EFTA00160374.pdf

From: FBI News Briefing <[email protected]> To: "FBINewsBriefing" <[email protected]> Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - May 12, 2023 Date: Fri, 12 May 2023 10:10:02 +0000 Importance: Normal View in Browser Federal Bureau of Investigation May 12, 2023 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 • DOJ Seeks to Put Trump Deposition on Hold in Case of FBI Agent Fired Over Text Messages • Republican Nancy Mace Rips Director Wray Over Biden Investigation: 'Man up and Do Your Job' • Under Fire, CIA Moves to Overhaul Its Handling of Sexual Assault • Migrant Influx Overwhelms Southern Border as Title 42 Winds Down • Man Who Choked NYC Subway Rider to Death Will Face Manslaughter Charge, Prosecutors Say • NBCUniversal's Linda Yaccarino Is in Talks to Become Twitter CEO COUNTERTERRORISM • U.S. Authorities Take Down 13 Hezbollah-Affiliated Web Domains • Abu Zubaydah's Drawings Expose the US's Depraved Torture Policy • How the Hispanic Allen Shooter Was a Neo-Nazi and 'White Supremacist' • Laguna Woods Church Shooter Charged With 98 Federal Hate Crimes • Men Linked to Hate Group Charged in Fresno Pipe Bombings by Federal Prosecutors • Bomb Threat Made At Pittsburgh International Airport; Man Arrested • Opinion: Proud Boys Convictions May Counter Extremist Law Enforcement Infiltration COUNTERINTELLIGENCE • FBI Violations of Rules for Searching Surveillance Data Drop, Audit Finds • Chinese Government Spy Arrested In Boston, Court Docs Say • Opinion: Biden's Chinese Financial Dealings Are a Counterintelligence Nightmare CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • Hunter Biden Investigation: How President's Denial of Son's Wrongdoing Colors DOJ Inquiry EFTA00160374  • Trump Suggests He Knowingly Took Documents From White House • Records of Florida Grand Jury's Jeffrey Epstein Investigation Can Be Made Public • Criminal Investigation Into Sen. Bob Menendez Expands With New Subpoenas • Lori Vallow Daybell Trial: Jurors Begin Deliberating in Case of Idaho Mother Accused of Killing Her Children • How a Cold War Between Rival Biker Gangs on Cape Cod Turned Deadly • California Border Patrol Agent Arrested in Undercover Drug and Human Smuggling Sting • Alleged Silk Road 'Murders-For-Hire' Merchant Hit With Narcotics, Money Laundering Charges • Appeals Court Overturns Convictions of Two Wealthy Parents in College Admissions Scam • U.S. Supreme Court Tosses Former Cuomo Aide's Bribery Conviction • Here's What George Santos Was Charged With • Victim of 'Pig Butchering' Got Scammed Out of $450K • Ex-Gangster 'White Boy Rick' Arrested for Punching Woman • First Graders' Mutual Inappropriate Sexual Contact' Wasn't Assault, Texas Authorities Say • Letter 'O' Lands Alleged Bank Robber in Jail CYBER DIVISION • China Escalates Its Cyberwar Against the West • The FBI Chops Off the Head of Russia's Malware Network Known as 'Snake' LABORATORY • How Will Al Assist the FBI, CIA, and the Military? LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES • GOP Pushes Death Penalty Option for Killing Law Enforcement Officers INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS • 18 Years After Natalee Holloway's Disappearance, Peru to Extradite Key Suspect to U.S. • U.S. Journalists Renew Calls for Justice for Shireen Abu Akleh • Mexico Arrests Two More in March Kidnap, Killing of Americans • Suspect in Attack of 78-Year-Old Man in Norridge Flees U.S. To Turkey, Police Say CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS • Trump Talks Pardoning Capitol Rioters in CNN Town Hall • Three-Judge Panel Poised to Uphold Jan. 6 Obstruction Cases • Idaho Man Sentenced for His Part in Jan. 6 Riots • Bench Trial Concludes for Pennsylvania Woman in Capitol Riot Case • Couple and Their Friend Who Stormed the Capitol All Get Prison • Las Vegas Man Convicted in Jan. 6 Riot Gets Prison Sentence OTHER FBI NEWS • Soldiers, Airmen Train for Nuclear Forensics Mission at Interagency Exercise in Houston • Local FBI Officials Say School Social Media Threats Have Increased • Better Business Bureau: Elder Fraud Is a Growing Problem EFTA00160375 INTERNATIONAL NEWS • Mexico to Launch Database of Over 100,000 'Disappeared' People • U.K. Announces First-Ever Long-Range Missiles for Ukraine • Zelensky Urges Caution on Timing of Counteroffensive as Ukraine Advances in Bakhmut • U.S. Open to Overseas Bargaining Chips to Trade for Jailed Reporter Evan Gershkovich • U.S., China Senior Officials Meet in Tentative Effort to Restart Ties • Israel and Gaza Trade Fire Amid Cease-Fire Talks • Philippine Court Acquits Former Justice Secretary of Drug Charges After Key Witnesses Said They Lied • Serbia's Mass Shootings Prompt National Reckoning for War-Scarred Nation OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • Washington Defense Leaders Urge Senate to Pass Military Budget: China 'Is Not Waiting' • U.S. Deputy Secretary Of State Sherman Expected To Leave Post • Federal Government's $1 Billion Effort To Recruit Next Generation Of Doctors At Risk • NSA Chief Paul Nakasone Has Said He Expects to Step Down in Coming Months • Feinstein, Recovering From Shingles, Casts Senate Vote After Long Absence • GOP Senator Says Of White Nationalists In The Military, 'I Call Them Americans' • Judge in Virginia Strikes Down Federal Limit on Age of Handgun Buyers • Vulnerable Republicans Caught in the Middle in Debt Limit Fight BIG PICTURE • New York Times • Wall Street Journal • Washington Post • Financial Times • ABC News • CBS News • NBC News • Fox News WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS DOJ Seeks to Put Trump Deposition on Hold in Case of FBI Agent Fired Over Text Messages The Associated Press (05/11, Tucker) reported that the DOJ has requested a judge to delay the deposition of Donald Trump in a lawsuit brought by former FBI agent Peter Strzok, who was fired over critical text messages about the former president. According to the article, the government argues that lawyers for Strzok should first depose Director Wray, suggesting that Director