Category: Security

Source: US FBI

Defendant Pretended to Be Opposed to the Chinese Government So He Could Get Close to Prominent Activists Seeking to Bring Democracy, Reform and Human Rights to China

Source: US FBI

Director Christopher Wray has named Douglas S. DePodesta as the special agent in charge of the Chicago Field Office. Mr. DePodesta most recently served as the interim special in charge of the Memphis Field Office in Tennessee.

Mr. DePodesta joined the FBI as a special agent in 2002 and was assigned to the Chicago Field Office, where he worked narcotics investigations. In 2006, he transferred to Chicago’s Technical Program and worked a range of investigations, including gang, drug, public-corruption, counterterrorism, and foreign-counterintelligence matters.

In 2013, Mr. DePodesta was promoted to supervisor of Chicago’s Technical Program. Mr. DePodesta managed all technical matters in the Chicago Field Office.

Mr. DePodesta was promoted in 2016 to chief of the Sensitive Operations Support Unit in the Operational Technology Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He was promoted in 2019 to assistant special agent in charge of the Detroit Field Office, responsible for managing all violent crime, gang, and drug investigations in Michigan.

In 2021, Mr. DePodesta was promoted to section chief in the Finance and Facilities Division at FBI Headquarters, where he was responsible for the portfolio covering field office facilities and for the FBI’s vehicle fleet. He was named interim special agent in charge of the Memphis Field Office in 2023.

Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. DePodesta served nine years as a police officer with the Cincinnati Police Department.

Source: US FBI

Source: US FBI

WASHINGTON, DC—On July 30, 2024, the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program released the special report, Human Trafficking and Drug Offenses 2013-2022, on the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer at https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov. For this special report, UCR Program staff examined drug offenses in connection to human trafficking incidents compared to the number of human trafficking incidents per year.

The UCR Program started collecting data on human trafficking in January 2013. The data are collected through the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and the Summary Reporting System (SRS). Because of the hierarchy reporting method used in SRS, only NIBRS data were used in this analysis. NIBRS allows additional offenses to be reported that are connected to an incident, creating more detail-rich data.

Participation in the FBI’s UCR Program is voluntary for state, county, city, territorial, university/college, and tribal law enforcement agencies, but federal law enforcement agencies are mandated to participate. From 2013 to 2022, an average of 86 percent of agencies participated in the UCR Program, and the average population covered by the UCR Program was 94 percent.

More than 8,700 reported incidents involved human trafficking from 2013 to 2022. Since 2013, the number of reported human trafficking incidents, offenses, and victims has increased. The number of incidents is nearly a linear increase each year, which is expected as participation in NIBRS increases.

Although the FBI does not have a specific drug trafficking offense, it does have offenses for drug abuse violations. Therefore, drug offenses in connection to human trafficking incidents were compared to the number of human trafficking incidents per year. This comparison revealed the South region had a rate of over 57 drug offenses per 100 human trafficking incidents, which was the highest rate of the four regions. The South region is the largest region in both agency count and population. The West region had a rate of nearly 22 drug offenses per 100 human trafficking incidents, which was the second highest rate.

The data also revealed drug/narcotic violations ranked fourth in additional offenses associated with human trafficking. The three most common additional offenses—promoting/assisting prostitution, rape, and pornography/obscene material—were expected as 84 percent of human trafficking incidents were reported as commercial sex acts.

The data cannot determine if drug trafficking often occurs in conjunction with human trafficking, nor can it be determined that human trafficking is the cause of drug trafficking or vice versa. However, it can be determined that as reports of human trafficking increase, reported victims, offenders, and drug offenses also increase.

Source: US FBI

Director Christopher Wray has named Christopher J.S. Johnson as the special agent in charge of the Springfield Field Office in Illinois. Mr. Johnson most recently served as an inspector in the Inspection Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Johnson joined the FBI as a special agent in 2004 and was first assigned to the Detroit Field Office, working violent crimes and crimes against children. In 2009, Mr. Johnson was promoted to supervisory special agent and worked in the Crimes Against Children Unit in the Criminal Investigative Division at FBI Headquarters.

