EFTA00163656.pdf

From: FBI News Briefing <fbinewsbriefing@barbaricum.com> To: "FBINewsBriefing" <FBINewsBriefing@ic.fbi.goy> Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - August 6, 2025 Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2025 10:15:08 +0000 Importance: Normal View in Browser Federal Bureau of Investigation August 06, 2025 Seal Federal Bureau of Investigation Daily News Briefing (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs) Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here. Table of Contents IN THE NEWS • U.S. Violent Crime Fell 4.5% in 2024, Down for Second Year Running, FBI Says • House Oversight Chair Issues Subpoenas for Epstein Files • FBI Urged to Locate or Arrest Texas Democrats Who Fled State to Stall Redistricting Vote • What's Known and Not Yet Known About the DOJ's Scrutiny of Trump-Russia Probe Origins COUNTERTERRORISM • California Man Arrested in U.S. For Sending Money to ISIS COUNTERINTELLIGENCE • Two Chinese Nationals Arrested on Complaint Alleging they Illegally Shipped to China Sensitive Microchips CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • Why the Manhunt for a Montana Mass Shooting Suspect Has Proven Exceedingly Difficult • Former NFL Player Convicted in Large-Scale Dogfighting Operation in Oklahoma • After Child's Suicide, FBI Believes Sextortion Scheme Is Targeting Kansas Youths • Former Miami Heat Security Officer Accused of Stealing and Selling Millions of Dollars' Worth of Team Memorabilia • Continued Reporting: Police Records Detail Midtown Gunman's Mental Health Crises in Las Vegas • U.S. Won't Seek Death Penalty For Mexican Drug Lords • Man Facing Federal Charges After Making Threats to Kill Jewish, Black People • Michigan Man Accused of Road Rage Involving Federal Van Carrying Detained Immigrants • California Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Secretly Recording Mass. Girl Changing Clothes EFTA00163656  • Oklahoma Man Charged With Trading Child Sex Abuse Material With Now-Former South Carolina Lawmaker • Five Bay Area Residents Arrested for Allegedly Posing as FBI Agents to Rob Oregon Shipping Company CYBER DIVISION • Personal Data of Virginia Schools Students, Staff Compromised After Network Hack • FBI Raises Ransomware Threat Level From One To Four • Sonicwall Firewalls Hit by Active Mass Exploitation of Suspected Zero-Day OTHER FBI NEWS • Analysis: High-Ranking FBI Job Losses Disproportionately Hurt Women, People of Color • Opinion: The Impact of Reassigning 6,700 Federal Workers to Immigration INTERNATIONAL NEWS • Rwanda Agrees To Accept 250 Migrants As Part Of Trump's Deportation Plan • Putin Doubts Potency of Trump's Ultimatum to End the War, Sources Say • Zelenskiy Says He Had 'Productive' Call With Trump Ahead of Ceasefire Deadline • Going Online in Russia Can Be Frustrating, Complicated and Even Dangerous • Russia Earthquake Has Caused a 'Parade of Volcanic Eruptions' • Sweden, Norway, Denmark Give $500 Million to NATO Project to Send U.S. Weapons to Ukraine • What to Know as Israel Considers Reoccupying Gaza in What Would Be a Major Escalation of the War • Trump's Pursuit of Meeting With Chinese Leader Reveals the Complex Web of U.S.-China Relations • Violent Channel Smuggling Gang's French and UK Network Exposed by Undercover BBC Investigation • DOJ Charges Over 100 in Arizona With Immigration-Related Crimes OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • Trump Threatens Federal Takeover of D.C. After Attack on DOGE Worker • Justice Department Releases New List Of So-Called Sanctuary Jurisdictions • NYC Faces $64 Million Cut in Security Funds From Trump Administration • White House to Target Banks as Trump Claims Discrimination • U.S. Trade Gap Skids to 2-Year Low; Tariffs Exert Pressure on Service Sector • RFK Jr. Cancels MRNA Vaccine Research • Trump May Be Off the Hook for His 2020 Election Plot, but His Allies Aren't • Pentagon Keeps a Lid on Golden Dome • Georgetown Researcher Targeted for Deportation Settles With Trump Admin • MAGA's Next Leader? Trump Says Vance Is 'Most Likely' to Lead in 2028 WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS U.S. Violent Crime Fell 4.5% in 2024, Down for Second Year Running, FBI Says Reuters (08/05, Winter) reported that the FBI has reported that violent crime in the United States decreased by 4.5% in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of decline, with hate crimes also decreasing by 1.5%. According EFTA00163657 to the FBI's annual national crime report, which is based on data collected from 16,675 state and local law enforcement agencies, there was a significant decline in overall crime across the country following a pandemic-era spike. The report highlighted a 14.9% drop in murder and non-negligent manslaughter, which is the lowest rate in nine years, and a 5.2% decline in incidents of rape, contributing to the overall decrease in violent crime. Additionally, the report noted that property crime offenses decreased nationwide in 2024, with an 8.1% decline in property crime, including an 8.6% decrease in burglaries and an 18.6% decline in motor vehicle theft. The article added that assaults