EFTA00160430.pdf

From: FBI News Briefing To: "FBINewsBriefing" ce. Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - April 19, 2023 Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2023 10:10:02 +0000 Importance: Normal View in Browser Federal Bureau of Investigation April 19, 2023 Seal Federal Bureau of Investigation Daily News Briefing (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs) Mobile version and searchable archives available at https://fbi.barbaricumanalytics.com Table of Contents IN THE NEWS COUNTERTERRORISM COUNTERINTELLIGENCE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS EFTA00160430  • JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon to Be Deposed in Epstein Suit CYBER DIVISION INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS OTHER FBI NEWS INTERNATIONAL NEWS OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS EFTA00160431 BIG PICTURE • New York Times • Wall Street Journal • Washington Post • Financial Time • ABC News • CBS News • NBC News • Fox News WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS Man Accused of Shooting Ralph Yarl Turns Himself In The Associated Press (04/18, Stafford, Salter) reported that an 84-year-old white homeowner, Andrew Lester, has been charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action after shooting Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager, who had mistakenly gone to Lester's house instead of a neighbor's. According to the article, the incident sparked a rally in downtown Kansas City, where supporters, civil rights leaders, and politicians called for justice and for stronger efforts to improve racial relations in Missouri and the US. Many carried signs saying "He is only 16" and "Is this what Kansas City has come to? Stop gun violence". The article noted that the family's attorney, Lee Merritt, claimed that the case should qualify as a hate crime. The shooting has outraged many, including President Joe Biden, who spoke with Yarl and invited him to the White House. The article noted that about 150 supporters attended a rally at police headquarters, chanting "Justice for Ralph" and demanding that the DOJ investigate. Politico added that the shooting has ignited fresh scrutiny of Missouri's "stand your ground" laws, which over much of the last decade have been central in trials for civilians accused in fatal shootings of Black teens and young men. Fox News (04/18, Casiano), CNN (04/18, Salahieh, Romine, Yan), The Daily Beast (04/18, Rohrlich), BBC News (04/18, lqbal, Matza), People (04/18, Baker), two articles from NBC News (04/18, Adams), CBS News (04/18, Novak), two articles from the New York Times (04/18, Smith, Rosman), Al Jazeera (04/18, Staff Writer), The Atlantic (04/18, Perry), The Hill (04/18, Gans), USA TODAY (04/18, Yancey-Bragg, Santucci), Washington Post (04/18, Ables, Berman), New York Daily News (04/18, Braine, Wilkinson), New York Post (04/18, Reyes), and Forbes (04/18, Reimann) also reported on the story. Fox Settles Dominion Lawsuit for $787.5 Million Over U.S. Election Lies Reuters (04/18, Coster, Queen) reported that Fox News and parent company Fox Corp have settled a defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5m. According to the article, the lawsuit centered on the media company's coverage of false vote-rigging claims in the 2020 U.S. election, which claimed that Denver-based Dominion's ballot-counting machines were used to manipulate the presidential election in favor of Democrat Joe Biden over Republican Donald Trump. The article noted that Dominion had sought $1.6bn in damages in the lawsuit filed in 2021. Legal experts said the settlement was the largest ever struck by an American media company. NPR (04/18, Folkenflik, Yang), NBC News (04/18, Timm), USA TODAY (04/18, Calhoun), The Hill (04/18, Latour), Forbes (04/18, Reimann), Law360 (04/18, Pappas, Montgomery), CBS News (04/18, Quinn, Hymes, EFTA00160432 Sganga), Bloomberg (04/18, Larson, Feeley), CNN (04/18, Cohen, Darcy), Wall Street Journal (04/18, Mulvaney, Flint, Simonetti), New York Times (04/18, Rutenberg, Robertson), Washington Post (04/18, Barr, Farhi, Marley, Izadi), Politico (04/18, Khardori), The Guardian (04/18, Singh), Axios (04/18, Fischer), Fox News (04/18, Wulfsohn), BBC News (04/18, Debusmann), CNBC (04/18, Mangan, Breuninger, Rizzo), Al Jazeera (04/18, Staff Writer), ABC News (04/18, Katersky, Rubin), Rolling Stone (04/18, Bort, Legaspi), The Intercept (04/18, Maass), Business Insider (04/18, Shamsian), and Vanity Fair (04/18, Ellison) also reported on the story. Russian Court Upholds WSJ Reporter Evan Gershkovich's Detention The Wall Street Journal (04/18, Simmons) reported that a Moscow court has upheld the detention of Wall Street Journal journalist, Evan Gershkovich, who has been held in Lefortovo prison since March 2021. He was arrested while reporting in Yekaterinburg and has been accused of espionage on behalf of the U.S. government. According to the article, Mr. Gershkovich's lawyers have stated that he is not guilty, while the U.S. government has requested his immediate release. The U.S. ambassador to Russia attended the hearing, which was held behind closed doors, and reporters were allowed to take photographs of Mr. Gershkovich before proceedings began. It was the first time Gershkovich was seen in public since his arrest. The article noted that Russian authorities have ordered that Mr. Gershkovich be held in pretrial detention until May 29th, and they can request an extension of that period. Virtually all espionage trials in Russia end in a guilty verdict, the article added. The article also noted that the U.S. has also designated Paul Whelan, another American being held in Russia, as wrongfully detained. The New York Times (04/18, Nechepurenko, Troianovski), NPR (04/18, Maynes), Fox News (04/18, Norman), Al Jazeera (04/18, Staff Writer), Associated Press (04/18, Staff Writer), Axios (04/18, Knutson), CNN (04/18, Halasz), NBC News (04/18, Talmazan), New York Post (04/18, Keane), The Hill (04/18, Mueller), Washington Examiner (04/18, Brest), BBC News (04/18, Rosenberg, Kim), Reuters (04/18, Faulconbridge, Osborn), USA TODAY (04/18, Elbeshbishi), CBS News (04/18, Ott), Forbes (04/18, Hart), Financial Times (04/18, Seddon), and the Washington Post (04/18, Ilyushina) also reported on the story. Back to Top COUNTERTERRORISM Hezbollah Financier Illegally Shipped Art, Diamonds From U.S., Prosecutors Say Reuters (04/18, Cohen) and the Wall Street Journal (04/18, Hackman, Fanelli) reported that Nazem Ahmad, an alleged financier of U.S.