In 2010, Mr. Johnson transferred to the St. Louis Field Office, where he continued to work violent crime and crimes against children, as well as issues related to violent gangs. The next year, Mr. Johnson joined the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team.

The CARD Team currently includes 75 agents, analysts, and other Bureau personnel from across the country, and teaches local law enforcement officers how to respond to child abductions. Local law enforcement can also contact their local FBI office and ask for assistance from the CARD team when a child disappears. Mr. Johnson eventually became a CARD Team leader for the North Central and South Central regions.

Mr. Johnson returned to the St. Louis Field Office in 2014 and supervised a squad that investigated violent gangs and transnational organized crime matters. In 2017, while still in St. Louis, Mr. Johnson supervised another squad that investigated violent crime, violent crimes against children, and transnational organized crime from a different region.

In 2020, Mr. Johnson was promoted to assistant special agent in charge of the Detroit Field Office’s Mission Services and Administrative Branch. In 2022, Mr. Johnson was selected to serve as an inspector in the Inspection Division at Headquarters.

Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. Johnson worked as a police officer in the St. Louis metropolitan area in Missouri. He earned bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and in psychology from Saint Louis University and a master’s of management degree from Webster University in Missouri.

Source: US FBI

Director Christopher Wray has named Cindy Hall as the assistant director of the Office of Internal Auditing at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Ms. Hall most recently served as the acting deputy assistant director of the Inspection Division at Headquarters.

The FBI created the Office of Internal Auditing in 2020 to enhance the compliance, oversight, and accountability of national security activities at the Bureau.

Ms. Hall joined the FBI as a clerk in 1988, supporting the newly created Office of Automation at FBI Headquarters, and became an IT specialist in the Information Technology Division in 1991. Ms. Hall deployed numerous times over the next several years on the Rapid Start Team to support major case operations. She was also responsible for providing IT support to the FBI director and his staff.

In 2006, Ms. Hall was promoted to chief of the Field IT Services Unit at Headquarters and helped develop, implement, and coordinate polices, training, and administrative action for field office IT specialists. She also created the regional program manager position for IT specialists and established the staffing baseline for IT specialists across the Bureau.

Ms. Hall transferred to the Inspection Division in 2009 to serve as chief of the Inspection Management Unit. As unit chief, Ms. Hall contributed to the comprehensive review of administrative and investigative programs and national initiatives. She also ensured compliance with instructions and recommendations issued through the inspection process.

In 2017, Ms. Hall was promoted to inspector, the first FBI professional staff employee to hold the position. She was responsible for the oversight of administrative- and support-service compliance and for related national reviews. In addition, Ms. Hall was responsible for certain inspections the assistant director of the Inspection Division deemed necessary. 

Ms. Hall transitioned in 2019 to section chief of the Inspection Strategic Analysis Section. In 2022, Ms. Hall served as the acting deputy assistant director of the Inspection Division. The division conducts internal investigations, reviews operational performance and use-of-enforcement authorities in all investigative programs, and conducts special inquiries.

Ms. Hall was named acting assistant director of the Office of Internal Auditing in 2023.

Source: US FBI

An indictment was unsealed today charging Ping Li, 59, of Wesley Chapel, Florida, with conspiring to act as an agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) without notification to the Attorney General and with acting as an agent of the PRC without notification to the Attorney General. If convicted, Li faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. 

According to the court documents, the PRC’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) is in charge of civilian intelligence collection for the PRC. The MSS often uses “cooperative contacts” located in countries outside of the PRC in furtherance of their intelligence goals, which include obtaining information concerning foreign corporate or industrial matters, foreign politicians or intelligence officers and information concerning PRC political dissidents residing in those countries. These cooperative contacts assist the MSS in a variety of ways, including by conducting research on topics of interest to the PRC that can be used to further the MSS’ mission.

