the nation, according to FBI data compiled by SafeHome. Using data from the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System to reflect the number of background checks conducted for firearm purchases, the home security organization reported 504,452 firearms were sold in Illinois last year. The article noted that the increase in gun sales comes after Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Protect Illinois Communities Act in January 2023. Drawn up in the wake of the Highland Park shooting the year before, the law defined assault weapons, banned their sale and limited magazine capacity to 15 rounds for pistols and 10 for long guns. The majority of 2023 gun purchases in Illinois came in the months that followed the new law, which included provisions requiring the registration of existing assault weapons with state police by the start of this year. Back to Top INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS International Investigation Leads to Shutdown of Ransomware Group The Record (08/12, Greig) reported that the FBI announced the takedown of the Radar/Dispossessor ransomware operation on Monday, confirming that dozens of servers across the U.S. and Europe were "dismantled." The group — which some researchers believe was started by former affiliates of the LockBit ransomware enterprise — has listed dozens of victims since emerging last year. Last month, members of the group told DataBreaches.net about a purported attack on Richard Parish Hospital in Louisiana that was never confirmed by the hospital. According to the article, on Monday, the FBI's Cleveland office said the group is led by a hacker going by the moniker "Brain" and that law enforcement officials took down three servers in the U.S., three in the U.K., and 18 in Germany. Eight domains registered in the U.S. and one in Germany were also taken down by the FBI. The article noted that in a statement, the FBI said Radar/Dispossessor has existed since August 2023 and focused on targeting small to mid- sized businesses and organizations. FBI officials said their investigation discovered that 43 companies were attacked by the group from across the U.S., South America, India, Europe, the United Arab Emirates, and elsewhere. The group primarily went after companies and organizations in the education, healthcare, financial services, and transportation sectors. The ransomware gang operated like most others, according to the FBI, breaching networks and stealing data before encrypting s