EFTA00160391.pdf

From: To: ' Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL) - FBI Daily News Briefing - May 3, 2023 Date: Wed, 03 May 2023 10:15:02 +0000 Importance: Normal View in Browser Federal Bureau of Investigation May 03, 2023 Seal Federal Bureau of Investigation Daily News Briefing (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs) Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here. Table of Contents IN THE NEWS • Texas Mass Shooting Suspect Arrested After Dayslong Manhunt • Biden Sending 1,500 Troops for Mexico Border Migrant Surge • 300 Arrested in Global Crackdown on Dark Web Drug Market • Muslim Mayor Blocked From White House Decries "Watch List" COUNTERTERRORISM • Former Pizza Shop Owner Convicted of Helping Recruit for Islamic State Accused of Attempted Murder in Prison • Minnesota Man Is Charged With Arson After Two Mosque Fires • Vandalized Pregnancy Centers Cry for Justice One Year After Dobbs Leak • Man Uses Craigslist Ad to Extort Money From Harvard, Places Explosive Packages on Campus COUNTERINTELLIGENCE • Evan Gershkovich Detainment Shows Russia Not Worried About Consequences, Ex-Hostage Affairs Envoy Says • GOP Officials Raise Alarm Over U.S. Guardsman in TikTok Ad • Garland Says Has Not Yet Received Durham Report on Origins of Trump Investigation • U.S. Envoy Worries About China Anti-Spy Law Overreach CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • California College Town Rocked by Stabbings That Remain a Mystery • Merrick Garland Stands by Testimony in Hunter Biden Probe Despite IRS Whistleblower's Coverup Claims EFTA00160391  • Biden Isn't the Only Official Who Could Pardon Trump • Epstein Victims Demand Federal Investigation in FBI's Failure to Probe Decades-Old Sex Trafficking Allegations • Seven Bodies Found on Oklahoma Property During Search for Missing Teenage Girls • Lori Vallow's Husband's First Wife May Have Been Restrained When She Died: Medical Examiner • A New Text Scam Starts Out As A Simple 'Hi' • Florida Man, 74, Accused of Grabbing Flight Attendant by the Crotch • Woman Arrested for Allegedly Vandalizing Michigan Synagogue With Antisemitic Graffiti • Vandalized Pregnancy Centers Cry for Justice One Year After Dobbs Leak • Suspect in Deputy Death Escapes Jail; Unnoticed for 26 Hours • Attempted Harvard Bomber Left a Trail of Evidence: Court Docs • Bronx Felon Charged With Attempted Murder Over Shooting on Crowded NYC Street • Illinois Bank Robber Sprays Substance at Teller, Flees on Foot CYBER DIVISION • Microsoft Says Iranian Hackers Combine Influence Ops With Hacking for Maximum Impact LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES • Private Security Guards Are Replacing Police Across America • Frequent Shootings Put U.S. Mass Killings on a Record Pace INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS • The FBI Will Support the Ecuadorian Police in the Investigation of Terrorist Actions • U.S. Hands Cyprus Ancient Artifacts, Some 4,000 Years Old • Senator Urges Release of New U.S. Report on Killing of Abu Akleh CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS • FBI Says Former Agent Arrested Over Jan. 6 Called Officers Nazis and Encouraged Mob to 'Kill 'Em' • Florida Man Charged With Throwing Explosive at Capitol Riot • Missouri Man Sentenced to Prison for Jan. 6 Participation • Jurors Struggle Over at Least One Charge in Proud Boys Seditious Conspiracy Trial • Former Judge Who Advised Pence on Jan. 6: Supreme Court Should Subject Itself to 'Highest' Ethical Standards OTHER FBI NEWS • Gun Sales Explode in States Banning Them According to FBI • House Republicans' Budget Bill Doesn't Spare Veterans. Democrats Are Making Them Regret It. • Suzanne Morphew Case: Husband Who Was Accused of Murder Files Lawsuit Against FBI, Sheriff, Investigators • Ex-Officer Who Held Back Crowd During George Floyd's Killing Is Convicted • Week-Long Nuclear 'Training Exercise' Being Held in Major U.S. City INTERNATIONAL NEWS • Russian Defense Chief Wants Wartime Missile Output Doubled EFTA00160392  • Spike in Russian Combat Deaths Fuels Fears of Worse Carnage to Come • Ukraine Seeks to Bolster Air Defenses After Russian Missile Barrages • Sudan Crisis: Civilians Facing Catastrophe as 100,000 Flee Fighting • Rockets Fired After Palestinian Hunger Striker Dies in Israeli Jail • Hong Kong to Cut Elected Council Seats in Blow to Democracy • Man Arrested Outside Buckingham Palace With Suspected Weapon • U.N. Struggling to Strike Balance in Afghanistan Amid Humanitarian Crisis • Global Risks to Journalists Increase, Say Press Advocates • Marcos, Back in Arms of U.S., Is Making His Own Name in Foreign Policy • Discreetly, Berlin Confronts Russian Spies Hiding in Plain Sight OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • House Democrats Try to Force Vote on Debt Ceiling • At Trial, Second Woman Accuses Trump of Assault • Judge Rejects Zooey Zephyr Bid to Return to Montana House • Liberal Prosecutors Tussle With State Officials Over Abortion, Drug Crimes • North Carolina Republicans Reach Agreement on 12-Week Abortion Ban • Utah Judge Delays Implementing Statewide Abortion Clinic Ban • After Pandemic Rebound, U.S. Manufacturing Droops • Trump Agrees to Return to CNN, Ending a Long Boycott • In Texas, Aimless Gunfire Rattles Residents, but It's Hard to Stop • Biden, Harris Planning 1st 2024 Fundraisers as Soon as Next Week • Muslim Mayor Blocked From White House Decries "Watch List" • Almost Half of Midterm Voters Cast Ballots Early or by Mail • White House Praises McCarthy's Commitment to Ukraine BIG PICTURE • New York Times • Wall Street Journal • Washington Post • Financial Times • ABC News • CBS News • NBC News • Fox News WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS Texas Mass Shooting Suspect Arrested After Dayslong Manhunt The Wall Street Journal (05/03, Bhattacharya, Gurman, Lukpat) reported that Francisco Oropeza, 38, the man sought in the killing of five people in Texas, has been taken into custody, according to law-enforcement officials, ending a dayslong search. Officials