Wray's interview may eliminate the need for Trump's deposition. The article noted that the DOJ asserted that there are no extraordinary circumstances justifying the deposition of a current or former high-ranking government official, including a former president, in a civil matter. The Washington Post (05/11, Hsu) and Raw Story (05/11, Chapman) also reported on the story. Republican Nancy Mace Rips Director Wray Over Biden Investigation: 'Man up and Do Your Job' The Washington Examiner (05/11, Notheis) reported that Rep. Nancy Mace has called on Director Wray to "do your job" following the House Oversight Committee's press conference regarding the alleged involvement of the Biden EFTA00160376 family in a "criminal scheme." According to the article, Mace criticized the FBI's statement on an alleged unverified document, urging them to thoroughly investigate the Biden family's connections to foreign countries. The congresswoman pressed the FBI and the DOJ to take action, emphasizing that if the allegations are proven true, someone with the last name Biden should face charges and prosecution. The Hill (05/11, Schnell) added that Speaker Kevin McCarthy intends to call Director Wray after the agency rejected a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee for a document alleging a "criminal scheme" involving President Biden and a foreign national. McCarthy called the FBI's response "unacceptable" and emphasized the House's oversight authority over the agency. The article noted that the subpoena was issued by Rep. James Comer and Sen. Chuck Grassley, who claimed a credible whistleblower provided information about the alleged scheme but did not disclose further details or the accuracy of the claims. An opinion piece by the Washington Examiner (05/11, Notheis) explained that Director Wray refused to comply with a subpoena issued by the House Oversight Committee, which demanded an unclassified FC-1023 form describing an alleged criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Joe Biden. According to the article, Director Wray has been criticized for being uncooperative and unwilling to address corruption in the FBI, which has been accused of political bias in its decision-making process. The article noted that instead of responding directly to the subpoena, Director Wray had the FBI's Acting Assistant Director of Congressional Affairs, Christopher Dunham, reply with a letter that focused on the importance of confidentiality in "Confidential Human Source Reporting" but was criticized for its haughty tone and lack of willingness to compromise. The author expressed strong disapproval of Director Wray's uncooperative behavior, perceived political bias, and lack of accountability to Congress and the American public. Under Fire, CIA Moves to Overhaul Its Handling of Sexual Assault Politico (05/11, Lippman) reported that the CIA has hired Taleeta Jackson, an expert on sexual assault prevention, to lead its Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office as part of several new steps to address allegations of mishandling sexual assault and misconduct within the agency. According to the article, the agency is also creating an internal task force to improve its organizational structure and processes for reporting sexual assault or workplace harassment, as well as to reform its Equal Employment Opportunity process. The article noted that several female CIA employees have accused the agency of mishandling their sexual assault cases and went to Congress earlier this year to say that the agency was discouraging women from making sexual misconduct complaints and making it difficult for alleged victims to speak to law enforcement. CNN (05/11, Cohen), Washington Post (05/11, Harris), Washington Examiner (05/11, Bide), New York Times (05/11, Barnes), NBC News (05/11, Luce), and Reuters (05/11, Landay) also reported on the story. Migrant Influx Overwhelms Southern Border as Title 42 Winds Down The Associated Press (05/12, Gonzalez) and the Wall Street Journal (05/11, Hackman, Caldwell) reported that a massive surge of migrants sought to cross from Mexico into the U.S. on Thursday, straining resources and patience on both sides of the border as the pandemic-era measure known as Title 42 was set to end at midnight. According to the articles, Title 42 allows Border Patrol agents to swiftly expel migrants back to Mexico even if they ask for asylum. Coverage noted that federal, state and local government officials are coping with increased numbers of migrants crossing into the U.S., many of them driven by misinformation about whether border rules would get easier or tougher after Thursday. The Border Patrol made more than 10,000 arrests on Wednesday of migrants crossing into the U.S., according to officials familiar with the data, rivaling previous daily records. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Thursday he expected Border Patrol facilities to be "very crowded" following the end of Title 42 and that the Biden administration would "meet the moment." The New York Times (05/11, Sandoval, Sullivan, Jordan) reported that multiple Texas border cities, including Brownsville, Laredo and El Paso, have declared states of emergency which allow them to seek more resources from the federal government to transport and house the new arrivals. The storyline was also reported on by the Washington Post (05/11, Mata, Miroff), Reuters (05/11, Salgado, Hesson), CBS News (05/11, Montoya-Galvez), NBC News (05/11, Korecki, Seitz-Wald), Fox News (05/11, Hayes, Hagstrom), CNN (05/11, Salahieh, Flores), USA TODAY (05/11, Villagran, Vanden Brook, et al.), Axios (05/11, Boodhoo), Politico (05/11, Crampton), Bloomberg (05/11, Fabian), Forbes (05/11, Dorn) and the Washington Examiner (05/11, King). Man Who Choked NYC Subway Rider to Death Will Face Manslaughter Charge, Prosecutors Say The New York Times (05/11, Bromwich, Meko, Newman) and the Associated Press (05/11, Offenhartz, Sisak) reported that Manhattan prosecutors said Thursday that they will bring criminal charges