on law enforcement officers reached a 10-year high in 2024, with 85,730 officers assaulted in the line of duty, and 64 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty, with firearms involved in 46 of those deaths. "Relevant data helps police fight violent crime by aiding in resource allocation, and it helps families learn more about their communities," FBI Assistant Director Timothy Ferguson said on a call with reporters on Tuesday. The article highlighted that in the next few weeks, FBI officials said, the bureau will start releasing monthly reports to better assist law enforcement agencies. "As we move toward monthly data releases and more agencies submit diverse data on a more frequent basis, we can produce an even more timely and accurate picture of crimes in the United States," Ferguson said. According to the Washington Examiner (08/05, Hallas), the FBI revealed on Tuesday that it is conducting a "behavioral analysis study" into the uptick of attacks on law enforcement officers. "It's going to be a longer study, because we are doing a real, in-depth behavioral analysis study of why these are occurring," an official said. Additional reporting on the story was provided by CBS News (08/OS, Schecter, Freiman), Fox News (08/05, Deppisch), Washington Times (08/05, Delaney), Associated Press (08/OS, Staff Writer), NBC News (08/05, Atkins), Newsweek (08/OS, Silverman, Mordowanec), CNN (08/05, Lybrand), USA Today (08/05, Palmer), and Center for American Progress (08/05, Hall, Wilson, Eisenberg). House Oversight Chair Issues Subpoenas for Epstein Files CBS News (08/05, Quinn) reported that the House Oversight Committee has issued subpoenas to several former high-ranking government officials, including former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as part of an investigation into the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The subpoenas, which were approved by Republicans and Democrats on a House Oversight subcommittee last month, also target former attorneys general and FBI directors, including Merrick Garland, Bill Barr, Alberto Gonzales, Jeff Sessions, Loretta Lynch, Eric Holder, James Comey, and Robert Mueller, seeking their testimony about the Epstein case. According to the article, the committee is seeking information about the Justice Department's investigation into Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and has also subpoenaed AG Bondi for related documents. The subpoenas are part of Congress's efforts to obtain more information about Epstein and to conduct oversight of the federal government's enforcement of sex trafficking laws. The Washington Post (08/05, Hawkins) reported that Maxwell, convicted of sex trafficking, has been transferred to the Bryan Federal Prison Camp in Texas, a minimum-security facility, despite federal guidelines suggesting she should not be held in such a location. Corrections experts say Maxwell's transfer appears to be special treatment, possibly due to her cooperation with the Justice Department's investigation into her deceased partner, Jeffrey Epstein. The transfer has been criticized by victims of Epstein and Maxwell, who argue that Maxwell, a convicted sex offender, should not receive lenient treatment and should be held in a more secure facility. Additional reporting on the story was provided by ABC News (08/05, Peller), Politico (08/05, Ewing, Cheney), New York Times (08/05, Gold), CNN (08/05, Grayer), Al Jazeera (08/05, Staff Writer), Washington Post (08/OS, Goba, Roebuck), Axios (08/OS, Santaliz), Associated Press (08/05, Groves), The Hill (08/05, Brooks), NBC News (08/05, Asghar, Gregorian, Atkins), Fox News (08/05, Elkind), USA Today (08/OS, Meyer), Time (08/05, Popli), Forbes (08/05, Dorn), Washington Examiner (08/05, Green), Newsweek (08/05, Castro), Los Angeles Times (08/05, Groves), The Guardian (08/05, Stein), BBC (08/OS, Hatton, Epstein), Washington Times (08/05, Ferrechio, Wilson), and Reuters (08/05, Ax). Maxwell Opposes Request to Unseal Epstein Grand Jury Papers The New York Times (08/05, Weiser) reported that Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyers have asked a Manhattan federal judge to deny the government's request to unseal grand jury transcripts from the investigation into her and Jeffrey Epstein. The request to unseal the transcripts was made by the Trump Justice Department, citing public interest in the case, but Maxwell's lawyers argue that it would be a broad intrusion into grand jury secrecy and violate her due process rights. Some victims, including Annie Farmer, support releasing the transcripts with redactions to protect their identities, while Maxwell's lawyers claim that she has become a scapegoat for Epstein's crimes after his death. