EFTA Document EFTA01655880

From: FBI News Briefing To: "FBINewsBriefing" Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - August 16, 2024 Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2024 10:15:03 +0000 Importance: Normal View in Browser Federal Bureau of Investigation Seal August 16, 2024 Federal Bureau of Investigation Daily News Briefing (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs) Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here. Table of Contents IN THE NEWS • Director Wray Issues Warning After Jordanian Man Threatened to 'Explode All of America' • Continued Reporting: Trump Assassination Attempt COUNTERTERRORISM • Border Agents Warned of Entry Attempt by Man on Terror Watchlist • Palestinian Terror Watchlist Suspect Nabbed at Southern Border • Connecticut Resident Who Lied About Family Ties to ISIS in Citizenship Process Sentenced • Continued Reporting: Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Threats Against Government Officers COUNTERINTELLIGENCE • FBI Resumes Flagging Foreign Disinformation to Social Media Giants • Evidence Suggests Trump Adviser Susie Wiles Was Among Iran Hack Targets • Ahead of DNC, Suit Aims to Ban Police Bodycams With Chinese Chip From Political Events • How a Persecuted Religious Group Grew into a Global Movement • House Committee Urges Probe of Chinese Wifi Router Company Over Security Concerns • Continued Reporting: U.S. Army Sergeant Pleads Guilty To Selling Secrets To China CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • NYC Mayor Eric Adams and Others Subpoenaed in Long-Standing Federal Probe • Mexico Waiting on U.S. For Flight Details Behind Capture of Drug Kingpins • Bob Menendez to Be Replaced by New Jersey Governor's Former Top Aide • Vermont State Police, FBI Investigate Damage to FAA Station • Prominent California Lawyer Abused Pandemic Loan Program, Prosecutors Say EFTA01655880 • Former Alabama Police Officer Agrees to Plead Guilty in Alleged Drug Planting Scheme • Federal Authorities File Additional Charges Against Chinese-Linked Biolab in Central California • Two Recalls, an FBI Raid, a Gavin Newsom Intervention: What's Happening in Oakland? • Reward for Escaped Murderer in North Carolina Grows to $50K • FBI Bribery Probe May Have Looked at Other Mississippi Councilmembers • Federal Agents Visited Californian Council Member's Home, Document Shows • Why Did the FBI Take U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles' Phone? • Minnesota Investigators Identify Baby Found Dead in Box 35 Years Ago • Tennessee Guardsman Found Dead and Bound With Zip Ties in 2019 Was Shot Over Custody Dispute, Authorities Say • Video Shows Arrest of Suspect in Maryland Mom's Murder • Man Accused of Using Fentanyl To Murder Girlfriend and Two Children • A Student Was Raped and Murdered in Her Fiancé's Apartment on Valentine's Day. Forty Years Later, Genealogists Finally Crack the Case • Continued Reporting: Illinois Deputy Police Chief Pleads Not Guilty to Bankruptcy Fraud Charges • FBI Raids Virginia County Property of Well-Known Russia Expert • Pennsylvania Man Accused of Making Threats to FBI Found Incompetent to Stand Trial • FBI Alerts Kansas Police to Alleged Threat at Junior High • Philadelphia-Area Man Charged With Sexually Abusing Seven Children, Recording Abuse • Kentucky Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison After Child Porn Investigation by FBI • Four Men Arrested in Undercover Sting Targeting Online Exploitation of Children • Minnesota Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Armed Bank Robbery • Houston Men Convicted of Robbing Louisiana Jewelry Store Receive Lengthy Federal Prison Sentences • Chicago FBI Seeking Public Help to Find Person Involved in Bank Robbery FINANCIAL CRIME & CORPORATE SCANDALS • Inside the $93 Million Wall Street Heist That Stemmed From Russia CYBER DIVISION • Motorists Warned As Parking Lot Cyber Scammers Strike • Former FBI Agent Gives Insight on Columbus, Ohio Cyberattack • FBI, Michigan Attorney General Investigating Ransomware Attack on Flint City Hall INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS • New Zealand to Extradite Internet Mogul Kim Dotcom to the U.S. • White House Calls for Release of U.S. Journalist Austin Tice Held in Syria —After High-Profile Russian Prisoner Swap CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS • Missouri Man Gets Ten Months in Prison for Joining Jan. 6 Capitol Riot • New York Men Arrested on Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach • Nearly 900 Have Pleaded Guilty to Charges Linked to Jan. 6 Insurrection OTHER FBI NEWS EFTA01655881 • Law Enforcement Brace as Anti-Israel Groups Vow to Bring Tens of Thousands of Protesters to DNC in Chicago • New York Police, FBI Team up in Wake of Rise in Overdoses INTERNATIONAL NEWS • Ukraine's Troops Are in Trouble on the Eastern Front • Gaza Cease-Fire's Biggest Obstacles Are Israel's and Hamas's Leaders • Alexei Navalny's Widow Has New Details of His Death. She Doesn't Believe Them. • U.S.-Russian Citizen Sentenced to 12 Years in Penal Colony for Ukraine Donation • Prosecutors Accuse Argentina's Former President of Beating First Lady • Indian Rape and Murder Case Shows Doctors' Vulnerability, Medics Say • Closed for Months, a Gateway for Aid to Famine-Stricken Sudan Swings Open • A Mob Attack on a Toppled Party Shows Bangladesh's Dangerous Vacuum • Peruvian Gang Leader Arrested in New York OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • Medicare Announces Lower Prices on Ten Common, High-Cost Drugs • Five Arrested in Connection With Matthew Perry's Death From Effects of Ketamine • Mark Meadows Tries to Move His Charges in Arizona's Fake Electors Case to Federal Court • Columbia University President Resigns in Wake of Campus Protests Over Gaza War • Harvard Settles Lawsuit Alleging It Ignored Sexual Harassment • New Jersey Governor to Name Temporary Successor to U.S. Senator Menendez, Source Says • Kamala Harris to Unveil Housing Initiatives Aimed at First-Time Buyers • Colleges Are Rewriting Their Campus Rules to Outmaneuver Protesters • TikTok Compares Itself to Foreign-Owned American News Outlets as It Fights Forced Sale or Ban BIG PICTURE • New York Times • Wall Street Journal • Washington Post • ABC News • CBS News • NBC News • Fox News • CNN WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS Director Wray Issues Warning After Jordanian Man Threatened to 'Explode All of America' The Associated Press (08/15, Staff Writer) reported that a Jordanian man, Hashem Younis Hashem Hnaihen, was charged with vandalizing a Florida solar power facility and several businesses due to their perceived support for Israel. According to the article, Hnaihen left behind warning letters with political demands and threats to "destroy or explode everything here in whole America. Especially the companies and factories that support the racist state EFTA01655882 of Israel." The article noted that Hnaihen was arrested following a multi-agency investigation on July 11 on local charges after another warning letter was discovered at an industrial propane gas distribution depot in Orlando, officials said. Fox News (08/15, Wallace) quoted a statement from Director Wray: "Under the guise of expressing his beliefs, the defendant allegedly attacked a power facility and threatened local businesses, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. Violence and destruction of property to threaten and intimidate others will never be tolerated. The FBI and our partners will work together to pursue and hold accountable those who resort to violence." The article also quoted U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland: "We allege that the defendant threatened to carry out hate-fueled mass violence in our country, motivated in part by a desire to target businesses for their perceived support of Israel. Such acts and threats of violence, whether they are targeting the places that Americans frequent every day or our country's critical infrastructure, are extremely dangerous and will not be tolerated by the Justice Department." Additional reporting on the story was provided by Reuters (08/15, Singh), the New York Times (08/15, Thrush), ABC News (08/15, Mallin), CNN (08/15, Lybrand), USA Today (08/15, Nurse), Washington Times (08/15, Dinan), The Hill (08/15, Jacquez), Daily Caller (08/15, Hopkins), UPI (08/15, Hughes), Jerusalem Post (08/15, Staff Writer), Daily Mail (08/15, Raasch), Newsmax (08/15, Reyner), and Algemeiner (08/15, Pierre). Continued Reporting: Trump Assassination Attempt Secret Service Beefs up Security for Trump, Including With Bulletproof Glass CNN (08/15, Lybrand) reported that the Secret Service has initiated enhancements to Donald Trump's security, planning to incorporate bulletproof glass at his campaign rallies. According to the article, these measures, prompted by an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, include an increased number of agents and the implementation of new technological strategies. The article noted that the logistics of positioning ballistic glass across anticipated rally sites are complex, with a dedicated team handling the preparations for events leading up to the November 2024 presidential election. An editorial from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (08/15, Editorial) assessed that the Secret Service demonstrated significant incompetence in handling security for former President Trump, which almost resulted in a catastrophic event. The author emphasized the need for profound reforms and greater transparency within the agency to restore public trust and ensure such failures are not repeated. