Source: South Australia Police
Police are currently at the scene of a crash at Brimbago.
Just after 11pm last night (Wednesday 5 February), police and emergency services were called to the Dukes Highway after reports of a truck having crashed into a tree.
The Dukes Highway at Brimbago is currently closed in both directions.
All traffic is being directed along Emu Flat Road and Ngarkat Highway to travel between Keith and Bordertown.
Please avoid the area if possible.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)
The FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force continues to assist the Philadelphia Police Department with the search for Justin Smith, a convicted felon, wanted for his alleged involvement in the murder of his pregnant 21-year-old girlfriend.
She disappeared on March 30, 2021, and her body was found on April 5, 2021. He is alleged to have shot her in the head multiple times, causing her death and the death of her unborn child.
On April 9, 2021, Smith was charged with murder and related offenses in the 1st Judicial District in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, and a state warrant was issued for his arrest.
On August 10, 2023, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Smith in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after he was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Justin Smith is known to have connections to Greensboro, North Carolina, and New Castle, Delaware. After fleeing Philadelphia in 2021, he was seen in the Little Haiti neighborhood of Miami, Florida, and in Atlanta, Georgia.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to Smith’s location and arrest.
Anyone with information on Smith’s whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 215-418-4000 or tips.fbi.gov. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
Link to poster: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/murders/justin-smith
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
In continuing its investigation into a recent break, enter, and theft at the RBC bank branch in Holyrood, RCMP East District General Investigation Section (GIS) arrested and charged three more suspects, 33 -year-old Ryan Tobin, 38-year-old Matthew Scott, and 49-year-old Jodi Lewis.
At approximately 3:45 a.m. on December 16, 2024, suspects used a stolen back hoe to break into the bank, causing extensive damage. An ATM was stolen from inside and loaded into a dump truck which was stopped by police a short time later on the Trans-Canada Highway heading east and the ATM was recovered. A second vehicle, a pickup truck, was also pulled over. This vehicle was believed to be involved in the breaking and entering and all three occupants were arrested but later released.
As a result of further investigation, on January 29, 2025, Matthew Scott, Jodi Lewis, and Ryan Tobin, the occupants of the pickup truck, were charged and are set to appear in court on March 4, 2025, for the following offences:
Two other individuals, Jason Weir and Jamie Kennedy, were previously arrested and charged as part of this investigation.
The investigation is continuing. Anyone having information about this crime is asked to contact Holyrood RCMP at 709-229-3892 or, to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
McALLEN, Texas – A 46-year-old man has been sentenced for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Brian Edward May, Rohnert Park, California, pleaded guilty Nov. 14, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered May to serve 136 months in federal prison. The court enhanced the sentence after determining May was a repeat and dangerous offender against minors. The court also heard that May continued to engage in predatory sexual conduct against children after he was released on bond from state custody. May will serve 15 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“In today’s online world, predators can gain near-instantaneous virtual access to children,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas office is working hand in glove with our federal and state law enforcement partners to identify and pursue these predators before they can victimize innocent children.”
“Children must be protected from sexual exploitation, and we remain committed to investigating the coercion and enticement of a minor,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “Today’s sentence means this defendant is no longer free to prey upon the most vulnerable among us. HSI will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who seek to victimize children.”
On April 19, 2023, May operated an online account under the name of “dirtyman” and contacted whom he believed to be a 14-year-old child. May made arrangements to meet the child to engage in illegal sexual activity at a park in McAllen.
He had been in McAllen working as a contractor at the time of the crime.
During a subsequent review of May’s electronic devices, authorities found numerous messages that indicated May had attempted to pay adults to access children to engage in illegal sexual activity. They also recovered files containing child sexual abuse material.
May will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations and McAllen Police Department conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Shelburne RCMP Detachment has charged a Westphal man with multiple offences after executing a search warrant at a residence and seizing multiple firearms.
On January 17, Shelburne RCMP responded to a report of an assault with a weapon, and learned that a man had assaulted an individual at a Shelburne home and left before police arrived. Subsequent attempts to locate and arrest the man were unsuccessful.
On February 3, at approximately 4:30 p.m., RCMP officers learned that the man was at a residence on Parr St., and established containment of the home. Investigators evacuated surrounding residences and the Nova Scotia RCMP’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) attended the location.
At approximately 9 p.m., ERT, supported by the RCMP’s Crisis Negotiation Team and Police Dog Services, safely arrested 28-year-old Liam Colin Cockerill.
The Parr St. home was secured and officers executed a search warrant; they seized two firearms and a variety of ammunition.
Cockerill has been remanded into custody and, at this time, faces 21 charges, including:
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Shelburne RCMP at 902-875-2490. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Scott David Bixler, 43, of Morgantown, West Virginia, was sentenced to the statutory maximum sentence of 120 months imprisonment for failing to update his sex offender registration. Bixler will serve a lifetime of supervision following his prison sentence.
Bixler is a convicted sex offender and is required to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORNA) for life. As part of his registration obligations, he is required to report any international travel. In July of 2023, Bixler fled to Mexico shortly before he was scheduled to appear in state court for sentencing related to criminal convictions for failure to register as a sex offender under West Virginia law.
When Bixler and his spouse were arrested in Mexico, they possessed two pellet guns, methamphetamine, a cell phone jammer, and a large amount of cash. The investigation also revealed that the Bixlers were attempting to purchase a young girl while in Mexico. Fortunately, Mexican authorities thwarted the plan and arrested the couple.
“The sentence handed down by the Court ensures that the Defendant will be confined in prison for the maximum time allowed by law,” said Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard. “I shudder to think what might have happened but for the dedication of AUSA Perri, the federal and state law enforcement agencies, as well as the Mexican authorities. Our community and children are safer because of their efforts and the sentence imposed.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Perri prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The FBI, the U.S. Marshals Services, and the West Virginia State Police investigated this case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, through United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow, issues the following statement to underscore support for the January 20, 2025, Executive Order, entitled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.”
Department of Justice agencies in Puerto Rico, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Bureau of Prisons, underscore their support and partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and all its components in Puerto Rico to enforce our nation’s immigration laws.
The Justice Department and DHS will also continue to collaborate and work closely with our counterparts within the Government of Puerto Rico, to include the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, the Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, and other governmental agencies, as well as municipal police departments to protect our communities from harm.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s implementation of the Executive Order will focus on the apprehension and prosecution of criminal aliens, as well as supporting the prosecution and/or expedited removal from the United States of aliens without legal status. The apprehension and prosecution or removal of aliens includes special interest aliens deemed by the DHS to be from a country that poses a national security or counterintelligence threat.
“Those aliens who are involved in criminal activity, who are fugitives from justice, who have prior criminal convictions and/or come from nations that pose a threat to our national security, remain a priority for the Department of Justice,” said United States Attorney Muldrow. “We are also fully committed to supporting the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security, and all its components, to make Puerto Rico and the United States safer.”
“The FBI remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to uphold the rule of law and ensure public safety,” said Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “Through this initiative, continued collaboration and intelligence-driven operations, we are supporting efforts to protect our communities, while adhering to our mission of upholding the Constitution.”
“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is dedicated to identifying and prosecuting individuals who are illegally present in the United States, ensuring they are swiftly removed to their home countries,” said Rebecca González-Ramos, Special Agent in Charge of HSI San Juan. “The executive order aims to protect the United States from individuals who pose a threat to public safety by committing crimes.”
“The Drug Enforcement Administration remains resolute in its mission to protect the communities of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands from the devastating impact of drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations. These criminal networks not only threaten public safety through the distribution of dangerous narcotics but also exploit immigration vulnerabilities to further their illicit enterprises. Through intelligence-driven investigations, collaborative enforcement operations, and strategic partnerships with our federal, state, and local counterparts, the DEA will aggressively target those who pose a threat to our national security and the well-being of our citizens. Our enforcement efforts will focus on identifying, disrupting, and prosecuting individuals and organizations engaged in drug trafficking, money laundering, and violent crime. Additionally, we remain committed to supporting the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice in the apprehension and prosecution of criminal aliens involved in drug-related offenses. The DEA Caribbean Division will continue to conduct high-impact operations aimed at preventing narcotics and criminal elements from infiltrating our shores. These enforcement efforts are crucial in ensuring the safety and security of the people of Puerto Rico and the continental United States. The message is clear: those who attempt to use our territory as a gateway for illicit activities will be met with the full force of federal law enforcement,” stated Michael A. Miranda, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Caribbean Division.
“We stand in unison with our Federal and Puerto Rico partners in this all-hands-on deck to stem the tide of illegal immigration,” said Christopher A. Robinson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Miami Field Division.
The United States Marshals Service, whose mission includes apprehending federal and state fugitives, will lead an initiative – Operation Homeland – to focus resources and coordinate enforcement operations with DOJ and DHS components on the apprehension of alien fugitives charged with federal and local crimes.
“Historically, the United States Marshals have played a crucial role in serving our nation by apprehending and removing dangerous fugitives from our communities. In this instance, we have teamed up with our federal law enforcement partners to focus on apprehending non-U.S. citizens who have active criminal warrants. We are confident that these collaborative efforts will lead to safer communities. We encourage all citizens to continue cooperating with our investigations to help locate these fugitives and bring them to justice,” said Wilmer Ocasio-Ibarra, U.S. Marshal District of Puerto Rico.
As recently announced by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), on January 30, 2025, the below-listed individuals entered into Puerto Rican waters without inspection and were detained by the CBP. Earlier that day, Coast Guard had previously boarded the sailing vessel Mistress, but the vessel was allowed to continue its voyage to St. Martin. Instead of going to St. Martin, the S/V Mistress entered U.S. waters without inspection and anchored off La Parguera, where they were arrested and processed for expedited removal by DHS officials, including the United States Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Specifically, the following eight individuals were encountered on a private boat off the southwest coast of Puerto Rico:
Name Country of Citizenship
Erlanbek Narkoziev Kyrgyzstan
Jafar Valamatov Russia
Kanal Assylbekov Kazakhstan
Nikita Torshin Kazakhstan
Sanjarjon Sidikov Uzbekistan
Shackhat Uurustamov Kyrgyzstan
Odiljon Azimov Kyrgyzstan
Shukrat Akhemodov Russia
“Every day CBP Officers are responsible with determining the admissibility of aliens arriving at our ports of entry. Foreign travelers requesting entry undergo an inspection and determination of admissibility to the United States, and if they are not admissible, they are returned to their point of embarkation,” indicated Roberto Vaquero, Director of the San Juan Office of Field Operations. “Our officers will be vigilant in determining admissibility and will also inspect authorized presence from passengers in domestic flights as they try to reach the Continental US.”
“The Ramey Sector of the US Border Patrol remains steadfast in protecting our Caribbean borders and deter irregular migration attempts. U.S. immigration law makes it a crime to enter or attempt to enter without requesting admission at a port of entry designated for that purpose by immigration officials,” stated Reggie Johnson, Acting Chief Patrol Agent. “Migrants should know that they will face full legal consequences of unlawful entry.”
“Air and Marine Operations agents and assets will support the whole of government effort to enforce immigration laws and protect our borders from emerging threats,” said Christopher Hunter, Director of the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch. “AMO safeguards our Nation by anticipating and confronting security threats through our aviation and maritime law enforcement expertise, innovative capabilities, and partnerships at the border and beyond.”
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Source: Office of United States Attorneys
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Stafford, Mo., man who purchased more than 50 firearms has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally trafficking firearms and methamphetamine.
David Allen Gaunt, 57, was charged in a 16-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Gaunt on Jan. 16, 2025.
The federal indictment alleges that Gaunt participated in a conspiracy to traffic firearms from June 21, 2023, to Jan. 23, 2025. Those firearms, according to the indictment, included a Kalashnikov pistol, a Century Arms pistol, a Tokarev shotgun, a Canik pistol and an HS Produkt pistol. In addition to the conspiracy, Gaunt is charged with one count of trafficking those firearms to a recipient who was legally prohibited from possessing them.
The federal indictment also charges Gaunt with being an unlawful user of a controlled substance while in possession of 15 different firearms. Gaunt is charged with four counts of making a false statement to a licensed firearms dealer in order to purchase firearms, four counts of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, four counts of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of distributing methamphetamine.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Gaunt has personally purchased more than 50 firearms. On every purchase, the affidavit says, Gaunt marked “No” on the federal form that asked, “Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?” Eighteen of these firearms have been recovered by law enforcement, from Gaunt and others. Additionally, 11 of the firearms Gaunt purchased have been either sold to or pawned at pawn shops.
Springfield police officers seized three of those firearms during the execution of two search warrants in separate drug-trafficking investigations in June 2023, and the Greene County Sheriff’s Department seized one of those firearms during enforcement activities in July 2023. All of the firearms were seized from individuals who were legally prohibited from possessing firearms, the affidavit says, and were traced to Gaunt as the original purchaser.