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Associated Press (08/OS, Peitz), Politico (08/OS, Orden), CBS News (08/05, Rosen), Washington Post (08/05, Stein, Roebuck), CNN (08/OS, Scannell), Bloomberg (08/05, Dolmetsch), Reuters (08/05, Cohen), Fox News (08/05, Oliver), USA Today (08/05, Bagchi), UPI (08/05, Heuer), New EFTA00163658 York Past (08/05, Kochman), The Independent (08/05, Rissman), ABC News (08/05, Katersky, Hill), The Hill (08/05, Schonfeld), and Courthouse News (08/05, Russell). FBI Urged to Locate or Arrest Texas Democrats Who Fled State to Stall Redistricting Vote Fox News (08/05, Koch) reported that U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has asked Director Patel to help locate and arrest Texas House Democrats who fled the state to prevent a vote on redistricting. The lawmakers' absence has left the Texas House of Representatives without a quorum, preventing legislative activity from proceeding. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott are also taking action, with Paxton seeking judicial orders to declare the absent Democrats' offices vacated and Abbott filing a petition to remove one of the lawmakers from office. The Hill (08/05, Gangitano) reported that President Trump on Tuesday said the FBI may have to get involved to bring back the Texas Democrats who left the state to stop Republicans from advancing their new congressional map. "Well, they may have to. They may have to," Trump said when asked whether the FBI should get involved. He added, "No, I know they want them back, not only the attorney general, but the governor wants them back. If you look, I mean, the governor of Texas is demanding they come back. So, a lot of people are demanding they come back." The article highlighted that Trump earlier on Tuesday said Republicans are "entitled" to pick up five additional House seats in Texas. The president had put pressure on Texas to redraw lines and boost GOP numbers, leading to Abbott calling a quorum break in the middle of a 30-day special session. The New York Times (08/05, Rosenhall, Goodman, et al.) reported that California Democrats are planning to redraw the state's House map to counter Texas Republicans' redistricting efforts, potentially gaining up to 5 Democratic seats. The move is in response to Texas Republicans' plan to gain 5 Democratic House seats, and California Governor Gavin Newsom hopes to put a new map before voters in a special election on November 4. The article explained that the redistricting war may spread across the country, with other states like Illinois, New York, and Maryland considering similar actions, and Republicans potentially having more opportunities to redraw maps in states like Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio. Additional reporting on the story was provided by The Hill (08/05, Gans), New York Times (08/05, Goodman), Raw Story (08/05, Bahney), Axios (08/05, Rubin), The Guardian (08/05, Lerner, Gambino, Popat), USA Today (08/05, Bagchi), Forbes (08/05, Pequeno IV), HuffPost (08/05, O'Connor), Dallas Morning News (08/05, Morton), ABC News (08/05, Shepherd, Oppenheim, Hutzler), Newsmax (08/05, Swanson), Washington Examiner (08/05, O'Keefe), and Breitbart (08/05, Weibel). What's Known and Not Yet Known About the DOD's Scrutiny of Trump-Russia Probe Origins The Associated Press (08/05, Tucker) reported that AG Bondi is advancing a criminal investigation into the Obama- era origins of the Trump-Russia investigation, using a grand jury to gather evidence and potentially issue indictments. According to the article, the investigation's targets are unclear, but the Trump administration has been challenging intelligence community conclusions about Russia's actions and intentions, and has released documents aimed at casting doubt on the extent of interference. The DOA inquiry is the latest in a series of investigations into Russian interference and the U.S. government's response to it, with previous reports from Robert Mueller and others documenting Russia's activities and identifying flaws in the FBI's investigation. The article highlighted that John Durham, the special counsel appointed by the first Trump administration to hunt for government misconduct in the Trump-Russia investigation, also identified significant flaws in the FBI's Russia investigation, including errors and omissions in applications the DOJ submitted to a secretive surveillance court to eavesdrop on a national security adviser to the 2016 Trump campaign. But Durham found no criminal wrongdoing among senior government officials, bringing three criminal cases — two against private citizens that resulted in acquittals at trial and a third against a little-known FBI lawyer who pleaded guilty to doctoring an email. The article noted that it is unclear if there is any criminal misconduct that exists that Durham, who launched his investigation in 2019 and concluded it four years later, somehow missed during his sprawling inquiry. Axios (08/05, Lotz) reported that President Trump was "happy to hear" about the grand jury probe. Asked Tuesday on CNBC's "Squawk Box" about reports that the DOJ was tapping a grand jury on the matter, Trump said he had "nothing to do with it" but added, "they deserve it." He then claimed the 2020 election was rigged, saying, "What they did in the 2020 election is grotesque." Additional reporting on the story was provided by The Guardian (08/05, Gedeon), USA Today (08/05, Bagchi), New York Times (08/05, Thrush, Feuer, et al.), and The Hill (08/05, Beitsch, Samuels). Opinion pieces on the