-designated terrorist group Hezbollah, was charged with a scheme to evade American sanctions and illegally import and export hundreds of millions of dollars worth of fine art and diamonds. According to the articles, the Treasury in 2019 had already sanctioned Ahmad for providing material support to Lebanon's Hezbollah, but prosecutors in Brooklyn said Ahmad worked with three family members and five other associates to continue dealing in diamonds and artwork while concealing Ahmad's involvement. The articles noted that the U.S. Treasury Department also unveiled sanctions on 52 people and entities in Hong Kong, the UAE, and elsewhere, targeting a vast international money laundering and sanctions evasion network connected to Ahmad. Police Embark On Massive Anti-Terrorist Training Exercise in Poland The First News (04/18, Staff Writer) reported that the Polish police and the FBI are carrying out a joint anti-terrorist exercise in Poland. The exercise, called Wolf-Ram 23, involves around 2,600 Polish police officers, paramedics, Internal Security Agency officers, and dozens of FBI agents. According to the article, the exercise aims to practice responses to different types of terrorist attacks, including the use of radioactive, chemical, and biological materials. The article mentioned that this is the biggest-ever involvement of FBI agents in Europe and that the exercise started on Monday evening and will conclude on Wednesday. FBI in Question After Sending Undercover Agent Into Catholic Church The National Desk (04/18, Rau) reported that a leaked report from the FBI has drawn criticism from Republicans who claim that the agency was targeting Catholics. The document showed that the FBI sent at least one undercover agent into a Catholic church to gain sources within the church and engage in outreach to Catholic parishes. According to the article, the bureau was looking into a smaller group of ultra-traditionalist priests that practice "Latin Mass" and are typically referred to as "radical traditionalists." The whistleblower who leaked the report claimed this was an effort to find white supremacists, as violent extremists had sought out Catholic churches. The article noted that the FBI has since said that the document was removed from its system and the matter is under review. The article also noted that the FBI has faced similar criticism from Republicans in the past, including for EFTA00160433 allegedly targeting parents at school board meetings. Additionally, polling data shows that trust in the FBI is higher among Democrats than Republicans and Independents, and millennials have somewhat higher levels of trust in the FBI than Gen X or Gen Z. FBI Raid Reveals Possible Explosives in Texas Man's Home KDFW (Fox-4) (04/18, Staff Writer) reported that the FBI arrested a 21-year-old man named Noah Calderon, who was found to be in possession of explosive components and banned weapons in a Fort Worth neighborhood. According to the article, police evacuated the neighborhood in Burleson after finding what they said was a "potentially volatile substance." Trained officers disposed of the substance, and people were allowed back into their homes. It is not clear what exactly was found. Calderon is currently being held in the Johnson County jail. Back to Top COUNTERINTELLIGENCE Pentagon Details Review of Policies for Handling Classified Information The New York Times (04/18, Ismay, Schmitt) and the Wall Street Journal (04/18, Lubold, Salama, Youssef) reported that the Pentagon has released details of its review of procedures across the Defense Department for using and securing the nation's secrets following the arrest of an Air National Guardsman in Massachusetts in connection with the leak of classified documents. According to the articles, the wing involved in the leak, the 102nd Intelligence Wing, has been shut down temporarily, and its compliance with policy, procedures, and standards is under investigation. The Defense Secretary has ordered an evaluation of "security programs, policies, and procedures" across the U.S. military. The articles noted that the FBI is also investigating the leak, which includes documents released online and classified information channels. The review is being led by Ronald S. Moultrie, the undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security, who oversees all aspects of the Defense Department's interactions with the wider intelligence community, including the NSA and the National Reconnaissance Office. NBC News (04/18, McCausland, Dilanian, Kube) added that the leaker, Jack Teixeira, was employed as a cyber transport systems journeyman, which is an information technology specialist, giving him access to confidential information, raising questions about the security clearance process. According to the article, more than 1.2S million people currently have top-secret clearance, and the rate at which reviews are performed has increased during the Biden administration. However, some experts have expressed concerns about the overclassification of information and the underprotection of classified information. The article noted that the leaked information was shared on Discord, an online forum, by Teixeira with a group of fellow gamers, with photos of paper documents that he may have smuggled out of a secure facility. The government is examining whether it should expand the monitoring of government-owned computers. The Associated Press (04/19, Richer, Tucker) reported that Teixeira is due back in court on Wednesday for a hearing to decide whether he should remain behind bars while he awaits trial. The article noted that court records unsealed last