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Reuters (08/15, Singh, Ward, Ljunggren), CBS News (08/15, Sganga), Washington Post (08/15, Leonnig, Dawsey), New York Post (08/15, King), ABC News (08/15, Faulders, Katersky, Barr), NBC News (08/15, Doyle, O'Donnell, Allen), The Hill (08/15, Beitsch), Newsweek (08/15, Slisco), The Daily Beast (08/15, Folk), Newsmax (08/15, Staff Writer), The Independent (08/15, Kilander), and Washington Times (08/15, Morton). FBI Probed for Info on Alleged Iranian Agent's Assassination Plot Targeting Trump Fox News (08/15, Johnson) reported that bipartisan senators are seeking explanations from Director Wray and DHS Secretary Mayorkas about an alleged Iranian agent, Asif Merchant, charged with plotting to assassinate a U.S. official, potentially former President Trump. According to the article, the FBI monitored Merchant before allowing him into the U.S. to gather sufficient evidence for his arrest, raising questions about the timing and communication of his entry and intentions. The article noted that senators have requested further details on the FBI's and DHS's knowledge of Merchant's plot and its possible connections to a recent assassination attempt against Trump, with the FBI confirming receipt of these inquiries but declining to comment further. "This dangerous murder-for-hire plot exposed in today's charges allegedly was orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian playbook," Director Wray said in the press release. "A foreign-directed plot to kill a public official, or any U.S. citizen, is a threat to our national security and will be met with the full might and resources of the FBI." Back to Top COUNTERTERRORISM Border Agents Warned of Entry Attempt by Man on Terror Watchlist News Nation Now (08/15, Bradley) reported that U.S. Border Patrol has issued a bulletin alerting agents to watch for Issa Musa Musa Darfarhat, who is on the terror watchlist and has previously attempted to enter the U.S. According to the article, there has been a significant increase in the number of encounters with individuals on terror watchlists, with 172 such encounters in fiscal year 2023, up from 100 in 2022 and 16 in 2021. At least 99 EFTA01655883 people from the FBI terror watchlist crossed into the country illegally and were released after being apprehended by border agents last year, according to Department of Homeland Security data obtained by the House Judiciary Committee. The article noted that despite the urgency, the latest alert did not reach all agents, particularly those in the Del Rio Sector, raising concerns about the effectiveness of communication across border agencies. Palestinian Terror Watchlist Suspect Nabbed at Southern Border The National Desk (08/15, Galka) reported that Omar Shehada, a 35-year-old Palestinian on the terror watchlist, was apprehended at the Southern border in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. According to the article, Shehada, caught with a group of seven, was linked to using explosives and is now facing removal proceedings, highlighting ongoing concerns about terrorism-related activities at the border. The article noted that this incident follows recent apprehensions of other individuals with possible terror ties, with Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares expressing concerns over the potential risks of terrorism via border crossings. "Ask yourself this question: If you're on the FBI terrorist watch list, why are you trying to sneak into this country? So many of us in law enforcement are so worried that the next 9/11 isn't going to be planes hijacked, it's going to be someone crossing at the southern border," Miyares told Fox News this week. Connecticut Resident Who Lied About Family Ties to ISIS in Citizenship Process Sentenced Hartford Courant (08/15, Staff Writer) reported that Mohamed Najm Kamash, a Connecticut resident, was sentenced for lying about his family's ties to ISIS during his citizenship interview. According to the article, an FBI affidavit revealed that Kamash falsely claimed he did not know anyone involved with a terrorist organization, despite evidence from Facebook messages indicating his brothers' involvement with ISIS. The article noted that Kamash was sentenced to two months in prison, time already served, and two years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to making a false statement in a naturalization proceeding. Continued Reporting: Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Threats Against Government Officers Bloomberg (08/15, Staff Writer) reported that Michael Lee Tomasi of Rio Verde, Arizona, pleaded guilty to making online threats against various public servants, including FBI agents, aiming to incite violence and impede their duties. According to the article, Tomasi posted specific threats on social media, expressing violent intentions toward FBI personnel and indicating readiness to act on these threats. The article noted that the FBI is investigating the case, with federal prosecutors emphasizing the serious risks such threats pose to public safety and the functioning of government. "Threatening law enforcement officers and elected officials strikes at the heart of our communities and our democracy," said Director Wray in the press release. "The men and women of the FBI work tirelessly every day to defend our homeland and protect the American people. I am proud of their selfless spirit — putting themselves in harm's way to keep others safe — and we will hold accountable anyone who threatens them." Back to Top COUNTERINTELLIGENCE FBI Resumes Flagging Foreign Disinformation to Social Media Giants The New York Times (08/15, Myers) reported that the FBI has recommenced its coordination with major social media platforms to counteract foreign disinformation aimed at influencing U.S. elections, following a temporary halt due to legal challenges. According to the article, this renewed effort is a response to escalated disinformation activities by foreign adversaries like Russia and Iran, with the FBI playing a key role in identifying and communicating these threats to platforms like Facebook and X. The article noted that the FBI's involvement has been critical in enabling social media companies to take down harmful content, with new operational guidelines ensuring that these actions respect First Amendment rights and are based on credible intelligence linking the disinformation to foreign entities. NBC News (08/15, Collier) added that Meta announced Thursday that pro- Russian propagandists are still working to influence Americans ahead of the 2024 presidential elections. In the company's latest quarterly Adversarial Threat Report, Meta said that it had dismantled five distinct Russian propaganda campaigns in the last three months. The article noted that Meta's investigation began as a tip from the FBI, the company said. The FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force has routinely warned U.S. social media companies when the U.S. intelligence community has noticed foreign influence operations targeting Americans. The practice was suspended for months last year following a lawsuit by Republican state attorneys general against the U.S. EFTA01655884 government. The article added that the FBI resumed it by March, and the Supreme Court threw out the lawsuit in June. Evidence Suggests Trump Adviser Susie Wiles Was Among Iran Hack Targets The Washington Post (08/15, Barrett, Dawsey) reported that the FBI is investigating potential foreign hacking attempts directed at U.S. presidential campaigns, focusing on alleged Iranian hacks targeting Trump adviser Susie Wiles and others. According to the article, the FBI, along with private computer security experts, identified spear- phishing attacks that compromised the email accounts of individuals like Roger Stone. The article noted that the FBI's investigations are part of a broader effort to address foreign interference in the 2024 presidential contest, highlighting ongoing concerns about cyber threats from Iran, Russia, and China. Ahead of DNC, Suit Aims to Ban Police Bodycams With Chinese Chip From Political Events Politico (08/15, Ng) reported that a lawsuit has been filed to ban police body cameras with Chinese-made chips from political events, citing espionage risks. According to the article, concerns have escalated to the point where last September, the FCC chair requested that the Justice Department, the National Security Agency, and the FBI consider adding Quectel, the chip manufacturer, to a list of entities covered under national security concerns. The article noted that the lawsuit by GovernmentGPT claims these cameras could potentially enable real-time surveillance and data interception by foreign adversaries, emphasizing the gravity of the security threats posed. How a Persecuted Religious Group Grew into a Global Movement The New York Times (08/16, Hong, Rothfeld, May) reported that the Falun Gong, a spiritual movement founded in China in the 1990s, has faced severe persecution by Chinese authorities. According to the article, despite the Chinese government's efforts to suppress the movement, Falun Gong has grown into a global phenomenon, partly visible through cultural initiatives like the Shen Yun Performing Arts. The article noted that the FBI has been involved in recent cases within the U.S., investigating and addressing Chinese government activities targeting Falun Gong practitioners, highlighting ongoing concerns over