EFTA01655686.pdf

View in Browser February 26, 2025 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 • President Trump Suspending Active Security Clearances of Lawyers Who Are Working With Jack Smith • President Trump Appoints Former Secret Service Agent Dan Bongino as FBI Deputy Director, Prompting Controversy Over Past Criticisms • Sen. Blackburn Requests Unredacted Epstein Files, Director Patel Vows Cooperation as AG Bondi Faces Bipartisan Pressure • Continued Reporting: Director Patel to Lead Both FBI and ATF, Pledges Constitutional Focus and Crime-Fighting Resolve COUNTERTERRORISM • Continued Reporting: FBI Says 'Mass Casualty Attack Thwarted' With Arrest of 21-Year-Old in Texas COUNTERINTELLIGENCE • Alabama Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Violating U.S. Sanctions on Iran • Artificial Intelligence and State-Sponsored Cyber Espionage • Continued Reporting: UK's Encryption Backdoor Demand Sparks Global Cybersecurity Concerns as Apple Withdraws Advanced Data Protection • Opinion: DOGE Is Risking a National Security Nightmare CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • To Identify Suspect in Idaho Killings, FBI Used Restricted Consumer DNA Data • Attorneys for Buccaneers' Rachaad White Say FBI Is Investigating an Extortion Attempt Against Him • Man Who Was Mad About Chinese Spy Balloon Faces Sentencing for Threatening Ex-Speaker McCarthy • Woman Will Plead Guilty in Scheme to Defraud Presleys and Sell Graceland • New York Detective Did Jobs for the Mafia on the Side, Prosecutors Say • Alleged Cocaine Quality Control Tester for Mexican Drug Cartel Extradited to U.S. • Numerous Victims Say They Lost Everything in Timeshare Purchasing Scam With Phony Business Address • Karen Read Case: Defense Confirms It Paid Crash Experts Hired by FBI After Trial • Man Wanted by FBI Atlanta Arrested After Traffic Stop In Georgia • Jury Should Hear Words of Accused Kavanaugh Assassination Plotter, Feds Say • Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy, 17 Others Indicted for Jail Smuggling Operation EFTA01655686  • Louisiana Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography • Continued Reporting: FBI Says Woman Drugged, Robbed Older Men During Deadly Romance Scheme in U.S. and Mexico CYBER DIVISION • Lockbit Ransom Gang Claims to Have Stolen Information That Could "Destroy" FBI • South Carolina Elderly Lost $4.2 Million in Fake Hacking Scam, FBI Says • FBI El Paso Warns Community to Beware of 'Unpaid Toll Fees' Text Message Scam • Continued Reporting: 'Ghost" Cyber Group Targeting Americans • Over 100 UTEP Students Face Financial Losses as FBI Investigates Phishing Attack OTHER FBI NEWS • FBI Looking Into James Comey's Off-The-Books 'Honeypot' Operation Targeting 2016 Trump Campaign • Top GOP Senators Call On DOJ to Investigate Potential Criminal FBI Leaks to Media • Jim Jordan Confident Director Patel and Deputy Director Bongino Will Give Answers on FBI 'Soon' • Prosecutors Conclude Army Veteran's Capitol Riot Pardon Also Covers a Separate Weapons Case • DOJ's No. 2 Targets Old Office Where He Rose as a Prosecutor • Federal Agencies Can Ignore "What Did You Do Last Week?" Email, Trump Administration Says • FBI Atlanta Names New Special Agent in Charge • Continued Reporting: Los Angeles Activits Are Doxxing ICE Agents, As They Try to Break up Deportation Raids • New York's Message to Federal Workers: Come Work for Us • Marjorie Taylor Greene Changes Her Tune on FBI Funding OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • House Passes GOP Budget Plan as Holdouts Relent • President Trump Proposes $5 Million 'Gold Card' That Would Grant U.S. Residency • Judge Overturns Trump Order Blocking Refugee Admissions • Judge Orders Trump Administration to Pay Millions in USAID Funds • The Trump Staffers Who Get Paid by Private Clients • President Trump Proposes Fines, Prison Time for Migrants Who Don't Join Registry • Musk Fights Back as Some Trump Aides Resist Intensifying DOGE Push • Her Claim of And-Straight Bias Could Upend Discrimination Law • White House Names Amy Gleason U.S. DOGE Service Administrator • DOGE to Cancel Government Contracts That Help Veterans, Records Show BIG PICTURE • Wall Street Journal • New York Times • Washington Post • Fox News • CNN • NBC News • CBS News • ABC News WASHINGTON SCHEDULE EFTA01655687 IN THE NEWS President Trump Suspending Active Security Clearances of Lawyers Who Are Working With Jack Smith Reuters (02/25, Goudsward) and the Associated Press (02/25, Richer, Tucker) reported that U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an order suspending security clearances for lawyers representing former Special Counsel Jack Smith, who led two since-dismissed federal criminal cases against Trump, and limiting the U.S. government's business with their law firm, Covington & Burling. According to the articles, the order directs U.S. agencies to end engagements with Covington to the extent allowed by law and orders a review of government contracts with the firm, which is among the most prominent law firms in Washington and has traditionally had deep ties to government agencies. The articles added that the U.S. has also convened a "working group" to review the Smith investigation, with Attorney General Pam Bondi starting a "weaponization work group" tasked with conducting an internal review of Smith and his staff, as part of Trump's efforts to hold accountable those he believes were responsible for the "weaponization of government". The articles noted that Trump has repeatedly criticized Smith and his allies, portraying the cases against him as a misuse of the criminal justice system, while Smith has defended his probe, saying that politics played no role in the work of his office, and Trump has stated that he will continue to hold accountable those who supported the "weaponization of government". Additional reporting on the story was provided by ABC News (02/25, Walsh), Bloomberg (02/25, Henry), CNN (02/25, Polantz, Waldenberg), Daily Wire (02/25, Kruta), Fox News (02/25, Deppisch, Spunt), The