week revealed how billing records the FBI obtained from Discord and interviews with social media comrades led authorities to Teixeira. A Discord user familiar with Teixeira's online posts told the FBI that a username linked to Teixeira began posting what appeared to be classified information roughly in December. The person provided the FBI with basic identifying information about Teixeira, including that he called himself "Jack," claimed to be part of the Air National Guard and appeared to live in Massachusetts, according to the affidavit. The person also told the FBI that Teixeira switched from typing out documents in his possession to taking them home and photographing them because he "had become concerned that he may be discovered making the transcriptions of text in the workplace." The Independent (04/18, Bowden) reported that the U.S. government is investigating the "Donbass Devushka," a multi-platform social media persona that generally posts pro-Russia content, and the role of a US Navy veteran, Sarah Bils, in operating it. According to the article, Bils confirmed in an interview that she was an administrator of the account while denying any involvement in leaking sensitive military documents, which led to the arrest of Teixeira. Bils is under federal investigation in connection with the matter, according to a US official. The article noted that the investigation is ongoing, and the circumstances are unclear. Air Force officials revealed that Texiera had access to the documents as part of the Guard's work to support the broader intelligence efforts of the U.S. Air Force. "The FBI is continuing to conduct authorized law enforcement activity at the residence," said the FBI field office in Boston in a statement. "Since late last week the FBI has aggressively pursued investigative leads, and today's arrest exemplifies our continued commitment to identifying, pursuing, and holding accountable those who betray our country's trust and put our national security at risk." Additionally, Military.com (04/18, Novelly) added that the Air Force is launching an EFTA00160434 investigation into where Teixeira worked before he was arrested last week. According to the article, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall directed the service's inspector general to probe compliance with classified safeguards at the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base, according to a memo to the force on Tuesday. It also calls for every unit to conduct a stand-down to review its policies, the article noted. Leaked U.S. Assessment Says China Readying Supersonic Spy Drone Unit The Washington Post (04/18, Shepherd, Chiang, Wu, Nakashima) reported that a leaked U.S. military assessment shows that the Chinese military is likely to deploy a high-altitude spy drone that travels at least three times the speed of sound. The drone is expected to strengthen China's ability to conduct surveillance operations and target American warships around Taiwan and military bases in the region. According to the article, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) had "almost certainly" established its first unmanned aerial vehicle unit at the airbase where the drone was seen. Satellite imagery from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency dated August 9 shows two WZ-8 rocket-propelled reconnaissance drones at the air base in eastern China. Few analysts considered the drones fully operational at the time of their introduction in 2019. The article noted that CIA Director William J. Burns has said Chinese leader Xi Jinping wants the PIA to be capable of seizing Taiwan by 2027. Reuters (04/18, Singh) also reported on the story. Justice Department Charges Four Americans and Three Russians for Attempting to Influence Elections The Associated Press (04/18, Anderson) reported that an indictment unsealed on Tuesday reveals that four Americans affiliated with a Black empowerment and political organization have been charged, along with three Russians, with conspiring to covertly sow discord in U.S. society, spread Russian propaganda, and interfere illegally in U.S. elections. According to the article, the charges were added to an existing case in Tampa, Florida, involving Aleksandr lonov, described by prosecutors as the founder of a Moscow-based organization funded by the Russian government to carry out a clandestine influence campaign in the U.S. The article noted that the FBI raided the U.S.- based organization, the African People's Socialist Party and Uhuru Movement, last summer when lonov was originally charged. The FBI alleged that lonov operated an entity called the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia, which was used to carry out its U.S. influence efforts, overseen by the Russian intelligence service known as the FSB. Prosecutors said the Russians recruited U.S.-based organizations to help sway elections and make it appear there was strong support in the U.S. for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, among other efforts. The article added that the FBI has been investigating the case for some time and the charges represent an escalation in the agency's efforts to counter foreign influence operations targeting the U.S. Reuters (04/18, Staff Writer), Fox News (04/18, Aitken), The Daily Beast (04/18, Weill), Washington Post (04/18, Barrett), and Al Jazeera (04/18, Staff Writer) also reported on the story. After FBI Busts Chinese 'Police Station' in NYC, Six More Exposed in U.S. The New York Post (04/18, Vincent) reported that the FBI recently helped shut down a Chinese "police station" in Manhattan and arrested two alleged operatives. However, according to the human rights group Safeguard Defenders, there are several more such illegal organizations operated by the Chinese Communist Party in the US. According to the article, these law enforcement organizations are tasked with spying on Chinese nationals around the world, and they allegedly hide behind non-profits and community associations. The police stations have been found in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Nebraska, and