espionage and foreign interference. The article explained that last month, two men pleaded guilty in New York to bribing someone they believed to be an I.R.S. agent as part of a plot to target Falun Gong practitioners in the United States. They admitted to acting as illegal Chinese government agents. Their goal, according to federal prosecutors in Manhattan, was to revoke the tax-exempt status of an entity run by Falun Gong practitioners. The two men had also surveilled Falun Gong followers at the group's headquarters in Orange County, N.Y., according to an F.B.I. interview cited in a court document. House Committee Urges Probe of Chinese Wifi Router Company Over Security Concerns The Epoch Times (08/15, Yang) reported that Representatives John Moolenaar and Raja Krishnamoorthi, members of the House Select Committee on China, are calling for a federal investigation into TP-Link Technology Co due to security concerns related to potential cyber attacks on the United States. According to the article, the lawmakers expressed concerns about the company's compliance with Chinese national security laws that might require data sharing with the Chinese government, highlighting the use of TP-Link routers in various cyberattacks attributed to Chinese-sponsored groups. The article noted that recent research and government warnings have underscored vulnerabilities in TP-Link's devices, leading to calls for action to address these espionage-related risks. The article noted that during an April congressional hearing, Director Wray said Chinese hackers have the ability to strike a "devastating blow" at any time, as they are already connected to critical infrastructure in the United States. Director Wray told Congress that the CCP hacking campaign known as Volt Typhoon, which began in 2021, has already burrowed into several American companies in telecommunications, energy, water, pipeline operations, and other critical industries. Continued Reporting: U.S. Army Sergeant Pleads Guilty To Selling Secrets To China The Morning News (08/15, Messamore) reported that U.S. Army Sergeant Korbein Schultz has pleaded guilty to selling classified military documents to the Chinese government. According to the article, the FBI and the Department of Justice are still investigating the extent of Schultz's espionage, which involved selling sensitive information on U.S. rocket systems and military tactics for $42,000. The article noted that Schultz's actions are part of a broader investigation into his contacts and the data he provided on U.S. defense strategies, including those concerning Taiwan. Back to Top EFTA01655885 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS NYC Mayor Eric Adams and Others Subpoenaed in Long-Standing Federal Probe CNN (08/15, Pazmino, Morales) reported that New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been issued a federal grand jury subpoena as part of an investigation into corruption and illegal campaign donations, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The article mentioned that City Hall and Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign committee also received a set of subpoenas, which were issued in July and cover a variety of materials including text messages, communications and other documents, one of the sources said. The subpoenas are the latest development in the monthslong investigation into Adams and his campaign that has focused on possible public corruption and foreign influence. Adams was not personally served, according to a source familiar. There's no appearance and no deposition in this request. Letters were delivered to his attorneys and to City Hall's counsel. The article noted that it is not the first time Adams has been the target of federal investigators. Last year, FBI agents seized his cellphones and iPad pursuant to a court warrant. The article added that CNN has previously reported the investigation into Adams is focused on campaign money, possible favors and foreign influence. The investigation has dragged on for several months and first became public after it was reported the FBI and investigators with the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York raided the home of Brianna Suggs, Adams' chief fundraiser. The New York Post (08/15, McCarthy, Bhole, et al.), Fox News (08/15, Whitten), CBS News (08/15, Brennan), ABC News (08/15, Katersky), Bloomberg (08/15, Porzecanski), the Daily Beast (08/15, Folk), New York Daily News (08/15, Sommerfeldt), New York Times (08/15, Rashbaum, Rubinstein), Reuters (08/15, Staff Writer), and the Gothamist (08/15, Lane) also reported on the story. Mexico Waiting on U.S. For Flight Details Behind Capture of Drug Kingpins Reuters (08/15, Diaz) reported that Mexico's attorney general's office said on Thursday it has yet to receive detailed information from U.S. authorities about a flight that carried two notorious drug traffickers to the U.S. last month, amid rising tensions between the two countries over the arrests. In a statement, the office said it requested details from the DOJ about the flight, including detailed records on its pilot, the aircraft, and related migration and customs authorizations. The article stated that Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, a co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, was detained on July 25 at a New Mexico airfield along with one of the sons of his incarcerated Sinaloa Cartel co- founder Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Mexico is investigating the events to determine whether treason was committed via the forcible abduction of a Mexican citizen and their delivery to U.S. authorities. The dramatic arrest was a major coup for U.S. law enforcement but has provoked consternation from the Mexican government, which was not given prior warning and was not involved. The Associated Press (08/15, Peitz) reported that Zambada, 76, has so far appeared in U.S. federal court in El Paso, Texas, which is in one of the jurisdictions where he has been indicted. He has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and other charges. Federal prosecutors in Texas asked a court Thursday to hold a hearing to take the procedural steps needed to move him to the New York jurisdiction that includes Brooklyn, where the elder Guzman was convicted in 2019 of drug and conspiracy charges and sentenced to life in prison. If prosecutors get their wish, the case against Zambada in Texas would proceed after the one in New York. Bob Menendez to Be Replaced by New Jersey Governor's Former Top Aide The Associated Press (08/15, Catalini) reported that New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy will name his former chief of staff George Helmy to serve as interim senator when Bob Menendez resigns later this month after his conviction on federal bribery charges, according to a person familiar with the decision. Helmy served as Murphy's top aide from 2019 to 2023 and is now an executive at RWJ Barnabas Health, a large health care provider in the state. He was formerly an aide to Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision was not yet public ahead of an expected announcement on Friday in Newark. The article noted that Menendez wrote in a letter to Murphy last month that he's resigning on Aug. 20, just over a month after the jury's verdict. He said he planned to appeal. The article mentioned that Menendez, 70, was convicted of charges that he sold the power of his office to three New Jersey businessmen who sought a variety of favors. Prosecutors said Menendez used his influence to meddle in three different state and federal criminal investigations to protect his associates. They said he helped one bribe-paying friend get a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund and another keep a contract to provide religious certification for meat bound for Egypt. He was also convicted of taking actions that benefited Egypt's government in exchange for bribes, including providing details on personnel at the U.S. embassy in Cairo, ghostwriting a letter to fellow senators regarding lifting a hold on military aid to Egypt. FBI agents found stacks of gold bars and $480,000 hidden in Menendez's house. EFTA01655886 Vermont State Police, FBI Investigate Damage to FAA Station WPTZ (NBC-5) (08/15, Cusanelli) reported that Vermont State Police and the FBI are investigating after a Federal Aviation Administration facility in Washington, Vermont, was seemingly vandalized back in June. According to the article, in July, FAA officials in Burlington reported a vandalism incident at the Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range, or VOR, station in Washington on Cyr Heights Road, after inspectors noticed damage at the station on July 2. Officials later confirmed that service at the station had been disrupted several days before, on June 30. The article stated that the damage included monitor antennas that had been removed from the station, panels smashed on the HVAC unit, a door handle torn off a second-story structure access door, and antennas inside the structure being bent out of shape. The article added that the facility is an automated monitoring station that aids in navigation for the nearby EF Knapp State Airport in Berlin. While the station is primarily used as a backup emergency navigation station for pilots in the area, it is used to assist commercial pilots with navigation information particularly during periods of bad weather, according to the FAA. Prominent California Lawyer Abused Pandemic Loan Program, Prosecutors Say Reuters (08/15, Thomas) reported that prominent California attorney Lisa Bloom and her law firm will pay more than $274,000 to resolve claims that they gave the U.S. government false information in connection with a COVID- 19 pandemic relief program, federal prosecutors said Thursday. The Bloom Firm will pay approximately $204,000 while Bloom and her husband Braden Pollock will each pay more than $35,000 to settle allegations under the False Claims Act, prosecutors said. The article stated that Bloom, Pollock and the law firm denied the allegations, and are not admitting any liability by settling the claims, according to documents prosecutors provided. Bloom is known for taking on high-profile cases, including representing women who accused now-deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein and comedian Bill Cosby of sexual assault. Her past clients have also included disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The article mentioned that prosecutors alleged that the Bloom Firm falsely certified it used funds from the U.S. Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program during the pandemic for eligible payroll expenses, when it actually used the money to pay several workers who were ineligible to receive the PPP funds or were not working for the firm. Fox News (08/15, Price) also reported on the story. Former Alabama Police Officer Agrees to Plead Guilty in Alleged Drug Planting Scheme The Associated Press (08/15, Staff Writer) reported that a former Alabama police officer has agreed to plead guilty in connection with an alleged scheme to plant drugs on motorists, federal prosecutors announced Thursday. The article stated that court records show that Michael Kilgore, a former police officer with the Centre Police Department, has signed a plea agreement on a charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. It describes how a package containing methamphetamines, oxycodone and marijuana was planted in a woman's car with the help of a co-conspirator. According to the plea agreement, the scheme began in early 2023 when Kilgore found methamphetamines and marijuana in a car and offered to let the driver avoid drug charges by working with him as a confidential informant. The article mentioned that Kilgore told the co-conspirator that he wanted to make a narcotics case and the two arranged for a package of drugs to be attached to the undercarriage of a vehicle, according to the plea agreement. On Jan. 31, 2023, Kilgore pulled the car over during for an alleged traffic violation and searched it and produced the drugs, prosecutors said. Kilgore and his co-conspirator had planned a second drug plant, prosecutors added, but the co-conspirator discarded the drugs and reported the scheme to law enforcement. A DOJ press release noted that the FBI investigated the case. Federal Authorities File Additional Charges Against Chinese-Linked Biolab in Central California Fox News (08/15, Price) reported that federal authorities announced new charges against the operators of an illegal underground biolab found in a Central California community last fall. Jia Bei Zhu, 62, a citizen of China, was previously indicted for distributing bogus and misbranded COVID-19 test kits in violation of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. He was also charged with making false statements to authorities about his identity and involvement with the biolabs. Additional charges have now been filed against Zhaoyan Wang, 38, also a citizen of China, who officials described as a "romantic and business partner." The article stated that according to court documents, from August 2020 through March 2023, Zhu and Wang conspired to defraud buyers of UMI and PBI's COVID-19 test kits. They imported hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 test kits from Ai De Ltd., which was a company in China that they controlled, and falsely represented to the buyers that the test kits were made in the United States. A DOJ press release noted that this case is the product of an investigation by the FBI and the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations. Two Recalls, an FBI Raid, a Gavin Newsom Intervention: What's Happening in Oakland? EFTA01655887 Politico (08/15, White) reported that Oakland, California, is navigating one of its most turbulent moments in decades. Its mayor and top prosecutor are fighting efforts to oust them from office in November, fueled by voter frustration over shootings, robberies and store closures. Mayor Sheng Thao is now also facing further pressure amid a federal investigation linked to an influential family that has donated to her and other elected officials. The article stated that Oakland's woes have bitterly fractured local liberals, spurring the involvement of two ascendant officials in Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta. If they can't help fix Oakland, it could become a drag on their future ambitions. The article mentioned that days after the anti-Thao effort qualified for the November ballot and a mass shooting erupted at a popular lake, FBI agents searched Thao's home as part of a probe that has also ensnared a politically connected family that runs a waste management company. Thao has denied any wrongdoing and said she is not a target of the investigation. In a fiery speech after the raid, she lambasted the FBI action as unjustified and condemned the recall effort as a "waste of time and public resources" by "a handful of billionaires" who "are hellbent on running me out of office." Reward for Escaped Murderer in North Carolina Grows to MK NBC News (08/15, Lenthang, Romero) reported that a $50,000 reward is being offered for information on the whereabouts of an escaped North Carolina inmate convicted of killing a 1-year-old girl. Ramone Alston, 30, fled Tuesday morning as he arrived at a hospital for a medical appointment. The reward sum has grown since his escape and now stands at $50,000 - $30,000 authorized by Gov. Roy Cooper, $10,000 from the U.S. Marshals Service, and $10,000 from the FBI. The article noted that Alston escaped at around 7 a.m. Tuesday shortly after his transport vehicle arrived at the UNC Hospitals Hillsborough Campus. He freed himself from leg restraints and jumped out of the vehicle, and while still in handcuffs, he ran into the adjacent woods, the Department of Adult Correction said. In a news conference Wednesday, Keith Acree, the communications director for the Department of Adult Correction, said officials are "pretty certain" Alston is no longer in the immediate area of his escape. FBI Bribery Probe May Have Looked at Other Mississippi Councilmembers MTV (CBS-12) (08/15, Lake) reported that since former Jackson City Councilwoman Angelique Lee pled guilty to federal charges, others on the Jackson City Council shared their experiences with who they believe to be undercover FBI agents. Lee pled guilty to accepted more than $13,000 in cash and purchasing multiple luxury items with a credit card given to her by FBI informants. The informants posed as real estate developers from Nashville, and Lee was not the only city official they approached. The article added that Councilmen Vernon Hartley and Ashby Foote said they attended meetings with out-of-town real estate developers in February 2024. They said the meetings were set up by Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens. The article quoted Hartley, who said, "I was over in the Fondren area at Walker's, and the meal was very good. And I gladly paid my $24, and I moved on. Never heard back from anybody again. I may not know what undercover agents look like, but I know what business folks would look like. And I'm about the business. I expected them to roll out some type of schematic or plan or this is what we had. I didn't see any of that, we're out there trying to draw businesses in, you shouldn't color outside the lines when doing that." Hartley said there was no quid-pro-quo deal offered to him by the individuals. Federal Agents Visited Californian Council Member's Home, Document Shows The Press Democrat (08/15, Booth) reported that the FBI visited the home of St. Helena council member Eric Hall on Aug. 7, according to a document. The article stated that the visit came on the same day federal agents served a search warrant at the Upper Valley Disposal Service facility. Hall is married to former Upper Valley Disposal Service chief operating officer Christy Pestoni. A day before the FBI visit, Hall had announced he would not be seeking reelection. The article mentioned that the FBI is conducting a sprawling investigation in Napa County, which has targeted some of the elite and powerful names in the county. The Upper Valley Waste Management Agency, a quasi-governmental agency that oversees waste services in upper Napa County, was targeted by federal subpoenas received by Napa County in December 2023. Why Did the FBI Take U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles' Phone? The Tennessean (08/15, Jones) reported that federal agents recently took possession of U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles' cell phone as part of an investigation he believes centers around his federal campaign finance filings. Ogles, R- Columbia, is seeking reelection in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District in the November election, with former President Donald Trump's endorsement. This month, he won a competitive Republican primary against well-funded challenger Metro Nashville Council member Courtney Johnston. The article stated that the day after declaring victory, Ogles' phone