Epoch Times (02/25, Burg), The Hill (02/25, Samuels), New York Times (02/25, Barrett, Thrush, et al.), Politico (02/25, Gerstein, Cheney), Washington Examiner (02/2S, O'Keefe), and Washington Post (02/25, Stein, Roebuck). President Trump Appoints Former Secret Service Agent Dan Bongino as FBI Deputy Director, Prompting Controversy Over Past Criticisms The Wall Street Journal (02/25, Gurman) reported that President Trump has chosen Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and right-wing commentator, as the new Deputy Director of the FBI. According to the article, Deputy Director Bongino has previously described the FBI as "irredeemably corrupt" and has been a sharp critic of the agency, particularly after the search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago home. The article explained that Deputy Director Bongino's selection has drawn strong partisan reactions. The Associated Press (02/25, Swenson) added that before Trump nominated Director Patel, Deputy Director Bongino was one of his loudest advocates, arguing on his podcast that Director Patel was the only potential candidate who could "go in there and clean that mess up." The article stated that Deputy Director Bongino has argued that the FBI has placed too much focus on domestic intelligence- gathering and as a result dropped the ball on serious criminals and overseas threats. He has suggested federal law enforcement wasted time investigating Jan. 6 rioters and anti-abortion activists. The article highlighted that the Justice Department has demanded a list from the FBI of the thousands of agents who participated in investigations into the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, a move some within the bureau see as a possible precursor to mass firings. Additional reporting on Deputy Director Bongino was published by Forbes (02/25, Khan- Mullins), The Independent (02/25, Baio), MSNBC (02/25, Benen), NPR (02/25, Fadel), and USA Today (02/25, Anderson). Sen. Blackburn Requests Unredacted Epstein Files, Director Patel Vows Cooperation as AG Bondi Faces Bipartisan Pressure WTVC (ABC-7) (02/25, Staff Writer) reported that Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn has sent a formal letter to Director Kash Patel, asking him to release the complete and unredacted files related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case. According to the article, Director Patel has reportedly vowed to work with Senator Blackburn to release the records, which include flight logs and a 'little black book' with names and addresses of clients. The article noted that the release of the files aims to shed light on Epstein's trafficking ring and potentially implicate powerful figures, with President Trump having previously expressed support for making the client list public. Politico (02/25, Friedman) reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing pressure from lawmakers to release the alleged "client list" of Epstein. The article explained that AG Bondi has files related to the Epstein investigation and has been directed by President Donald Trump to review them. The article noted that the release of the documents has bipartisan support, with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers urging Bondi to make the records public, suggesting that delaying the release may be an attempt to protect individuals on the list. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Daily Mail (02/25, Ewall-Wice), The Daily Beast (02/25, Akers), Fox News EFTA01655688 (02/25, Stancy), The Hill (02/25, Fields), NewsNation (02/25, Staff Writer), Newsweek (02/25, McFall), and Times Free Press (02/25, Cooper). Continued Reporting: Director Patel to Lead Both FBI and ATF, Pledges Constitutional Focus and Crime- Fighting Resolve Clearance Jobs (02/25, Suciu) reported that Director Patel has been appointed to lead the FBI and the ATF, making him the first Indian American and Hindu American to head the FBI, and he was sworn in as acting director of the ATF on a Monday afternoon, just after being sworn in as the head of the FBI on a Friday. According to the article, Director Patel, who is 45 years old, has previously served as a National Security Council official, chief of staff to the Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, and senior advisor to the acting director of national intelligence during the first Trump administration, where he oversaw the execution of several of President Donald J. Trump's top priorities, including eliminating ISIS and AI-Qa'ida leadership. As the principal deputy to the acting director of national intelligence, Director Patel helped oversee the operations of all 17 intelligence community agencies and provided the President's Daily Briefing, and he has also worked as a public defender in Florida, a federal public defender, a trial attorney by the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) National Security Division, and senior counsel on counterterrorism for the House Intelligence Committee. Director Patel's appointment to head the FBI was confirmed on a party-line vote of 51to 49, with two Republicans joining all Democrats voting against him, and he has stated that he will follow the constitution of the United States and has no interest in pursuing retribution against critics of the administration, but rather wants to focus on fighting crime. The article explained that as the head of the FBI, Director Patel will oversee around 38,000 employees, including special agents, intelligence analysts, and administrative staff, and he will also be responsible for leading the ATF, which has an additional 5,500 employees and is responsible for enforcing federal laws related to firearms and explosives, as well as tobacco and alcohol. Director Patel's appointment has been praised by supporters of the Second Amendment, but has also been met with concern from gun control advocates, who are worried about his views on gun rights, and it is unclear if a permanent head will be named to head the ATF or what the White House's long-term