story were published by The Hill (08/05, Mastrangelo), The Atlantic (08/05, Graham), and Mother Jones (08/05, Corn). Back to Top EFTA00163659 COUNTERTERRORISM California Man Arrested in U.S. For Sending Money to ISIS Manila Times (08/06, Barona) reported that Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, a 28-year-old Filipino, was arrested in Long Beach, California, for allegedly sending money to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). He is charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Villanueva allegedly sent $1,615 over five months to support ISIS fighters and was found by the FBI with a suspected explosive device in his bedroom at the time of his arrest. Villanueva allegedly communicated via social media with two individuals who claimed to be ISIS fighters. During these conversations, he expressed a desire to fight for ISIS. "It's an honor to fight and die for our faith. It's the best way to go to heaven. Someday soon, I'll be joining," he said. Additional reporting on the story was provided by GMA Network (08/05, Callar) and The Filipino Times (08/05, Staff Writer). Back to Top COUNTERINTELLIGENCE Two Chinese Nationals Arrested on Complaint Alleging they Illegally Shipped to China Sensitive Microchips Reuters (08/05, Freifeld) reported that two Chinese nationals, Chuan Geng and Shiwei Yang, were arrested and charged with illegally shipping Nvidia Al chips to China without required export licenses. According to the article, the chips, including Nvidia H100s, were restricted to China in 2022 for US national security, and the shipments were made from October 2022 to July 2025. Nvidia stated that the diverted products would have no support, service, or updates, and the company is committed to complying with U.S. export control rules. The press release noted that Assistant Director Roman Rozhaysky of the FBI Counterintelligence Division made the announcement. Additional reporting on the story was provided by The Hill (08/05, Fortinsky), New York Post (08/05, Herzlich), Courthouse News (08/05, Pettersson), Los Angeles Times (08/05, Buchanan), Fox News (08/05, Wallace, Gibson), Bloomberg (08/05, Strohm, Shepard), and The Epoch Times (08/05, Pan). Back to Top CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS Why the Manhunt for a Montana Mass Shooting Suspect Has Proven Exceedingly Difficult CNN (08/05, Yan, Campbell) reported that a manhunt is underway for Michael Paul Brown, a 45-year-old Army veteran, who is suspected of killing four people at a bar in Anaconda, Montana. According to the article, Brown vanished after the shooting and is believed to be hiding in the treacherous terrain of western Montana, with authorities struggling to track him down due to the challenging landscape and his potential access to supplies. The article noted that an array of local, state, and federal authorities, including the FBI, are involved in the search, with a $10,000 reward available for information leading to Brown's capture. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Associated Press (08/05, Schoenbaum), ABC News (08/05, Shapiro), NewsNation (08/05, Perkins), and USA Today (08/05, Robledo). Former NFL Player Convicted in Large-Scale Dogfighting Operation in Oklahoma The Associated Press (08/05, Murphy) reported that Leshon Eugene Johnson, a 54-year-old former NFL player, has been convicted of six felony counts of possessing dogs for use in an animal-fighting venture. Johnson, who played for the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, and New York Giants, was accused of operating a large-scale dogfighting operation through his kennels, Mal Kant Kennels, in Oklahoma. "The FBI will not stand for those who perpetuate the despicable crime of dogfighting," Director Patel said in a statement. "Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, those who continue to engage in organized animal fighting and cruelty will face justice." Johnson allegedly bred dogs that had won as many as five fights and then sold "stud rights" and their offspring to other dogfighters, according to the Justice Department. The trafficking took place across the U.S. and helped to grow the dogfighting industry, while resulting in Johnson profiting financially, prosecutors alleged. After Child's Suicide, FBI Believes Sextortion Scheme Is Targeting Kansas Youths EFTA00163660 Topeka Capital-Journal (08/05, Alatidd) reported that the FBI is investigating the suicide of a Kansas child, believed to be a result of a financial sextortion scheme operated from Nigeria. According to the article, the perpetrator coerced the child into sending explicit images and then demanded money, threatening to release the photos online. The article noted that the FBI believes this case is part of a larger sextortion operation targeting minors in Kansas and elsewhere, with connections to other potential victims and child sexual abuse material. The article highlighted that FBI special agent Brittany Bayles wrote about the investigation in a July 30 affidavit in support of a search warrant application: A search of their phone showed that the same day as the child's suicide, they