said they captured Francisco Oropesa Tuesday evening near Cut and Shoot, Texas, about 16 miles west of the city where the shooting occurred. According to San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers, he was found hiding in a closet underneath some laundry. The Associated Press (05/03, Lozano, Merchant) EFTA00160393 reported that the tip ending the chase came at 5:15 p.m. Oropeza was in custody a little over an hour later, said FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. The alleged shooter is a Mexican national who has been deported four times between 2009 and 2016, according to U.S. immigration officials. The report also states that Connor Hagan, an FBI spokesman, said they would not disclose the identity of the person who called in the tip — one of more than 200 tips he says investigators received. Authorities did not say who owned the house, whether Oropeza knew them, or if anyone else was inside when he was found. In addition to acting on the tip, law enforcement officials tracked Oropesa's wife to a home near Cut and Shoot that was associated with one of his family members, a law enforcement source told CNN (05/03, Campbell, Lavandera, Wolfe). The article also mentions that members of the Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol's Border Patrol Tactical Unit, known as BORTAC, entered the home and brought the suspect into custody, an FBI Houston spokesperson said. Authorities are now investigating whether the suspect had any help hiding, San Jacinto County District Attorney Todd Dillon told CNN Tuesday night. Oropesa will appear before a magistrate in San Jacinto County Wednesday, a law enforcement source involved in the investigation told CNN. Authorities have 90 days to indict the suspect, the source said. According to the source, the Mexican consulate will be formally notified on Wednesday of Oropesa's circumstances. The storyline was also reported on by the New York Times (05/02, Goodman), the Washington Post (05/02, Lati, Masih, Paul), ABC News (05/02, Shapiro), CBS News (05/02, Staff Writer), Fox News (05/02, Jenkins, Sabes), NBC News (05/02, Schuppe, Lenthang, Helsel), Reuters (05/02, Trotta), The Guardian (05/02, Clayton), BBC News (05/02, Debusmann Jr., Matza), USA TODAY (05/02, Santucci), MSNBC (05/02, Broadcast), the Independent (05/03, Marcus, Dasgupta), Forbes (05/02, Walsh), HuffPost (05/02, Visser), and NPR (05/02, Doubek). Biden Sending 1,500 Troops for Mexico Border Migrant Surge The Associated Press (05/02, Long, Madhani, Copp) and the Wall Street Journal (05/02, Hackman, Caldwell) reported that starting next week, the Biden administration will deploy 1,500 active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to deal with an expected surge in migrants following the end of the Coronavirus pandemic-era restrictions. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday that military personnel would do data entry, warehouse support, and other administrative tasks so that U.S. Customs and Border Protection can focus on fieldwork. The troops "will not be performing law enforcement functions or interacting with immigrants or migrants," Jean-Pierre said. "This will free up Border Patrol agents to perform their critical law enforcement duties." According to the articles, many migrants have been illegally entering El Paso, Texas, recently. Hundreds unable to find spots in shelters gathered in the past few days around downtown churches in the border city looking for help, according to photos and videos of the scene. Mario D'Agostino, a deputy city manager, said an estimated 35,000 migrants in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico—across the Rio Grande from El Paso—are believed to be waiting to cross into the U.S. Reports also mention that the troops will be deployed for 90 days and will be pulled from the Army and Marine Corps. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will look to backfill with National Guard or Reserve troops during that period, Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said. According to reports, 2,500 National Guard members are already at the border. The articles also state that the Biden administration has been scrambling to prepare for what it expects will be a significant surge of migrants when it stops using the public health measure known as Title 42 to expel migrants beginning May 11rapidly, the same day the national Covid-19 emergency ends. The storyline was also reported on by the New York Times (05/02, Cooper, Kanno-Youngs), the Washington Post (05/02, Horton, Miroff), CNN (05/02, Bertrand, Alvarez, Britzky), MSNBC (05/02, Broadcast), CBS News (05/02, Montoya-Galvez), NBC News (05/02, Ainsley, Gains, Alexander), Fox News (05/02, Griffin, Friden, Pandolfo), Reuters (05/02, Ali, Hesson), Politico (05/02, Ward, Seligman, Gould), Bloomberg (05/02, Sink, Gardner), the New York Post (05/02, Christenson, Doombos), Axios (05/02, Kight, Habeshian), Al Jazeera (05/02, Staff Writer), HuffPost (05/02, Robillard), Newsweek (05/02, Skinner), and the Washington Examiner (05/01, Willis). 300 Arrested in Global Crackdown on Dark Web Drug Market The Associated Press (05/02, Corder, Whitehurst) reported that authorities in the United States and Europe conducted a major international operation targeting drug trafficking on the dark web, resulting in the arrest of nearly 300 people and the seizure of the "Monopoly Market" dark web marketplace. According to the article, over $53 million was confiscated, and significant amounts of drugs, firearms, and virtual currencies were seized. The operation, coordinated by Europol, aimed to dismantle sales platforms for illegal goods. The arrests were primarily made in the U.S., with synthetic opioids like fentanyl being a major focus. "Our message to criminals on the dark web is this: You can try to hide in the furthest reaches of the internet, but the Justice Department will find you and hold you accountable for your crimes;' said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. The number of arrests and