plans are for the agency. The article highlighted that Director Patel has stated that he will work to protect the United States and its citizens from harm, saying "Anyone that wishes to do harm to our way of life and our citizens, here and abroad, will face the full wrath of the DOJ and FBI," and he has also emphasized the importance of fighting crime and pursuing those who seek to harm the country. Back to Top COUNTERTERRORISM Continued Reporting: FBI Says 'Mass Casualty Attack Thwarted' With Arrest of 21-Year-Old in Texas NBC News (02/25, Burke) reported that a 21-year-old, Seth "Andrea" Gregori, was arrested in Texas for making terroristic threats against the Corpus Christi Police Department. Gregori allegedly planned a "mass casualty attack" on police, similar to the 2016 Dallas ambush that killed five officers, FBI Houston said in a post on X. The article noted that the shooter in the 2016 attack, Micah Xavier Johnson, told a hostage negotiator that he "wanted to kill white people, especially white officers," authorities said. The Army veteran was killed after authorities detonated a bomb following several hours of negotiations. USA TODAY (02/25, Olivia, Nickas, Nguyen) and KRIV (Fox-26) (02/25, Kite) also reported on the story. Back to Top COUNTERINTELLIGENCE Alabama Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Violating U.S. Sanctions on Iran AL.com (02/25, Koplowitz) reported that Ray Hunt, a 71-year-old Alabama business owner, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison for violating Iran sanctions. According to the article, Hunt pleaded guilty to conspiring to export American goods to Iran, despite sanctions, through his business Vega Tools LLC. He used deceptive practices, including lying to suppliers and shipping companies, to avoid detection by US authorities. The article noted that BIS investigated the case with valuable assistance provided by the FBI. The press release stated that Assistant Director Kevin Vorndran of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division announced the sentence, among others. Law360 (02/25, arisen()) also reported on the story. EFTA01655689 Artificial Intelligence and State-Sponsored Cyber Espionage NYU Journal of Intellectual Property (02/25, Lipsker) reported that the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has led to a new era of state-sponsored cyber espionage, posing significant global security risks, as seen in North Korea's notorious hacking campaigns. According to the article, AI-enhanced malware can self-evolve and bypass conventional defenses, making traditional cybersecurity strategies ineffective, and nations like South Korea are revising their cybersecurity strategies to incorporate AI-driven tools. The article noted that the use of AI in cyber espionage raises ethical concerns and creates new challenges, but it also offers solutions, such as AI-powered cybersecurity tools that can detect and respond to malicious activity more effectively, as noted by experts at the FBI. 'As technology continues to evolve, so do cybercriminals' tactics. Attackers are leveraging Al to craft highly convincing voice or video messages and emails to enable fraud schemes against individuals and businesses alike," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. "These sophisticated tactics can result in devastating financial losses, reputational damage, and compromise of sensitive data." For instance, AI-powered voice and video cloning scams have tricked victims into divulging sensitive information by mimicking trusted individuals. Continued Reporting: UK's Encryption Backdoor Demand Sparks Global Cybersecurity Concerns as Apple Withdraws Advanced Data Protection Lawfare Media (02/25, Landau) reported that the United Kingdom's demand for Apple to create a backdoor to its end-to-end encrypted iCloud data threatens global cybersecurity. According to the article, this move undermines Apple's Advanced Data Protection (ADP) and could expose sensitive information to espionage —much like the 2024 Chinese hack of U.S. phone networks described as "an intelligence failure roughly on par with putting Kim Philby in charge of the FBI's Russia counterintelligence office." The article noted that these U.K. requirements mirror bulk data collection practices that the U.S. ultimately abandoned for being ineffective and dangerous to privacy, warning that once a backdoor exists, hostile actors can exploit it and imperil everyone's security. Forbes (02/25, Doffman) added that the U.K. spy agency, National Cyber Security Centre, advises iPhone users to turn on the Advanced Data Protection setting to protect against attacks. However, Apple has withdrawn this setting from the U.K. due to government demands for access to fully encrypted data. The article explained that the move has sparked debate, with some agencies, like the National Cyber Security Centre and CISA, advocating for strong encryption, while others, like the FBI, push for "lawful access" to encrypted content. Opinion: DOGE Is Risking a National Security Nightmare An opinion piece from the Washington Examiner (02/25, Schindler) reported that Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has sparked concerns about national security due to its lack of understanding of federal bureaucracy and security protocols. According to the article, multiple federal departments, including those led by Tulsi Gabbard and Director Patel, have instructed their employees to ignore DOGE's demand for information, citing potential risks to intelligence community personnel and national security. The article noted that the vetting process for DOGE personnel has been questioned, with concerns that it may not be following established federal guidelines, potentially putting national security at risk, similar to the security breaches experienced by the Manhattan Project during World War II. Back to Top CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS To Identify Suspect in Idaho Killings, FBI Used Restricted Consumer DNA Data The New York Times (02/25, Baker) reported that as investigators struggled for weeks to find who might have committed the brutal stabbings of four University of Idaho students in the fall of 2022, they were focused on a key piece of evidence: DNA on a knife sheath that was found at the scene of the crime. According to the article, at first they tried checking the DNA with law enforcement databases, but that did not provide a hit. They turned next to the more expansive DNA profiles available in some consumer databases in which users had consented to law enforcement possibly using their information, but that also did not lead to answers. FBI investigators then went a step further, according to newly released testimony, comparing the DNA profile from the knife sheath with two databases that law enforcement officials are not supposed to tap: GEDmatch and MyHeritage. The article noted that days after the FBI's investigative genetic genealogy team began working with the DNA profiles, it landed on someone who had not been on anyone's radar: Bryan Kohberger, a Ph.D. student in criminology who has now been charged with the murders. The case has shown both the promise and the unregulated power of genetic technology in an era in which millions of people willingly contribute their DNA profiles to recreational databases, often to hunt EFTA01655690 for relatives. In the past, law enforcement officials would need to find a direct match between DNA at the crime scene and that of a specific suspect. Now, investigators can use consumer DNA data to build family trees that can zero in on a person of interest — within certain policy limits. NBC News (02/25, Ortiz) reported that Idaho prosecutors want to present an FBI-constructed 3D model of the home where four college students were found brutally stabbed to death in 2022 at the suspect's trial this summer. The request was part of a series of filings made public Tuesday, and comes after the three-story King Road house in Moscow, located on the edge of the University of Idaho campus, was demolished a year after the quadruple killings. According to the article, the FBI's reconstruction is "based on depictions, documentation, and measurements taken at the scene prior to demolition," and would "aid witnesses in their testimony," prosecutors said. The Associated Press (02/25, Boone), CNN (02/25, Yan, Casarez), Fox News (02/25, Ruiz), and USA TODAY (02/25, Santucci) also reported on the story. Attorneys for Buccaneers' Rachaad White Say FBI Is Investigating an Extortion Attempt Against Him The Associated Press (02/25, Staff Writer) reported that the FBI is investigating an extortion attempt against Rachaad White, lawyers for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back said Tuesday. "The FBI and other appropriate authorities are currently looking into an extortion attempt against Rachaad White," attorneys Michelle Gervais and TJ Grimaldi said in a statement. "Illegal and defamatory threats and demands against Rachaad and his family will be met with zero tolerance. We will continue to exercise all legal avenues to protect Rachaad's rights as a victim of extortion." The New York Post (02/25, Arnold), Fox News (02/25, Morik), KMBC (ABC-9) (02/25, Sloan), Sports Illustrated (02/25, McKeone), Daily Mail (02/25, Nisse), WFLA (NBC-8) (02/25, Wells), WANE (CBS-15) (02/25, McKeone), and CBS Sports (02/25, Dubin) also reported on the story. Man Who Was Mad About Chinese Spy Balloon Faces Sentencing for Threatening Ex-Speaker McCarthy The Associated Press (02/26, Brown) reported that a Montana man faces years in prison at his Wednesday sentencing for threatening to assault former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy after becoming upset with the government for not shooting down a Chinese spy balloon that floated over the defendant's home city. Richard Rogers, 45, of Billings, will appear before U.S. District Judge Susan Waiters after a jury convicted him last year for threatening a member of Congress and making harassing phone calls to the FBI and congressional staff in which he routinely made vulgar and obscene comments. According to the article, Rogers, a former phone customer service representative, delivered the threat to a McCarthy staffer during a series of more than 100 calls to the Republican speaker's office in just 75 minutes on Feb. 3, 2023, prosecutors said. That was one day after the Pentagon acknowledged it was tracking the spy balloon, which was later shot down off the Atlantic Coast. Rogers testified at trial that his outraged calls to the FBI and McCarthy's office were a form of civil disobedience. One of his lawyers said during the trial that Rogers "just wanted to be heard." Woman Will Plead Guilty in Scheme to Defraud Presleys and Sell Graceland The New York Times (02/25, Stevens) reported that a Missouri woman agreed to plead guilty to mail fraud on Tuesday for her role in orchestrating what the authorities described as a scheme to defraud Elvis Presley's heirs by claiming ownership of Graceland, his Memphis home, and threatening to sell it in a foreclosure auction. The woman, Lisa Jeanine Findley, of Kimberling City, Mo., will have a count of aggravated identity theft dismissed as part of the plea agreement, which was filed in United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. According to the article, the case involving Findley burst into the public eye in May, when lawyers for the actress Riley Keough, the granddaughter of Presley, went to court to stop what they said was a monthslong, fraudulent scheme to sell Graceland, which is now a lucrative tourist attraction that draws 600,000 visitors a year. The article mentioned that court papers revealed that the attempt had been made by a company known as Naussany Investments & Private Lending LLC, but exactly who was behind that company remained a mystery for many months. Naussany Investments had claimed in court papers that Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, who died in 2023, had borrowed $3.8 million from the company and put Graceland up as