against a man who used a fatal chokehold on an unruly passenger aboard a New York City subway train. According to the articles, Daniel EFTA00160377 Penny, a 24-year-old U.S. Marine Corps veteran, will be arrested and face a charge of second-degree manslaughter, which could carry a jail term of up to 15 years. The charges come nearly two weeks after Penny pinned fellow subway rider Jordan Neely, 30, to the floor of a subway car and put him in a chokehold that lasted for several minutes. Attorneys for Penny did not immediately respond to a request for comment but have previously said their client, along with two other riders who helped restrain Neely, acted in self-defense. Coverage noted that Neely had more than 40 prior arrests, including felony assault for punching someone in the head on the subway. He also had more than a dozen mental health encounters with police, where he reported he suffered from schizophrenia and complained of "hearing voices." Neely also had an active warrant out for his arrest at the time of his death, coverage added. Penny's lawyers stated on Thursday that they were "confident that once all the facts and circumstances surrounding this tragic incident are brought to bear, Mr. Penny will be fully absolved of any wrongdoing." The storyline was also reported on by the Wall Street Journal (05/11, Vielkind), the Washington Post (05/11, Salcedo, Bella), Reuters (05/11, Clifford, O'Brien), CBS News (05/11, Sundby), NBC News (05/11, Dienst, Burke, Santia), Fox News (05/11, Dhanis, Wehner, Ingle), CNN (05/11, Scannell, Miller), USA TODAY (05/11, Thornton), Forbes (05/11, Bushard), Politico (05/11, Anuta, Chadha), The Hill (05/11, Mueller) and HuffPost (05/11, Mitchell). NBCUniversal's Linda Yaccarino Is in Talks to Become Twitter CEO The Wall Street Journal (05/11, Toonkel, Vranica, Corse) and the Associated Press (05/11, Ortutay, O'Brien) reported that NBCUniversal's head of advertising, Linda Yaccarino, is in talks to become the new CEO of Twitter, according to people familiar with the situation. Ms. Yaccarino, chairman of global advertising and partnerships at NBCU, has been with NBCU for more than a decade, where she has been an industry advocate for finding better ways to measure the effectiveness of advertising. As head of NBCU's advertising sales, she was key in the launch of the company's ad-supported Peacock streaming service. Elon Musk, Twitter's owner, said in a tweet Thursday that he had hired a new CEO, but didn't say who it was. "She will be starting in - 6 weeksl" Mr. Musk said in the tweet. Mr. Musk, who has been CEO since buying the company in October, said his role will shift to executive chairman and chief technology officer. But Mr. Musk also made clear he wasn't about to yield control over the platform, saying he would maintain responsibility for product, software and system operations. The storyline was also reported on by the New York Times (05/11, Mullin, Mac, Hsu), the Washington Post (05/11, Siddiqui, Ellison), Reuters (05/11, Mehta, Dang, Chmielewski), CNN (05/11, Duffy), CBS News (05/11, Picchi), NBC News (05/11, Ingram), USA TODAY (05/11, Guynn), Axios (05/11, Kokalitcheva), Bloomberg (05/11, Counts, Frier), Forbes (05/11, Bushard), CNBC (05/11, Vanian), The Hill (05/11, Gans), Business Insider (05/11, Kay) and the Washington Examiner (05/11, Hutton). Back to Top COUNTERTERRORISM U.S. Authorities Take Down 13 Hezbollah-Affiliated Web Domains The Associated Press (05/11, Chehayeb) reported that the U.S. Department of Justice has announced the seizure of more than a dozen website domains used by sanctioned associates, businesses, and charities of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group. According to the article, the FBI played a role in the seizure and is committed to holding accountable those who violate U.S. laws and contribute to Hezbollah's activities. The seized domains include those belonging to al-Manar television and top officials of Hezbollah, as well as affiliated charities, rendering the websites inaccessible. Abu Zubaydah's Drawings Expose the US's Depraved Torture Policy The Guardian (05/11, Pilkington) discussed Abu Zubaydah, a detainee at Guantanamo Bay who was subjected to torture in the CIA's post-9/11program. According to the article, Zubaydah's drawings, created from memory, provide a graphic and detailed account of the brutal techniques he endured. The report highlighted the US government's violations of international laws and its own guidelines, and the FBI's role is mentioned in the context of the CIA's torture program. How the Hispanic Allen Shooter Was a Neo-Nazi and 'White Supremacist' The Dallas Observer (05/11, Carter) discussed the case of Mauricio Garcia, a Hispanic man with Nazi tattoos who carried out a mass shooting in Allen, Texas. According to the article, some conservatives have been perplexed by the idea that someone with the last name "Garcia" could be a self-described white supremacist. The article EFTA00160378 mentioned that the spread of extremist ideas on social media is a significant concern, and highlighted the need for a conversation about addressing radicalization and violence rather than engaging in conspiracy theories or questioning Garcia's racism. Laguna Woods Church Shooter Charged With 98 Federal Hate Crimes KCAL (CBS-9) (05/11, Staff Writer) reported that a Nevada man, David Chou, has been charged with 98 federal counts, including hate crimes and weapons offenses, for his attack on a Taiwanese Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods. According to the article, the FBI reported that Chou was motivated by bias against the Taiwanese people. Chou, who had a well-thought-out plan and was armed with guns and explosives, injured multiple people in the attack before being subdued by churchgoers. KABC (ABC-7) (05/11, Staff Writer) also reported on the story. Men Linked to Hate Group Charged in Fresno Pipe Bombings by Federal Prosecutors The Fresno Bee (05/11, Miller) reported that two men, Scott Eric Anderson and Paul New, from Fresno