EFTA00160394 money seized was the highest for any international Justice Department-led drug trafficking operation, he said. The article noted that investigators also got leads from local police investigating overdose deaths, including a 19-year- old man in Colorado who loved learning languages and building his own computers, said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. "But some of the packages his family thought were full of computer parts actually contain drugs he had purchased off the dark net;' he said. "Because of those drugs, that promising young man sadly died of an overdose last year." Forbes (05/02, Erb), Washington Examiner (05/02, Severi), Wall Street Journal (05/02, Gurman, Volz), New York Daily News (05/02, Severi), VOA News (05/02, Farivar), The Verge (05/02, Roth), Reuters (05/02, De Clercq), CyberScoop (05/02, Vicens), WIRED (05/02, Greenberg), Bleeping Computer (05/02, Toulas), Bloomberg (05/02, Turton), and CNBC (05/02, Goswami) also reported on the story. Muslim Mayor Blocked From White House Decries "Watch List" The Associated Press (05/02, Shipkowski) reported that Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah, who was barred from attending a White House celebration, called on the Biden administration to end the federal "watch list" that allegedly targets Muslims and others illegally. According to the article, Khairullah and the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) held a news conference condemning the list as discriminatory and unconstitutional, and called for federal agencies, including the FBI, to stop using and distributing the list. They also criticized the lack of transparency and remedy for individuals who are on the list. The article noted that New Jersey Senators and a Representative have formally asked the Secret Service and the Biden administration for an explanation regarding the mayor's exclusion from the event. CNN (05/02, Judd), The Guardian (05/02, Rios), Axios (05/02, Falconer), Al Jazeera (05/02, Staff Writer), NBC News (05/02, Helsel), Politico (05/02, Han), CBS News (05/02, Linton), ABC News (05/02, Cathey), Washington Examiner (05/02, Severi), The Daily Beast (05/02, Hawkinson), Independent (05/02, Feinberg), Gothamist (05/02, Solomon), Washington Times (05/02, Boyer), The Hill (05/02, Shapero), and the Washington Post (05/02, Paybarah) also reported on the story. Back to Top COUNTERTERRORISM Former Pizza Shop Owner Convicted of Helping Recruit for Islamic State Accused of Attempted Murder in Prison Law & Crime (05/02, Kandel) reported that Mufid Elfgeeh, a former New York pizza shop owner and one of the first recruiters for the Islamic State group captured in the U.S., is accused of attempting to kill another inmate while serving his 22-year sentence in a Kentucky prison. According to the article, Elfgeeh had previously pleaded guilty to charges of recruiting fighters and raising funds for ISIL. He had recruited informants for the FBI to travel to Syria, provided guidance on joining ISIL, and sent money and supplies to individuals associated with the group. Minnesota Man Is Charged With Arson After Two Mosque Fires Fox News (05/02, Richard) reported that President Biden expressed his support for Muslim Americans and Representative Ilhan Omar after a man was arrested for allegedly starting fires at two mosques and vandalizing Omar's congressional district office in Minneapolis. According to the article, the president tweeted about the importance of standing against anti-Muslim hate and upholding the rights and dignity of all people. The arrest of Jackie Rahm Little, who is believed to be responsible for the arsons, was praised by Omar and the Muslim community, with Omar emphasizing the need to stand united against bigotry and terrorism. The article noted that the DO1, FBI, and local law enforcement were thanked for their efforts in apprehending the suspect. The New York Times (05/02, Holpuch) and The Guardian (05/02, Rios) also reported on the story. Vandalized Pregnancy Centers Cry for Justice One Year After Dobbs Leak The Washington Examiner (05/03, Poff) reported that a series of attacks targeting crisis pregnancy centers, which offer support and care opportunities instead of abortion, have occurred since the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion for the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case. According to the article, the attacks include vandalism and arson, with the FBI getting involved in investigating some cases. However, critics argue that the Department of Justice has shown a disproportionate focus on prosecuting anti-abortion demonstrators under the FACE Act, while not adequately pursuing those responsible for the attacks on pregnancy centers. "It's absolutely clear that the OO1 is nothing now but a political arm of the Democrat Party," Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) told the Washington Examiner in an interview. "Merrick Garland is the worst attorney general in American history. He should have resigned a long time ago, and if the president had any decency, he'd remove him." EFTA00160395 Man Uses Craigslist Ad to Extort Money From Harvard, Places Explosive Packages on Campus WFXT (Fox-25) (05/02, Thorpe, Douglas) reported that a man named William Giordani has been held in federal custody for his involvement in aiding and abetting an extortion attempt, conspiracy, and bomb threats at Harvard University. According to court documents, Giordani responded to a Craigslist ad and purchased items, including fireworks, to be delivered to a Harvard student. Subsequently, a series of threatening phone calls were made, stating that bombs had been planted on the Harvard campus, leading to the discovery of a safe containing fireworks and wires. The article noted that the investigation involves the Harvard University police, FBI's Boston- area Joint Terrorism Task Force, and ongoing efforts to identify other individuals involved in the conspiracy. Back to Top COUNTERINTELLIGENCE Evan Gershkovich Detainment Shows Russia Not Worried