collateral. The company subsequently scheduled a sale of Graceland. But a Tennessee judge blocked the sale and the state's attorney general said his office would look into the situation after no one showed up in court to represent the company. Eventually, federal officials came forward and claimed that the whole situation had been part of an elaborate fraud. The article added that in an affidavit filed in August in support of an arrest warrant, an FBI agent, wrote that Findley used "a series of aliases, email addresses and fake documents" to engage "in a scheme to defraud Elvis Presley's family for millions of dollars by threatening to foreclose on the 'Graceland' estate." The agent said in the 30-page affidavit that Findley had created fraudulent loan documents and unlawfully used Presley's name and signature as part of her scheme. Reuters (02/25, Ward), Fox News (02/25, Norman), NBC News (02/25, Burke, Zadrozny, Schuppe), Associated EFTA01655691 Press (02/25, Sainz), ABC News (02/25, Griffith, Kofsky, et al.), and the Rolling Stone (02/25, Mier) also reported on the story. New York Detective Did Jobs for the Mafia on the Side, Prosecutors Say The New York Times (02/25, Nerkar) reported that more than a decade ago, a Nassau County detective burst into a nondescript shoe repair store on Long Island, flanked by colleagues intent on shutting down a backroom gambling operation controlled by the Genovese crime family. Federal prosecutors say the detective, Hector Rosario, Sl, was not on police business when he raided Sal's Shoe Repair in Merrick, N.Y. Nor were the men who joined him officers — prosecutors called them "associates." The detective, prosecutors say, was secretly on the payroll of the rival Bonanno crime family, and the raid was intended to make his second boss happy. According to the article, Rosario, 51, was indicted in 2022 along with eight other defendants after a yearslong investigation into the Genovese and Bonanno families' illegal gambling businesses. The eight other defendants have all pleaded guilty to charges that include racketeering and running illegal gambling businesses. Rosario is charged with obstruction of justice and lying to FBI agents who were investigating the illicit businesses, including the one prosecutors say he raided. He has pleaded not guilty. On Tuesday, opening statements began in his criminal trial before Judge Eric N. Vitaliano of U.S. District Court in Brooklyn. The article mentioned that Anna Karamigios, a federal prosecutor, said Rosario was on the Bonanno family payroll while he was a Nassau County detective. "He chose the crime family over the public he swore to protect," she said. "When FBI agents asked him what he knew, he lied. Again and again." Organized crime families like the Bonanno and Genovese once exerted considerable power over unions and industries such as construction in the Northeast. But starting in the 1980s, aggressive prosecutions sapped their power, and the Bonanno family saw members convicted or cooperate with the government. Even the family's longtime boss, Joseph C. Massino, defected: In 2011, he became the first boss of an organized crime family to cooperate with federal authorities. The New York Post (02/25, Catalini, Schnitzer, Troutman), and New York Daily News (02/25, Annese) also reported on the story. Alleged Cocaine Quality Control Tester for Mexican Drug Cartel Extradited to U.S. Fox News (02/2S, Casiano) reported that a Mexican woman responsible for testing the quality of cocaine being trafficked by a drug cartel has been extradited to the United States and charged by federal prosecutors. Irma Elvira Cruz, known as "Huzipol" and "Madre," 60, was indicted earlier this month on federal charges of conspiracy to unlawfully import cocaine into the United States and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Cruz was an associate of an unnamed drug trafficking organization in Mexico and was allegedly responsible for the quality control testing of cocaine transported from Colombia to Costa Rica and Mexico, with the intent of being smuggled into the U.S., authorities said. A DOJ press release noted that this effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies and eliminates the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Numerous Victims Say They Lost Everything in Timeshare Purchasing Scam With Phony Business Address CBS News (02/25, Kozlov) reported that timeshares can go from creating happy memories to causing big headaches — especially if an owner wants out. That is where scammers come in — promising owners they can sell the timeshares at a profit, but pocketing all the cash. In August 2022, CBS News Chicago reported on an elaborate Chicago-focused scam in which a man lost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Since then, dozens more have come forward saying the same happened to them. The victims' life savings, homes, and pensions were all gone — given to people claiming to work for a firm called Intercontinental Realty, which called the victims with a promise to sell their timeshares in Mexico for a profit. "The scam is the same," said private investigator Joe McGreal. "So they'll offer a large amount of money — a $1 million profit, a $2 million profit — just to hook them and reel them in. Once they're reeled in, they start charging them fees." According to the article, McGreal has been tracking the scam for three years. He began investigating after the victim whom CBS News Chicago talked with for the 2022 story hired him to get his $300,000 back from the same company. "The dozen clients that I represent, there's everywhere from $500,000 loss to $1.3 million," said McGreal. "The total is over $4 million — $4.3 million, give or take." The article stated that McGreal called the FBI, offering practically to hand the agents his case file. "The agencies involved with enforcing these laws are not doing anything about it," said McGreal. The FBI was one example of such an agency, he said. "The FBI was contacted by half a dozen clients in half a dozen states. They