was confiscated by the FBI. The congressman faces ongoing scrutiny over his federal campaign finance filings and personal finance disclosures. According to the article, it's not clear exactly what the EFTA01655888 FBI is investigating. Ogles has faced scrutiny and multiple complaints over his federal campaign finance disclosures for more than two years. In a statement confirming that the FBI had taken his phone, Ogles immediately mentioned "mistakes" in his campaign's "initial financial filings." Ogles has said he intends to cooperate with the FBI and the Federal Election Commission. Minnesota Investigators Identify Baby Found Dead in Box 35 Years Ago CBS News (08/15, Moser) reported that Minnesota investigators on Thursday closed a decades-old case without filing charges. On April 23, 1989, a baby girl was discovered dead inside a box by the roadside in Santiago Township in Sherburne County. The case remained unsolved for more than 35 years as investigators were unable to identify the baby or her parents. According to the article, last year, Sherburne County investigators revisited the case with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI. Investigators say they were able to use DNA to identify the mother, who, in interviews, admitted to concealing her pregnancy and the birth from her family. She told authorities that the baby was not alive at birth and that, in a state of panic, she did not know how to handle the situation. The article mentioned that the original 1989 autopsy and re-examination done last year could not definitely determine if the baby had been born alive. Sherburne County officials say that two pathologists believe the baby was likely stillborn. Sherburne County Attorney Kathleen Heaney reviewed the case earlier this month before closing the case, citing the statute of limitations. Tennessee Guardsman Found Dead and Bound With Zip Ties in 2019 Was Shot Over Custody Dispute, Authorities Say NBC News (08/15, Stelloh) reported that after an investigation that spanned nearly five years and included hundreds of possible suspects, authorities in Tennessee said they believe a custody dispute was behind the killing of a National Guard member who was bound with zip ties and fatally shot in 2019. Officials in Loudon County said Tuesday that Amanda Bishop, 39, and Eric Byrd, 39, were charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Jacob Bishop, a member of the Tennessee National Guard who had returned from a deployment to Poland in the months before he was fatally shot. Amanda Bishop, of Kingston, and Byrd, of Lenoir City, were arrested Tuesday, the sheriff's office said in a news release. The article noted that the sheriff's office said in a news release Tuesday that more than a dozen law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation, including the FBI; the Secret Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and a sheriff's office in Texas. Video Shows Arrest of Suspect in Maryland Mom's Murder CBS News (08/15, Kushner, Thompson) reported that the outlet obtained video from the night police in Oklahoma arrested Victor Martinez Hernandez, the man charged in the murder of Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five. Martinez Hernandez was taken into custody in June at a bar in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 10 months after Morin was found murdered off the Ma & Pa Trail in Harford County. The article stated that the video shows Martinez Hernandez being escorted out of the bar, put in handcuffs and into the patrol car. He was later extradited to Maryland where he is facing charges of first and second-degree murder, rape, sex offense and kidnapping. Investigators said they were tipped off that the Martinez Hernandez was in the Tulsa area after he fled Maryland. The article mentioned that the video starts inside a bar on a late Friday night in Tulsa when police and FBI agents approached Martinez Hernandez sitting at a bar. At first, Martinez Hernandez denied his crimes. Officers walked him outside and then asked to see his identification. But Martinez Hernandez told the officers he didn't have an ID and provided a fake name. Moments later, Martinez Hernandez was placed in handcuffs and into the patrol car after officers uncovered his real identity. Man Accused of Using Fentanyl To Murder Girlfriend and Two Children Newsweek (08/15, Mehrara) reported that ater a North Carolina woman and her two young children were found dead from fentanyl poisoning in March in a Charlotte apartment complex, her boyfriend has been accused of their triple homicide. The article stated that Benjamin Joseph Taylor, 34, has been charged with first-degree murder and failure to report death for the murders of Markayla Johnson, 22, her daughter Miracle, 4, and her baby Messiah, 7 months. After Johnson's family began receiving "strange text messages that they did not believe were coming from her," according to investigators, they reported her and her children missing on March 3. Following an investigation by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Homicide Unit (CMPD), Johnson and her two children were found in bags with diapers and blankets on their faces. When authorities went to find Taylor days later, they learned he left the state on a bus via surveillance tape footage, according to a probable cause affidavit. The article added that Johnson and her children all had fentanyl in their systems, as well as other drugs, according to the EFTA01655889 autopsy report. Taylor was subsequently found and arrested in Imperial County, California by the CMPD and the FBI on March 16, according to a press release from the CMPD. A Student Was Raped and Murdered in Her Fiancé's Apartment on Valentine's Day. Forty Years Later, Genealogists Finally Crack the Case The Independent (08/15, Hawkinson) reported that genealogists have identified the man suspected of killing a 22- year-old Texas college student in a 40-year-old cold case. Tern McAdams was at her fiancé's Arlington, Texas apartment on Valentine's Day, 1985. Her fiancé was out of town on a business trip, so McAdams decided to make him a heart-shaped cake. Afterward, she called her soon-to-be sister-in-law, CBS News reports. However, moments after hanging up the phone, someone entered through a sliding door in the bedroom before beating, sexually assaulting and killing McAdams. Her body was found in the apartment by a maintenance worker. The article stated that for nearly 40 years, McAdams' case went unsolved. However, advanced technology and "investigative genetic genealogy" have allowed police to identify her suspected killer: Bernard Sharp. The article added that nine months after Sharp is thought to have killed McAdams, he was involved in another string of killings in Arlington. He shot three people, killing two, before dying by suicide, police said. The article mentioned that for decades, police could not link Sharp to the murder because they had no DNA samples. However, earlier this year, investigators identified a close relative who provided DNA. Using their sample, genealogists determined Sharp was a genetic match to the DNA found in the apartment of McAdams' fiancé. The article quoted Chad Yarbrough, a Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Dallas, who said, "Investigative genetic genealogy is one of the most valuable tools that law enforcement has access to today." KWTX (CBS-10) (08/15, Ashley), and the Huffington Post (08/15, Moorhouse) also reported on the story. Continued Reporting: Illinois Deputy Police Chief Pleads Not Guilty to Bankruptcy Fraud Charges CBS News (08/15, Ramos) reported that Dolton's acting police chief appeared before a federal judge and pleaded not guilty on Thursday to multiple charges of bankruptcy fraud and perjury, among others. It was just the latest in an ongoing saga of controversy surrounding the Dolton village government. Acting police chief Lewis Lacey made his initial appearance in court for his arraignment. The judge ordered that he turn in his gun and FOID card as a pre- trial condition. The article stated that in court, federal prosecutors laid out the nine-count indictment against Lacey, claiming he devised a scheme to defraud, by way of filing a bankruptcy in an effort to hide assets and income to avoid paying more than $40,000 in a lawsuit settlement that goes back nearly a decade. Prosecutors said as part of the scheme, Lacey repeatedly lied about his monthly income and concealed multiple bank accounts that he controlled. He also lied, they said, about being separated from his wife. Lacey said he lived alone, which prevented creditors from going after her. The article mentioned that the federal indictment happened in the shadow of ongoing turmoil in the Village of Dolton where Mayor Tiffany Henyard has been under investigation for alleged misuse of village funds. A recent report released by former Chicago mayor-turned special investigator Lon Lightfoot showed that the village had a staggering $3.5 million budget deficit. The report also highlighted how some village employees racked up overtime, specifically Lacey, who received almost $216,000 in overtime since 2022. FBI Raids Virginia County Property of Well-Known Russia Expert Rappahannock News (08/15, Staff Writer) reported that federal agents descended on a Huntly property Tuesday and have maintained a steady presence there since. The article quoted FBI spokesperson Samantha Shero, who said, "The FBI conducted court-authorized law enforcement activity. We have no further comment as this is an ongoing matter." The