Minnesota. The Safeguard Defenders report also flagged four overseas Chinese service centers in the U.S. set up by the United Front Work Department, a Chinese government agency that controls overseas ethnic and religious affairs. The article noted that these police stations allegedly spy on dissidents and others. Additionally, Newsweek (04/18, O'Connor) reported that a Chinese official, Liu Pengyu, has denied the allegations made by the U.S. Department of Justice that two Chinese nationals arrested in New York were operating an illegal overseas police station to monitor and intimidate those critical of the Chinese government on behalf of the Ministry of Public Security. Within the article, Liu argued that the relevant sites are formed by overseas Chinese to provide a place for overseas Chinese to access consultation and assistance. Liu added that the allegations were politically motivated and intended to smear China's image, and claimed that China adheres to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, strictly observes international laws, and respects the judicial sovereignty of all countries. China Complains as the Netherlands Warns of its Endemic Espionage The Washington Examiner (04/18, Rogan) reported that the director-general of the Netherlands intelligence service, Erik Akerboom, has stated that China poses the greatest threat to the nation's economic security. He stated that China uses various methods, including cyber-espionage and sending students and scientists as intelligence EFTA00160435 agents, to steal knowledge from vulnerable places, such as the Netherlands' advanced semiconductor chip manufacturing industry. According to the article, this aligns with threat assessments made by the FBI and Britain's MI5 intelligence service. Akerboom's statement comes at a sensitive time, as Beijing demands that the Netherlands reject U.S.-negotiated export restrictions on chip manufacturing equipment, fearing that it will use the equipment to develop its military capabilities for a potential conflict with the U.S. over Taiwan. The article assessed that China's rosy rhetoric is undermined by its own espionage, and it steals whatever it cannot easily buy, disregarding intellectual property laws and others' innovative efforts. Back to Top CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS Georgia Prosecutor Probing Trump Reveals New Details of Active Investigation Politico (04/18, Cheney) reported that the Atlanta-area prosecutor investigating efforts by former President Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election indicated Tuesday that she has conducted fresh interviews with some of the Republican activists who falsely claimed to be Georgia's legitimate presidential electors. According to the article, in a court filing Tuesday, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis noted that her office conducted those interviews on April 12 and April 14, suggesting an active and ongoing investigation. Willis disclosed in the filing that more than one of the false electors had described potential violations of Georgia state law by another one. The article noted that many of the false Republican electors were party activists or chairs in those states, and they helped convene the Republican electors in December when Biden's certified electors also met to formalize his victory in those states. The false electors in at least five of the Biden-won states — including Georgia — signed certificates claiming that they were the legitimate presidential electors from those states. While many of the false electors have claimed they weren't told that they were going to become components in Trump's Jan. 6 plans — only that their actions were necessary to preserve legal challenges — others were more intimately involved with figures in Trump's inner circle. After Alabama Birthday Shooting, Hope and Frustration The Associated Press (04/18, Staff Writer) reported that three days after gunfire at a Sweet 16 birthday party killed four young people and injured 32 more, some critically, victims' relatives and officials expressed hope that investigators may be nearing an arrest and also frustration about police silence on the case. According to the article, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency announced Tuesday evening that multiple law enforcement agencies, including local police and the FBI, would hold a news conference the following morning to discuss the case, further heightening the anticipation of a potential breakthrough. The article noted that the shootings Saturday night rocked the small town of Dadeville, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southeast of Birmingham, and families suddenly found themselves planning memorials and burial services instead of graduation parties or college move-ins. Man Found Fit for Trial in Abduction of Girl Who Was Slain The Associated Press (04/18, Staff Writer) reported that a man previously found incompetent has been ordered to stand trial on a kidnapping charge in the abduction of a 16-year-old who was killed in 2018, a prosecutor said Tuesday. According to the article, a U.S. Bureau of Prisons forensic psychologist found evidence to suggest Gerald Bennett, 63, of Detroit, was faking symptoms so he could be found incompetent to stand trial, so U.S. Magistrate Judge Ray Kent ordered Bennett to stand trial on a charge of kidnapping a minor, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said. The article noted that the partially clothed body of Mujey Dumbuya was found in January 2018 in woods in Kalamazoo, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of her Grand Rapids home. She had been strangled. Bennett hasn't been charged with killing her. After Bennett initially was found incompetent to stand trial, state charges against him were dismissed and he was freed in March 2022, Totten said. The case then was referred to the FBI and federal prosecutors, and a federal grand jury indicted him last August. "Doomsday Mom" Lori Vallow Daybell Faces Trial CBS News (04/18, Gualtieri) reported that Lori Vallow Daybell is on