had received a message request on TikTok. The conversation on TikTok moved to iMessage, and the perpetrator asked the child to play a game called "sex pic nude exchange." The child initially refused, but ultimately complied with the demand for a picture showing their genital area with their face visible. The perpetrator then sent a collage of the child's pictures, demanded $100 and threatened to post the photos online. The child responded that they had $46 in cash, to which the perpetrator responded by demanding $50. They told the child to go to a store and buy an Apple or Steam gift card. The child responded that they did not live close to a store and pleaded to be allowed to get a gift card the next day. The child then threatened to kill themselves and sent a photo of their father's gun. The perpetrator said they didn't care and would still post the photos. "The records from Apple also indicated phone numbers and IP addresses resolving to the country of Nigeria," Bayles wrote. The records also showed contacts with several other people with Kansas area-code phone numbers. The iMessage account has also been tied to allegations of sextortion, based on CyberTips submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Two such tips, submitted by Instagram in February and April, alleged the account user had uploaded child sexual abuse material. In requesting a search warrant for the Google accounts, Bayles said they likely "contain evidence associated with thiscriminal conduct occurring in the District of Kansas, and may contain further evidence that may be used to identify the users, other accounts, or other targeted minors, all of which would be material to the investigation into the targeting of (the minor victim)." Bayles said, "This evidence may establish the 'who, what, why, when, where, and how' of the criminal conduct under investigation, thus enabling the United States to establish and prove each element or, alternatively, to exclude the innocent from further suspicion." Former Miami Heat Security Officer Accused of Stealing and Selling Millions of Dollars' Worth of Team Memorabilia CNN (08/05, Sterling) reported that Marcos Thomas Perez, a former Miami Heat security officer, has been charged with stealing and selling millions of dollars' worth of team memorabilia. According to the article, Perez allegedly stole over 400 game-worn jerseys and other items, selling more than 100 of them for approximately $2 million. The article noted that the FBI is investigating the case, and Perez made his first appearance in federal court on a charge of transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce. Additional reporting on the story was provided by the Washington Post (08/05, Bieler), Bloomberg (08/05, Dolmetsch), the New York Post (08/05, Galvin), Reuters (08/05, Staff Writer), New York Times (08/05, Peck), Fox News (08/05, Thompson), and CBS News (08/05, Maldonado). Continued Reporting: Police Records Detail Midtown Gunman's Mental Health Crises in Las Vegas The Wall Street Journal (08/05, Morphet) reported that police visited the home of gunman Shane Tamura, 27, twice in recent years due to concerns he was armed and suicidal. Tamura was subject to two mental health crisis interventions by Las Vegas police in 2022 and 2024. He was arrested for trespassing at a Las Vegas casino in 2023 before killing four people in a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper. It was previously reported that Deputy Director Bongino stated that the shooting is currently under investigation. U.S. Won't Seek Death Penalty For Mexican Drug Lords The Associated Press (08/05, Peitz) reported that U.S. prosecutors will not seek the death penalty for Mexican drug lords Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada and Rafael Caro Quintero. Both Zambada and Caro Quintero have pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges, and their lawyers have welcomed the decision. The move to take the death penalty off the table may signal a possibility of a plea deal, but it is unclear what happens next in the cases against the two notorious cartel leaders. The article contains an image released by the FBI that shows the wanted poster for Rafael Caro Quintero. Additional reporting on the story was provided by New York Daily News (08/05, Annese), Reuters (08/05, Cohen), New York Times (08/05, Nerkar), and Los Angeles Times (08/05, Hamilton). Man Facing Federal Charges After Making Threats to Kill Jewish, Black People WXIA (NBC-11) (08/05, Chandler) reported that Christopher Robertson, a 42-year-old man from Fairburn, is facing federal charges for making threats to kill Jewish and Black people. Robertson made anti-Semitic and threatening EFTA00163661 posts on social media, including videos where he spoke about killing Jewish and Black people. The article noted that he was taken into custody by the FBI after a lengthy standoff and is being held until his next hearing on August 7. Michigan Man Accused of Road Rage Involving Federal Van Carrying Detained Immigrants MLive (08/05, Clark) reported that Jacob Nathaniel Len, a 30-year-old man from Ypsilanti, is facing federal