article stated that Rappahannock County Circuit Court records show the 132.6-acre property was sold by Katherine Krebser to Dimitri K. Simes and his wife Anastasia R. Simes for $1.63 million in July 2021. Dimitri Simes, 76, has been well known in the Washington, D.C., diplomatic world for decades and is considered an expert in Russian affairs. He was the longtime president and chief executive officer of the Center for the National Interest, a public policy think tank founded by former President Richard Nixon. Simes left the center in 2022. Pennsylvania Man Accused of Making Threats to FBI Found Incompetent to Stand Trial Penn Live (08/15, Beauge) reported that a Montour County man accused of making threats against the FBI has been found mentally incompetent to stand trial. U.S. Middle District Judge Matthew W. Brann on Thursday ordered the government to hospitalize Thomas Green, 32, of Danville, for up to four months for treatment. The article stated that during that time a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist is to determine if there is a substantial probability in the foreseeable future that he will attain the capacity to permit his trial to proceed. FBI Alerts Kansas Police to Alleged Threat at Junior High EFTA01655890 The Lawrence Times (08/15, Staff Writer) reported that Baldwin City police determined there was no credible threat to students or staff of Baldwin Junior High School Thursday morning after hearing from the FBI, according to a department news release. The FBI alerted the Baldwin City Police Department to a possible threat to the school, according to the release. The article stated that the police department is providing an additional presence at the junior high and other district schools Thursday, according to the release. Philadelphia-Area Man Charged With Sexually Abusing Seven Children, Recording Abuse CBS News (08/15, Dougherty) reported that a man from Chester County, Pennsylvania, has been charged with allegedly sexually abusing seven children ages 2 to 9 and recording the abuse while working for the United States Army Research Laboratory. In a news release, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania said Jason James Cain, 49, was charged with seven counts of manufacture and attempted manufacture of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography. Cain has been accused of sexually abusing the children under his care for over three-and-a-half years. The article noted that the FBI, the Chester County District Attorney's Office and Pennsylvania State Police handled the investigation. Kentucky Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison After Child Porn Investigation by FBI LEX (NBC-18) (08/15, Rosas) reported that a Floyd County man was recently sentenced to 50 years in prison for the production and distribution of child pornography following an investigation conducted by the FBI, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The article stated that a press release from the office detailed that 26-year-old Christopher Hall was sentenced on Wednesday. The plea agreement reported that Hall "produced a video of him sexually abusing a minor" on May 29, 2022. In addition, Hall reportedly distributed the video to others on WhatsApp. The article mentioned that the case was prosecuted as part of Project State Childhood, "a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Dal to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse," the release read. Four Men Arrested in Undercover Sting Targeting Online Exploitation of Children WXMI (Fox-17) (08/15, Harmon, Goldwasser) reported that an undercover operation by the FBI and Kent County Sheriff's Office arrested multiple men after investigators say they tried to contact children on the internet for sexual purposes. The article stated that the joint effort by the Kent County Sheriff's Office Human Trafficking Task Force and the FBI's West Michigan-Based Child Exploitation Task Force had detectives and agents place ads on social media and mobile applications while posing as minors. Investigators say several men started communicating with the undercover accounts. The article noted that the Sheriff's Office says two of the men drove to an agreed upon location to have sex with a minor. So far, four men from West Michigan have been arrested, one of whom was a high school teacher according to court documents. The Sheriffs Office says another two men, one from Michigan and one from Indiana, face imminent arrest in connection to the investigation. Minnesota Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Armed Bank Robbery The Star Tribune (08/15, Berg) reported that the Waite Park man who pleaded guilty in federal court to holding bank employees hostage during a robbery at a St. Cloud bank in 2021 was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison on Thursday. Ray Reco McNeary, 39, was arrested May 6, 2021, following a nearly nine-hour standoff at a Wells Fargo Bank on the west side of St. Cloud. He was charged with seven felony counts in Stearns County District Court and one count of armed bank robbery in U.S. District Court. According to court documents, McNeary went to the bank alleging fraud on his account and became enraged when the bank manager was unable to locate his account. He then demanded that $60,000 from the vault be placed in a bag, and he threatened the five bank employees he was holding hostage, documents state. The article added that McNeary also repeatedly held a pair of scissors against the bank manager's back and neck, and said he wanted to be shot by police so he would be a martyr and his family would receive money, documents state. The FBI communicated with McNeary using phone calls, written messages and loudspeakers. The hostages left the bank throughout the afternoon and evening to the cheers of a crowd of onlookers that gathered in the Costco parking lot across the street from the bank. CBS News (08/15, Staff Writer) also reported on the story. Houston Men Convicted of Robbing Louisiana Jewelry Store Receive Lengthy Federal Prison Sentences KPLC (NBC-7) (08/15, Cryer) reported that four Houston men will face lengthy prison sentences for their participation in the Nederland Jewelry heist on June 8, 2020, in Lake Charles. U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced Thursday that all four defendants pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by EFTA01655891 robbery and were sentenced by U.S. District Judge James D. Cain Jr. A DO1 press release noted that this case was investigated by the FBI, Lake Charles Police Department and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office. Chicago FBI Seeking Public Help to Find Person Involved in Bank Robbery The Chicago Tribune (08/15, Stevens) reported that the FBI is seeking information on an unnamed person suspected of robbing the First Savings Bank of Hegewisch in Lansing on Aug. 9, and offering a reward of up to $10,000. The article stated that Chicago FBI classified the suspect Wednesday as a 40- to 60-year-old white man dressed in a dark-colored baseball hat, black sunglasses, a light-colored medical face mask, a purple and green plaid button-up short sleeved shirt with a black undershirt, dark-colored cargo pants and dark-colored shoes. He also wore a watch on his right wrist and carried a blue Walmart shopping bag, the release said. The article mentioned that Special Agent Siobhan Johnson said Wednesday security footage captured the person walking slowly across the lobby and sitting down, taking his time before ordering people in the bank to a back room and demanding money. Johnson declined to say how much money the person was given, but said his approach to wait in the lobby before robbing the bank is "unusual." The article quoted Johnson, who said, "Bank robbers don't just appear and disappear as soon as they go into the bank, someone saw him changing into this clothing or changing out of this clothing at some point. Someone saw him walking through the neighborhood, either getting into a bus or getting into a car, and those are the things we're really looking for." Back to Top FINANCIAL CRIME & CORPORATE SCANDALS Inside the $93 Million Wall Street Heist That Stemmed From Russia CNBC (08/15, Staff Writer) reported that the money Vladislav Klyushin made from stolen financial information literally piled up, filling a safe with stacks of hundred-dollar bills. At one point, he was hoarding over $3 million in illegal gains. In less than three years, Klyushin's cybersecurity scam amassed more than $93 million. His company, M-13, acted as a front for Russian hackers to steal information under the guise of protecting it, getting their hands on American corporate earnings reports before the rest of the world could see them. Then, they traded based on that insight, buying and selling stock from well-known American companies like Skechers, Snapchat and Roku. According to the article, M-13 once targeted Tesla, stealing its drafted earnings release and buying stock based on a historically successful quarter. Once the final earnings report went public, shares of Tesla soared in price, and Klyushin's team walked away with yet another stack of cash. The article mentioned that Klyushin grew his empire until he was riding on private jets and shaking hands with Russian government officials. But what the oligarch and his team didn't know is that the FBI had been watching them — dissecting how the scam worked and determining what, if anything, they could do to stop it. The article stated that Klyushin was one of 12 alleged Russian intelligence operatives charged with hacking and insider trading by the U.S. government in 2021. After being sentenced to a nine-year jail term in 2023, Klyushin was released in August 2024 as part of a historic U.S.