About Consequences, Ex-Hostage Affairs Envoy Says Fox News (05/02, Flood, Rutz) reported that the imprisonment of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia reflects the country's disregard for human rights, according to former Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Hugh Dugan. According to the article, Dugan highlighted Russia's historical roots in the Soviet Union and stated that the Russian Federation lacks respect for individuals and operates with a mentality that people are mere tokens for the government's purposes. He also mentioned the involvement of the FBI's Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, a part of the machinery employed to bring hostages home, in Gershkovich's case. GOP Officials Raise Alarm Over U.S. Guardsman in TikTok Ad The Epoch Times (05/02, Li) reported that two Republican lawmakers, Rep. Elise Stefanik and Sen. Josh Hawley, have raised concerns about a TikTok advertisement featuring an Air National Guardsman, considering it a potential endorsement of the Chinese-owned app by the U.S. military. According to the article, they wrote a letter to Gen. Daniel Hokanson, expressing worries about TikTok's ties to Chinese intelligence and the threats it poses to Americans, particularly in light of the platform being banned on U.S. government devices. The article noted that lawmakers called on the National Guard Bureau to clarify its policies on TikTok's official and unofficial use, citing potential risks to national security and operational security. Garland Says Has Not Yet Received Durham Report on Origins of Trump Investigation Fox News (05/02, Singman) reported that Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that he has not yet received the report from Special Counsel John Durham's investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe. According to the article, Durham has been conducting the investigation since April 2019, and Garland suggested that inquiries regarding the report should be directed to Durham. The article noted that Durham, who was appointed as special counsel by then-Attorney General Bill Barr, has indicted three individuals as part of the investigation. U.S. Envoy Worries About China Anti-Spy Law Overreach Asia Times (05/03, Pao) reported that the top U.S. diplomat to China, Ambassador Nicholas Burns, has called on Beijing to clarify the newly-amended Counterespionage Law, expressing concerns that it could criminalize routine activities of American business people, academics, and journalists in China. The article noted that the amended law, set to take effect on July 1, expands the definition of offenders and widens the coverage of the law to include "other documents, data, materials, and items related to national security and interests." Burns emphasized the potential implications for academic research and urged that American businesses in China be free from intimidation and operate based on the rule of law. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also expressed serious concern about the amendment, warning that it could hinder foreign investment and create legal uncertainties. Back to Top CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS California College Town Rocked by Stabbings That Remain a Mystery The New York Times (05/02, Hubler) reported that two people have died and a third person has been wounded over the course of five days in Davis, Calif. The police said they were uncertain whether only one assailant was involved. According to the article, a placid Northern California college town has been rocked by a series of EFTA00160396 stabbings in which two people have been killed and a third critically wounded in less than a week. The police in Davis, Calif., a community of about 70,000 people west of Sacramento, have been asking for the public's help since a 50-year-old man was found dead with stab wounds on Thursday in the city's Central Park. Two days later, a University of California, Davis student was stabbed to death in a different park. The article stated that the latest attack occurred on Monday night, severely injuring a woman sleeping in a homeless encampment near railroad tracks just east of downtown. In a 911 call shortly before midnight, the woman told dispatchers that she had been stabbed through the wall of her tent. Witnesses reported seeing a man fleeing the scene. The woman was hospitalized and in critical but stable condition on Tuesday. It remains unclear whether all three attacks were committed by the same person, the police said, but the descriptions provided by witnesses in the most recent two stabbings are similar. The article mentioned that evidence from the crime scenes was being processed and that the FBI and California Department of Justice had been called in to assist with the investigation, along with other police and sheriff's departments in Sacramento and surrounding counties, including campus police. CBS News (05/02, Video), Huffington Post (05/02, Golgowski), Associated Press (05/02, Staff Writer), Los Angeles Times (05/02, Garrison), the Guardian (05/02, Staff Writer), and an additional CBS News (05/02, Video) article reported on the story. Merrick Garland Stands by Testimony in Hunter Biden Probe Despite IRS Whistleblower's Coverup Claims The New York Post (05/02, Nelson) reported that Attorney General Merrick Garland said Tuesday his testimony to Congress about a long-running federal criminal investigation of first son Hunter Biden was truthful in response to an IRS whistleblower's bombshell claims alleging a coverup. According to the article, a journalist asked Garland at an unrelated press conference about the whistleblower complaint and noted that the AG had "assured Congress some time ago that the Hunter Biden investigation would be conducted without any kind of political interference." The article quoted Garland, who said, "Yes, it's still the case, I stand by my testimony and I refer you to the attorney for the district of Delaware, who is in charge of this case and capable of making any decisions