On Aug. 16, 2023, Springfield police officers stopped Gaunt near S. Glenstone Avenue and E. St. Louis Street. When officers searched his vehicle, they found six firearms. On Nov. 6, 2024, Springfield officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Gaunt. Officers seized a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol from Gaunt’s waistband. A clear plastic bag of methamphetamine was found in the center console of the vehicle.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Source: US State of New York
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) today released its report on the death of Ervin Zacarias Antonio Agustin, who died on May 19, 2024 following a motor vehicle collision involving a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer in Queens County. Following a thorough investigation, which included review of the vehicle’s dashboard camera, an interview with the involved officer, and comprehensive legal analysis, OSI determined that a prosecutor would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officer committed a crime, and therefore criminal charges would not be pursued in this matter.
In the early morning hours of May 19, 2024, an NYPD officer was traveling in a marked police vehicle with his turret lights and siren activated, traveling to the scene of a motor vehicle collision investigation in Queens. The officer was traveling southbound on the Van Wyck Expressway, a multi-lane highway that runs north-south with three lanes in each direction, separated by a concrete divider, and no pedestrian traffic. The speed limit of the expressway was 50 MPH, and 40 MPH in construction zones. As the officer approached the vicinity of Archer Avenue, he was traveling at a speed of 63 MPH. Mr. Agustin attempted to run across the expressway and was struck by the officer’s vehicle. The collision occurred near a construction site, with construction equipment parked behind the concrete barriers lining both sides of the southbound lanes.
Under OSI’s analysis of New York’s Vehicle and Traffic Law, Penal Law, and case law from New York’s highest court, a police officer who causes a death while properly responding to an emergency in a police vehicle cannot be charged with a crime unless the officer acts recklessly or intentionally. The criminal charge that requires recklessness is Manslaughter in the Second Degree, in which a person is guilty when they recklessly cause the death of another person. “Recklessly” means that the person consciously disregards a “substantial and unjustifiable” risk of death and that their actions are a “gross deviation” from a reasonable standard of conduct.
In this case, while the officer caused Mr. Agustin’s death, the evidence does not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer’s conduct was a gross deviation from the standard that would have been observed by a reasonable officer in the same circumstances, or that the officer consciously disregarded a substantial and unjustifiable risk of death. The officer was speeding because he was responding to an emergency. In addition, the officer had no reason to expect that a person would attempt to cross the expressway on foot, as the Van Wyck Expressway is closed to pedestrians. There was no evidence that the officer was impaired by drugs or alcohol, and no evidence that he was otherwise distracted at the time of the collision. Therefore, OSI concluded that there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges.
Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
Local and specialist Met officers were involved in raids at six properties early on Wednesday, 5 February as part of an investigation into drug dealing on the Cambridge Road Estate and more widely across Merton.
Six arrests were made as part of the Met’s Clear, Hold, Build strategy, which is designed to reclaim and rebuild neighbourhoods affected by serious and organised crime, focusing on what matters most to locals.
Superintendent Josh Laughton, the Met’s neighbourhood policing lead for Kingston, said: “Today’s operation followed months of planning by local officers, who have been listening to people on the Cambridge Road Estate to understand their concerns.
“We know drug dealing is often linked to other offences such as violent crime and anti-social behaviour. By taking targeted action, we aim to reduce offending across the board.
“The service we provide to Londoners is at the heart of everything we do. Across the Met, we remain focused on tackling the crimes that matter most to communities to reduce offending and improve neighbourhoods.”
One of the raids was carried out at a fast-food restaurant in Surbiton Crescent. The other six addresses were residential properties. Officers seized drugs, including heroin and cocaine.
The three men, one woman and two teenage boys, who were arrested during the operation, remain in custody.
Clear, Hold, Build involves the Met working with partner agencies and communities to make areas safer, and is proven to drive down crime.
It focuses on taking out the criminal gangs that make the lives of some Londoners a misery by fuelling violent and organised crime.
Kingston Council’s Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health, including community safety, Councillor Sabah Hamed said: “Kingston is one of London’s safest boroughs, and this work reflects our continued commitment to working with the police and our partners to make it even safer for everyone.
“We are committed to working with the local communities most impacted by crime to address their concerns, improve confidence in reporting issues and safeguard those who are vulnerable.”
Targeted neighbourhood policing delivered through Clear, Hold, Build has already been proven to have a positive impact on communities across London.
The framework comprises of three parts: Clear, which sees police pursue gang members; Hold, where police maintain a grip on the area to prevent other criminal groups from taking control; and Build, which works to help the community become less susceptible to the draw of organised crime groups.
In Northumberland Park and Edmonton, an intensification resulted in 424 arrests and recent data shows violent crime in the area has fallen to its lowest level in three years.
Improved neighbourhood policing was one of the reasons the Met was removed from special measures in January. His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services also praised improvements to call handling, child exploitation, and public protection.
Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English
The operators of the websites appear under the names CoinCapitals and EasyInvestingPro, without using a legal form. They do not provide any information about their place of business.
Recently, a large number of websites with almost identical content have already come to light, and BaFin has also issued warnings about these. In the vast majority of, cases the presentation on the websites begins with the following sentence: “Step into the trading arena with confidence & [name of website]”. However, this introductory sentence has been changed in some cases, as on the website easyinvestingpro.com, to: “Step into the world of trading with [name of website]” or “Step confidently into the world of trading with [name of website]”. However, the rest of the content on the websites has remained essentially the same.
Anyone offering financial or investment services or crypto-asset services in Germany requires a license from BaFin. However, some companies offer such services without the required license. Information on whether a particular company is authorized by BaFin can be found in the company database.
The information provided by BaFin is based on Section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (KWG) and Section 10 (7) of the German Crypto Markets Supervision Act (KMAG).
BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.
Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English
The German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns against offers on the website gtv-holdings.com. According to its findings, the Global Trade Verein, Zurich, Switzerland, offers financial and investment services there without a license.
Der Betreiber tritt auf seiner Website unter der Bezeichnung Global Trade Verein auf, ohne Nennung einer Rechtsform. Unter diesem Namen lässt sich kein Eintrag im Schweizer Handelsregister finden.
The operator appears on its website under the name Global Trade Verein, without mentioning a legal form. No entry can be found under this name in the Swiss commercial register.
Anyone offering financial or investment services or crypto-asset services in Germany requires a license from BaFin. However, some companies offer such services without the required license. Information on whether a particular company is authorized by BaFin can be found in the company database.
The information provided by BaFin is based on Section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (KWG) and Section 10 (7) of the German Crypto Markets Supervision Act (KMAG).
BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –KENDRICK WILLIAMS (“WILLIAMS”), age 20, was sentenced on January 27, 2025 by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to 90 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release, along with a $300 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute tapentadol and possession with intent to distribute tapentadol and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D); and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
According to court documents, WILLIAMS advertised the sale of tapentadol and marijuana on social media. Law enforcement officers executed two search warrants at WILLIAMS’s residence and recovered over 800 tapentadol pills, one pound of marijuana, two Glock handguns, a Glock Model 23, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol and a Glock Model 19x, 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol, with extended magazines, and over $9,000 in cash.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
BILLINGS — A Columbus man accused of attempting to send obscene material to a minor during an undercover investigation admitted to a charge today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
The defendant, Jacob Curtis Wyckoff, 25, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Wyckoff faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Wyckoff was released pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that in January 2023, law enforcement in the Billings area set up an undercover operation relating to those with a sexual interest in children. The undercover persona was that of a 14-year-old female. The undercover posed on a social media site and on Jan. 26, 2023, Wyckoff reached out on KIK, using the profile name of “Jake Smith.” The undercover made Wyckoff aware in communications that she was “almost 15.” In communications between the two from January 2023 to July 14, 2023, discussions became increasingly sexual in nature. On multiple occasions, Wyckoff expressed a desire to meet the “child” for a sexual encounter. On July 6, 2023, Wyckoff sent the undercover a picture of his allegedly erect penis in his jeans and made sexually suggestive comments.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Laurel Police Department, and Montana Division of Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
A boy has been convicted of murdering 15-year-old Deshaun James-Tuitt.
Just before 21:00hrs on Thursday, 4 August 2022, officers encountered the victim in Highbury Fields, Islington. He ran towards them, saying: “Officer, I’ve been stabbed.”
Despite the efforts of emergency services to save him, Deshaun died in hospital later that night.
On Wednesday, 5 February, 2025, a jury at the Old Bailey returned a guilty verdict against a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons. Six other youths who also stood trial were acquitted of murder.
The court heard how, on the night of the murder, the defendant – then aged 15 – travelled with a group of boys to Highbury Fields on public transport. He wore a face covering, and was armed with a knife. The journey was documented on CCTV footage obtained by investigators.
On the night he died, Deshaun had been at a birthday celebration at the park with a large group of friends.
Upon arrival, the defendant was seen robbing people in the park. This resulted in an argument between him and Deshaun, during which he was stabbed.
Immediately afterwards, the killer fled the scene.
A murder investigation was launched, led by Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command. She said: “We conducted extensive CCTV enquiries in a bid to identify the youth who had travelled to Highbury Fields that night. Identifying him was a long and complex task.”
The killer was arrested on Wednesday, 10 August, 2022. A mobile phone was forensically downloaded, and investigators recovered a chat from 8 August 2022, where he spoke of stabbing ‘Huntz’ – Deshaun’s nickname.
DCI Yorke added: “The boy denied stabbing Deshaun, but it was clear that he had travelled to Highbury Fields that night, with a covered face, armed and looking for trouble. He knew that, should the need arise, his weapon would be used.
“This theory was supported by the fact that, just minutes after he arrived at the park, Deshaun had been fatally stabbed.
“There is no verdict that can give Deshaun back to his family. I sincerely hope that they find some comfort in today’s verdicts – my thoughts are with them.”
In a statement, Deshaun’s family said: “He [the victim] was my firstborn, and he would have been 18 years old. All my friends that I went to school with have their firstborn children – except me. To the person involved in the stabbing and taking his life: he didn’t deserve to die like that. I had a mental breakdown, and I will never be able to get over this.
“I want you to know that Deshaun was a son, a brother, a grandson, a great grandson, a nephew and a cousin to so many on both sides of the family, so I want you to realise that he was a valuable member of our family. We won’t forgive or forget.
“Deshaun, you can now rest in peace. Hopefully, justice will be served. Not only is Deshaun’s life lost, they who have done the crime will serve the time.”
The killer has been remanded ahead of sentencing on Friday, 25 April, 2025.
Source: US Marshals Service
Cleveland, OH – Early this morning, members of the U.S. Marshals led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) arrested Anthony Conner, 44. Conner was wanted by the Cleveland Division of Police for homicide and also wanted by authorities in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri for a shooting as well.
On December 18, 2023, Conner was involved in a home invasion where he shot the female victim. The victim’s children were home at the time of the home invasion and Conner was charged with domestic assault, possession of a firearm, and endangering children. A warrant for Conner’s arrest was issued shortly after the crime in Missouri.
On December 28, 2024, Conner is alleged to have committed a homicide in the city of Cleveland. Cleveland Police were in the area of East 18th St. when they were flagged down regarding a person being shot. Police were able to locate the victim, who had been shot numerous times, in the area of East 17th St. and Hamilton Ave. The victim was transported to the hospital where he later died. A warrant for Conner’s arrest was issued on January 20 of this year.
Members of the NOVFTF began searching for Conner in the Cleveland area and featured him as the Fugitive of the Week on January 27. Early this morning Conner was located by the task force in an apartment in the 1400 block of Crestline Ave. in Cleveland. Although Conner was arrested without incident, a handgun with an extended magazine was recovered at the scene.
U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “This is a violent individual causing terrible harm in two different states. We are thankful to the public who called in tips after seeing this fugitive in the media. The partnership with the citizens of Cleveland, who want to see Cleveland a safer place, goes unmatched.”
Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous. Follow the U.S. Marshals on Twitter @USMSCleveland.
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Cleveland Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies: U.S. Marshals Service, Cleveland Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department, Euclid Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Independence Police Department, Parma Police Department, Aurora Police Department, Solon Police Department, Cleveland RTA Police Department, Westlake Police Department, Bedford Police Department, Middleburg Heights Police Department, Newburgh Heights Police Department and the Metrohealth Police Department.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Guy Lamb, Criminologist / Senior Lecturer, Stellenbosch University
Crime researchers use murder (or homicide) rate per 100,000 as a crude measure of the general level of violent interpersonal crime globally. According to the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, South Africa’s murder rate of 45 per 100,000 (2023/24) is the second highest for countries that publish crime data.
The South African Police Service crime data shows that levels of attempted murder, armed robbery and robberies at homes have soared over the past 10 years. Other categories of violent crime, such as assault and sexual violence, also remain high.
High crime rates have had considerable negative effects on the country’s economy. The destructive impact of violent crime is estimated to cost the equivalent of 15 % of GDP.
In 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa indicated that government would seek to reduce violent crime by 50% within a decade. The police budget increased by 24% from 2018/19 to 2024/25. But the murder rate increased by 25%, from 36 per 100,000 in 2018/19 to 45 per 100,000 in 2023/24.
I have spent 25 years researching violent crime and policing in South Africa. I also wrote a 2022 book, Policing and Boundaries in a Violent Society, and conducted various studies for the Institute for Security Studies.
In my view, the logical approach for government is to attend to the top 100 high crime areas. I’ll show why below. It must use the resources of the departments in its justice, crime prevention and security cluster to intervene in targeted, evidence-based ways, to combat and prevent crime.