-Russia prisoner swap that included Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The exchange is thought to be the first U.S. prisoner swap to include international cybercriminals and freed four American citizens wrongfully detained in Russia. Back to Top CYBER DIVISION Motorists Warned As Parking Lot Cyber Swimmers Strike Forbes (08/15, Winder) reported that the RAC, formerly known as the Royal Automobile Club, in the U.K. has issued an alert for motorists to beware of parking lot cyber scammers following a spate of ticket payment fraud. The warning comes as fake Quick Response code stickers are being used to direct motorists away from genuine parking fee payment sites in order to grab payment card credentials. Such abuse of QR codes is nothing new, the FBI has previously warned U.S. citizens to be aware of such fraud and offers seven tips to mitigate becoming a victim. The article noted that FBI alert number I-011822-PSA, Cybercriminals Tampering with QR Codes to Steal Victim Funds, was issued to raise awareness of just this type of QR code cyber crime. The article quoted the FBI, which said, "Cybercriminals are tampering with QR codes to redirect victims to malicious sites that steal login and financial information." The article added that the FBI said that it's important for people to "practice caution when entering financial information as well as providing payment through a site navigated to through a QR code." EFTA01655892 Former FBI Agent Gives Insight on Columbus, Ohio Cyberattack WBNS (CBS-10) (08/15, Jabour) reported that cybersecurity expert Connor Goodwolf said last week that 45% of the data stolen from the city of Columbus is now on the dark web. The other 55% of data the hackers sold that data to a buyer, according to Goodwolf. The article noted that Bret Hood, a former special agent of the FBI for 25 years, gave insight into how the FBI could be handling the case for the city of Columbus. The article quoted Hood, who said, "The FBI has contacts all throughout the world. So, it sounds like somebody hacked into Columbus' database and was able to retrieve that information. The first thing the FBI would have to do is try to figure out where the source was, who came in and where they are located. That takes a lot of effort, the FBI will never pay a ransom. They will leave it up to the entity involved. Whether the government, private business. That is their decision. The data leak from the city prosecutor's office is pretty damning. There are all kinds of potential information out there whether it's informants, victims and associated identifying information that allows people who have less than honest thoughts to pursue those people. Maybe try to gain leverage with them or exploit them for uses." FBI, Michigan Attorney General Investigating Ransomware Attack on Flint City Hall M Live (08/15, Fonger) reported that the FBI and Michigan Attorney General's Office are investigating what the city says was a criminal ransomware attack that has shut down some basic operations inside Flint City Hall. The article stated that the city confirmed the attack on Thursday, Aug. 15, the day after it announced that a computer network outage left it unable to take payments and conduct other web-based business. The article noted that the city said it is investigating whether resident or employee personal data has been compromised by the attack. The city said its Information Technology Department is working with cybersecurity experts "to better understand what has occurred and what to expect as progress is made to restore service. " Back to Top INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS New Zealand to Extradite Internet Mogul Kim Dotcom to the U.S. CNN (08/15, Tanno) reported that New Zealand is set to extradite internet mogul Kim Dotcom to the United States after the country's justice minister gave his approval on Thursday. Dotcom, who was born in Germany but has New Zealand residency, had been fighting his extradition to the U.S. since 2012. He is facing charges relating to his file- sharing site Megaupload, which was shut down by the U.S. government the same year. The article mentioned that New Zealand Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has now signed an extradition order for Dotcom, according to a government statement issued Thursday, paving the way for his deportation. The article stated that Dotcom is the flamboyant founder of Megaupload, a website which was used by millions as a fast and easy way to store massive files in a "locker" online and share them with others. Soon after his site was shut down, Dotcom was arrested by New Zealand police who descended on his luxury mansion in Auckland by FBI order in two marked helicopters and had to cut their way into a locked safe room to reach him. Reuters (08/15, Jackson, Craymer), BBC (08/15, Aikman), the Verge (08/15, Weatherbed), Forbes (08/15, Roush), CBS News (08/15, Andrews), Epoch Times (08/15, Summers), Daily Beast (08/15, Fiallo), Newsweek (08/15, Burman), and the New York Post (08/15, DeGregory) also reported on the story. White House Calls for Release of U.S. Journalist Austin Tice Held in Syria —After High-Profile Russian Prisoner Swap The Independent (08/15, Graziosi) reported that President Joe Biden and the State Department are again calling for the release of American journalist Austin Tice, who was abducted in Syria in 2012. The call comes on the heels of the largest US-Russian prisoner swap in history, which saw the return of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Marine Paul Whelan. The article stated that Tice was working as a freelance reporter in Syria when he was kidnapped in Damascus, according to the FBI. The agency has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to the "safe location, recovery, and return" of the journalist. On Wednesday, Biden issued a statement calling for Tice's return to the U.S. The Syrian government has denied holding any Americans, including Tice, but the State Department has maintained that the reporter is still being held in the country. Back to Top CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS EFTA01655893 Missouri Man Gets Ten Months in Prison for Joining Jan. 6 Capitol Riot The Associated Press (08/15, Staff Writer) reported that a St. Louis Cardinals superfan known as Rally Runner, legally named Daniel Donnelly Jr., was sentenced to 10 months in prison for participating in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. According to the article, Rally Runner used a stolen shield to attack police during the riot and later pleaded guilty to a felony count of civil disorder. The article noted that the FBI identified him as part of the crowd that clashed violently with police, and his sentencing reflects ongoing legal actions against over 1,400 individuals charged with related federal crimes. Additional reporting on the story was provided by KMOV (CBS-4) (08/15, Staff Writer), KTVI (Fox-2) (08/15, Held), Courthouse News (08/15, Knappenberger), and Kansas City Star (08/15, Thomas). New York Men Arrested on Felony and Misdemeanor Charges for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach Hoodline (08/15, Ramirez) reported that Charles E. Schimmel and his son Logan Schimmel from New York were arrested and face multiple charges related to their alleged roles in the January 6 Capitol riot, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. According to the article, the FBI arrested the duo, who appeared in court in the Western District of New York, where videos and court records outlined their actions, including fighting against police lines and entering sensitive areas of the Capitol. The article noted that the ongoing investigations by the FBI's Buffalo and Washington Field Offices, along with other law enforcement agencies, are part of a broader effort that has seen nearly 550 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement during the riot. Nearly 900 Have Pleaded Guilty to Charges Linked to Jan. 6 Insurrection WTOP-FM (08/15, Miller) reported that Uliyahu Haya from Maryland pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement during the Jan. 6 insurrection near the House chamber. According to the article, a scuffle took place involving rioters and law enforcement, which occurred as Congress was trying to certify the result of the 2020 presidential election. Rioters smashed glass doors to the lobby and a woman, Ashli Babbitt, was shot as she tried to climb through one of the doors just outside the House chamber. Prosecutors said Haya was involved in the confrontation and shoved a D.C. police officer. The article noted that the FBI said that it is still looking for suspects wanted for assaults on federal officers. Back to Top OTHER FBI NEWS Law Enforcement Brace as Anti-Israel Groups Vow to Bring Tens of Thousands of Protesters to DNC in Chicago Fox News (08/15, Hagstrom) reported that anti-Israel groups are planning a massive show of force at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week as the party plans to celebrate Vice President Kamala Harris' nomination. The U.S. Palestinian Community Network will bring in busloads of protesters from Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin and elsewhere. The group is organizing the event under the hashtag "March on DNC 2024," with leaders arguing