were informed to file a complaint on their website. They did that," McGreal said. "Haven't heard back in two years." The article noted that an FBI spokesperson said the agency cannot confirm any ongoing investigation, but did say timeshare scams like these are on the rise. According to the FBI, the proceeds of many of the scams go straight to help fund Mexican cartels. EFTA01655692 Karen Read Case: Defense Confirms It Paid Crash Experts Hired by FBI After Trial Mass Live (02/25, McKenna) reported that at a hearing on Tuesday, defense lawyers for Karen Read sought to downplay the extent of the communications they had with a pair of accident reconstructionists hired by the federal government on the case. Judge Beverly Cannone scheduled Tuesday's hearing after prosecutors disclosed previously unknown communications between the experts and Alan Jackson, an attorney for Read, at a hearing last week. Specially Appointed Prosecutor Hank Brennan disclosed an invoice from the experts, who work for the firm ARCCA, sent to Read and that one of the experts, Daniel Wolfe, provided an outline of his testimony. According to the article, while Robert Alessi, an attorney hired by Read after the first trial, confirmed Read paid the nearly $24,000 bill, he said she only did so after the trial had concluded and after receiving the go-ahead from the U.S. Attorney's office for Massachusetts. The bill "came out of the blue" from ARCCA, Alessi said. Read's defense received the bill on July 12, 2024, and a check was sent to ARCCA on July 25. Read's first trial concluded when Cannone declared a mistrial on July 1. In his remarks on Tuesday, Brennan said the "only people surprised they were paying was (the) defense." Both prosecutors and Read's defense received a report from ARCCA that concluded her boyfriend, John O'Keefe, was not hit by a car as prosecutors have concluded. ARCCA was originally hired by the federal government and Read's lawyers said at trial they did not pay the firm. Brennan also suggested there might be further, unknown communications between her lawyers and the expert witnesses. Man Wanted by FBI Atlanta Arrested After Traffic Stop In Georgia WGXA (ABC-24) (02/25, Kincaid) reported that a man wanted by the FBI in Atlanta was arrested in Georgia on Monday. According to the Bibb County Sheriff's Office (BSO), around 12:20 p.m., a deputy conducted a traffic stop of a Honda Accord. The driver was Roddreckious Deandrea Williams, who deputies learned was wanted by the FBI Atlanta on suspected drug trafficking charges. Deputies also discovered a firearm reported stolen out of Bibb County inside the vehicle. He was taken into custody on his warrant and transported to the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center. Jury Should Hear Words of Accused Kavanaugh Assassination Plotter, Feds Say The Washington Post (02/25, Morse) reported that jurors should be entitled to hear what the California man accused of plotting to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh told investigators, federal prosecutors said in court filings late Monday, arguing that his interview was legally proper. The article added that investigators also had the right, prosecutors said, to conduct a warrantless search of a suitcase belonging to 29-year-old Nicholas Roske. They said he brought the luggage with him on a cross-county flight June 7, 2022, and then in a cab to Kavanaugh's neighborhood in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The suitcase contained burglary tools, an unloaded handgun and two magazines of ammunition, according to the filing. Roske halted his plan to break into Kavanaugh's house because he was spooked by a security detail posted outside, authorities say. He turned around and wheeled his suitcase down the darkened, narrow streets just north of Washington. Roske then spoke by phone with his sister, who persuaded him to call 911, which he did about two blocks from Kavanaugh's home, according to court records and police officials. Local officers from Montgomery County responded and arrested him. The filings are the latest legal match ahead of Roske's trial, set to begin June 9 in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland. His attorneys had earlier asked the court to toss out statements Roske made to investigators after his arrest because he was in obvious mental distress and wasn't properly advised of his rights to remain silent and consult a lawyer. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy, 17 Others Indicted for Jail Smuggling Operation CBS News (02/25, Staff Writer) reported that a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy was among the 18 people who were indicted for their alleged part in a drug smuggling operation at county jails on Tuesday. The indictment, which stems from a joint investigation involving LASD and FBI personnel that began in 2022 regarding reports of drugs that were being smuggled into the Los Angeles County jail system and also alleges the attack on an inmate, was announced by District Attorney Nathan Hochman. Among the 18 defendants listed in the indictment are 39-year-old Lancaster man Michael Meiser, an LASD deputy. The article stated that according to the indictment, which is 51 pages long, the criminal smuggling operation was allegedly orchestrated and controlled by the Mexican Mafia prison gang. The indictment details a number of security videos that allegedly who Meiser speaking to some of the other defendants in the case. He can be seen handing a bag to one of them and in another instance he is seen receiving a plastic bag from a woman at a Lancaster gas station, which contained about a point of black tar heroin. He is then accused of bringing the bag into the North County Correctional Facility. Louisiana Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography EFTA01655693 KTAL (NBC-6) (02/25, Cheng) reported that a Louisiana man has been sentenced for possession of more than 500 of child pornography; he received eight years and one month, followed by five years of