that he feels are appropriate." The article noted that the whistleblower supervised the IRS probe of Hunter for three years and on April 19 informed Congress that there had been "preferential treatment" in the case as well as false testimony to Congress by an official later revealed to be Garland. The article added that it was reported last month that there is "growing frustration" within the FBI over the fact that Weiss had not yet brought charges after the bureau concluded most of its work last year. Blden Isn't the Only Official Who Could Pardon Trump Politico (05/02, Wehle) reported that Trump currently faces actual or potential criminal charges in two states, New York and Georgia. The article stated that in both New York and Georgia, a politically motivated pardon — which Trump himself embraced unabashedly by pardoning advisors Steven Bannon, Roger Stone, and Paul Manafort (his 2016 campaign manager) — is not in the cards. The article noted that Trump is currently embroiled in three criminal probes at the federal level. Attorney General Merrick Garland tasked Special Counsel Jack Smith with looking into the classified documents Trump unlawfully kept at Mar-a-Lago months after the FBI and the National Archives requested their return. A second federal investigation involves the Securities and Exchange Commission plus a federal grand jury, which are considering whether his company, Trump Media, violated federal criminal laws in connection with its initial public offering for his social medial platform, Truth Social, as well as its reported receipt of $8 million in related loans wired from entities connected to an ally of Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin. The third is Smith's investigation of Trump's role in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol, a probe that now reportedly includes possible wire fraud in connection with the massive fundraising that occurred over his false election claims. The article added that if any of these produces an indictment, President Joe Biden could pardon Trump. Given the precedent set by President Gerald Ford's pardon of a disgraced former president, Richard Nixon, there will be considerable pressure on Biden to do so. Epstein Victims Demand Federal Investigation in FBI's Failure to Probe Decades-Old Sex Trafficking Allegations Fox News (05/02, Betz) reported that multiple victims of Jeffrey Epstein are demanding answers in the FBI's failure to investigate sex trafficking allegations against the disgraced financier that go back decades. According to the article, legal counsel for several of Epstein's sex trafficking survivors sent a letter to the FBI Tuesday calling on the bureau, the Justice Department, and the attorney general to "conduct a full and fair investigation into the repeated failures to properly, adequately, or timely investigate the sex trafficking of hundreds of young girls and young women, as well as possible child sex abuse materials (amv) crimes." The article noted that Jennifer Freeman, EFTA00160397 Special Counsel to Marsh Law and legal counsel to several of Epstein's sex trafficking survivors, maintains that her client reported to the FBI that Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell abused her in August 1996. Freeman says report to the FBI was "clear-eyed" and prescient, describing in detail, Epstein's involvement in the "production, possession, and distribution of sexually suggestive or exploitative images of children." The article continued to quote Freeman in the letter, who said, "Despite subsequent repeated red flags that Epstein trafficked girls and collected sexualized images of children, the FBI appears, for years, to have done little to investigate and prosecute Epstein's sex trafficking and, to date, done nothing regarding reports of possible CSAM," The Washington Examiner (05/02, Dunleavy), Fox News (05/02, Hagstrom), and the Daily Beast (05/02, Briquelet) also reported on the story. Seven Bodies Found on Oklahoma Property During Search for Missing Teenage Girls The Wall Street Journal (05/02, Lukpat) reported that Oklahoma authorities said they found seven bodies on a rural property Monday while they were searching for two missing teenage girls. According to the article, the authorities in Henryetta, Okla., a city about 45 miles south of Tulsa, haven't released the identities of the seven people. Okmulgee County Sheriff Eddy Rice said two of the bodies were believed to be the missing girls: Ivy Webster, 14, and Brittany Brewer, 16. Sheriff Rice at a Monday news briefing said authorities were no longer searching for the girls. The article noted that another body was believed to be 39-year-old Jesse McFadden, he said, while adding that a medical examiner would confirm the identities of the victims. Mr. McFadden registered as a sex offender in 2020 and worked as an independent contractor, according to state records. He didn't show up to a district court Monday to go on trial for charges including child pornography, according to court records. The bodies were found hours after he was supposed to appear in court. The article added that Sheriff Rice on Monday didn't identify the property's owner. He and Gerald Davidson, a spokesman for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, declined to answer questions on Monday about the details of the case. The article stated that Mr. Davidson said authorities weren't looking for additional suspects and there was no threat to the community. He declined to say why the girls were with Mr. McFadden. The Associated Press (05/02, Murphy), and BBC (05/02, Drenon) also reported on the story. Lori Vallow's Husband's First Wife May Have Been Restrained When She Died: Medical Examiner The New York Post (05/02, Keane) reported that the first wife of "Doomsday mom" Lori Vallow Daybell's husband may have been restrained when she died under mysterious circumstances three years ago, a medical examiner testified this week. According to the article, bruises consistent with being restrained were discovered on the arms and chest of Tammy Daybell, who was married to Lori's husband Chad Daybell at the time of her death in October 2019, Utah's Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Erik Christensen testified during Lori's murder trial on Monday. The article noted that an FBI forensic anthropologist also testified last week that J.J.'s body had stretch marks on his neck and bruises on his wrists and ankles where he was bound with duct tape. Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell believe the end times are upon the world and we must prepare for doomsday and the second coming of Christ. A New Text Scam Starts Out As A Simple 'Hi' The Street (05/02, Lenihan) reported that a scam known as 'pig-butchering' is claiming victims around the world in a rip-off that can start off with a simple message. According to the article, last month, the U.S. Department of Justice said it had seized virtual currency worth an estimated $112 million linked to a pig butchering cryptocurrency investment scam. The article noted that investment fraud caused the highest losses of any scam reported by the public to the FBI's Internet Crimes Complaint Center, last year, the DOJ said, totaling $3.31 billion. Frauds involving cryptocurrency, including pig butchering, represented most of these scams, increasing 183% from 2021 to $2.57 billion in reported losses last year. Florida Man, 74, Accused of Grabbing Flight Attendant by the Crotch The New York Post (05/02, Steinbuch) reported that a 74-year-old Florida man allegedly told an American Airlines flight attendant that he loved the scent of her perfume — and proceeded to grope her crotch. The article stated that Gary Matthew Sorichetti was arrested Thursday on federal charges of abusive sexual contact for his alleged behavior aboard a flight from Sarasota, Florida, to Charlotte, North Carolina, according to a probable cause complaint. Woman Arrested for Allegedly Vandalizing Michigan Synagogue With Antisemitic Graffiti CBS News (05/02, Staff Writer) reported that a 35-year-old Michigan woman has been arrested for allegedly spray- painting antisemitic graffiti on the building of a Royal Oak synagogue. The article mentioned that the Royal Oak EFTA00160398 Police Department said, officers responded to the incident around 4 p.m. on Friday, April 28 after a passerby noticed the antisemitic graffiti on Woodward Avenue Shul, a Jewish community center. A swastika symbol was drawn on the building as well as pro-Nazi propaganda. The article noted that Royal Oak detectives worked with the FBI, Jewish Community Security, and the Farmington Hills Police Department in identifying the suspect. Vandalized Pregnancy Centers Cry for Justice One Year After Dobbs Leak The Washington Examiner (05/02, Poff) reported that the attacks against Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center and Life First Pregnancy Center were part of a series of acts of vandalism perpetrated in the wake of the Dobbs leak against crisis pregnancy centers, which offer pregnant women support and care opportunities instead of abortion. According to the article, the political advocacy organization CatholicVote says it has tracked 84 attacks against pregnancy centers and anti-abortion organizations since the Dobbs draft was leaked. While the vast majority of the incidents have involved graffiti, some, like the June 25, 2022, incident at Life Choices in Longmont, Colorado, involved an act of arson. The article noted that the Colorado-based center was firebombed in the early hours of June 25, the day after the Supreme Court released its decision in the Dobbs case. The damage was so severe that the center had to use alternative facilities for a year-long renovation. The article mentioned that in January, the FBI offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of people responsible for "attacks and threats targeting reproductive health service facilities," which is a violation of the Free Access to Clinic Entrances, or FACE, Act. Suspect in Deputy Death Escapes Jail; Unnoticed for 26 Hours The Associated Press (05/02, Staff Writer) reported that two men escaped from a jail in Virginia over the weekend, including one charged in the killing of a North Carolina sheriff's deputy last year. Alder Marin-Sotelo, 26, escaped from Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville, Virginia around 1 a.m. on Sunday, FBI officials said Monday. He is charged in the August 2022 murder of a sheriff's deputy in North Carolina. According to the article, he left the jail in a red or burgundy Ford Mustang, the FBI said and was gone for more than 24 hours before guards noticed he was missing, jail officials confirmed. The other escapee, Bruce Callahan, 44, had been held at the jail on drug charges, the sheriff's office said. Authorities have not said whether the two escapes are related. The article noted that the escapee investigation was turned over to the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service since the men were federal detainees with no affiliations to the area or local charges, the sheriff's office said. The FBI said in a news release that digital billboard images of Marin-Sotelo have been put up across Virginia and North Carolina. NBC News (05/02, Alsharif), Fox News (05/02, Mion), and ABC News (05/02, McDuffie, Shapiro) also reported on the story. Attempted Harvard Bomber Left a Trail of Evidence: Court Docs The Daily Beast (05/02, Rohrlich) reported that a New England man planted a fake bomb on the Harvard University campus last month as part of an attempt to extort a "large" amount of Bitcoin from the Ivy League school, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Tuesday. According to the article, William A. Giordani, 55, was arrested on Tuesday by federal agents and remains detained pending a Friday court hearing. He stands charged in Massachusetts federal court with conspiracy, along with aiding and abetting an extortionate threat. The article mentioned that during the investigation Giordani said he knew the FBI wanted to speak with