have been charged with using pipe bombs on cars. According to the article, the FBI is investigating their potential involvement in a hate group, although the indictment did not include hate crime charges. The article noted that the evidence seized by authorities included Nazi paraphernalia. Bomb Threat Made At Pittsburgh International Airport; Man Arrested Patch (05/11, Heyl) reported that Hossein Dehnavifard, an Iranian national, is facing charges after allegedly making a bomb threat at Pittsburgh International Airport. According to the article, the threat was made after he was denied boarding his flight. The article noted that the FBI and Transportation Security Administration joined the investigation, and Dehnavifard was arrested and charged with making terroristic threats and threats to use weapons of mass destruction. Opinion: Proud Boys Convictions May Counter Extremist Law Enforcement Infiltration In an opinion piece from Newsweek (05/11, Sennett) the author emphasized the need for political leaders to leverage the recent convictions of Proud Boys members involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection to purge members of violent extremist groups from law enforcement ranks. According to the article, the Anti-Defamation League has identified over 370 people currently working in law enforcement agencies who are believed to be associated with the Oath Keepers, and several current and former police officers associated with the Proud Boys were charged for their participation in the insurrection. The author called for the creation of a legal mechanism, through presidential executive order or congressional action, to formally designate extremist groups as domestic terror organizations based on their violent actions. The Hill (05/11, Mockaitis) posted a similar opinion piece. Back to Top COUNTERINTELLIGENCE FBI Violations of Rules for Searching Surveillance Data Drop, Audit Finds The New York Times (05/11, Savage) reported that recent data from the auditing office of the FBI indicates that changes implemented by the agency have significantly improved compliance with rules governing access to communications intercepted under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Prior to the changes, about 18 percent of database searches lacked sufficient justification or were improperly defined, but in a nine-month period after the changes, that number decreased to approximately 4 percent. The article noted that the FBI is making these efforts to regain trust in its national-security surveillance powers and is seeking congressional support to extend Section 702, a warrantless surveillance program set to expire in 2023. Chinese Government Spy Arrested In Boston, Court Docs Say Daily Wire (05/11, Drey) reported that Litang Liang, a U.S. citizen, has been arrested and indicted for allegedly spying for the Chinese government in Boston, Massachusetts. According to court documents, Liang is accused of acting as an agent of a foreign government without notice to the U.S. attorney general. The article noted that Liang allegedly shared information on political dissidents, organized rallies supporting Taiwan's reunification with mainland China, and coordinated with the Chinese Communist Party officials using communication platforms like WeChat. Liang faces a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years. Opinion: Biden's Chinese Financial Dealings Are a Counterintelligence Nightmare EFTA00160379 An opinion piece by the Washington Examiner (05/11, Schindler) reported that House Republicans have released a 36-page report investigating the financial interests of the Biden family with foreign entities, particularly focusing on their dealings with Communist China. According to the article, the report highlights the complex web of shell companies operated for the benefit of various Biden family members, with a significant focus on Hunter Biden's involvement. The report suggests that Hunter Biden and Biden Inc. engaged in lucrative dealings with a Chinese firm called CEFC China Energy, known to be closely linked with the Chinese Communist Party and its intelligence services, raising questions about the nature of the financial exchanges and potential national security implications. The author assessed that the investigation into the Biden family's financial interests with foreign entities, particularly with regard to their dealings with Communist China, raises significant concerns about potential national security implications and calls for a thorough examination of the alleged scandal. Back to Top CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS Hunter Biden Investigation: How President's Denial of Son's Wrongdoing Colors Dal Inquiry The Washington Examiner (05/11, Dunleavy) reported that President Joe Biden weighed in on an active Justice Department investigation by contending that his son Hunter did "nothing wrong" even as congressional Republicans lay out new details about the younger Biden's shady overseas business dealings. The article added that this week, Director Wray defied a subpoena from Comer, who has told the bureau to hand over an alleged confidential human source claim which purportedly lays out a "criminal scheme" related to potential pay-to-play between then Vice President Joe Biden and an unnamed foreign national. The article stated that Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) had sent an October letter to Director Wray and others that the FBI is in possession of "significant, impactful, and voluminous evidence" of "potential criminal conduct" by Hunter Biden related to his overseas business dealings with China and Ukraine. The article noted that the whistleblower allegations released late last year related to Hunter Biden as well as James Biden, the president's brother, regarding the duo's dealings with the Chinese government-linked energy conglomerate CEFC China Energy. They also related to the younger Biden's work for Ukrainian gas giant Burisma Holdings. The New York Post (05/11, Nava), and an