Violent crime in South Africa has consistently been highly concentrated in a small number of urban areas. For example, 20% of all reported murders occur in just 30 policing areas (2.6% of the 1,149 policing areas). About 50% of all violent crime occurs in 100 policing areas (9% of the precincts).
Place-based crime reduction interventions have yielded positive results in high crime cities in a variety of countries, such as the US, Argentina and Trinidad and Tobago.
But in South Africa, the approach to fighting crime has focused instead on arrests and on force. This is why increasing the funding hasn’t had results.
The police arrested around 1.5 million criminal suspects a year between 2019/20 and 2023/24. (The exception was 2020/1, with 2.8 million arrests due to COVID-19 lockdown violations.)
A negative outcome of this police action has been rising civil claims against police, amounting to R67.4 billion (US$3.6 billion) as of March 2024 (47,818 claims).
The police have also used militarised approaches, such as Operation Shanela. Officers have been encouraged to be more forceful against alleged criminals.
There is very little evidence to suggest that militarised policing reduces violent crime. It can actually contribute to declining public trust in the police. Only 27% of the population consider police trustworthy (from 47% in 1999).
Despite the police budget increasing in recent years, their effectiveness has been undermined by declining personnel numbers. In 2018, there were 150,639 police personnel. This has dropped to 140,048 in recent years. There has also been a substantial reduction in the police reserve force.
A further challenge is the high rate of recidivism (re-offending). An estimated 90% of offenders commit crime again after leaving prison.
I argue that six things need to happen in the 100 worst crime areas:
reduce the number of firearms in circulation
improve the number of court-ready police dockets
improve place-based crime intelligence
reduce alcohol harms
provide rehabilitation and support services for offenders
boost community safety organisations.
Firearms are the leading weapon used in murders and in several categories of robberies. They are also commonly used in sexual violence, and feature in gangsterism and organised crime.
Confiscating illegal firearms and ammunition, and securing convictions for those found in possession of illegal firearms, will have a positive impact in the target areas.
This requires a close working relationship between police and the National Prosecuting Authority to collect appropriate evidence and prepare court dockets adequately.
Rulings by magistrates that declare certain people unfit to possess licensed firearms must be monitored regularly.
The National Prosecuting Authority has undergone reforms over the past six years to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. As a result, it has secured high conviction rates for several categories of violent crimes. However, many police dockets lack sufficient reliable evidence for the prosecutors to present so as to secure convictions in court.
As the table below shows, the vast majority of recorded violent crime cases do not result in a court conviction.
Police officials in high crime areas are typically overwhelmed by the large number of criminal cases they need to investigate. That means only a small number of dockets that have a likelihood of securing a conviction are prepared.
More resources are needed to increase cooperation between the police and prosecutors.
Better crime intelligence could result in better control of illegal firearms and higher quality police dockets.
Police crime intelligence and other departments in the justice and security cluster must cooperate and share information.
Several forms of violent crime are linked to excessive alcohol consumption. Unregulated alcohol outlets present the most risky context for committing violence. There is an opportunity for police, prosecutors (especially through the Community Prosecutions Initiative) and municipalities to collaborate to reduce alcohol related crime and harms in the top 100 high crime areas.
This requires more effective monitoring and policing of alcohol outlets to ensure better compliance with liquor laws.
It is likely that recidivism rates would be reduced if former prisoners and their families had better rehabilitation services in the top 100 high crime areas. Studies suggest that the most effective and practical programmes are those that focus on substance abuse, restorative justice, mental health, education and income generation.
Such services could give former inmates a means to generate an income legally.
Studies have shown that crime can be reduced when police and other government entities work closely with community organisations to devise solutions.
Community police forums and neighbourhood watches are examples of these kinds of arrangements.
They can collect intelligence and help the authorities design and implement evidence-based crime prevention actions that focus on the areas where crime is concentrated, and on the situations that tend to drive crime.
– Violent crime in South Africa happens mostly in a few hotspots: police resources should focus there – criminologist
– https://theconversation.com/violent-crime-in-south-africa-happens-mostly-in-a-few-hotspots-police-resources-should-focus-there-criminologist-248233
Source: US State of New York
Governor Kathy Hochul today unveiled the findings from New York’s first responder mental health needs assessment. The assessment was developed to better understand the mental health-related challenges facing individuals working in public safety fields and strengthen programs and services for these professionals. More than 6,000 individuals in law enforcement, emergency medical services, fire services, emergency communications and emergency management from every region of the State completed a voluntary anonymous survey, and five follow up focus group discussions were held. The assessment showed more than half of the participants experience high levels of stress, burnout, anxiety and depression related to their jobs, and that they may not seek help due to their fear of facing stigma. As part of the 2025 State of the State, Governor Hochul announced new initiatives to protect and support New York’s first responders, including launching a first responder counseling scholarship program to create a sustainable pipeline of mental health professionals uniquely equipped to support the responder community.
“Our first responders go above and beyond the call of duty to protect our communities — their wellbeing is a reflection of our collective strength, and we must do everything we can to support them,” Governor Hochul said. “I initiated the first responder mental health needs assessment to help address and further tackle the mental health crisis among our first responders, and I’m committed to continue breaking down barriers to care and get them the resources they need.”
Recognizing the unique mental health challenges that first responders face, Governor Hochul announced several new initiatives aimed at supporting and protecting first responders. Governor Hochul proposed launching a first responder counseling scholarship program through the State University of New York (SUNY) that would help close gaps in care due to a shortage of counselors familiar with the responder community. Financial barriers often deter first responders from pursuing counseling degrees, limiting the availability of culturally competent mental health professionals. This initiative will support first responders pursuing counseling degrees and offer micro-credentials in areas like trauma-informed care and peer support leadership. In return for scholarship support, recipients will commit to serving as counselors in New York State, creating a sustainable pipeline of mental health professionals uniquely equipped to support the responder community.
Governor Hochul also understands staffing shortages may lead to increased challenges to first responders’ mental health. That is why she proposed in her 2025 State of the State to eliminate outdated barriers in public safety recruitment that have limited public safety agencies’ ability to attract qualified candidates, excluding individuals with valuable experience and worsening staffing shortages. Governor Hochul will modernize occupational standards to expand pathways for qualified candidates. This includes raising the New York State Police retirement age to 63 and removing the 35-year-old maximum age restriction for law enforcement recruitment, as well as allowing non-New York residents to apply for correctional officer positions. These changes will ensure agencies can draw from a broader and more diverse pool of applicants.
Many New Yorkers also face barriers to pursuing public safety careers due to misaligned training programs and limited opportunities for advancement. Governor Hochul will partner with SUNY and the City University of New York (CUNY) to award academic credit for public safety training programs and integrate these credits into degree pathways. These efforts will attract more candidates to public safety careers and provide advancement opportunities for those currently working in public safety.
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “First responders are exposed to traumatic situations in the line of duty every day, which lead to mental health issues that affect their personal and professional lives. This assessment gave us important insights into the specific challenges they face and will help us provide them with the resources they need to help manage those stresses.”
New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “Understanding the extreme stress and cumulative trauma our first responders typically experience on the job is a critical starting point for us to address burnout and other negative impacts they encounter. This survey and the subsequent focus group discussions have provided us with critical information to advise our efforts to support the mental health needs of the first responder community and their families.”
Some of the report’s key findings include:
Benjamin Center at SUNY New Paltz Director of Education Projects Robin Jacobowitz said, “We want to extend our deep gratitude to the more than 6,000 first responders across New York State who gave their time and insights for this study. We know it is not always easy to talk about mental health, especially in a professional context. Your willingness to discuss your ideas, experiences, and challenges help bring this critical issue to light and will fuel the interagency, statewide effort to enhance support structures for New York’s first responders.”
Institute for Disaster Mental Health at SUNY New Paltz Executive Director Amy Nitza said, “This assessment documents not only the tremendous toll that the work takes on first responders, but also the significant barriers they encounter in getting the help they need. IDMH is committed to collaborating with our partners throughout New York State, including responders themselves, to remove those barriers and ensure that all our first responders have access to the support and care that enables them to continue serving their communities so well.”
Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. said, “This assessment confirms that while first responders face unique stress, burnout, and mental health challenges, stigma too often prevents them from seeking the help they need. I commend the efforts of New York State and law enforcement agencies to acknowledge the problem and focus on ways to expand support for Officers. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for recognizing the urgency of this issue and for ensuring that law enforcement has a seat at the table of this very important conversation.”
The assessment was commissioned by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) and conducted by the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz’s Institute for Disaster Mental Health and the Benjamin Center.
Governor Hochul announced the launch of the survey last April as part of her $1 billion comprehensive multi-year plan to overhaul the continuum of mental health care, and DHSES highlighted the preliminary findings in May. Early results of the assessment showed that 80 percent of survey-takes experienced negative impacts to home life due to work, while 79 percent reported negative impacts to physical health and 72 percent cited challenges with family relationships.
As a result of the survey, New York State is working to identify and advance a variety of wellness efforts. For example, as part of her 2025 State of the State, Governor Hochul unveiled a number of proposals aimed toward supporting first responders, one of which includes launching the First Responder Counseling Scholarship Program through SUNY. Additionally, DHSES, the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) and other agencies are continually working to identify and offer wellness-related training opportunities for New York State’s first responders. DHSES and OMH are also partnering to develop a training on first responder cultural competency for mental health professionals.
Mental Health Resources To Assist First Responders
First responders experiencing mental health distress can seek support from a number of existing available resources.
Most importantly, individuals experiencing thoughts of suicide or experiencing any other type of mental health crisis can call, text or chat with the State’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 988 is completely free, confidential and is available 24/7. Managed by OMH, anyone in need of services or interested in learning more about the hotline can visit their website at https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/crisis/988.html.
Additionally, OMH’s Suicide Prevention Center hosts an initiative called CARES UP that focuses on improving the mental health and wellness of law enforcement, firefighters, emergency services personnel and veterans. Learn more at https://nycaresup.com.
DHSES collaborated with OMH to expand the state’s Disaster Mental Health Response, which comprises state and local teams of licensed professionals and volunteers trained to provide crisis counseling and other mental health services to individuals and responders impacted by disasters and other crisis situations.
DHSES worked with the Institute for Disaster Mental Health (IDMH) at SUNY New Paltz to create a Managing Stress Workforce to help first responders and other public safety personnel better identify, understand, and manage stress. Originally developed for DHSES staff, the workshops have been expanded to include other State and local agencies. DHSES is also expanding training at the State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC), to include peer support team training. Peer support teams are comprised of individuals who have received specific training to provide emotional, social, and practical support to their peers, when needed. Peer support teams are often used within public safety organizations to help individuals deal with job-related stress and following critical incidents. DHSES is also in the process of creating a Peer Support Team to serve as a resource for agency staff and potentially other first responder organizations. More information about available training can be found on the DHSES website.
About the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) provides leadership, coordination, and support to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disasters and other emergencies. For more information, follow @NYSDHSES on Facebook, Instagram and X, or visit https://www.dhses.ny.gov
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Guy Lamb, Criminologist / Senior Lecturer, Stellenbosch University
Crime researchers use murder (or homicide) rate per 100,000 as a crude measure of the general level of violent interpersonal crime globally. According to the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, South Africa’s murder rate of 45 per 100,000 (2023/24) is the second highest for countries that publish crime data.
The South African Police Service crime data shows that levels of attempted murder, armed robbery and robberies at homes have soared over the past 10 years. Other categories of violent crime, such as assault and sexual violence, also remain high.
High crime rates have had considerable negative effects on the country’s economy. The destructive impact of violent crime is estimated to cost the equivalent of 15 % of GDP.
In 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa indicated that government would seek to reduce violent crime by 50% within a decade. The police budget increased by 24% from 2018/19 to 2024/25. But the murder rate increased by 25%, from 36 per 100,000 in 2018/19 to 45 per 100,000 in 2023/24.
I have spent 25 years researching violent crime and policing in South Africa. I also wrote a 2022 book, Policing and Boundaries in a Violent Society, and conducted various studies for the Institute for Security Studies.
In my view, the logical approach for government is to attend to the top 100 high crime areas. I’ll show why below. It must use the resources of the departments in its justice, crime prevention and security cluster to intervene in targeted, evidence-based ways, to combat and prevent crime.
Violent crime in South Africa has consistently been highly concentrated in a small number of urban areas. For example, 20% of all reported murders occur in just 30 policing areas (2.6% of the 1,149 policing areas). About 50% of all violent crime occurs in 100 policing areas (9% of the precincts).
Place-based crime reduction interventions have yielded positive results in high crime cities in a variety of countries, such as the US, Argentina and Trinidad and Tobago.
But in South Africa, the approach to fighting crime has focused instead on arrests and on force. This is why increasing the funding hasn’t had results.
The police arrested around 1.5 million criminal suspects a year between 2019/20 and 2023/24. (The exception was 2020/1, with 2.8 million arrests due to COVID-19 lockdown violations.)
A negative outcome of this police action has been rising civil claims against police, amounting to R67.4 billion (US$3.6 billion) as of March 2024 (47,818 claims).