charges. The allegations against Len stem from an incident in which he allegedly interfered with Border Patrol agents who were transporting a group of detained immigrants to a detention facility, although the exact details of the incident are not specified in the provided text. The investigation into the incident was conducted by the FBI. California Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Secretly Recording Mass. Girl Changing Clothes Boston Globe (08/05, Chandler) reported that Jacob Guerrero, a 27-year-old former Rhode Island resident, was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for secretly recording an 11-year-old girl. According to the article, Guerrero pleaded guilty to one count of sexually exploiting a child after climbing onto a garage roof to film the girl through her bedroom window. Guerrero also admitted to secretly recording minors in other incidents, including capturing footage of his girlfriend's underage relatives, and was sentenced to five years of supervised release after his prison term. The Boston Herald (08/05, Sobey) quoted a statement from Ted Docks, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston division: Jacob Guerrero is a deeply disturbed and dangerous man who devised a twisted plan to prey upon children, specifically to abuse and exploit them. With these hideous crimes, this predator has forfeited his right to walk among us and will be kept behind bars and away from children for quite some time. My sincere thanks to the Wrentham Police Department for their hard work and partnership on this case." Mass Live (08/05, Sudborough) also reported on the story. Oklahoma Man Charged With Trading Child Sex Abuse Material With Now-Former South Carolina Lawmaker KOCO (ABC-5) (08/05, Kliewer) reported that Christian Soto, an Oklahoma City man, has been charged in federal court for exchanging child sex abuse material with Robert John May III, a now-former state representative in South Carolina. The investigation began when a messaging app service provider submitted a Cybertip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding a user distributing child sexual abuse material. Soto, who is also facing charges for kidnapping and threatening to kill his ex-girlfriend, has been charged with receiving and possessing child pornography and possessing ammunition while being prohibited. The article highlighted that the FBI was asked to assist with the investigation into Soto in July. Additional reporting on the story was provided by WACH (Fox-57) (08/05, McConchie) and KOKH (Fox25) (08/05, Joslin). Five Bay Area Residents Arrested for Allegedly Posing as FBI Agents to Rob Oregon Shipping Company Mercury News (08/05, Pender) reported that five Bay Area residents were indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly conspiring to disguise themselves as FBI agents to rob a reshipping business in Oregon of 200 iPhones and five cameras. According to prosecutors, four of the suspects traveled from the Bay Area to Portland, where two of them, allegedly, drove a vehicle with flashing red and blue lights into the company's parking lot while wearing jackets that read "FBI". The suspects allegedly forced the company's employees into the building, where they were threatened and zip-tied, and then stole 200 iPhones and five cameras, before meeting up with the other suspects en route back to California. Back to Top CYBER DIVISION Personal Data of Virginia Schools Students, Staff Compromised After Network Hack MLA (ABC-7) (08/05, Bourque) and WUSA (CBS-9) (08/05, Cremen) reported that Manassas Park City Schools (MPCS) was hit by a ransomware attack, compromising the personal data of students and staff. The hackers may have accessed full names, Social Security numbers, passport numbers, and financial account information. The school has reported the incident to the FBI Cyber Division and is implementing additional security measures to prevent future incidents. "We remain committed to fully supporting any law enforcement investigations. While the investigation remains ongoing, we are taking steps now to implement additional safeguards and review policies and procedures relating to data privacy and security," the school district explained. FBI Raises Ransomware Threat Level From One To Four EFTA00163662 Forbes (08/05, Winder) reported that the FBI has raised the ransomware threat level from 1 to 4 due to the increasing use of quadruple extortion tactics by ransomware attackers. Quadruple extortion tactics involve encryption, data theft, DDoS attacks, and sending harassing messages to business partners, employees, and others to pressure the primary victim. The Akamai 2025 ransomware trends threat intelligence report warns that this evolution of tactics has proven effective for ransomware groups, resulting in escalated average ransom payments. The article highlighted that the days of just locking down access to your files and hoping you haven't got a recent backup have long gone, replaced by what is commonly known as a double extortion tactic. This is what the FBI warned of in the Scattered Spider advisory, where the attackers steal your data