supervised release. In 2020, Christopher Aron Stanfield of Natchitoches was found with pornography involving children and the sexual abuse of animals, narcotics, theft, identity theft, and others, according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright. According to the article, on October 6, 2020, officers with the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office executed an arrest warrant at Stanfield's residence in Natchitoches. Before executing the arrest warrant, a search warrant had also been secured for Stanfield's apartment in connection with a separate and ongoing investigation. During the arrest and search, law enforcement officers collected several electronic devices, including iPads, laptops, and iPhones, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Louisiana. Stanfield was interviewed by law enforcement officers and admitted to committing several criminal offenses, including theft and identity theft. He further admitted that he had been using the "dark web" to commit these offenses. The FBI, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff's Office, and Bossier City Marshal's Office Cybercrime Unit investigated the case. Continued Reporting: FBI Says Woman Drugged, Robbed Older Men During Deadly Romance Scheme in U.S. and Mexico KPTV (Fox-5) (02/25, Verastigue, Lee) reported that the FBI's Las Vegas branch announced on Friday criminal charges against a woman who is accused of "deliberately and methodically" targeting older men to rob them of everything. Aurora Phelps is currently incarcerated in Mexico and awaiting extradition after the Department of Justice filed a motion to unseal an indictment against her. In one instance, Phelps allegedly drugged a Nevada man and then pushed him in a wheelchair across the border while he was in an "inebriated state." "Phelps then took him to a hotel room in Mexico City, where the victim was found dead a few hours later," FBI Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans explained. According to the article, Evans says all of the victims in the indictment are U.S. citizens. Three of the men are from Nevada. "Two of Phelps' other alleged victims were found dead shortly after their encounters with her, and the one living victim mentioned in the indictment survived and emerged from a coma after Phelps administered large amounts of prescription sedatives to him over the course of a week." Evans added. The FBI says it's "one of the most egregious and reprehensible" romance schemes in recent history. ABC News (02/25, Video) also reported on the story. Back to Top CYBER DIVISION Lockbit Ransom Gang Claims to Have Stolen Information That Could "Destroy" FBI Cyber News (02/25, Schappert) reported that the LockBit ransomware gang claims to have stolen classified information that could "destroy" the FBI. According to the article, the gang's leader, LockBitSupp, posted a message on the group's dark leak blog, addressing Director Patel and claiming to have an archive of classified information. The article noted that LockBitSupp threatens to publish the information, which they claim could negatively affect the FBI's reputation and structure unless Patel contacts them personally. Daily Dot (02/25, Thalen) also reported on the story. South Carolina Elderly Lost $4.2 Million in Fake Hacking Scam, FBI Says WPDE (ABC-15) (02/25, Kelly) reported that the FBI warned of a fake hacking scam that targeted South Carolina elderly, resulting in estimated losses of $4.2 million. According to the article, scammers claim the victims' financial accounts have been hacked and instruct them to convert their assets into physical gold, which is then given to a courier. The article noted that the FBI advised elderly persons to verify identities, not use provided phone numbers, and be cautious of authorizing device access to protect themselves from such scams. FBI El Paso Warns Community to Beware of 'Unpaid Toll Fees' Text Message Scam KVIA (ABC-7) (02/25, Ardila) reported that the FBI El Paso is warning the community about a scam involving text messages claiming unpaid toll fees, which may lead to increased late fees reported to the DMV. According to Jeanette Harper from FBI El Paso, the scam is nationwide and the scammers are from outside the US, using phone numbers potentially obtained through data breaches. The article noted that the FBI advised people not to click on the link, as it can steal personal information and payment details, and to report any incidents if they believe they've fallen victim to the scam. Continued Reporting: 'Ghost" Cyber Group Targeting Americans EFTA01655694 WAKA (CBS-8) (02/25, Staff Writer) reported that the FBI has issued a warning that Chinese cyberterrorists, known as "Ghost", are targeting Americans using malicious software to steal data and shut down computers. According to the article, the attack exploits vulnerabilities in outdated software, such as Adobe and Microsoft, and can be prevented by keeping software up-to-date and backing up important files. The article noted that the FBI specifically warned that religious organizations, hospitals, schools, and small to medium-sized businesses are particularly vulnerable. KOB (NBC-4) (02/25, Tucker) and WRDW/WAGT (CBS-12) (02/25, Tucker) also reported on the story. Over 100 UTEP Students Face Financial Losses as FBI Investigates Phishing Attack KFOX (Fox-14/CBS-4) (02/25, Andrade) reported that over 100 University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) students have faced financial losses due to a phishing attack, with some losing between $5,000 and $10,000. The attack involved students receiving fraudulent emails that led them to reveal their login credentials, which were then used to alter bank deposit details and redirect funds. The article noted that the FBI's El Paso office is investigating the incident, and UTEP has canceled direct deposit for students and is issuing paper checks instead. Back to Top OTHER FBI NEWS FBI Looking Into James Comey's Off-The-Books 'Honeypot' Operation Targeting 2016 Trump