opinion piece by the Wall Street Journal (05/11, Strassel) also reported on the story. Trump Suggests He Knowingly Took Documents From White House The New York Times (05/11, Feuer, Haberman) reported that the former president, in his appearance on CNN, misstated the law governing presidential records, saying he was allowed to take the material now at the heart of a Justice Department investigation. According to the article, former President Donald J. Trump admitted more directly than before on Wednesday that he knowingly removed government records from the White House and claimed that he was allowed to take anything he wanted with him as personal records, appearing to misstate the law and undercut some assertions by his own lawyers. The article added that the remarks by Mr. Trump at a televised CNN town hall event in New Hampshire were the most extensive he has made in recent weeks about his handling of classified material after he left office. Jack Smith, a special counsel appointed by the Justice Department, has for months been investigating whether Mr. Trump illegally kept national defense documents at his properties — including Mar-a-Lago, his private club, and residence in Florida — and whether he obstructed the government's repeated efforts over more than 18 months to get the materials back. The article mentioned that legal experts have called Mr. Trump's interpretation of the act "muddled" and "confused." Last year, in a court fight with Mr. Trump's lawyers over records that were ultimately seized from Mar-a-Lago by the FBI, the Justice Department also dismissed the claims, saying that such a broad reading of the law "would nullify the statute's entire purpose." NBC News (05/11, Dilanian) also reported on the story. Records of Florida Grand Jury's Jeffrey Epstein Investigation Can Be Made Public The Associated Press (05/11, Spencer) reported that a Florida appeals court has opened the door for the possible release of transcripts of the grand jury investigation into notorious sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein nearly 20 years ago that ended with prosecutors negotiating a plea deal that critics have called questionably lenient. According to the article, Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeals unanimously agreed that Circuit Judge Donald W. Hafele had erred when he ruled he had no authority to release the normally secret transcripts of the 2006 Palm Beach County proceedings. The court cited a state law provision that says grand jury records can be made public if that is a "furtherance of justice." The article stated that the court in Wednesday's decision ordered Hafele to review the transcripts and to release those he deems would further justice, redacting the names of victims, witnesses, and EFTA00160380 those who have not been criminally charged. There is a public interest in knowing whether the wealthy and politically connected Epstein, who lived in a Palm Beach mansion, was given special treatment, the court ruled. Criminal Investigation Into Sen. Bob Menendez Expands With New Subpoenas NBC News (05/11, Dienst, Copenhagen) reported that another round of federal grand jury subpoenas went out this week in connection with the corruption investigation into Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey. According to the article, sources familiar with the matter said at least one powerful New Jersey politician — North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco — was among those who received subpoenas. A North Bergen spokesman said, "As they always have, Mayor Sacco and the Township of North Bergen will comply with any inquiry they receive from law enforcement and will cooperate fully." The article stated that for months, Menendez has been under criminal investigation into whether he and his wife improperly took cash and gifts from the owners of IS EG Halal, an Edgewater halal meat business. Menendez and the company's owners have denied any wrongdoing. The article noted that the FBI is part of the federal investigation. Lori Vallow Daybell Trial: Jurors Begin Deliberating in Case of Idaho Mother Accused of Killing Her Children CNN (05/11, Williams, Toropin, Almasy) reported that jurors began deliberating Thursday after closing arguments in the trial of Lori Vallow Daybell, the Idaho mother accused of killing her two children and conspiring in the murder of her husband's ex-wife. According to the article, Vallow Daybell, who has pleaded not guilty, faces life in prison if convicted on two counts of first degree murder and three counts of conspiracy in the 2019 deaths of her children from previous marriages — Tylee Ryan, 17, and Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7 — as well as Tammy Daybell, the former wife of Chad Daybell who died in her sleep several weeks before he married Vallow Daybell. The article noted that Vallow Daybell is also charged with grand theft on suspicion of changing bank accounts to collect Social Security benefits on behalf of her children after they were killed, the May 2021 indictment showed. The article mentioned that in the four-week trial that began April 10, prosecutors rested their case against Vallow Daybell Tuesday after calling about 60 witnesses, including dozens of law enforcement officers and an FBI agent who obtained access to Vallow Daybell's iCloud account. How a Cold War Between Rival Biker Gangs on Cape Cod Turned Deadly The Daily Beast (05/11, Hippensteel) reported that a newly unsealed FBI search warrant reveals how a turf war between rival biker gangs in Southern Massachusetts sparked a bloody 50-man street brawl, which resulted in several gang members being stabbed and bludgeoned. According to the article, the heavily redacted warrant, which was filed by an FBI task force officer and unsealed Thursday, details how the Hells Angels motorcycle gang and their supporters came to blows with a rival club called the Pagans in May 2022 over the latter's encroachment on their territory. The article noted that the Hells Angels and Pagans are