The police have also used militarised approaches, such as Operation Shanela. Officers have been encouraged to be more forceful against alleged criminals.
There is very little evidence to suggest that militarised policing reduces violent crime. It can actually contribute to declining public trust in the police. Only 27% of the population consider police trustworthy (from 47% in 1999).
Despite the police budget increasing in recent years, their effectiveness has been undermined by declining personnel numbers. In 2018, there were 150,639 police personnel. This has dropped to 140,048 in recent years. There has also been a substantial reduction in the police reserve force.
A further challenge is the high rate of recidivism (re-offending). An estimated 90% of offenders commit crime again after leaving prison.
I argue that six things need to happen in the 100 worst crime areas:
reduce the number of firearms in circulation
improve the number of court-ready police dockets
improve place-based crime intelligence
reduce alcohol harms
provide rehabilitation and support services for offenders
boost community safety organisations.
Firearms are the leading weapon used in murders and in several categories of robberies. They are also commonly used in sexual violence, and feature in gangsterism and organised crime.
Confiscating illegal firearms and ammunition, and securing convictions for those found in possession of illegal firearms, will have a positive impact in the target areas.
This requires a close working relationship between police and the National Prosecuting Authority to collect appropriate evidence and prepare court dockets adequately.
Rulings by magistrates that declare certain people unfit to possess licensed firearms must be monitored regularly.
The National Prosecuting Authority has undergone reforms over the past six years to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. As a result, it has secured high conviction rates for several categories of violent crimes. However, many police dockets lack sufficient reliable evidence for the prosecutors to present so as to secure convictions in court.
As the table below shows, the vast majority of recorded violent crime cases do not result in a court conviction.
Police officials in high crime areas are typically overwhelmed by the large number of criminal cases they need to investigate. That means only a small number of dockets that have a likelihood of securing a conviction are prepared.
More resources are needed to increase cooperation between the police and prosecutors.
Better crime intelligence could result in better control of illegal firearms and higher quality police dockets.
Police crime intelligence and other departments in the justice and security cluster must cooperate and share information.
Several forms of violent crime are linked to excessive alcohol consumption. Unregulated alcohol outlets present the most risky context for committing violence. There is an opportunity for police, prosecutors (especially through the Community Prosecutions Initiative) and municipalities to collaborate to reduce alcohol related crime and harms in the top 100 high crime areas.
This requires more effective monitoring and policing of alcohol outlets to ensure better compliance with liquor laws.
It is likely that recidivism rates would be reduced if former prisoners and their families had better rehabilitation services in the top 100 high crime areas. Studies suggest that the most effective and practical programmes are those that focus on substance abuse, restorative justice, mental health, education and income generation.
Such services could give former inmates a means to generate an income legally.
Studies have shown that crime can be reduced when police and other government entities work closely with community organisations to devise solutions.
Community police forums and neighbourhood watches are examples of these kinds of arrangements.
They can collect intelligence and help the authorities design and implement evidence-based crime prevention actions that focus on the areas where crime is concentrated, and on the situations that tend to drive crime.
Guy Lamb receives funding from the Research Council of Norway and the British Academy.
– ref. Violent crime in South Africa happens mostly in a few hotspots: police resources should focus there – criminologist – https://theconversation.com/violent-crime-in-south-africa-happens-mostly-in-a-few-hotspots-police-resources-should-focus-there-criminologist-248233
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
Security Minister Dan Jarvis gave an update on the Prevent Learning Review – jointly commissioned with Counter Terrorism Policing following the Southport attack.
With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement updating the House on the government’s response to the Southport murders.
The attack in Southport in July last year was one of the most appalling and barbaric crimes committed in this country.
For young children and adults to be attacked in this way and 3 young girls killed is utterly heartbreaking. The Home Secretary and I would like to thank those people who showed great bravery in attempting to stop the attack.
For this foul act of violence to happen while children were enjoying themselves at a dance class at the beginning of the school holidays is beyond comprehension.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the 3 girls and all those injured as they continue to live with the trauma of that dark day.
No one should have to go through what they have, and we are steadfast in our commitment to ensuring they get every possible support.
Madam Deputy Speaker, responsibility for this abhorrent attack lies with the perpetrator. Axel Rudakubana has been sentenced to life imprisonment. He will serve a minimum of 52 years in prison.
And Mr Justice Goose said it is highly likely that he will never be released.
When the Home Secretary addressed the House on this case last month, she outlined the multiple interactions the perpetrator had with state bodies in the years before the attack. This included police, social services and mental health services.
There are serious questions about how various agencies failed to identify and collectively act on the warning signs.
All those questions must be answered – we owe that to the families, who deserve the truth about what went wrong.
That is why the government is committed to understanding and addressing the failings in this tragic case through a comprehensive public inquiry.
It will examine the issues raised in this case but also wider challenges around rising youth violence.
We are moving swiftly to set up the inquiry.
We will consult the families to ensure all critical issues are addressed while remaining sensitive to the needs of those most affected. We expect to announce further details about the inquiry next month.
While we do not pre-empt the conclusions of the inquiry, there are areas where action can and must be progressed immediately.
Prevent is a vital part of our counter-terrorism system. We must endeavour to identify those susceptible to radicalisation early and before they go on to commit terrorist acts.
Prevent receives nearly 7,000 referrals every year and our hard-working frontline staff have supported nearly 5000 people away from terrorism since 2015. We must get Prevent right.
That is why the Home Office and Counter-Terrorism Policing commissioned a rapid Prevent learning review immediately after the attack.
These are usually internal technical reviews intended to identify swift learning and improvement for Prevent.
But the importance of the families needing answers has meant that, today, following close engagement with the families, we are taking the unusual step of publishing the Prevent Learning Review.
And I can update the House that the perpetrator was referred to Prevent 3 times between December 2019, when he was aged 13, and April 2021, when he was 14. Those referrals were made by his schools.
The first referral reported concerns about him carrying a knife and searching for school shootings on the internet. The second referral was focused on his online activity relating to Libya and Gaddafi. His third referral was for searching for London bombings, the IRA, and the Israel-Palestine conflict.
On each of these occasions, the decision at the time was that the perpetrator should not progress to the Channel multi-agency process.
But the Prevent Learning Review found that there was sufficient risk for the perpetrator to have been managed through Prevent.
It found that the referral was closed prematurely and there was sufficient concern to keep the case active while further information was collected.
The review is clear on the concerning behaviours that the perpetrator demonstrated. It highlights his interest in the Manchester Arena attack.
That he talked about stabbing people.
And it flagged that some of the grievances that could have been a motivation, were not fully considered.
The review also highlights the perpetrator’s clear vulnerabilities and complex needs that may have made him more susceptible to being drawn into terrorism.
The review concluded that:
Indeed, the overall conclusion of the review is that he should have been case-managed through the Channel multi-agency process, rather than closed to Prevent.
This would have enabled co-ordinated multi-agency risk management and support.
Madam Deputy Speaker, the Prevent Learning Review made 14 recommendations for improvements to Prevent.
We have accepted these findings and rapid action has been taken to implement the recommendations.
Counter Terrorism Policing have conducted in-depth assurance visits to every region to determine whether the issues identified in this case have been resolved by operational improvements made since 2021.
Urgent work is underway to address the findings.
The Prevent Assessment Framework was launched in September and is now in place across all regions. It was developed by experts and is being used to triage and risk-assess all Prevent referrals. It will improve decision-making at all stages of the Prevent system. Roll-out of this tool has been accompanied by rigorous mandatory training.
We have begun an end-to-end review of Prevent thresholds to ensure Prevent can deal with the full range of threats we see today, from Islamist extremism, which is the most significant terrorist threat the UK faces, through to the fascination with mass violence we saw in the Southport case.
This internal review will complete in April and further strengthen the approach to repeat referrals, and ensure that clear policy, guidance, and training is in place.
We have completed the first stage of a policy review into how Prevent supports referrals who have mental ill-health or are neurodivergent.
Actions for improving the operational approach have been identified and will be implemented swiftly, with oversight from the new Prevent Commissioner.
We are also strengthening our approach to the oversight of referrals that do not meet Prevent thresholds, to make sure that people receive the right support.
Next week, a pilot starts in several local areas to test new approaches to cases that are transferred to other services.
And, of course, the government has appointed Lord Anderson as Interim Prevent Commissioner. This is the first time that Prevent will have a dedicated independent oversight, in its history and this will ensure Prevent is always held to the highest standards.
His first task is to review the perpetrator’s Prevent history, drawing on the Prevent Learning Review. This will identify whether there is further learning, examine improvements made to Prevent since 2021, and identify any remaining gaps that require further improvement.
Lord Anderson will complete the review within his term as Interim Commissioner, which will end with the appointment of a permanent commissioner in the summer of this year.
But it is simply not enough to focus only on this case. We need to take an even more robust approach to identifying learning swiftly and driving that learning through the Prevent system.
The Prevent Commissioner will be tasked with overseeing a new approach to Prevent learning reviews that enables rapid debriefing and urgent action after incidents, but also provides a clear framework that binds other agencies into the joint learning process.
Transparency and enabling public scrutiny is also fundamental.
And that is why we will take steps to publish the findings of other independent Prevent learning reviews where there has been an incident of national significance.
So, Madam Deputy Speaker, next week, we will publish the Prevent Learning Review into the appalling attack on Sir David Amess to enable further public scrutiny of this important programme.
Madam Deputy Speaker, the first duty of government is to ensure the security of our country and the safety of our people, because nothing matters more.
And while we can never undo the hurt and pain caused by this unthinkably wretched attack, we can, we must and we will do everything in our power to prevent further atrocities.
As the Prime Minister said, Southport must be a line in the sand for Britain.
If that means asking difficult questions about shortcomings or failures, so be it.
If it means holding institutions and processes to account, we will do so without fear or favour.
And if changes are required to protect the public and combat the threats that we face, then this government will not hesitate to act.
I commend this statement to the House.
Published 5 February 2025
Source: United States Attorneys General 13
Remarks as prepared for delivery
Chairman Barrasso, Vice-Chairman Tester and Members of the Committee:
I am honored to appear before you to discuss the implementation efforts of the Department of Justice to fulfill our responsibilities as established in the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 (TLOA) and, ultimately, to improve public safety in Indian country. In introducing this Act in April 2009, Chairman Dorgan illuminated some of the hard realities faced by tribes in modern times, including: astonishingly high rates of violence, criminal exploitation of complex and sometimes confusing jurisdiction and crippling limitations on the legal authorities of tribal governments to ensure safety on their lands. The introduction of TLOA included a charge to the federal government to provide tribal governments with the tools they need to better protect their communities, to live up to our treaty and trust obligations and to be more accountable for our efforts to enhance public safety in Indian country. Thank you for the opportunity to provide an overview of the department’s efforts over the past five years to fulfill our responsibilities under this Act and honor our broader obligations to Indian country.
In October 2009, the department held a listening session with tribal leaders to help guide and inform the department’s policies, programs and activities affecting Indian country going forward. Our leadership recognized the need to swiftly and meaningfully improve our contributions to public safety in Indian country and as a result of this listening session, launched a department-wide initiative to enhance public safety in Indian country, which is ongoing. With the passage of TLOA in July 2010, the department’s initiative expanded to absorb new responsibilities and assumed a renewed sense of urgency. Our work to enhance public safety has been and continues to be, shaped by our commitment to empower tribal governments; to improve coordination and collaboration at the federal, tribal, state and local levels; and to be appropriately accountable for the work we do.
Empowering Tribal Governments
The department views tribes as partners in ensuring public safety in Indian country and is committed to maximizing tribal control over tribal affairs. It is our belief, informed by experience, that challenges faced by tribes are generally best met by tribal solutions. In support of this commitment and the government-to-government nature of our relationships with tribes, the department has worked to fulfill its responsibilities under TLOA in a way that will ultimately empower tribes to operate with more autonomy.
In order to support law enforcement activity by tribal officials in Indian country, tribes require access to law enforcement databases. Under TLOA, the department must ensure that tribal law enforcement officials have access to national crime information databases. The ability of tribes to fully engage in national criminal justice information sharing via state networks, which are the long-time conduit for such activities, has been dependent upon regulations, statutes and policies of the states that may not consistently enable tribal participation. In order to improve access for tribes, the department has established two new programs and partnered on a third.
First, the Justice Telecommunications System (JUST) program, which was launched in 2010, provided participating tribes with access to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). This program is ongoing and currently serves 23 tribes. This program, as well as the other two programs to improve data base access, were the result of on-going, substantive dialog with tribal governments and law enforcement.
Second, the department recently launched a more comprehensive access program based on feedback from tribes and lessons learned from the JUST program: the Department of Justice’s Tribal Access Program for National Crime Information (TAP). The TAP program, first announced in August 2015, is designed to provide access to CJIS services, including: Next Generation Identification (NGI); National Data Exchange (N-DEx); Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal (LEEP); National Crime Information Center (NCIC); National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS); and Nlets, the International Justice and Public Safety Network. Nlets is an interstate public safety network for the exchange of law enforcement, criminal justice and public safety information owned by the states. Nlets supports inquiry into state databases, such as motor vehicle, driver’s license and criminal history, as well as inquiry into several federal databases, such as Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Drug Pointer Index, ICE’s Law Enforcement Support Center and FAA’s Aircraft Registration and Canada’s Canadian Police Information Center. With funding from the Office of Justice Programs’ (OJP) Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART), the TAP program has selected ten tribal participants to help provide user feedback on the training, technical assistance, equipment, and maintenance of this program. Early feedback has been very positive and it is our intention to eventually make this program available to any interested tribe. We will continue to work with Congress for additional funding to more broadly deploy the program.