Campaign The Washington Times (02/25, Picket) reported that FBI leadership is starting an investigation into the origins of the agency's plan a decade ago to infiltrate the campaign of presidential candidate Donald Trump using two female undercover "honeypot" agents. The off-the-books investigation, launched in 2015 by FBI Director James B. Comey, was revealed by an agency whistleblower in a protected disclosure to the House Judiciary Committee last year. In the intelligence community, a honeypot commonly refers to an undercover operative, usually a woman, who feigns sexual or romantic interest to obtain information from a target. According to the article, the whistleblower said two female FBI undercover employees infiltrated President Trump's 2016 campaign at high levels and were directed to act as "honeypots" while traveling with President Trump and his campaign staff. The Times has learned that the Bureau, now led by Director Patel and Deputy Director Bongino, is looking for those once-undercover employees under Comey's direction. According to the whistleblower disclosure, the investigation differed from Crossfire Hurricane, a later FBI counterintelligence operation that looked into never-proved allegations that the campaign was colluding with Russia. The article quoted the whistleblower's disclosure, who said, "The case had no predicated foundation, so Comey personally directed the investigation without creating an official case file in Sentinel or any other FBI system. The FBI has multiple methods of protecting highly sensitive investigations, so Comey did not have a legitimate reason not to officially create an official investigation file or have a file number." The article stated that the investigation was eventually closed because a major newspaper obtained a photograph of one of the undercovers and was about to publish it, but the FBI press office told the outlet that the photograph was an FBI informant who would be killed if the photograph was publicly released. In fact, it was a photograph of the FBI undercover employee. The FBI whistleblower employee noted in the disclosure that one of the undercovers agreed to be transferred to the CIA so she would not be available as a potential witness. The article added that the other undercover employee was rewarded for her activities through a promotion in the Bureau and is now a high- level FBI executive in a major field office. The whistleblower employee observed one or more employees in the FBI being directed to never discuss the operation with anyone ever again, including other people involved in the 2016 Trump campaign infiltration operation. The FBI employee making this disclosure took this admonishment as a direct threat to the employees who received it. Daily Mail (02/25, Spiering), Daly Wire (02/25, Saavedra), Washington Times (02/25, Staff Writer), Newsmax (02/25, Koutsobinas), and Breitbart (02/25, Weibel) also reported on the story. Top GOP Senators Call On DOJ to Investigate Potential Criminal FBI Leaks to Media The Washington Times (02/25, Picket) reported that two senior Senate Republican lawmakers called on Attorney General Pam Bondi and Director Patel to investigate potential criminal leaks to the media of sensitive and classified information ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) also asked Bondi and Director Patel to investigate former Assistant Special Agent in Charge Timothy Thibault and his associates' potential breach of FBI information sharing policies. According to the GOP lawmakers, legally protected whistleblower disclosures have revealed that Thibault shared sensitive, non-public investigative information from his FBI email account with a private citizen with whom he was romantically involved. The article quoted the senators, which wrote, "The FBI repeatedly lectures Congress, without any legitimate basis, that it can't share EFTA01655695 information with Congress because the matter is an ongoing investigation. The FBI has asserted to Congress that [For Official Use Only] information and FBI email accounts and personnel names should remain non-public. Yet, here, Thibault sent all of that type of information to a private citizen while the FBI stiff-arms Congress and the American people." The lawmakers noted news reports released just before the November 2024 election containing potentially "classified U.S. intelligence" as a further example of DO1 and FBI officials sharing investigative information while ignoring congressional requests for the same. The article added that the senators asked the DOJ and FBI to open a criminal media-leak investigation to hold accountable those responsible for sharing potentially classified and other sensitive information to the press. Last month, the senators released internal FBI emails and documents that exposed a purported political scheme against President Trump by Thibault. According to the lawmakers, he went outside established agency protocols for opening probes to help launch the federal election interference case against President Trump. The New York Post (02/25, Christenson), and Daily Mail (02/25, Caralle) also reported on the story. Jim Jordan Confident Director Patel and Deputy Director Bongino Will Give Answers on FBI 'Soon' The Washington Examiner (02/25, Notheis) reported that House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) was enthusiastic about Congress working with Director Patel and the recently announced Deputy Director Bongino, who he said are "two great guys" qualified for the job. According to the article, Jordan said he is looking forward to getting "answers" and weaponization documents from the agency. The lawmaker added that both Congress and voters are "entitled" to know why the Biden administration targeted concerned parents at school boards and that answers will be provided "soon," predicting within the next two weeks. The article added that Jordan confirmed that Congress has issued subpoenas to the FBI for information. Critical information he wants answers to include finding out who plant