there is no daylight between Harris and President Biden when it comes to Israel-Gaza policy. The article stated that federal, state and local law enforcement say they are aware of and are currently monitoring plans for the protest and any threat they may pose to the convention. The article mentioned that the FBI says it is also monitoring the event, but said in a statement that it is not aware of any specific threats. The article quoted the FBI, which said, "At this time, the FBI is not aware of any specific and articulable threats related to the DNC, we will continue to evaluate and share intelligence received from domestic and international partners related to the DNC just as we would for any large-scale event within the Chicago area." New York Police, FBI Team up in Wake of Rise in Overdoses WNYT (NBC-13) (08/15, Bentulan) reported that the Saratoga Springs Police Department is bolstering its resources by partnering with the FBI. The city held a news conference on Thursday to tout its partnership with the federal agency to tackle a number of cases. One particular problem is an increasing number of fentanyl overdoses. The article mentioned that Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll said the city's Woodlawn Avenue parking garage has been a drug hotspot. Coll mentioned that a March arrest raised a red flag for authorities. A person was arrested on weapons and drug charges, which included fentanyl trafficking. Coll said police had two potential fentanyl overdoses in 2022 and eight potential ODs in 2023. So far this year, there have also been eight ODs and an additional two deadly overdoses. Coll said finalizing their partnership with the FBI is sort of a formality. That means they can use the same resources and intelligence as the FBI and have access to everything the federal agency has. EFTA01655894 The FBI Safe Streets Task Force is helping them with curbing overdoses and getting drugs off the streets. The Northeast Public Radio (08/15, Lavine), and WTEN (ABC-10) (08/15, Dominguez) also reported on the story. Back to Top INTERNATIONAL NEWS Ukraine's Troops Are in Trouble on the Eastern Front • Wall Street Journal, Reuters, New York Times, Associated Press Gaza Cease-Fire's Biggest Obstacles Are Israel's and Hamas's Leaders Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Reuters, New York Times Alexei Navalny's Widow Has New Details of His Death. She Doesn't Believe Them. Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Fox News, New York Times U.S.-Russian Citizen Sentenced to 12 Years in Penal Colony for Ukraine Donation NBC News, CNN, Wall Street Journal, New York Times Prosecutors Accuse Argentina's Former President of Beating First Lady New York Times, NBC News, BBC Indian Rape and Murder Case Shows Doctors' Vulnerability, Medics Say Reuters, Forbes, CBS News, New York Times Closed for Months, a Gateway for Aid to Famine-Stricken Sudan Swings Open New York Times A Mob Attack on a Toppled Party Shows Bangladesh's Dangerous Vacuum New York Times Peruvian Gang Leader Arrested in New York Reuters Back to Top OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS Medicare Announces Lower Prices on Ten Common, High-Cost Drugs NBC News, Associated Press, BBC, New York Times, Politico Five Arrested in Connection With Matthew Perry's Death From Effects of Ketamine Wall Street Journal, ABC News, NBC News, Reuters, CNN Mark Meadows Tries to Move His Charges in Arizona's Fake Electors Case to Federal Court Associated Press, CNN, Washington Post, ABC News, Washington Examiner Columbia University President Resigns in Wake of Campus Protests Over Gaza War Reuters Harvard Settles Lawsuit Alleging It Ignored Sexual Harassment Reuters New Jersey Governor to Name Temporary Successor to U.S. Senator Menendez, Source Says Reuters Kamala Harris to Unveil Housing Initiatives Aimed at First-lime Buyers Wall Street Journal Colleges Are Rewriting Their Campus Rules to Outmaneuver Protesters Wall Street Journal EFTA01655895 TikTok Compares Itself to Foreign-Owned American News Outlets as It Fights Forced Sale or Ban Associated Press Back to Top BIG PICTURE New York Times • Ukraine's Foray Likely to Stymie Russian Advance • Biden Felt He Could Win, But the Cost Was Too Dear • Island Idyll in Shadow of China's Military Might • U.S. Shares Prices of First Drugs Picked for Medicare Negotiation • Walz's Policy on Guns Shifted In Transition to Governorship • Cautious Optimism at Columbia As President Departs the Chaos Wall Street Journal • Robust Retail Sales Propel Stocks • Falling Mortgage Rates Offer No Quick Fix for Home Buyers • Medicare Releases Its Newly Negotiated Drug Costs • How a Drunken Evening Led To the Nord Stream Sabotage • New College Rules Aim To Outflank Activists, Bring Calm to Campus • Brazil Nude Beaches Have A Problem: Not Enough Nudists Washington Post • Israel Solidifying Control Over the West Bank — And Its Future • Harris to Propose Ban on Grocery 'Price Gouging' • Ukraine Expands Russia Assault • Recession Fears Ease on Jump in Retail Sales • Va. Delayed Corporations' Tax Refunds in 2022, '23 • India Asked U.S. To Ease Rhetoric on Bangladesh ABC News • Federal Prosecutors Charge 5 in Death of 'Friends' Star Matthew Perry; Trump Attacks Harris on Cost of Groceries, Immigration; Ukraine Claims Its Incursion Has Pushed 21 Miles Into Russia. CBS News • Matthew Perry's Personal Assistant Among S Arrested in His Death; Remembering Hollywood Icons Gena Rowlands and Peter Marshall. NBC News • Matthew Perry's Assistant and Doctors Arrested for Role in the Death of "Friends" Star; Biden, Harris Hold First Event Together Since Ticket Shake-Up; Medicare Negotiates Historic Drug Price Cuts. Fox News • Kamala Harris' Price Control Plan Is a 'Bad Idea': Bill Bennett; Matthew Perry Allegedly Bought Ketamine From Purported Drug Ring; Republicans Work to Appeal to Voters in Montana. CNN • Trump's Fury at Harris Is Increasingly Driving His Campaign; Why These Black Virginia Voters Are All in for a Second Trump Term; 'Completely Undefended': Nick Paton Walsh Reports From Russian Border Point EFTA01655896 Back to Top WASHINGTON SCHEDULE White House President Biden • 10:00 AM: The President receives the President's Daily Brief • 11:15 AM: The President is joined by civil rights leaders, community members, and elected officials to sign a proclamation to designate the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument • 12:50 AM: Out-of-Town Pool Call Time • 2:00 PM: The President departs the White House en route to Camp David • 2:35 PM: The President arrives at Camp David Vice President Harris • No events scheduled. US Senate • No events scheduled. US House of Representatives • Hearing: The Success of Pro-Growth Pro-Worker Tax Policy in the American Midwest — 9:00 AM — Host: Committee on Ways and Means Cabinet Members • Secretary of State Blinken attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State. Visitors • No events scheduled. General Events • Wilson Center: Bringing Climate and Health Together in Japanese and American Cities — Friday, August 16, 2024. Location: Wilson Center, 10:00 AM. This summer's heatwaves and floods have underscored the critical connections between climate change and health in cities. Fortunately, cities worldwide are increasingly making these connections as they combat the climate crisis and create healthier environments. By decarbonizing power grids and transportation systems, for instance, cities are reducing air pollution and limiting respiratory illnesses. Additionally, by implementing rooftop gardens and expanding parks, cities are managing stormwater runoff, reducing flooding, cooling urban areas and lowering heatstroke risks. It is not only essential for cities to make linkages between climate and health, it is equally important that they learn from each other. Join us for a dynamic panel discussion featuring speakers from 3 American and 3 Japanese cities as they exchange insights and ideas on how cities can achieve net-zero emissions while enhancing the well-being and quality of life. This event is part of a project funded by the Wellcome Trust that is led by the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) and implemented by the Woodrow Wilson Center and eight other institutions entitled "Leveraging co-benefits for healthy net-zero transitions in Japanese and other G7 cities." • Hudson Institute: Focusing the Force: A Conversation with General David Allvin Chief of Staff of the Air Force — Friday, August 16, 2024. Location: Hudson Institute, 1:15 PM. General David Allvin, chief of staff of the Air EFTA01655897 Force, will discuss how today's strategic environment requires a force that is aligned and focused on the requirements and attributes that will keep the service competitive. Specifically, the Air Force needs to deliver combat-effective, agile, and adaptive airpower at scale. The complexity and speed of combat demand greater preparation, and prioritizing readiness based on mission effectiveness rather than functional competence will be essential to the Air Force's ability to project and execute its mission rapidly and with precision. As General Allvin will discuss, the Air Force is aligning itself to be "one Air Force" to best compete, deter, and—if required—win in today's volatile strategic landscape. Please join General Allvin and Hudson Institute Senior Fellows Bryan Clark and Timothy A. Walton for a conversation. After the panel discussion, General Allvin will take questions from the audience. Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here. EFTA01655898