well-established outlaw motorcycle gangs, with a history of crimes across the country ranging from narcotics trafficking to racketeering. They also can't stand each other, harboring a long-simmering feud that occasionally flares up into open violence. California Border Patrol Agent Arrested in Undercover Drug and Human Smuggling Sting The Los Angeles Times (05/11, Riggins) reported that a San Diego-area Border Patrol agent was charged Thursday with federal crimes related to on-duty corruption, including moving what he believed was 23 pounds of methamphetamine and opening a border gate to allow the passage of an undocumented immigrant. According to the article, federal authorities arrested Agent Hector Hernandez, 55, on Wednesday morning in Chula Vista, where he believed he would be handing over the drugs in return for a $20,000 payment, according to court documents. Instead, his contact turned out to be an undercover agent from the Border Patrol's parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security. The article stated that the investigation into Hernandez began last month when agents from department's Office of the Inspector General learned he "was engaged in border corruption activities," according to a criminal complaint and a search warrant. Those alleged activities are not detailed in the court documents, and as of Thursday he did not face charges related to those accusations. Alleged Silk Road 'Murders-For-Hire' Merchant Hit With Narcotics, Money Laundering Charges CNBC (05/11, Goswami) reported that James Ellingson, an alleged Silk Road drug merchant, was charged with three trafficking and money laundering counts in federal court in an indictment unsealed Thursday. According to the article, Ellingson also allegedly took payment from Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht totaling over $500,000 to carry out five different murders that prosecutors allege he might not have completed. The article noted that Ellingson faces up to life in prison for allegedly dealing cocaine, LSD, and marijuana on the online marketplace. The article EFTA00160381 added that Ulbricht, who was sentenced to life in prison in 2015, has repeatedly insisted that he is innocent. Silk Road was seized and shut down by the FBI in 2013. Appeals Court Overturns Convictions of Two Wealthy Parents in College Admissions Scam CNN (05/11, Burnside) reported that two parents who were found guilty in connection with the sprawling college admissions cheating scheme known as "Operation Varsity Blues" had their convictions vacated by an appeals court judge on Wednesday. According to the article, John Wilson and Gamal Abdelaziz were found guilty in 2021 on several counts, including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, for allegedly paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to scam mastermind Rick Singer to facilitate an admissions spot at the University of Southern California for their children, a scheme Singer called the "side door." The article stated that they were the first parents to be convicted at trial in the scheme. Several other wealthy parents who participated in the scheme, including actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, agreed to plead guilty. The article added that Wilson's and Abdelaziz's convictions have been tossed on largely technical grounds, according to court records. U.S. Supreme Court Tosses Former Cuomo Aide's Bribery Conviction Reuters (05/11, Raymond, Chung) reported that the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday overturned the bribery conviction of Joseph Percoco, an ex-aide to Democratic former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, in a ruling that further limits the ability of federal prosecutors to pursue corruption cases. According to the article, the justices ruled 9-0 in favor of Joseph Percoco, Cuomo's former executive deputy secretary who was charged in 2016 as part of a corruption crackdown by federal prosecutors in Manhattan centered on the halls of the state capital of Albany. The article added that in Percoco's case, the jury was required "to determine whether he had a 'special relationship' with the government and had 'dominated and controlled' government business," conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the court's opinion. "We conclude that this is not the proper test for determining whether a private person may be convicted of honest-services fraud, and we, therefore, reverse and remand for further proceedings." The article mentioned that Percoco was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to six years in prison for seeking $315,000 in bribes in exchange for helping two corporate clients of Albany lobbyist Todd Howe seeking state benefits and business. The article stated that thursday's ruling represented the latest in recent years in which the court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, has limited prosecutors in political corruption cases. In 2020, it overturned the convictions of two aides to Republican former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in the "Bridgegate" political scandal. In 2016, it threw out Republican former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell's bribery conviction. Here's What George Santos Was Charged With The New York Times (05/11, Fandos, O'Brien) reported that in a wide-ranging indictment unsealed on Wednesday, federal prosecutors charged Representative George Santos with 13 counts. According to the article, federal prosecutors have charged Representative George Santos of New York with 13 counts of money laundering, stealing public money, wire fraud, and making false statements to Congress. Prosecutors said the charges resulted from "fraudulent schemes and brazen misrepresentations" designed to mislead donors, enrich Mr. Santos, and win a seat in Congress as a Republican from Queens. The article included an overview of the charges contained in the 20- page indictment, which was unsealed on Wednesday. The Independent (05/11, Kilander) also