The TAP Program was the result of a 2014 working group, which consisted of representatives from the Departments of Justice and the Interior. From this same close collaboration, the department partnered with Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services (BIA-OJS) in a third program known as “BIA Purpose Code X,” which gives tribes the ability through BIA-OJS to perform emergency name-based background checks for child placement purposes. This is a crucial capability for tribal social service agencies seeking emergency placement of children in Indian country.
The Department of Justice has increased its efforts to support tribal governments that are exercising expanded sentencing authority rooted in TLOA. While TLOA properly does not require the department to review or certify a tribe’s use of enhanced felony sentencing authority or the status of a tribe’s efforts to amend its codes and court processes to provide defendants with the due process protections described in TLOA, we have taken steps to help ensure that tribes interested in exercising enhanced sentencing authority have knowledge of and access to relevant resources. For example, OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance Program has provided training and technical services to support tribal civil and criminal legal procedures, legal infrastructure enhancements, public education and the development and enhancement of tribal justice systems. More specifically, training and technical services have included the following: indigent legal defense services; civil legal assistance; public defender services; and strategies for the development and enhancement of tribal court policies, procedures and codes.
The provision of high-quality training to tribal representatives has been an area of increased activity within the department since the passage of TLOA. The department believes that ensuring access to quality training is a necessary element to bolstering tribal autonomy. In July 2010, the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) launched the National Indian Country Training Initiative (NICTI) to ensure that federal prosecutors and agents, as well as state and tribal criminal justice personnel, receive the training and support needed to address the particular challenges relevant to Indian country prosecutions. Importantly, the department covers the costs of travel and lodging for tribal attendees at classes sponsored by the NICTI. This allows many tribal criminal justice officials to receive cutting-edge training from national experts at no cost to the student or tribe. The NICTI has sponsored approximately 75 training courses, and reached over 200 tribal, federal and state agencies.
Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced a forthcoming training course to be held at the FLETC campus in Artesia, New Mexico. Jointly taught by FBI and BIA “mentors” and FLETC common core instructors, the course will include instruction in forensic evidence collection and preparatory instruction on investigations common to Indian country, such as domestic violence, child abuse, violent crimes, human trafficking and drug trafficking. This course will be held four times each year, with a total of 24 students in each session. This course, the result of collaboration between FBI, BIA and FLETC, was developed out of a recognized need to train federal and tribal law enforcement officers together. Another recent training was held by the DEA. In September 2015, the National Native American Law Enforcement Association held a collaborative training event where the DEA provided on-site training on clandestine lab awareness for first responders, emerging technologies, and money laundering. The training included federal, state, local, and tribal partners with Indian country responsibility.
One of the most meaningful displays of the department’s commitment to a government-to-government relationship with tribes is in our efforts to cross-deputize tribal law enforcement officials. In doing so, we not only expand their authorities, but we send an important message that we are partners and allies with tribes in our collective efforts to enhance public safety in Indian country. The Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Program was developed prior to the passage of TLOA to train tribal prosecutors in federal criminal law, procedure and investigative techniques to increase prosecutions in federal court, tribal court, or both. The program enables tribal prosecutors to bring cases in federal court and to serve as co-counsel with federal prosecutors on felony investigations and prosecutions of offenses originating in tribal communities. The program has grown considerably since the passage of TLOA. To date, there are 25 SAUSAs representing 23 tribes. In addition to the SAUSA program, the Department of Justice investigative agencies have cross-deputized tribal law enforcement officers through joint task forces. For example, the FBI has deputized 85 tribal law enforcement officers as part of the Safe Trails Task Forces. There are currently 15 active Safe Trails Task Forces located around the country, working to combat violent crime, drugs, gangs and gaming violations.
In 2014, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) fulfilled a key provision of TLOA by accepting certain tribal offenders sentenced in tribal courts for placement in BOP institutions. The pilot program allowed any federally-recognized tribe to request that the BOP incarcerate a tribal member convicted of a violent crime under the terms of Section 234 of TLOA and authorized the BOP to house up to 100 tribal offenders at a time, nationwide.
A fundamental goal of the BOP is to reduce future criminal activity by encouraging inmates to participate in a range of programs that have been proven to help them adopt a crime-free lifestyle upon their return to the community. Through the pilot program, tribal offenders have access to the BOP’s many self-improvement programs, including work in prison industries and other institution jobs, vocational training, education, treatment for substance use disorders, classes on parenting and anger management, counseling, religious observance opportunities and other programs that teach essential life skills. BOP has also ensured that there are culturally-appropriate offerings for native inmates. In addition to increasing access to critical programs and treatments, the pilot program facilitated tribes’ ability to exercise enhanced sentencing authority under TLOA, which is an important indication of support for tribal sovereignty. The pilot program was, by all accounts, a success and both tribes and the department would be supportive of necessary Congressional action to reauthorize this program.
An important part of our support to tribes is necessarily tied to funds. The department launched the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS) in 2010, as a response to tribes’ request for increased flexibility. Through CTAS, tribes and tribal consortia are able to submit a single application to apply for a broad range of the Department of Justice tribal grant programs. Through CTAS, the department has awarded over 1,400 grants totaling more than $620 million. Over time, we have refined this solicitation to enable tribes to take a truly comprehensive approach to improving public safety in tribal communities. Under TLOA, the department was required to offer specific grants for delinquency prevention and response and to include dedicated funding for regional information sharing. To date, we have awarded more than $44 million in support of tribal youth programs and more than $108 million to support regional information sharing systems. The department continually seeks feedback from tribes on ways to improve CTAS and each year with our solicitation announcement we also communicate steps we have taken during the previous year to improve the process. The most recent solicitation was released on Nov. 19, 2015, with an application deadline of Feb. 23, 2016. It incorporates a number of changes, including the elimination of certain eligibility requirements, broadening allowable activities and extending the award period for certain grants. Each year, the intention is to increase the accessibility and usefulness of CTAS grants.
In parallel to our outward-facing efforts, the department has made a number of internal structural changes to ensure our revamped presence in Indian country is long-lived.
Evolution of Agency Infrastructure
To ensure that the day-to-day operations at the department are supportive of the policy and programmatic changes we have made since the passage of TLOA, we have made a number of internal adjustments across the department, from headquarters to field offices. The intent in making these changes was to absorb the principles that drive the TLOA and our response to that Act, thus integrating them into the way we do business at the department. Indeed, although not a direct response to TLOA, the department issued Attorney General Guidelines Stating Principles for Working with Federally Recognized Tribes (Statement of Principles) in December 2014 to guide and inform all of the department’s interactions with federally-recognized tribes. This Statement of Principles serves as a point of reference for department employees and, importantly, a standard to which tribes can hold the department accountable.
In 1995, then-Attorney General Janet Reno established the Office of Tribal Justice (OTJ). OTJ has operated continuously since then, although it was not made permanent until the passage of TLOA. On Nov. 17, 2010, less than four months after TLOA’s enactment, the department published in the Federal Register a final rule that established OTJ as a permanent, standalone component of the department. My office serves as a principal point of contact in the department for federally-recognized tribes, provides legal, policy and programmatic advice to the Attorney General with respect to the treaty and trust relationship between the United States and Indian tribes, promotes internal uniformity of department policies and litigation positions relating to Indian country and coordinates with other federal agencies and with state and local governments on their initiatives in Indian country.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices with Indian country in their districts play a primary role in our interactions with tribes. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices often are the nexus of activity when federal involvement on reservations is necessary, from investigations to prosecutions to providing services to victims. Every U.S Attorney’s Office, whose district includes Indian country or a federally-recognized tribe, has at least one Tribal Liaison and some districts have more than one. Along with the TLOA-driven requirement that each relevant office appoint a Tribal Liaison, the U.S. Attorneys are required to hold annual consultations with tribes in their districts. In order to assist the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee’s Native American Issues Subcommittee, as well as to serve as a liaison to other department components, the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys formally established the position of Native American Issues Coordinator.
These changes to the structure of the department were driven by the department’s support for and fulfillment of its responsibilities under TLOA. There have been a series of policy shifts that are not a direct response to the Act but are in keeping with the spirit of that legislation. For example, the issuance of the Department of Justice Statement of Principles, discussed earlier, marks an important shift in our approach at all levels of the department to interacting with tribes. Similarly, the Department of Justice Consultation Policy is based on three guiding principles: that the department must engage with tribal nations on a government-to-government basis; that tribal sovereignty and Indian self-determination are now and must always be, the foundations of every policy or program; and that communication and coordination with our tribal partners, among federal agencies and with our state and local counterparts are essential to accountability and to success.
Greater Accountability
Accountability is a critical element in a true partnership and the department has taken a number of steps to increase our accountability to tribes. The TLOA-mandated reports were intended to promote greater transparency of department activities in Indian country and the process of responding has been a useful exercise for our agency to scrutinize trends and patterns of activity. In some cases, the reports have revealed a need to expand our agency response to meet specific needs and organize our resources more effectively, such as those related to long-term detention. In other cases, the reporting process highlighted positive impacts that department activity has had in Indian country over time and a need to perpetuate beneficial initiatives, such as the BOP pilot program report and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Report. In tracking prosecutions and crime data, the department has benefitted from taking a focused look at our response to trends in Indian country and as a result is in a better position to adjust our resources internally to address emerging trends and issues.
The department has made progress over the past five years in bolstering our government-to-government relationship with tribes and in honoring our treaty and trust obligations. We are all fully cognizant that there is significant work still to be done to live up to our responsibilities in Indian country and we are committed to seeing this work through. We appreciate Congress’ efforts to foster public safety and look forward to working closely with our partners in Indian country to fully honor our responsibilities. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Source: United States Attorneys General 13
Remarks as prepared for delivery
Good morning. The Attorney General apologizes for not being able to be here today. She was at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland – addressing cybercrime issues – and, unfortunately, unable to get back to D.C. in time for this because of the snowstorm.
Thank you, Tim [Lordan], for that warm welcome, and for your leadership of the Internet Education Foundation (IEF). I also want to thank the IEF for the invaluable services you have provided since your organization was founded nearly two decades ago – and that you continue to provide today. Through this conference series, you bring together industry leaders, dedicated experts and devoted public servants to explore how we can harness new technologies to build more empowered communities and a stronger nation.
As the Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division, my foremost task in the cyber area is the vigorous, fair and effective enforcement of our cyber laws. The Justice Department does that by finding ways to protect our networks against evolving threats, by thwarting bad actors online, and by ensuring that both our security and our liberties remain as strong in the digital age as they have been throughout our history.
Essentially, we are focused on a question that President Obama posed in his State of the Union address a few weeks ago: How do we make technology work for us, and not against us?
In our age of rapid change and constant disruption, that question is relevant to almost every aspect of our lives, including law enforcement and national security.
There is no doubt that technology has both expanded and complicated our capacity to detect, investigate and prosecute crimes. Today, by using new technologies, we can analyze some types of evidence with unprecedented speed and accuracy, and coordinate with partners around the world in real time.
But as law enforcers have become better equipped, so have the law breakers we’re working to disrupt. Digital technology has transformed how police and prosecutors do our jobs, but it has also transformed how wrongdoers commit their crimes. Our bank accounts and personal information now exist online, tempting thieves and fraudsters.
The greater anonymity of cyberspace gives cover to drug dealers and arms traffickers. Dark websites are used to circulate illicit content, like images of child sexual exploitation and stolen credit cards.
Communication is frequently by instant message and email, so there are no actual paper trails, but rather virtual ones in data stored on digital devices, hard drives and in the cloud. And it isn’t just criminals who exploit the Internet for nefarious purposes.
The web also hosts groups and individuals who seek to harm our core security interests – from state-sponsored hackers conducting economic espionage; to rogue militants and official cyber warfare units targeting our infrastructure; to terrorist groups plotting attacks, radicalizing recruits and spreading hateful ideologies.
These emerging threats require nimble, innovative and adaptive responses, and at the Department of Justice, we are committed to doing our part to ensure that law enforcement stays a step ahead of bad actors.
The FBI continues to investigate cyber intrusions and national security threats while monitoring individuals, organized groups and state actors who might attempt to steal sensitive data or inflict harm. We recently created a Cybersecurity Unit within our Criminal Division, staffed with experienced prosecutors fluent in the law, policy and practice of cybercrime prevention.
And the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has established an Internet Investigations Center (known as IIC) where federal agents, legal counsel and investigators track and counter illegal online firearms trafficking. The IIC – which was highlighted in the president’s recent recommendations to curb gun violence – has already identified a number of significant traffickers operating over the Internet, and their work has led to prosecutions against individuals and groups using the “dark net” to traffic guns to criminals or attempting to buy firearms illegally online.