The indictment alleges that Li was a U.S. citizen who immigrated to the United States from the PRC. At various times, Li worked for a major U.S. telecommunications company and an international information technology company.

From as early as 2012, Li allegedly served as a cooperative contact working at the direction of officers of the MSS to obtain information of interest to the PRC government. Li obtained a wide variety information at the request of the MSS, including information concerning Chinese dissidents and pro-democracy advocates, members of the Falun Gong religious movement, and U.S.-based non-governmental organizations, and to report that information to the MSS. Li also provided the MSS with information obtained from his employer. Li used a variety of anonymous online accounts for the purpose of communicating with the MSS, and traveled to the PRC to meet with the MSS.

For example, according to the indictment, in August 2012, an MSS officer requested that Li provide information about practitioners of Falun Gong and pro-democracy advocates in the United States. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a religious movement that originated in the PRC in the 1990s. Falun Gong is not one of the five religions formally recognized by the PRC government, and it has been banned since 1999. Its adherents both in China and abroad are of particular interest to the PRC government because of Falun Gong’s advocacy of ideas deemed subversive to the PRC government. Less than a week after receiving this request, Li sent the name and biographical information of an individual affiliated with Falun Gong residing in St. Petersburg, Florida.       

In March 2015, an MSS officer requested information from Li about branch offices that Li’s employer, a major U.S. telecommunications company, had opened in the PRC. Li responded with the requested information three weeks later.          

In March 2017, an MSS officer requested a training instruction plan from Li. In April 2017, Li responded indicating that he had uploaded materials to an online account that he shared with the MSS officer and asked the MSS officer to delete the materials after reading them.         

In May 2021, an MSS officer requested information from Li concerning hacking events targeting U.S. companies, including a widely publicized hacking of a major U.S. company by the Chinese government. Within four days, Li responded with the requested information.      

In March 2022, an MSS officer requested from Li information concerning Li’s new employer, an international information technology company, as well as materials relating to cybersecurity training. That same day, Li sent the requested information about his employer as well as materials relating to cybersecurity training.          

In June 2022, an MSS officer requested from Li information concerning an individual who, according to the officer, had resided in the PRC but fled to the United States, and the name and suspected residential address in the United States of that individual. That same day, Li responded with information about the owners of that residential address.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the National Security Division, Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida made the announcement.

The FBI is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet and Karyna Valdes for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: US FBI

Note: View the indictment here. 

Hadi Matar, 26, of Fairview, New Jersey, was arraigned today in federal court in connection with attempting to provide material support to Hizballah, a designated foreign terrorist organization; engaging in an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries; and providing material support to terrorists. 

“We allege that in attempting to murder Salman Rushdie in New York in 2022, Hadi Matar committed an act of terrorism in the name of Hizballah, a designated terrorist organization aligned with the Iranian regime,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will prosecute those who perpetrate violence in the name of terrorist groups and undermine the basic freedoms enshrined in our Constitution.”

“The defendant attempted to carry out a fatwa endorsed by Hizballah that called for the death of Salman Rushdie — a fatwa issued in 1989 by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Violence directed at Americans for exercising their First Amendment rights will never be tolerated. The FBI will work with our partners to pursue and hold accountable those who resort to violence.”

“This defendant put time and effort into traveling to the Western District of New York with the intent of taking the life of another,” said U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross for the Western District of New York. “Only because of the brave efforts of those who were present that day, the defendant was prevented from completing his murderous intention. This indictment is a result of the collaborative efforts of our investigative partners in law enforcement, which is one step towards ensuring that the defendant be held accountable for his actions.”

According to the court documents and statements made by the government in court, between September 2020 and August 2022, Matar attempted to provide material support and resources to Hizballah. Matar did this by attempting to carry out a fatwa calling for the execution of Salman Rushdie, which Matar understood was endorsed by Hizballah.