reported on the story. Victim of 'Pig Butchering' Got Scammed Out of $450K The New York Post (05/11, Herz) reported that a 37-year-old tech executive from Philadelphia claims she fell for an online romance scam known as "pig butchering" — a cryptocurrency investment scheme she says drained her bank account of more than $450,000. The article stated that the loss prompted Shreya Datta to rent a cheaper apartment, sell her car and reflect on the red flags in her so-called "relationship," which began on the dating app Hinge. The article added that the term "pig butchering" derives from the Chinese name for the scam, as that's where the scheme is suspected to have originated. The article mentioned that a report last month from the US Department of Justice, investment fraud caused the highest losses of any 2022 scam reported by the public to the FBI's Internet Crimes Complaint Center, totaling $3.31 billion. Ex-Gangster 'White Boy Rick' Arrested for Punching Woman The New York Post (05/11, Reyes) reported that the legendary former Detroit gangster and undercover FBI informant known as "White Boy Rick" was arrested once again after allegedly attacking his girlfriend who got angry at him when he said someone else's name while they were having sex. According to the article, Richard Wershe Jr., EFTA00160382 53 — whose life as a young drug dealer-turned-informant inspired the film "White Boy Rick," starring Matthew McConaughey — was booked on Wednesday after allegedly hitting his girlfriend in his Miami condo. The article noted that Wershe, who became the youngest informant in FBI history after working with federal authorities when he was just 14, was released from Florida prison in July 2020. He was originally arrested in 1987 in Detroit with 8 kilos of cocaine and close to $30,000 and was later convicted of possession with intent to deliver more than 650 grams of cocaine. First Graders' 'Mutual Inappropriate Sexual Contact' Wasn't Assault, Texas Authorities Say Fox News (05/11, Brown) reported that a school district in Texas announced key findings from an investigation into allegations that a 6-year-old girl was forced by a male classmate to perform a sex act while another student recorded it on a district-issued iPad, all while a teacher was present. According to the article, the Hale County District Attorney and agents with the FBI Crimes Against Children unit collected all relevant statements and evidence regarding the incident at Plainview South Elementary School and the investigation has been submitted to appropriate legal authorities, the Plainview Independent School District (ISD) announced Wednesday. The article noted that the district listed key findings of the investigation, noting law enforcement personnel who viewed the iPad video "determined that a sexual assault did not occur; rather, mutual inappropriate sexual contact occurred between two 6-year-olds." Letter '0' Lands Alleged Bank Robber In Jail The Daily Beast (05/11, Rohrlich) reported that an accused bank robber's idiosyncratic penmanship landed him back in jail after a detective recognized the particular shape of the "O's" in the New York City man's demand notes, according to a criminal complaint obtained. According to the article, federal charges against Elliott Allen were unsealed May 8, fingering the 27-year-old as the suspect in a string of stickups dating back to last year. Some of the demand notes used in the robberies were threatening, while others bordered on the apologetic, offering justifications for the robbery. The article stated that the NYPD police lab linked Allen's demand notes to 15 others in its Robbery Note Database, according to the complaint. The FBI also identified further common features, it says, such as a "distinctive lower-case letter 's' that is either unusually horizontal... or appears unusually to consist of two separate pen strokes;' the "distinctive repeated use of inappropriate possessive apostrophes for plural nouns;' and the "consistent use of two vertical strikes in the dollar signs." Back to Top CYBER DIVISION China Escalates Its Cyberwar Against the West The Epoch Times (05/11, Uoadhayaya) reported that over the past few decades, China has adopted a policy of information warfare against its global adversaries by leveraging its civilian cyber sector. This constitutes Beijing's "people's war" on the world inflicted by its civilian cyber militias, according to cybersecurity experts. The article stated that the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) civilian cyber sector includes individual cyber operatives, private institutions, academia, and government institutions. In operational terms, these civilian sector operators do not have an official place within the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) order of battle. They turn into the communist regime's "cyber proxies and mercenaries," according to Simone Ledeen, a senior visiting fellow at the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue University and a former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East. The article mentioned that Director Wray told the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies on April 27 that Chinese hackers outnumber the U.S. cyber personnel by at least 50 to 1 even if each of the FBI's agents and intel analysts solely focussed on China. The FBI Chops Off the Head of Russia's Malware Network Known as 'Snake' Clearance Jobs (05/11, Burgess) reported that on May 8, the Russian FSB's cyberespionage capability took a major hit as a coordinated global takedown of the Turla Snake malware managed by Center 16 of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB). This takedown ends a 20-year clandestine counterintelligence operation focused on Russia's cyberespionage engagement which targeted and successfully penetrated entities in over 50 countries, including many NATO members. The article quoted Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI's Cyber Division, who said, "Today's announcement demonstrates the