before encrypting it. Sonicwall Firewalls Hit by Active Mass Exploitation of Suspected Zero-Day CyberScoop (08/05, Kapko) reported that SonicWall has warned customers to disable encryption services on Gen 7 firewalls due to an active attack spree targeting a suspected zero-day vulnerability. According to the article, the attacks, which have been observed by companies like Arctic Wolf, Google, and Huntress, involve a financially motivated threat actor compromising environments and deploying Akira ransomware. SonicWall is investigating the issue, and if a new vulnerability is confirmed, they will release updated firmware and guidance as quickly as possible, according to Bret Fitzgerald, senior director of global communications at SonicWall. The article noted that some Akira affiliates have also called victimized companies to apply further pressure, according to the FBI. Back to Top OTHER FBI NEWS Analysis: High-Ranking FBI Job Losses Disproportionately Hurt Women, People of Color An analysis published by MSNBC (08/05, Dilanian) reported that an unprecedented campaign by FBI leaders to force senior bureau officials out of their jobs has disproportionately hit women and people of color, according to public records and an unofficial tally by current and former FBI officials. In the most recent example, FBI leaders last week forced the resignation of a decorated female Pakistani American counterterrorism agent who was appointed in February to run the Salt Lake City field office, one current and two former FBI officials told MSNBC. According to the article, at least 18 of 53 special agents in charge — who run FBI field offices around the country — have been pushed out under the Trump administration — and among them, half have been women, people of color or both, according to data provided by current and former FBI officials who declined to be named, citing fear of retaliation. The article added that the FBI also brought back a requirement — decades after it was dropped — that agent trainees complete at least one strict pullup, a movement that even many strong and athletic women can't complete even with training because of the differences in weight distribution in male and female bodies. That requirement would create constraints in other areas of national security; in a study of about 300 more-fit-than- average female U.S. Marines, just 43% could do a single pullup without specific training. Critics say this mandate will inevitably reduce the number of female agents. The article highlighted that in a statement to MSNBC, FBI spokesman Ben Williamson said the agency makes personnel decisions "based on merit and job performance" and does not comment on individual cases. "The suggestion that Kash Patel — the first Indian-American to ever be confirmed as FBI director — is somehow targeting minorities in the Bureau is one of the most absurd claims I have ever heard," he said. Other current and former officials say the leadership purge is being driven by additional factors beyond race and gender that they see as equally problematic. They say FBI leadership has created a climate within the bureau that demands absolute loyalty from senior leaders, in which any hint of dissent is considered risky. Several current and former officials say the bureau has been administering polygraph tests to employees suspected of leaking stories to the news media that have been embarrassing to FBI leadership. One FBI agent told MSNBC about a recent meeting in which a career FBI leader with a good reputation went out of his way to effusively praise FBI leadership, whose lack of experience and past criticism of the agency have made them unpopular among its rank-and-file officers, current and former officials say. "It was like watching a hostage video in real life," the agent, who was present at the meeting, said. "He couldn't repeat Kash's talking points enough. I felt sad for the guy." Opinion: The Impact of Reassigning 6,700 Federal Workers to Immigration An opinion piece published by the Niskanen Center (08/05, Tritt) reported that the Trump administration has reassigned at least 6,700 federal workers to support immigration enforcement, diverting resources from other critical areas such as white-collar crime, national security, and drug trafficking. According to the article, agencies affected by the reassignment include the FBI, DEA, ATF, IRS, and USCIS, with some agents being redirected to focus EFTA00163663 on immigration enforcement, potentially deprioritizing their original responsibilities. The article highlighted that Director Patel is said to have considered reassigning 1,000 ATF agents to the FBI to focus on immigration, but ultimately deployed around 125 agents to the southern border. Still, approximately 80% of the ATF's 2,563 agents— roughly 2,050 individuals —have been instructed to add immigration enforcement to their duties. According to the author, FBI agents are reportedly uncomfortable with the change in priorities. "At minimum, until this funding translates into actual hires and deployable agents, at least 6,700 federal employees will continue working on immigration—at the expense of other