him, but was afraid of getting arrested for transporting fireworks across state lines. Bronx Felon Charged With Attempted Murder Over Shooting on Crowded NYC Street The New York Post (05/02, Donlevy) reported that a Bronx felon was charged with attempted murder and other offenses on Tuesday for allegedly shooting a man on a crowded Manhattan sidewalk, sending tourists scrambling for cover. The article mentioned that Michael Rowe, 23, was on probation when he allegedly opened fire in Hell's Kitchen during an argument with the other man around 5:45 p.m., according to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. The victim, identified as 28-year-old Shaquille Bailey, suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the point-blank range shooting, police said. Rowe was charged by the NYPD with attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. The alleged shooter is also facing a federal charge of possessing ammunition after a felony conviction, the US Attorney's office said. The DOJ posted a press release that quoted FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll, who said, "Rowe's alleged actions endangered numerous innocent people simply attempting to live their lives safely - something we all should feel free to do. The charges today should serve as a warning to any individual willing to settle arguments in a similar fashion - the FBI and our partners in law enforcement will hold you accountable in the criminal justice system." Illinois Bank Robber Sprays Substance at Teller, Flees on Foot EFTA00160399 CBS News (05/02, Staff Writer) reported that the FBI is investigating a bank robbery where an unknown substance was sprayed at employees in Chicago. According to the article, a suspect put down a note, but did not display a weapon, and sprayed some sort of substance. He asked the teller for money and fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. Back to Top CYBER DIVISION Microsoft Says Iranian Hackers Combine Influence Ops With Hacking for Maximum Impact CYBERSCOOP (05/02, Vicens) reported that Iranian state-aligned hackers are increasingly deploying information operations to amplify cyberattacks and gain maximum exposure for their efforts to support the regime's agenda in the Middle East and against Western targets, Microsoft's Digital Threats Analysis Center said Tuesday. According to the article, researchers linked 24 unique cyber-enabled influence operations, which combine offensive computer network operations with online messaging and amplification, to the Iranian government in 2022 compared to just seven in 2021, according to the report. Seventeen of the operations have taken place since June of 2022, the researchers found. The article stated that the Iranian-aligned groups are turning more toward information operations as part of an overall cyber strategy could be attempts at proportionate response to a flurry of attacks on Iranian targets by entities the Iranians say are Israeli or American, the researchers note. Black Magic, for example, which Microsoft assesses as working in support of the IRGC, launched a series of ransomware attacks on Israeli targets that seemed to mimic the attacks of Predatory Sparrow, an unaffiliated hacking group that has pulled off a series of top-tier cyberattacks on Iranian targets that some have linked to the Israeli government. The article noted that Iranian-linked cyberattacks and information operations are likely to continue along this pattern, the researchers said, which can usually be characterized as a response to perceived attacks or provocations against the Iranian government, including anything related to the ongoing protests within Iran in response to the murder of Mahsa Amini. Back to Top LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES Private Security Guards Are Replacing Police Across America Time (05/02, Semuels) reported that while police departments were losing officers, crime was rising in many parts of America. Murders, assaults, and car thefts rose nationally in 2020, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, and an increase in homelessness has heightened anxieties about safety. These factors bolstered the private security industry, which had already been growing steadily since the terrorist attacks of September 11 but has boomed since 2020. There are roughly twice as many security guards employed in the U.S. than there were 20 years ago, according to the Security Industry Association, though the nation's population has only grown 16% over the same time period. By 2021, there were about 2 police officers but 3.1 security guards for every 1,000 civilians. The article mentioned that in Philadelphia alone, police staffing levels dropped nearly 10% from the end of 2019 to the end of 2022, a recent government audit found. Nationally, the number of sworn officers dropped 7% between 2019 and 2021, according to FBI data. Frequent Shootings Put U.S. Mass Killings on a Record Pace The Associated Press (05/02, Dazio, Fenn, Slevin) reported that the Mojave slayings over the weekend represented the 19th mass killing of the year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in a partnership with Northeastern University. That is the most during the first four months of the year since data was first recorded in 2006. The Oklahoma deaths have not been added to the database as of Tuesday afternoon. According to the article, as of the Mojave shooting, 97 people had been killed in the 19 mass killings this year, exceeding the record set in 2009 when 93 people were killed in 17 incidents by the end of April. The article stated that the number killed is a fraction of the total number of people who died by homicide for the year. The database counts killings involving four or more fatalities, not including the perpetrator, the same standard as the FBI, and tracks a number of variables for each. The article noted that the 2023 numbers stand out even more when they are compared with the tally for full-year totals since data was collected. The U.S. recorded 30 or