FBI's willingness and ability to pair our authorities and technical capabilities with those of our global partners to disrupt malicious cyber actors, when it comes to combating Russia's attempts to target the United States and our allies using complex cyber tools, we will not waver EFTA00160383 in our work to dismantle those efforts. When it comes to any nation state engaged in cyber intrusions which put our national security at risk, the FBI will leverage all tools available to impose cost on those actors and to protect the American people." Back to Top LABORATORY How Will Al Assist the FBI, CIA, and the Military? Fox News (05/11, Nieto) reported that the United States government uses artificial intelligence in the military, intelligence, and law enforcement to help mitigate potential threats. According to the article, the use of machine learning technology largely remains unregulated by the government, although year-on-year spending on Al government contracts continues to increase. The article noted that the FBI has used artificial intelligence to assist in crime prevention and intelligence gathering. The article added that the FBI has developed Al technology known as Next Generation Identification, which can use images from the Interstate Photo System to identify suspects who are wanted for criminal activities. The article stated that the FBI has used Al technology to assist in other law enforcement investigations, such as fingerprint identification, DNA matching, cybersecurity, and surveillance. In the coming years, the FBI will likely expand its current usage of AI in other areas of crime prevention. Back to Top LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES GOP Pushes Death Penalty Option for Killing Law Enforcement Officers Fox News (05/11, Herlihy) reported that more than two dozen GOP senators are proposing tougher penalties for criminals who target law enforcement officers — including the death penalty — and expanded self-defense protections for those officers ahead of National Police Week. According to the article, Sen. John Cornyn, (R-TX), on Thursday led a group 37 of his GOP colleagues including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, (R-KY)., to introduce the Back the Blue Act. The law creates a new federal crime for killing, attempting to kill or conspiring to kill a federal law enforcement officer, federal judge or federally funded public safety officer. The article noted that the measure would also make the offender subject to the death penalty and a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years if the attack resulted in the death of a federal officer. The offender would otherwise face a minimum sentence of 10 years. Back to Top INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 18 Years After Natalee Holloway's Disappearance, Peru to Extradite Key Suspect to U.S. Business Insider (05/11, Cano, Briceno) reported that Peru's government will allow the extradition to the United States of the prime suspect in the unsolved disappearance of Natalee Holloway on the Dutch Caribbean Island of Aruba in 2005, bringing her family hope there will be justice in the case. According to the article, Dutch citizen Joran van der Sloot will be sent to the U.S., Peru announced Wednesday, to face trial on extortion and wire fraud charges, stemming from an accusation that he tried to extort the Holloway family after their daughter's disappearance. The article noted that prosecutors in the U.S. allege van der Sloot accepted $25,000 in cash from Holloway's family in exchange for a promise to lead them to her body in early 2010, just before he went to Peru. The article added that an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit that van der Sloot reached out to Holloway's mother and wanted to be paid $25,000 to disclose the location and then another $225,000 when the remains were recovered. During a recorded sting operation, van der Sloot pointed to a house where he said Holloway was buried but in later emails admitted to lying about the location, the agent said. USA TODAY (05/11, Alund), Fox News (05/11, Staff Writer), Newsweek (05/11, Mayer), Rolling Stone (05/11, Marks), and NBC News (05/11, Li) also reported on the story. U.S. Journalists Renew Calls for Justice for Shireen Abu Akleh Aljazeera (05/11, Harb) reported that journalists in the United States have renewed calls for justice in the shooting death of Palestinian-American reporter Shireen Abu Akleh by Israeli forces, stressing the need for an independent EFTA00160384 investigation one year after her killing. According to the article, more than two dozen journalists gathered for a moment of silence to honor the veteran Al Jazeera correspondent in Washington, DC, on the first anniversary of her killing on Thursday. The article mentioned that last November, Israeli and American media outlets reported that the FBI launched an investigation into the incident. NBC News (05/11, Sanchez, Jabari) also reported on the story. Mexico Arrests Two More in March Kidnap, Killing of Americans The Associated Press (05/11, Staff Writer) reported that prosecutors in Mexico said Thursday they have arrested two more men in the March 3 kidnapping of four Americans and the killing of two of them. According to the article, the Gulf drug cartel turned over five men to police soon after the abduction in the border city of Matamoros, and prosecutors said the two newly arrested suspects also appeared to be members of the same cartel. The two were arrested during raids in the northern border state of Tamaulipas on Sunday and flown to Mexico City on a military plane. It was not immediately clear why the arrests were not announced at the time. The article added that federal prosecutors did not provide the full names of the suspects, but the details and first names match two men listed on a federal database as being arrested in Tamaulipas that day. Those names — Axel Alfredo Cardenas and Alan Alexis Cardenas — suggest they are related to Osiel Cardenas Guillen, the Gulf cartel leade