critical public safety and national security priorities," the author stated. Back to Top INTERNATIONAL NEWS Rwanda Agrees To Accept 250 Migrants As Part Of Trump's Deportation Plan Associated Press, BBC, CNN, Fox News, New York Times Putin Doubts Potency of Trump's Ultimatum to End the War, Sources Say Reuters Zelenskiy Says He Had 'Productive' Call With Trump Ahead of Ceasefire Deadline Reuters Going Online in Russia Can Be Frustrating, Complicated and Even Dangerous Associated Press Russia Earthquake Has Caused a 'Parade of Volcanic Eruptions' ABC News Sweden, Norway, Denmark Give $500 Million to NATO Project to Send U.S. Weapons to Ukraine Reuters What to Know as Israel Considers Reoccupying Gaza in What Would Be a Major Escalation of the War Associated Press Trump's Pursuit of Meeting With Chinese Leader Reveals the Complex Web of U.S.-China Relations Associated Press Violent Channel Smuggling Gang's French and UK Network Exposed by Undercover BBC Investigation BBC DOJ Charges Over 100 in Arizona With Immigration-Related Crimes The Center Square Back to Top OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS Trump Threatens Federal Takeover of D.C. After Attack on DOGE Worker Washington Post, New York Times, Associated Press, WIRED, Fox News Justice Department Releases New List Of So-Called Sanctuary Jurisdictions Fox News, Associated Press, Washington Examiner, Wall Street Journal, Washington Times NYC Faces $64 Million Cut in Security Funds From Trump Administration Reuters, The Guardian White House to Target Banks as Trump Claims Discrimination Reuters U.S. Trade Gap Skids to 2-Year Low; Tariffs Exert Pressure on Service Sector Reuters EFTA00163664 RFK Jr. Cancels MRNA Vaccine Research New York Times Trump May Be Off the Hook for His 2020 Election Plot, but His Allies Aren't Politico Pentagon Keeps a Lid on Golden Dome Politico Georgetown Researcher Targeted for Deportation Settles With Trump Admin Politico MAGA's Next Leader? Trump Says Vance Is 'Most Likely' to Lead in 2028 USA TODAY Back to Top WASHINGTON SCHEDULE White House President Trump • 9:00 AM: In-Town Pool Call Time • 4:30 PM: The President makes an Announcement. Vice President Vance • No official presidential schedule has been released or announced. US Senate • No events scheduled. US House of Representatives • No events scheduled. Cabinet Members • Secretary of State Rubio meets with Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter at the Department of State at 10:15 AM. • Secretary of State Rubio meets with Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric at the Department of State at 11:15 AM. Visitors • No events scheduled. General Events • Winning the Al Race featuring OSTP Director Michael Kratsios - Betting on America — Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Location: Online event, 10:00 AM. On August 6, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET, a special episode of Betting on America will feature a recent live CSIS event with Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in conversation with Gregory C. Allen, Senior Advisor with the Wadhwani Al Center. Director Kratsios discusses the goals of the White House's newly released Al Action EFTA00163665  Plan along with the administration's plans for Al infrastructure, export controls, workforce, export promotion, national security, and more. • CSIS: The CommonHealth Live! on Financing Global Health in 2025 — Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Location: Online event, 11:00 AM. In this episode of The CommonHealth Live!, Dr. Christopher J.L. Murray, Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and Stephanie Psaki, CSIS Global Health Policy Center Senior Adviser, will discuss IHME's new report on Financing Global Health, also released in a paper in The Lancet, and its implications for the way forward in a constrained financial environment. Who and which countries are those most affected by the sharp drop in development assistance for health between 2024 and 2025? How will recipient governments and other global stakeholders respond to fill the gaps? • CATO Institute: Ranked Choice Election Reform and the New York City Vote — Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Location: Online event, 9:00 PM. The dramatic outcome of the New York City mayoral primary, in which Zohran Mamdani outpaced former governor Andrew Cuomo and then clinched the win with second-choice votes from other candidates, has drawn attention to the city's use of ranked-choice voting. Several other major cities also use ranked-choice voting, as do Maine and Alaska. What lessons does the New York City primary hold for this and other electoral reforms? . INSA: Securing Space: Threats Strategic Roles and Building Resilience — Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Location: Online event, 5:00 PM. Join INSA in Colorado Springs on Wednesday, August 6, from 5:00-7:30 pm for Securing Space: Threats, Strategic Roles, and Building Resilience, part of INSA's Common Threads series held in national security hubs across the country. Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here. EFTA00163666