trial in Boise, Idaho, for her alleged role in the deaths of her 16-year-old daughter, Tylee Ryan; her 7-year-old adopted son, Joshua "JJ" Vallow; and her husband's first wife, Tammy Daybell. She had pleaded not guilty. According to the article, the trial, which is expected to last up to 10 weeks, started on Monday, April 10, after a week of jury selection that saw dozens of potential jurors dismissed, many for being too familiar with details of the case or having already formed an opinion. A jury of 10 EFTA00160436 men and eight women will hear the case. The article mentioned that the last time anyone saw Tylee Ryan was in September 2019, when the family took a trip to Yellowstone National Park.II Vallow's biological grandparents, Kay, and Larry Woodcock said that the last time they spoke to the 7-year-old was in August. The article added that by December, police and the FBI were searching for 16-year-old Tylee and 7-year-old JJ. The hunt continued even as police arrested Vallow Daybell in Hawaii on two felony counts related to the missing children and three other misdemeanors. She was extradited to Idaho. Son Gets Life in Prison for Hiring Hitman to Kill Dad Over Real Estate Empire The New York Post (04/18, Jacob) reported that Anthony Zottola Sr. was sentenced to life in prison in federal court, plus 112 additional years, on Friday for ordering a hitman to kill his father, 71-year-old Sylvester Zottola, in order to take over the family's real estate empire. The article mentioned that according to a Department of Justice press release, 45-year-old Zottola hired 37-year-old hitman Himen Ross, who also received a life sentence, to kill both his father and brother in an effort to keep the family's two dozen Bronx multi-family rental and commercial properties valued at $45 million. On Oct. 4, 2018, known New York City mobster Sylvester was gunned down in what law enforcement described as a mafia-style assassination at a Bronx McDonald's drive-thru while ordering a cup of coffee. The article quoted FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael Driscoll, who said, "Zottola had not one, not two, but multiple chances to rethink his deadly intent to murder his own father. He and the others he recruited chose to continue with their savage plot and succeeded. Now, instead of living off his father's millions, his only payday will be federal prison," Seven Years Later, Still No Arrests in Missy Bevers Murder Investigation CBS News (04/18, Staff Writer) reported that seven years ago today, mother of three, Terri "Missy" Bevers was murdered inside Creekside Church of Christ in Midlothian. According to the article, the country took notice of the case given eerie surveillance footage showing a suspect clothed in black, body armor, and other strange circumstances surrounding the brutal killing. Years later, police haven't made any arrests. Yet, Assistant Police Chief Scott Brown wants the community to understand the department doesn't consider the case "cold." The article noted that shortly after her murder, investigators released the surveillance video showing the suspect wearing possible police tactical gear, including a helmet, vest, and gloves. The video only showed the killer walking through the hallways, breaking glass on doors. Police said the suspect didn't steal anything, even Severs' wedding ring. The killer has an unusual gait, and detectives said they couldn't determine whether the suspect was a man or woman. Later, the FBI called in forensic podiatrist Dr. Michael Nirenberg to study surveillance video of the suspect. Former 1-800 Get-Thin Doctor Gets 7-Year Sentence for Multimillion-Dollar Fraud Scheme The Los Angeles Times (04/18, Winton) reported that a former doctor convicted of fraudulently submitting nearly $120 million in claims related to the 1-800-GET-THIN Lap-Band surgery business has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison. According to the article, Julian Omidi, 58, of West Hollywood was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Court Judge Dolly M. Gee. The judge also imposed a five-year probation period on Surgery Center Management LLC, an Omidi-controlled Beverly Hills-based company. The article noted that the 1-800-GET-THIN billboards once dominated the Los Angeles landscape with claims of a one-hour procedure and an easy insurance verification process. But a federal jury in December 2021found that the business was a criminal scheme that bilked millions from several insurance providers, including the Tricare healthcare program for military service members. The article quoted Donald Alway, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office, who said, "Mr. Omidi made millions at the expense of the multiple victim companies he defrauded, and he violated his oath to 'do no harm' by callously misleading patients about the need for a sleep study and subsequent weight loss surgery," Pras Michel Makes Bold Decision to Testify in His Own Federal Conspiracy Trial The Rolling Stone (04/18, Blistein) reported that the Fugees' Pras Michel discussed his relationship with Malaysian financier Jho Low and said he served as an informal FBI informant regarding China's efforts to extradite a prominent dissident after making the bold decision to testify at his own federal trial on Tuesday, April 18. According to the article, Michel has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of conspiracy and falsifying records. The charges are tied to Low's alleged exploits, with the financier accused of stealing $4.5 billion from Malaysia's 1MDB sovereign wealth fund. (Low is named as a co-defendant in the case but is currently a fugitive.) The article noted that Michel addressed his alleged efforts to get the U.S. to extradite Guo, the dissident Chinese billionaire (and close Steve Bannon associate). Along with denying that he acted as an agent for China in this matter, Michel said he voluntarily met with FBI agents on multiple occasions to discuss Guo and three Americans being held hostage in China. EFTA00160437 Corruption Trial Begins for Man Who Almost Beat Desantis The Associated