Of course, the Department of Justice’s work to combat cybercrime is enhanced through our collaboration with law enforcement partners in other agencies, such as the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. And we are working to enhance cybersecurity and information sharing through our work with the Department of Homeland Security.
These are important steps to protect our online information and to combat crime here at home – but with an entity as vast and complex as the Internet, we must also reach beyond our own borders to partner with other countries. And that’s exactly what we’ve done.
In the last fiscal year, the FBI’s Cyber Division embedded three permanent Cyber Assistant Legal Attachés in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia to help facilitate information-sharing, improve cooperation on investigations and build even stronger relationships with our allies.
We recently placed a Criminal Division prosecutor with Eurojust in The Hague and one in Southeast Asia. These positions will help to facilitate information-sharing, improve cooperation on investigations and build even stronger relationships with our law enforcement partners in other countries.
We’ve also created a cyber unit in our Office of International Affairs (OIA) dedicated to responding to and executing requests for electronic evidence from foreign authorities – requests that have increased by 1,000 percent over the last decade.
To help manage that significant growth, we have been actively hiring additional attorneys and professional staff for OIA’s Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty Modernization Project, and we hope to continue expanding our ability to help our overseas counterparts. And we are providing critical, real-time assistance to foreign counterparts through the 24/7 Points of Contact Network established by the Group of Seven Nations and by the Budapest Cybercrime Convention – a convention that, I am pleased to note, continues to be joined by countries around the world committed to fighting cybercrime.
Partnerships like these don’t just cultivate closer connections with our friends and allies – they also get results. In 2012, we participated in a multinational sweep of child-pornography websites, ultimately dismantling more than 200 websites that sexually exploited children.
In November 2014, we joined more than 15 countries under the auspices of the European Cybercrime Centre – or EC3 – to launch Operation Onymous, which shuttered a number of so-called “dark market websites” peddling drugs, weapons, stolen credit card data, fake passports and computer-hacking tools.
And this past July, our joint effort with EC3 shut down the Darkode hacking forum – an underground site where hackers convened to buy, sell and trade malicious software, botnets, intrusion tools and stolen personal information. That operation involved a coalition of 20 nations, led by the U.S. Department of Justice and EC3, and allowed us to charge, arrest or search 70 Darkode members and associates around the world.
The Justice Department will continue to work with foreign law enforcement agencies to prevent and prosecute groups and individuals that illegally use the Internet for crime and exploitation. Of course, as we seek to ensure the safety and integrity of our devices, databases and networks, it is crucial that we work closely not only with other law enforcement officers, but also with the people who create and design these products themselves – the executives, entrepreneurs and engineers who make America’s tech sector the envy of the world.
Our collaboration has been instrumental in a range of important victories, including the takedown of the GameOver Zeus Botnet, an operation in which technology and data-security companies played an invaluable role. We are committed to building on those successes by maintaining strong partnerships with the private sector.
That’s why the department has placed a high priority on entities like the FBI’s National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force, which enables collaboration across government to respond to computer intrusions and attacks, and the National Cyber-Forensics & Training Alliance, which brings together law enforcement, private partners and experts in academia to address the cyber threats we face together.
And it’s why the Attorney General and I have been meeting regularly with industry leaders to foster cooperation and discuss urgent issues – including last week at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, where the Attorney General joined with industry leaders to endorse five recommendations for enhancing public/private partnerships to fight cybercrime. We will continue to reach out to representatives of the tech industry, and our door is always open to new ideas for combatting cybercrime and online extremism.
One area where cooperation between the government and the private sector is especially important is in addressing the growing problem of the government’s inability to obtain critical information in electronic form even when we have court authorization to do so. This is the problem known as “going dark.”
While investigations used to rely on physical evidence – like handwritten notes, or documents stored in filing cabinets – as you can imagine, in the 21st century that kind of evidence is growing scarce. Our ability to track and prosecute criminals now often depends on instant messages, emails and other forms of digital information. In fact, nearly every criminal investigation we undertake at the federal level relies on electronic evidence.
But as new ways of using encryption become an increasingly standard feature of personal electronic devices and messaging platforms, companies are losing the ability to respond to lawful processes. Those materials are increasingly inaccessible to law enforcement officers, even when we have a warrant to examine them. And we find ourselves facing obstacles which can stop our investigations and prosecutions in their tracks.
The security of our online information is critically important, and so is the legal process that protects our values and our safety. These are complementary, not competing priorities. After all, digital security is a vital tool, but it is not a cure-all – especially when it impedes our ability to protect ourselves and each other in the physical world.
The Department of Justice is completely committed to seeking and obtaining judicial authorization for electronic evidence collection in all appropriate circumstances. But once that authorization is obtained, we need to be able to act on it if we are to keep our communities safe and our country secure.
From gang activity to child abductions to national security threats, the ability to access electronic evidence in a timely manner is often essential to successfully conducting lawful investigations and preventing harm to potential victims.
As FBI Director [James] Comey recently said, in May, two terrorists attempted to kill a lot of people. One of the terrorists exchanged 109 messages with an overseas terrorist. We have no idea what he said because it was encrypted. That is a big problem. We have to grapple with it.
That’s why the Justice Department and organizations like the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National District Attorneys Association and the Major Cities Chiefs Association feel strongly that there needs to be a way for law enforcement to retrieve critical information in cases where it’s necessary and authorized. We are committed to working with innovators, leaders and problem-solvers like you to figure out how we can best meet this public need together.
Of course, our interest in working together with you extends beyond this particular issue. The Internet has so fundamentally changed the way we live our lives that there are times when institutions like law enforcement must evolve. And as we seek to adapt to this new reality in a wide variety of ways, your creativity, your expertise and your leadership can help us ensure that the innovations we enjoy will benefit and protect the American people – and not those who would harm them or their liberties and rights.
We understand that this is no easy task. These are novel and difficult challenges. But what makes us confident about our ability to succeed is that, throughout our history, this country has always found a way to move forward while retaining the values that make us who we are. We are certain that we will do the same in the digital age. And together, we will build a brighter, safer and more prosperous future for all.
Thank you for your ongoing cooperation in that effort, and for your commitment to our shared goals. I look forward to all that we will accomplish – together – in the weeks and months ahead.
Source: US State of California
Minh Quang Pham, also known as “Amim”, 41, was sentenced today to 44 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for attempted suicide bombing in alliance with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
“The defendant was sentenced for an attempt to commit an act of terrorism and plotting a suicide bombing on behalf of AQAP,” said Devin DeBacker, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department will not rest in seeking justice for acts of terrorism and will continue to thwart any attempt to jeopardize global security.”
“Pham coordinated with known terrorist Anwar al-Aulaqi on a plot to conduct a suicide bombing at Heathrow International Airport which could have killed or injured many people, but fortunately that plan was stopped,” said Assistant Director David J. Scott of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “Pham also tried to recruit others to commit acts of terrorism. The FBI will work with our partners to hold accountable those who align themselves with terrorist organizations and attempt to carry out acts of violence.”
“Minh Quang Pham’s actions were not just an affront to the safety of this country, but to the principles of peace and security that we hold dear,” said U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon for the Southern District of New York. “Today’s sentencing underscores our collective resolve to stop terrorism before it occurs, and place would-be terrorists in prison.”
According to court documents, in December 2010, Pham informed others that he planned to travel to Ireland while residing in London. From Ireland, he traveled to Yemen, the principal base of operations for AQAP. Pham traveled to Yemen in order to join AQAP, wage jihad on behalf of AQAP, and martyr himself for AQAP’s cause. After arriving in Yemen, he swore an oath of loyalty to AQAP in the presence of an AQAP commander.
While in Yemen in 2010 and 2011, Pham provided assistance to and received training from Anwar al-Aulaqi, a U.S.-born senior leader of AQAP. Al-Aulaqi advised Pham to return to the U.K. for the purpose of finding and making contact with individuals who, like Pham, wanted to travel to Yemen to join AQAP. Al-Aulaqi also provided Pham with money, as well as a telephone number and e-mail address that Pham was to use to contact al-Aulaqi upon his return to the U.K. In addition, Pham exchanged his laptop computer with al-Aulaqi, who provided him with a new “clean” laptop to take with him when he returned to the U.K. so that the authorities would not find anything if they searched his computer.
In or about June 2011, prior to his departure from Yemen, Pham approached al-Aulaqi about conducting a suicide attack whereby he would “sacrifice” himself on behalf of AQAP. Al-Aulaqi personally taught Pham how to create a lethal explosive device using household chemicals and directed Pham to detonate such an explosive device at the arrivals area of Heathrow International Airport following Pham’s return to the U.K. in 2011. Al-Aulaqi instructed Pham to carry an explosive in a concealed backpack and target the area where flights arrived from the U.S. or Israel. During this time, Pham made videos depicting his preparation to carry out that attack. In one video, Pham is shown wiring an electrical device for the use of making an explosive device. In another video, he sketches an explosive device to be contained in a backpack, and in a third, Pham wears a backpack with wiring for explosives on it, which he turns on in the video.
During this time, around June or July 2011 — shortly before Pham returned from Yemen to the U.K. — Pham recorded a video in which he attempted to recruit and encourage individuals in the West to engage in violent jihad abroad or in their home countries. In this video, he also expresses a desire to martyr himself. At the outset of this video, consisting of an approximately 13-minute-long monologue, Pham states that, “America itself is not fighting a war with a group or an organization, they are fighting with the army of Allah, the believers.” He continues, in part, “We have that opportunity, that ability to be in their midst, in their land . . . and I advise the brothers inshallah to, whatever you can, to gather and prepare and strike the enemy in their own land . . . The saying, a thousand cuts, you hit them with as much as you can until inshallah the enemy will bleed to death.” During his time in Yemen, Pham also assisted with the preparation and dissemination of AQAP’s propaganda magazine, Inspire. Pham, who has college degrees in both graphic design and animation, worked directly with now-deceased U.S. citizen, Samir Khan, who was a prominent member of AQAP responsible for editing and publishing Inspire.
Pham also received a six-page document entitled “Your Instructions” from al-Aulaqi in Yemen, which provided detailed instructions on how Pham was to commit his suicide attack at Heathrow. The document from al-Aulaqi instructed Pham, “[d]o not do anything for the first three months” and “[y]ou should target Christmas/ New Year season[.]” The instructions from al-Aulaqi provided explicit direction about the importance of using shrapnel to kill as many people as possible, including that “[t]he proper use of shrapnel is as important as the main charge itself. The detonation wave from a main charge of AP by itself is most likely not going to cause the death of anyone except those who are in its immediate vicinity. It is the shrapnel that would do the job. You may imagine this IED as a shotgun that is firing in all directions.” The document therefore instructed Pham to take “special care” with the “proper arrangement and choice of shrapnel,” and to “poison” it to inflict maximum death.
On July 27, 2011, Pham returned to the U.K. Upon his arrival at Heathrow, U.K. authorities detained Pham, searched him, and recovered various materials from him, including a live round of 7.62mm caliber armor-piercing ammunition, which is consistent with ammunition that is used in a Kalashnikov assault rifle, a type of weapon for which Pham received training from AQAP in Yemen. U.K. authorities released Pham and cautioned him for his possession of the live round of ammunition, before, in December 2011, arresting him pursuant to their authorities under U.K. immigration law. In searches of Pham’s residence, other locations, and vehicles, U.K. authorities recovered several pieces of electronic media. Among other things, a forensic analysis of Pham’s electronic media showed that he was accessing speeches and writings of al-Aulaqi as late as December 2011 — months after Pham’s return to the U.K.
On May 24, 2012, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Pham with terrorism offenses and U.S. authorities sought Pham’s extradition from the U.K. He was provisionally arrested with a view towards extradition on June 29, 2012, and he was extradited to the United States on Feb. 26, 2015. On Jan. 8, 2016, Pham pleaded guilty to terrorism offenses related to certain of the same underlying conduct. On May 27, 2016, Pham was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan principally to a term of 40 years in prison. On Sept. 12, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed Pham’s conviction and sentence. Thereafter, Pham made a motion that, based on intervening Supreme Court decisions, resulted in the vacatur of one of the counts of his conviction. Ultimately, the government, with Pham’s consent, moved to vacate Pham’s earlier convictions. On April 8, 2021, a grand jury returned a superseding indictment, reinstating certain charges and filing other new charges against Pham, and which formed the basis for Pham’s May 11, 2023, guilty plea and conviction.
The FBI Washington and New York Field Offices investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Metropolitan Police Service/SO 15 Counter Terrorism Command at New Scotland Yard, Crown Prosecution Service, and the Home Office provided assistance in the investigation, extradition, and prosecution of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob H. Gutwillig for the Southern District of New York and Trial Attorney John Cella of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.
Source: United States Attorneys General 13
Good morning, everyone, and thank you, Ted [Shaw], for that warm welcome. I want to thank the University of North Carolina’s Center for Civil Rights for organizing this energizing conference and inviting me to join you today. It’s humbling to be part of a program with such a distinguished group of civil rights leaders. I see many dear friends and colleagues in this room. Through advocacy and academia, through service and leadership – you have devoted your careers to the cause of justice and the fight for equality.