The indictment further alleges that Matar attempted to kill and did in fact assault Rushdie. Matar was motivated, in part, by a 2006 speech given by Hizballah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, in which Nasrallah endorsed the fatwa calling for Rushdie’s death, which was originally issued in 1989.

If convicted, Matar faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. 

The FBI is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Lynch and Charles M. Kruly for the Western District of New York and Trial Attorney Frank Russo of the Justice Department’s National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: US FBI

Director Christopher Wray has named Michael D. Nordwall as the executive assistant director of the Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Mr. Nordwall will oversee all criminal and cyber investigations worldwide, as well as international operations, critical incident responses, and assistance to victims.

Mr. Nordwall most recently served as the assistant director of the Criminal Investigative Division at Headquarters and brings more than 20 years of experience in the Bureau to this position.

Mr. Nordwall began his career with the FBI as a special agent in 2002 in the Phoenix Field Office, working counterterrorism, violent crime, crimes in Indian Country, and organized crime matters. In 2009, he was promoted to supervisory special agent in the Operations Unit of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate at Headquarters. In 2011, he transferred to the Tampa Field Office in Florida to oversee an organized crime drug enforcement strike force.

In 2014, Mr. Nordwall was selected as an associate director in the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Executive Office. He served as the primary representative for federal law enforcement and oversaw an attorney general program to disrupt and dismantle the most significant criminal organizations.

Mr. Nordwall returned to the Tampa Field Office in 2016 to lead the Joint Terrorism Task Force. In 2018, he reported to the Denver Field Office as the assistant special agent in charge of the Criminal Branch and all Colorado resident agencies.

In 2019, Mr. Nordwall was promoted to chief of the Transnational Organized Crime Global Section in the Criminal Investigative Division at Headquarters, which manages investigations and intelligence collection against transnational criminal organizations. In 2021, he was promoted to special agent in charge of the Pittsburgh Field Office before returning to Headquarters in 2023 to serve as the assistant director of CID.

Mr. Nordwall earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Auburn University in Alabama. Prior to joining the FBI, he worked in the petrochemical industry.

Source: US FBI

PORTLAND, Ore.—A Central Oregon drug trafficker who conspired with others to traffic fentanyl and methamphetamine to Madras and Redmond, Oregon, and surrounding areas, was sentenced to federal prison today.

Israel Sarabia, 30, of Culver, Oregon, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.

According to court documents, as part of a joint drug trafficking investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team (CODE), investigators learned that a Central Oregon drug trafficking organization was using a courier to transport bulk quantities of drugs from either Southern California or Mexico into Oregon. On December 10, 2022, investigators located and stopped the courier in Klamath Falls, Oregon. While searching the courier’s vehicle, investigators located three packages containing approximately 30,000 counterfeit Oxycodone pills that later tested positive for fentanyl.

Further investigation revealed that the courier was traveling to Sarabia’s residence and that he had been tasked by Sarabia with bringing him fentanyl from Southern California or Mexico. On March 15, 2023, investigators located and arrested Sarabia near his residence in Culver. On the same day, investigators located and seized 519 grams of methamphetamine, more than 1,000 fentanyl pills, 41 grams of cocaine, and nine firearms from the residence of a co-conspirator who was working for Sarabia and storing drugs on his behalf.

On March 15, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a six-count indictment charging Sarabia and an accomplice with conspiring with one another to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, and distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine. A third individual was also charged with conspiracy. 

On August 21, 2023, Sarabia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by DEA and CODE. It was prosecuted by Lewis S. Burkhart, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

The CODE team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. CODE includes members of the Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Madras, Sunriver, and Black Butte Police Departments; the Warm Springs Tribal Police Department; the Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson County Sheriff and District Attorney’s Offices; the Oregon State Police; the Oregon National Guard; DEA; and the FBI.