Press (04/18, Bowden) reported that the Democrat who nearly beat Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2018 pocketed illegal campaign contributions because he was having a hard time paying for his lifestyle after quitting his job to run for governor, a prosecutor said Tuesday as a corruption trial began. According to the article, Andrew Gillum, who was Tallahassee's mayor, had a large mortgage, was making payments on two expensive cars, and was paying private school tuition for his children when he quit his $120,000-a-year job at People for the American Way to run for the Democratic nomination for governor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Milligan said in opening statements. The article mentioned that Gillum is also charged with lying to the FBI about a trip to New York, where undercover FBI agents met Gilllum, his brother, and lobbyist friend Adam Corey, who earlier introduced Gillum to the agents. The FBI paid for hotel rooms, theater tickets to "Hamilton," meals, and a boat tour around New York Harbor. The article added that one of the men Gillum's team reached out for campaign donations was an undercover FBI agent posing as a developer exploring projects in Florida's capital, Milligan said, adding that Gillum used his brother Marcus as a go-between to arrange illegal contributions. An additional Associated Press (04/18, Staff Writer) article also reported on the story. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon to Be Deposed in Epstein Suit The Associated Press (04/18, Neumeister) reported that JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO Jamie Dimon must undergo up to two days of questioning by lawyers handling lawsuits over whether the bank can be held liable in financier Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of teenage girls and women, a federal judge said Tuesday. According to the article, during a telephone conference with lawyers, Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan ordered Dimon to set aside two days for deposition testimony, though he didn't specify when. He said one day of testimony might be sufficient and lawyers would have to get his approval to continue to a second day. The New York bank, the nation's largest, has been sued by the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands and two women, both identified as Jane Doe, who say they were abused by Epstein. The lawsuits contend JPMorgan should have seen evidence of Epstein's sex trafficking and avoided profiting from it. The article noted that the New York bank, the nation's largest, has been sued by the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands and two women, both identified as Jane Doe, who say they were abused by Epstein. The lawsuits contend JPMorgan should have seen evidence of Epstein's sex trafficking and avoided profiting from it. The bank, besides denying the allegations, has sued one of its former executives, saying the man hid Epstein's decades of sex abuse and trafficking to keep Epstein as a client. Arraignment Delayed for Dermatologist Accused of Poisoning Husband With Drano KCAL (CBS-9) (04/18, Staff Writer) reported that arraignment was delayed Tuesday for a Mission Viejo dermatologist accused of poisoning her husband, also a physician, by putting Drano in his tea. The article mentioned that Yue "Emily" Yu is charged with three counts of poisoning and a count of corporal injury on a spouse, all felonies, according to court records. The alleged dates of poisoning were July 11, July 18 and July 25 of last year, according to the complaint. The article noted that Yu and her estranged husband, Dr. Jack Chen, have been embroiled in a child custody dispute since last year. She has been granted visitation, but recently filed to have Chen pay support to her, claiming she has been unable to work since the poisoning allegations surfaced. According to the article, Chen turned over samples of the tea, which were tested by the FBI, which confirmed it contained a substance consistent with liquid drain cleaner, according to prosecutors. Trent Lehrkamp's Family Outraged Georgia Prosecutor Downplayed Teen's Abuse Fox News (04/18, Rosenberg) reported that the family of Trent Lehrkamp blasted Georgia authorities after they held a press conference Monday minimizing the abuse and humiliation the 19-year-old endured at the hands of teenage bullies. According to the article, Glynn County Interim Police Chief O'Neal Jackson III and District Attorney Keith Higgins announced at the press conference Monday that parents Lauren and James Strother, who owned the home where Lehrkamp was victimized, were arrested for maintaining a disorderly house and contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a minor. The article mentioned that Higgins said, the intense media scrutiny on the case, which roped in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the FBI, detracted from more serious crimes. 17 California Cops Sent Racist Slurs, Threatened Black Mayor in Series of Sickening Texts: The New York Post (04/18, Reyes) reported that more than a dozen cops in California referred to black people as monkeys and gorillas and even threatened to shoot their black mayor in a series of racist texts, according to law enforcement. According to the article, documents released by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's office and the FBI show that 17 officers sent racist memes and messages filled with slurs to each other between 2019 to EFTA00160438 2021, with one of the texts directed at Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe, a black man. Newsweek (04/18, Phillips), and CBS News (04/18, Czachor) also reported on the story. An Oklahoma Newspaper's Secret Recording Prompts Calls for Officials to Resign The New York Times (04/18, Levenson) reported that a small newspaper in rural Oklahoma secretly recorded what it said was an illegal public meeting where a county official talked about hanging Black people and several officials spoke of hiring hitmen and digging holes for two of the newspaper's reporters. According to the article, Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma said on Monday that four officials in McCurtain County — the sheriff, jail administrator, a sheriff's department investigator, and a county commissioner — should resign. But the sheriff's office has argued that the recording violated state law because it was made without the consent of at least one of the parties involved. The office also claimed the recording had been "altered," although it was not clear how. The article stated that Bruce Willingham, who has been publisher and editor of The Gazette-News since 1988, said he made the secret recording on March 6 by leaving his voice-activated recorder in the room where county commissioners were meeting. He said he wanted to prove that officials were discussing county business after the meeting had ended in violation of the state's open-meeting law. The article noted that Bruce Willingham said he had turned over the full audio recording to the police and the FBI. Axios (04/18, Knutson), Fox News (04/18, Wallace), Washington Post (04/18, Edwards), the Associated Press (04/18, Miller, Murphy), and NBC News (04/18, Siemaszko) also reported on the story. McGrath Didn't Book Plane Tickets to MD. Before Trial, Court Documents Say The Washington Post (04/18, Thompson) reported that a search warrant was unsealed Tuesday in the case of the former top aide to then-Gov. Larry Hogan (R). Roy McGrath died after a confrontation with the FBI following his failure to appear in court. The article mentioned that Roy C. McGrath, the former top aide to then-Gov. Larry Hogan (R), did not have any plane tickets or reservations booked to travel to Maryland in the days leading up to his trial, despite expectations that he would appear in federal court in Baltimore, according to an affidavit from an FBI agent requesting a search warrant unsealed Tuesday. The article noted that McGrath, 53, was shot during a confrontation with the FBI as they closed in on him just outside Knoxville, Tenn., on April 3. He is believed to have shot himself after a traffic stop by federal agents following a 21-day search that began when the fugitive did not show up for his federal trial, according to a law enforcement document. George Santos Puts Forward Bill Named After Nicki Minaj as He Announces Re-Election Bid The Independent (04/18, Bowden) reported that George Santos is officially running for re-election in 2024, even as he faces multiple investigations headed up by the House Ethics Committee, the FBI, and local authorities. According to the article, he's marking his bid for a second term with a bill named in honor of Nicki Minaj, the New York-born rapper whose comments expressing skepticism about vaccines clearly resonated with the congressman as he seeks to prevent the federal government from mandating administration of any vaccine that hasn't been on the market for a decade. FBI Arrests Guardsman Who Applied for Hitman Job on Website The Guardian (04/18, Staff Writer) reported that fake website RentAHitman.com has snagged another would-be killer-for-hire after a U.S. soldier applied to be an assassin and accepted his first (fake) mission apparently believing it to be real. According to the article, Josiah Garcia, a Tennessee air national guardsman, was arrested after federal agents said he responded to an online ad through the parody website. The article added that Garcia submitted an employment application on 16 February and sent several follow-up emails over the next month. The article noted that at the beginning of April, an undercover FBI agent claiming to be a "field coordinator" for the company reached out to Garcia. The article stated that on Wednesday, Garcia met the agent in a park where the agent provided him with a fictional "target package". The agent also paid Garcia $2,500, supposedly the first of two installments. Garcia was arrested the same day. Garcia told agents after his arrest that he had not intended to go through with the contract killing. He said he just received a job offer at a Nashville medical center that he intended to take instead. If convicted, Garcia faces up to 10 years in prison, according to a news release from the US attorney's office for the middle district of Tennessee. Back to Top CYBER DIVISION D.C. Health Link Data Breach Blamed on Human Error EFTA00160439 The Associated Press (04/18, Khalil) reported that the recent data breach of personal information for thousands of users of Washington D.C's health insurance exchange, including members of Congress, was caused by basic human error, according to a top administrator. According to the article, the revelation comes from prepared statements submitted in advance of Wednesday's congressional hearing to investigate the issue. In her statement, Mila Kofman, Executive Director of the District of Columbia Health Benefit Exchange Authority, states that the data breach was first discovered in early March and includes basic personal information — including date of birth, Social Security numbers, and contact information — for "56,415 current and past customers including members of Congress, their families, and staff." The article added that Kofman states her office immediately brought in the FBI Cyber Security Task Force and the security flaw was quickly tracked down to a particular computer server that was "misconfigured to allow access to the reports on the server without proper authentication. Based on our investigation to date, we believe the misconfiguration was not an intentional but a human mistake." Axios (04/18, Sabin) also reported on the story. FBI Warns of Juice Jacking at Public Charge Stations Security Magazine (04/18, Blair-Frasier) reported that a recent tweet by the FBI has brought new attention to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) previously released guidance noting the potential dangers of "juice jacking". According to the FCC, bad actors can load malware onto public USB charging stations to maliciously access electronic devices while being charged. According to the article, the malware installed through a corrupted USB could lock a device or export personal data and passwords which can then be used to access online accounts. FBI, Sheriff's Offices in Central Florida Team Up to Help Prevent Elder Fraud WUFT-FM (04/18, Loizzo) reported that federal data show Florida's older population is susceptible to internet scams. In 2021, the state ranked second in the nation with 9,645 victims of elder fraud. Combined, those individuals lost $224,205,716. The article added that the FBI, along with state and local law enforcement agencies in Central Florida, are joining forces to educate local seniors and their caregivers on the latest scams and technology cyber criminals use. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), 92,371 Americans over the age of 60 reported losing $1.7 billion total to financial scams in 2021, which was nearly 75% more than in 2020. FBI Jacksonville public information officer Amanda Videll says the goal is to keep seniors safe and shine a light on scammers. Back to Top INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FBI Releases Video of Missing Californian Woman Being Abducted in Mexico The Epoch Times (04/18, Dowell) reported that the FBI has released new details in a California woman missing person's case, along with surveillance videos of the moments leading up to her abduction in Jalisco, Mexico. The article mentioned that Monica de Leon Barba, a U.S. citizen from the Bay Area, has been reported missing since Nov. 29, 2022, according to FBI documents. Barba was last seen walking home from work with her dog in the city of Tepatitlan, according to the released videos. The videos pinpoint at least five suspects involved in the kidnapping and who drove away separately in three vehicles —a white Chevy Suburban, a gray Dodge Charger, and a silver Volkswagen Jetta, according to the agency. According to the article, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp believes the release of the new footage will help bring new leads in the case to finding the 29-year-old California native. The article quoted Tripp, who said, "The FBI is requesting the public's assistance in locating Monica and returning her safely to her family. We believe these videos may help generate new public tips to assist in our investigation," Back to Top CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS Mom, Son Who Took Zip Ties Into Senate Convicted in 1/6 Riot The Associated Press (04/18, Kunzelman) reported that two individuals, Eric Munchel and his mother, Lisa Eisenhart, were convicted on all 10 counts in their indictment, including conspiracy to obstruct Congress, after they stormed the Capitol with plastic zip-tie handcuffs during the Jan. 6 riot. According to the article, after grabbing the plastic handcuffs that they found inside the Capitol, Munchel and Eisenhart entered the gallery above the Senate EFTA00160440 chamber and stepped over a railing that separated portions of the gallery. Eisenhart chanted, "Treason! Treason!" Munchel "gleefully" entered the Capitol during a riot while carrying a dangerous weapon, a stun gun, the judge said in a February 2021 ruling. In the riot's aftermath, Eisenhart told a London newspaper that she would "rather die as a 57-year-old woman than live under oppression." The article noted that U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth decided the case without a jury after a "stipulated bench trial," in which defendants agree with prosecutors that certain facts are true but do not admit guilt to charges. Both Munchel and Eisenhart face sentencing on Sept. 8. Proud Boy Who Helped Ignite Capitol Breach Tells Jury He Got "Caught Up" in Jan. 6 Chaos Politico (04/18, Cheney) and the Washington Post (04/18, Weiner) reported that Dominic Pezzola, a member of the Proud Boys who helped to fuel the breach of the Capitol on Jan. 6, testified on Tuesday that he simply got "caught up in all the craziness" that day. According to the articles, Pezzola took responsibility for his actions on Jan. 6 but attempted to separate himself from the group's leadership, stating that he never even knew the other men on trial before he met them at the courthouse. Pezzola's testimony is a climactic moment for the trial, potentially the last before the four-month-long trial goes to the jury. The articles noted that the defense has contended that the group's role has been inflated, that they're more akin to a drinking club whose members use a lot of hyperbole and overheated language that they didn't intend to back up. Former Rep. Liz Cheney to Publish Book 'Warning' of Trump 'Threat' The New York Post (04/18, Moore) reported that former Rep. Liz Cheney's upcoming book, "Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning," is being described by her publisher as a warning about the threat to American democracy posed by former President Donald Trump and his allies. According to the article, the book will be released on Nov. 14 and will include a gripping first-hand account from inside the hall of Congress by the House Republican leader who dared to stand up to Trump. The article noted that Cheney lost her Wyoming congressional seat last August after her role on the committee investigating Trump's actions in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot drew the ire of Trump, who backed a primary challenger against her. Donald Trump Returns to Instagram for First Time Since Jan 6. Riot People (04/18, Chamlee) reported that former President Donald Trump has returned to Instagram after more than two years of being removed from the platform following his response to the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot. According to the article, Trump shared two images on Instagram, both from his series of digital trading cards, and said he was launching a second series of trading cards. In his captions, he complained about "Fake News" and claimed that his last digital trading cards sold out almost immediately but he was leaving the prices the same. The article noted that Trump was banned from social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram following the Capitol riot. In January, Meta,