For just over two years, I’ve had the enormous privilege and great honor to lead the Civil Rights Division’s work in that fight. At times, my tenure has been filled with moments of tragedy and anguish. And there is no doubt that events in recent years have exposed and exacerbated stark divisions of ideology and open wounds of racial tension across America. I’ve sat with grieving families who lost their loved ones in officer-involved shootings. I’ve attended funerals of officers killed in the line of duty. I’ve seen how the inequities in our criminal justice system can destroy lives and derail futures. And I’ve been all too aware of how some of the most vulnerable among us encounter a real gap between what the law guarantees, on one hand, and what they experience in their daily lives, on the other – from courtrooms, to voting precincts, to public bathrooms.
Yet I firmly believe that these are also times of possibility, of opportunity and of hope. Because amidst the tragedies and divisions, I’ve seen police officers and residents working together to promote community-oriented policing strategies. I’ve seen firsthand these past two years – in meetings, conferences and roundtables around the country – law enforcement leaders stand up and speak out to transform the profession, embracing de-escalation tactics, procedural justice and a smart-on-crime approach. And I’ve seen how people from different walks of life can come together to engage in America’s imperfect, but unyielding journey of progress towards a more inclusive country and a more just union.
For nearly six decades – from prosecuting the 1964 murder of three civil rights workers in Mississippi; to combating segregation in education; to enforcing the Fair Housing Act; to preventing discrimination in lending, whether in redlining or underwriting; to defending the civil rights of LGBT men and women here in North Carolina – the division’s career lawyers have played a pivotal role in our country’s quest for justice. The division vigorously enforces civil rights laws to make the promises of equal justice, equal protection and equal opportunity real for all. We work to restore faith in the legitimacy of our justice system. And we work to defend the integrity of our democracy. Because discrimination, inequality and injustice don’t only harm individuals. They threaten entire communities. They breed cynicism and despair. And they erode trust in our public institutions – trust essential to upholding the rule of law, to advancing public safety and to engaging in our centuries-old democratic experiment of effective self-governance.
In stark terms and in real time, we’ve seen this connection between discrimination and distrust play out around the country through the lens of community-police relations. Sometimes, a particular incident ignites public outrage and unrest. And let be me clear: when law enforcement officials flout the law, the Civil Rights Division works to prosecute criminal misconduct and hold them accountable. But I’ll be honest with you, the federal statute that applies is narrow. In use-of-force cases, federal law requires us to prove both that the officer used “objectively unreasonable” force and that she or he acted willfully – “for the specific purpose of violating the law” – the highest standard of criminal intent in the federal code. Mistake, misperception, negligence and poor judgment are not prosecutable at the federal level. That said, during this administration, we have charged more than 580 law enforcement officials for committing willful violations of civil rights and related crimes.
But we know that the true causes – the real reasons – for unrest run far deeper than any individual incident. And we know that while public attention to these issues might be new, these causes are long-standing and systemic. We’ve found these causes time and again through several of the 23 civil pattern-or-practice investigations we’ve opened into local police departments during this administration. These cases focus not on individuals but on systems. Broken systems – plagued by unlawful practices and tainted by bias – can devastate a community and corrode public trust, letting down not just the victims of police misconduct but the officers who seek to proudly wear the badge.
We saw the impact of broken systems in Baltimore, where a “zero tolerance” street enforcement strategy became a quest to produce numbers – pedestrian stops of African Americans in particular – regardless of their limited impact on solving crime and the damage they did to community relationships. Officers routinely arrested people for loitering or trespassing if they could not provide a “valid reason” for standing on the sidewalk or near a public housing development. In one instance, a shift commander emailed a template for describing such trespassing arrests. The template had blank fields. Except that it had the words “black male” pre-filled for the suspect description. Blanket assumptions and stereotypes about certain neighborhoods and certain communities led many residents to see the justice system as illegitimate and authorities as corrupt.
We saw the impact of broken systems in Ferguson, where the criminalization of poverty – and intentional racial bias in police and court practices – eroded public trust. The city relied on enforcement strategies “to fill the revenue pipeline” without due consideration for whether officers could better protect the city by focusing on neighborhood policing, rather than debt collection. We found the city issuing multiple citations with excessive fines and fees for minor violations – $302 for jaywalking, $427 for disturbing the peace and $531 for allowing high grass and weeds to grow on your lawn – and then arresting and even jailing residents when they couldn’t afford to pay.
We saw the impact of broken systems in New Orleans as well, where officers lacked the ability to effectively communicate with immigrant communities. At the time of our investigation, the New Orleans Police Department relied primarily on just two officers – one fluent in Spanish and one fluent in Vietnamese – to assist on all service calls and investigations involving limited English proficient residents. As one Spanish-speaking immigrant testified, “[W]e don’t feel safe, we don’t feel supported. We, the immigrants don’t feel support from them [the police]. We cannot call them for any kind of problem for help.”
And we saw the impact of broken systems in Seattle, where the use of excessive force against individuals in crisis left families dealing with mental illness or addiction with nowhere to turn for help, without access to services and too fearful to call the police when the denial of treatment created dangerous situations for themselves and their loved ones.
While each of these communities struggled with unique problems, the broken systems and police misconduct caused residents to view the police, the courts or even government itself as arbitrary, biased and unfair. And when residents didn’t trust law enforcement, they became less willing to share information – information critical to solving and preventing crimes. Entire communities felt that the justice system was not protecting or serving them, perpetuating disillusionment and exacerbating tensions. Simply put, unconstitutional policing threatens the security and well-being of our communities. And that hurts us all.
Of course, broken systems and unconstitutional policing practices don’t operate in isolation from other inequities in our justice system. Indeed, throughout the justice system – from arraignment to sentencing – when people experience a two-tiered system of justice that stacks the deck against those living in poverty, these broader failures erodes trust, too. The entire Department of Justice – including our team at the Office for Access to Justice, led by Director Lisa Foster – has helped lead the charge against criminal justice policies that punish poverty. We’ve sent a dear colleague letter to state and local judges to help end unlawful fine and fee practices that result in inescapable cycles of debt and incarceration. We’ve shined a light on the right-to-counsel crisis by filing briefs around the country – arguing that if due to underfunding and high workloads, public defenders can’t meaningfully test the prosecution’s case, that violates the Sixth Amendment. We’ve taken on the criminalization of homelessness, arguing that because every human being must sleep at some time and in some place, arresting and punishing a person for sleeping in public – when there aren’t enough shelter beds in the city and she has nowhere else to go – criminalizes the status of being homeless. We’ve addressed unlawful bail practices that result in jailing presumptively innocent people solely because of their poverty, without consideration of their ability to pay or alternatives to incarceration, causing people to lose their jobs, their health benefits or their homes without any benefit to public safety. As with the issue of systemic police misconduct, addressing these issues – by preventing the punishment of poverty and by ensuring access to justice for all – is critical to restoring and maintaining the public’s faith in the legitimacy of our institutions and the integrity of our democracy.
The integrity of our democracy also depends on ensuring that every eligible voter can participate in the electoral process. Voting forms the bedrock of our democracy. In our democracy, no matter what policy issue we care about most, we get closer to these goals through the ballot box. The Justice Department works to ensure that every eligible voter enjoys the full range of voting rights protected by federal law. It makes no difference to us what candidate a voter selects or what party she supports. But we fight day-in and day-out, in elections big and small, not just in November but throughout the year, to protect her right to have a say. Even with the severe setback of the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder, we’ve continued to use every tool at our disposal, including the Voting Rights Act, to protect voters from discrimination and provide the opportunities federal law guarantees. And when it comes to protecting the process, we have been winning.
This year, courts around the country issued pivotal rulings to protect the franchise, including in landmark cases brought by the Justice Department and private plaintiffs in North Carolina and Texas. In July, a federal appeals court ruled that “because of race, the legislature enacted one of the largest restrictions of the franchise in modern North Carolina history,” striking down a law that “target[s] African Americans with almost surgical precision.” And after years of litigation prolonged by Shelby County, in July the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit struck down a Texas voter ID law for violating the Voting Rights Act. Roughly half a million Texans lacked the form of ID needed to vote. As Sammie Louise Bates – an elderly African American woman living on a fixed income of $321 per month, who lacked the birth certificate she needed to get a Texas ID – testified, “I had to put the $42 [I needed to get the birth certificate] where it was doing the most good … because we couldn’t eat the birth certificate … and we couldn’t pay rent with the birth certificate.” From Alabama to Connecticut, we’ve also reached critical settlements to ensure that eligible voters can register with the ease and access that federal law requires.
In the general election last month, the Justice Department sent more than 500 personnel to 67 jurisdictions in 28 states to monitor polling places in the field. Of course, no matter how vigorously and effectively we protect this most fundamental right – through enforcement and monitoring, with government action and support from private plaintiffs – eligible voters need to go out and exercise it. Democracy requires active participation. Self-government, after all, doesn’t happen by chance. But I recognize that people need to believe in the legitimacy of government – in the guarantee that government will treat them fairly, with dignity and decency – in order to participate in the process.
Defending the integrity of our democracy also requires protecting all people – no matter who they are, what they look like, whom they love or where they worship – from harm. Violence against people based on their identity not only violates the law and harms individuals. It also denies entire communities the promises of equal protection and true freedom. Following recent heinous acts of terrorism and divisive rhetoric – we’re combating a backlash of religious discrimination targeting Muslim communities and others perceived to be Muslim. Just two days ago, we convicted a Minneapolis man of a hate crime for writing and mailing a threatening letter to a local Islamic Center, where he threatened to “blow up your building with all you immigrants in it.” Beyond hate crimes, this discriminatory backlash also includes bullying in schools and unlawful barriers to building houses of worship.
For the past eight years, the Civil Rights Division has also worked tirelessly to make the promise of equal protection real for gay, lesbian and transgender individuals. Just last month, we celebrated the seventh anniversary of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This law expanded the federal definition of hate crimes to include protections against crimes based on gender, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation. It marked the first time that the words, “lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender” appeared in the United States Code. It enhanced the legal toolkit available to prosecutors. And it increased the ability of federal law enforcement to support our state and local partners. In the years since, the Civil Rights Division has vigorously enforced this landmark statute. And we continue to work with our partners on the federal, state and local levels to ensure the robust enforcement of hate crime statutes.
Hate violence may mark the most severe form, but discrimination anywhere – and in any form – offends the Constitution and corrodes the ideals of our democracy. In United States v. Windsor and Obergefell v. Hodges, the Justice Department argued successfully that our Constitution guarantees the equal protection of the law to all people. In citing the Supreme Court’s previous decisions – and in recounting America’s painful history of discrimination against gay and lesbian individuals – we explained that bans on same-sex marriage “exclude a long-mistreated class of human beings from a legal and social status of tremendous import” and are “incompatible with the Constitution.” And then in June 2015, the Supreme Court agreed, ruling that here in America, our Constitution guarantees all people “equal dignity in the eyes of the law.” The Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell stands as a beacon of light – not only for gay and lesbian individuals but for the cause of justice itself.
The cause of justice is never static. It is always searching for the next barrier to dismantle, for the next right to vindicate and for the next freedom to secure. Earlier this year, I joined Attorney General [Loretta] Lynch to announce our lawsuit against North Carolina for violating the civil rights of transgender individuals. Just like Obergefell was about more than just marriage, our challenge to H.B. 2 was about more than just bathrooms. Justice [Anthony] Kennedy wrote in Obergefell that gay men and women have a right to “dignity in their own distinct identity.” And, in 1964, in a case vindicating the Justice Department’s efforts to enforce the Civil Rights Act against the Heart of Atlanta Motel, which refused to let African Americans use its facilities, Justice [Arthur] Goldberg wrote that the “primary purpose” of our nation’s antidiscrimination laws “is the vindication of human dignity.” Laws like H.B. 2 force transgender people to choose between their dignity and basic participation in public life. The humiliation, frustration and embarrassment transgender people feel when they are denied access to a facility others of their gender are free to use – when they receive the message that they are less worthy of equal status and dignity than their peers – is the pain of discrimination and always has been. Fighting discrimination is the mission of the Civil Rights Division, and it always has been.
In all of the areas I spoke about today, we – as a nation and as a people – have far more work to do. Whether it’s in North Carolina or in countless other places across America – from rural towns to large states – this fight is centered around the cause of hope. To me, civil rights work has always been built upon a foundation of hope. It’s the hope that despite the zigs and the zags of our nation’s history, we have been marching forward, imperfectly yet inexorably. The long struggle for equal justice and equal opportunity in this country has always required a deep and abiding reservoir of hope. Hope gives us the struggle and the struggle gives us hope. It’s the hope that this work transforms the nation, fulfills dreams and changes lives.
While we will face new and emerging challenges to equality in the days ahead – just as we always have – civil rights work has always been designed to endure, to build new, infectious momentum in both public and private action. And when I look at the distinguished leaders in this room, I know that with your determination, your creativity and your compassion, together we will continue to advance America’s march for progress and quest for justice. Thank you.