fewer mass killings in more than half of the years in the database, so to be at 19 a third of the way through is remarkable. EFTA00160400 Back to Top INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS The FBI Will Support the Ecuadorian Police in the Investigation of Terrorist Actions The Ecuador Times (05/02, Staff Writer) reported that the Ecuadorian Minister of the Interior, Juan Zapata, assured that there will be "a reorganization, readaptation, retraining and a strengthening of the capacities of the police to face the threat of terrorism." The official spoke during an event in the Intervention and Rescue Group (GIR), this Monday, May 1, 2023. According to the article, he also said that the police will have the support of the FBI, of the United States, for the investigation of terrorist actions, and, in addition, there will be international instructors, who will teach closed combat classes. U.S. Hands Cyprus Ancient Artifacts, Some 4,000 Years Old The Associated Press (05/02, Staff Writer) reported that the United States has returned some 80 ancient artifacts, including coins and limestone sculptures, to Cyprus, the Mediterranean island nation's Department of Antiquities said Tuesday. According to the article, the antiquities were recovered after U.S. authorities seized them or individual owners decided to hand them back after discovering their true provenance, Cyprus Department of Antiquities Director Marina Solomidou leronymidou said. The article noted that the number of items accumulated as pandemic restrictions prevented Cypriot officials from collecting them in the U.S., leronymidou said. Officials from multiple U.S. agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, were involved in the seizure and return of the artifacts. Senator Urges Release of New U.S. Report on Killing of Abu Akleh Al Jazeera (05/02, Staff Writer) reported that a Maryland senator has called on the administration of President Joe Biden to give legislators access to a report from the United States Security Coordinator (USSC) about the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. According to the article, Democrat Chris Van Hollen said on Tuesday that he sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to make the assessment "available immediately for Congressional review". The article noted that U.S. officials, including President Joe Biden, have called for accountability in the case, but critics say the U.S. has not done enough to pressure its Israeli allies to ensure justice for the slain journalist. The article added that in September 2022, Israel said there was a "high possibility" its army fired at Abu Akleh but dismissed the killing as accidental and refused to launch a criminal investigation into the incident. The article mentioned that U.S. officials welcomed the Israeli assessment at that time and called on Israel to review its military rules of engagement to avoid similar shootings in the future, a demand that was openly rejected by Israeli leaders. The article stated that U.S. and Israeli outlets reported in November that the FBI had launched an investigation into Abu Akleh's killing, and Israeli officials had vowed not to cooperate with the purported U.S. probe. Axios (05/02, Ravid) also reported on the story. Back to Top CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS FBI Says Former Agent Arrested Over Jan. 6 Called Officers Nazis and Encouraged Mob to 'Kill 'Em' NBC News (05/02, Reilly) reported that this week, the FBI arrested former FBI supervisor Jared L. Wise in Oregon in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Wise, who worked at the FBI from 2004 to 2017, was charged with various offenses, including entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct, and unlawfully parading in a Capitol building. According to an FBI affidavit, Wise allegedly called for killing officers protecting the Capitol and made derogatory remarks towards them before entering the building. The article noted that the arrest is part of ongoing efforts by federal authorities to hold individuals accountable for their involvement in the riot, which has resulted in the arrest of over 1,000 people so far. Shortly after the attack, a top FBI official warned that many within the bureau were "sympathetic" to the mob. Florida Man Charged With Throwing Explosive at Capitol Riot The Associated Press (05/02, Staff Writer) reported that a Florida man, Daniel Ball, was arrested for his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection where he allegedly set off an explosive, injuring several police officers. Ball is charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with a deadly weapon. According to the criminal complaint, EFTA00160401 he entered the Capitol, pried a piece of a wooden shutter, and later threw an explosive into the entranceway. An FBI explosives expert concluded that the device was capable of causing damage and serious injury. Missouri Man Sentenced to Prison for Jan. 6 Participation The Associated Press (05/02, Staff Writer) reported that Lloyd Casimiro Cruz Jr., a participant in the January 6, 2021, Capitol siege, has been sentenced to 45 days in jail after being found guilty of two misdemeanors related to entering the U.S. Capitol. According to the article, Cruz had argued that the cases against him and other participants were unconstitutional, but his petitions were denied by the judge. Prosecutors said Cruz entered the U.S. Capitol building with others and roamed around for about 7 minutes before leaving. They argued his lack of remorse and continued downplaying of the rioters' actions justified a jail sentence. Jurors Struggle Over at Least One Charge in Proud Boys Seditious Conspiracy Trial NBC News (05/02, Reilly, Barnes) reported that the jury in the trial of five Proud Boys charged with seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has asked for additional instructions, indicating that they may be struggling with the charges against some of the defendants. The note asked for guidance on what to do if