Source: United States Attorneys General 13
Good afternoon, everyone. I want to start by thanking Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General [Bill] Baer and Deputy Attorney General [Sally Q.] Yates for joining us today and for their wise counsel and outstanding support of the Civil Rights Division. I also want to thank Attorney General [Loretta E.] Lynch – who I know wanted to be here today and sends her regards – for her unwavering support of the division’s work. And I want to thank all of you – the men and women who carry out the division’s work, day-in and day-out, with the utmost integrity. For nearly six decades – during Democratic and Republican administrations, with resilience and resolve, in times of tumult and triumph, against threats of billy clubs and bullets – the Civil Rights Division has advanced America’s highest ideals of freedom, justice and equality for all.
In 1957 – in an era with open wounds of racism and hate, against fierce opposition and after a more than 24-hour filibuster by Senator Strom Thurmond – Congress passed the first piece of civil rights legislation since Reconstruction. Focused almost exclusively on voting rights, the legislation didn’t provide the tools to address widespread discrimination in employment, housing, education and other important areas. But it did create a framework to enforce the protections that Congress would pass, that courts would defend and that America would support in the years to come. That framework was the Civil Rights Division. And over time those protections went into law – protections centered around the most fundamental of human aspirations: the notion that all people deserve to be treated fairly, with dignity and with decency. They were protections designed to advance the cause of justice.
The cause of justice is never static. It is always searching for the next barrier to dismantle, for the next right to vindicate and for the next freedom to secure. That’s what President [Lyndon B.] Johnson meant when he signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and said, “those who founded our country knew that freedom would be secure only if each generation fought to renew and enlarge its meaning.” That’s what President [George H.W.] Bush meant when he signed the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 and declared: “Let the shameful wall of exclusion finally come tumbling down.” And that’s what Justice [Anthony] Kennedy meant when he wrote last year in Obergefell v. Hodges that our Constitution guarantees all people “equal dignity in the eyes of the law.”
For the past eight years, this Civil Rights Division has answered that same call to make the promise of justice real for every person in every community. During a time when civil rights are at the forefront of our national public discourse, you have made extraordinary contributions. From policing and criminal justice reform, to LGBT rights and voting, you have fought discriminatory barriers and opened doors of opportunity for some of the most vulnerable among us: people with disabilities, people of color, people living in poverty and people who speak English as a second language. Your work has transformed the nation, fulfilled dreams and changed lives. And in doing this work, from Appellate to Policy, you’ve showed an amazing capacity to work across section boundaries.
You helped Hugo Ramirez – who lost his job, and then his savings and his car, because of an error with E-Verify – resolve the issue and find a new job as director of business development for a California health care provider. In his words, you “gave me my livelihood back.”
After Police Officer Lyndi Trischler suffered complications from a high-risk pregnancy and the city of Florence, Kentucky, denied her request for light duty, you brought a case, reached a critical settlement, won her thousands of dollars in relief and changed the policies and training for protecting future female employees of the city.
In a case that captured the attention of people all over the world, you brought a groundbreaking lawsuit against the state of North Carolina over H.B. 2 to vindicate the rights and defend the dignity of transgender individuals.
Your Olmstead enforcement helped Gabrielle – who dreamed of buying a home – find work as a grooming assistant at a dog day care and boutique, earning more than $9 per hour. As she said, “I feel better about my life and … I ended up buying that house.”
A consent decree you reached with Wells Fargo created a program called CityLIFT that changed Monica’s life. After she couldn’t buy a home for her family and lost her deposit, she felt like she “had lost everything.” But once she learned about CityLIFT, which provides down payment assistance grants, she used the program to fulfill her dream and buy a home. As Monica explained, “I needed for my children to know they can do anything, and for my mother to know she’s done well.”
You changed norms in our justice system by advancing language access in state courts around the country. Because of your work, a low-income LEP woman in Michigan no longer needs to struggle through her child custody hearing or use her son as the court interpreter.
You won two landmark voting rights cases in Texas and North Carolina. In Texas, Sammie Louise Bates was one of roughly half a million Texans who lacked the form of ID needed to vote. Bates – an elderly African-American woman living on a fixed income of $321 per month – lacked the $42 for a birth certificate she needed for a Texas ID. As she testified, “I had to put the $42 where it was doing the most good … because we couldn’t eat the birth certificate … and we couldn’t pay rent with the birth certificate.” Now, thanks to you, Bates can vote without paying money she doesn’t have for a card she can’t afford.
You supported and implemented an election monitoring program that mobilized the division and department to make sure we didn’t miss a beat – and based on your effort, we sent more than 500 personnel to 67 jurisdictions in 28 states during last month’s general election.
You reached a settlement agreement so that thousands of kindergarteners in Arizona will have the chance to learn English and reach their full potential.
You negotiated a consent decree with Ferguson and released our findings letter on Baltimore – two cases that shaped a national dialogue around the devastating connections among race, poverty and injustice in policing.
Your work brought transformative change to Ohio’s juvenile corrections system. One young person explained the system’s “drastic change” that helped transform her from one of the worst-behaved kids to one of the best. She went on to describe the powerful lesson of self-confidence: “When I get home I know I’m going to be able to use my new thought process because it feels so much better than doing what I used to do, being in trouble.”
From filings on bail reform and the criminalization of homelessness to a letter to state and local judges about the unlawful imposition of fines and fees, you have sought to ensure that no one is punished for their poverty.
You stood up for a black gay man in Corpus Christi, Texas, who was viciously beaten because of his race and sexual orientation. You prosecuted hate crimes targeting Muslim Americans and other vulnerable groups. You convicted a defendant for recruiting foreign students from Kazakhstan by falsely promising clerical jobs at a made-up yoga studio and then forcing them into prostitution. And you vindicated the rights of inmates and civilians abused and assaulted by officers who flouted the law.
You did extensive outreach to combat religious discrimination. And you helped advance diversity in law enforcement by identifying common barriers and promising practices to employment in the profession.
For just a few minutes, I want to talk about what your work has meant to me, and I want to emphasize that for the next several weeks, we still have work to do together. During the past two plus years, you have given me the experience of a lifetime – the privilege to advance the cause of justice, to lift up the amazing work of the outstanding career men and women in the division. It has been the most incredible two years of my life. I cannot thank you enough – for your leadership, for your friendship and for your service to our country. You have transformed the landscape of civil rights work in America irrevocably. And you have done it all with grace and resolve, with compassion and empathy, with unyielding drive and relentless focus.
You have also given me hope. This work is never easy. And I know that we – as a nation and as a people – have far more work to do. Congress didn’t create the Civil Rights Division in 1957 to solve the easy problems. Congress created this division to tackle the toughest issues, to serve as an independent and forceful agency of justice and hope. You cannot be an agent of change without a deep reservoir of hope. It’s the hope that men and women today can build a more just, more inclusive and more free future for the children of tomorrow. It’s the hope that thanks to all of you in the Civil Rights Division, people will reap the benefits of this work for generations to come – in safer streets, in desegregated schools, in fair markets and in stronger communities. It’s the hope that despite the zigs and the zags of our nation’s history, you will continue to ensure that America marches forward, imperfectly yet inexorably. Hope fuels the struggle and the struggle fills us with hope.
While we will always face new and emerging challenges to equality, civil rights work is designed to endure and build momentum. It is ironic but true that we learn the depth of our resiliency when tackling the greatest challenges. The nation needs the Civil Rights Division and all of you to continue to make equal justice and equal opportunity a reality for all who live in the country. Thank you for driving progress in our country. It has been such an incredible privilege to lead this division that I love so very much working alongside such a distinguished and exemplary team of colleagues.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
Greenbelt, Maryland – On January 31, 2025, U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman sentenced Julian Everett, 41, of New Carrollton, Maryland, to 20 years in federal prison and 20 years of supervised release, for kidnapping minors and producing child sexual abuse material.
Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha N. Braveboy; and Chief Malik Aziz, Prince George’s County Police Department.
According to the guilty plea, in 2005, 2015 and 2016, Everett acknowledged sexually abusing and capturing sexual abuse material of several victims at his New Carrollton home – four were minors.
On July 11, 2005, Everett drove Victim 2 — who was16 at the time — from the Commonwealth of Virginia to his New Carrollton residence. While at his residence, Everett provided Victim 2 with a beverage, before engaging in sexual intercourse without her consent. Everett also took nude photographs of the victim without her consent.
Additionally, on August 23, 2015, Everett drove another victim — who was 18 at the time — from a Washington, D.C. night club to a gas station. While there, Everett created and provided Victim 3 with a beverage before driving her to his New Carrollton residence. Everett then engaged in sexual acts with Victim 3 without her consent.
Then on August 21, 2016, Everett drove Victim 1 — who was then 17 at the time — from her Washington, D.C. residence to a Northwest D.C. barbershop where he worked. While at the barbershop, Everett created and provided Victim 1 with a beverage. Victim 1 drank it and eventually lost consciousness before waking up at Everett’s home while he was performing a sexual act on her. Additionally, Everett recorded the sexual encounter and took naked pictures of the victim without her consent.
Authorities arrested Everett in Prince George’s County on March 21, 2019. Federal law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Everett’s electronic devices, revealing images of child sexual abuse material, including a video of Everett engaging in sexual intercourse with an unidentified fifth female victim. During the video, Victim 5 can be heard mumbling and is physically unresponsive with her eyes closed.
On March 26, 2019, a fourth victim reported a sexual-assault incident to the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division. Between March and April 2015, Everett transported Victim 4 — who was16 at the time — from her Washington D.C. residence to his New Carrollton home. After arriving at his house, Everett mixed a drink for Victim 4 who drank it and became lightheaded. Everett then engaged in multiple sexual acts with Victim 4 without her consent, which he also digitally recorded. He also took nude photos of her.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended the FBI, Office of State’s Attorney for Prince George’s County, Maryland, and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Hagan and Thomas Sullivan who prosecuted the federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Source: United States Attorneys General 13
Remarks as prepared for delivery
Good afternoon, Chairman Cruz, Ranking Member Coons, and distinguished Members of the Committee. Thank you for this opportunity to discuss the many ways in which the Department of Justice is providing valuable support and resources to the nation’s 800,000 law enforcement officers in the more than 16,000 local, state and tribal police agencies and sheriff’s offices across the country.
I come to you today not just as the Director of the Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services – also known as COPS – but as one who has spent close to 30 years as a local police officer. I served 20 years in the Oakland Police Department rising to the rank of Captain, and close to nine years as police chief for the city of East Palo Alto, California. For me, the decision to become a cop was an easy one – I simply followed my father’s footsteps, who served 25 years in the Philadelphia Police Department.
I can tell you as a 30-year, second-generation cop, there is no greater or more noble profession than policing. And, I can also tell you without hesitation that the men and women who answer this calling are truly America’s finest. So, you can imagine the great satisfaction it brings me to lead the COPS Office and work for the Justice Department – an agency that provides tremendous support to local, state and tribal law enforcement.
For example, since 2009, COPS has awarded over $2 billion in hiring grants to create and preserve more than 10,000 police officer and deputy positions in nearly 2,600 law enforcement agencies. For some agencies, providing funding for just one officer may mean the difference in having a full shift and making sure officers have sufficient cover and safety.
COPS also supports the development of effective crime-fighting initiatives. As a police chief I implemented several of these initiatives which contributed to dramatic reductions in murders in my city – a city that was once dubbed the murder capital of the United States.
Over the past 20 years, the COPS Office has provided training to over 700,000 officers and deputies, and supports valuable research releasing publications on a wide range of issues from homeland security to reducing gang violence to building community trust and enhancing officer safety and wellness. These publications are critical to the field because most agencies have fewer than 50 officers and do not have the capacity to conduct this research on their own.
Just last month COPS released two valuable research reports – one addressing ambush attacks against police, and another presenting models for protecting the physical and psychological health of officers. These reports will help officer safety and save lives.
Through our executive sessions, COPS brings together the best and brightest minds in the field to tackle issues such as crime and violence, preventing violent extremism, handling mass casualty events, use of force and officer safety. The information gleaned from these sessions is distributed to the field.
Another way we help the field is through the COPS Collaborative Reform Initiative. At a law enforcement agency’s request, COPS examines key operational areas within the agency – such as training, internal investigations, use of force, and racial profiling – and provides recommendations that will enhance community trust and public safety. COPS then works closely with the agency in implementing these recommendations.
The Las Vegas police department was the first to complete this process and Collaborative Reform efforts are now underway in Spokane, Philadelphia, St. Louis County, Salinas, Calexico, and Fayetteville, with the latest request coming from the Milwaukee police chief.
This voluntary process has received support from the Civil Rights Division and my esteemed colleague, Vanita Gupta. It is considered in some cases as a viable option, when appropriate, over a pattern and practice investigation.
Through our Catalyst grants, COPS works with and supports the major law enforcement organizations in addressing key challenges facing law enforcement such as the use of force, animal cruelty, leadership development and mentoring, and officer safety and wellness.
The COPS Office also funds a Critical Response for Technical Assistance program that offers immediate, real-time assistance to agencies dealing with major public safety incidents.
For example, within days of the start of mass demonstrations in Ferguson, COPS was able to connect regional police leaders with police executives with experience dealing with similar issues. We have provided support to nearly a dozen agencies at their request. And, as with all COPS projects, the lessons learned from these cities are shared with the over 16,000 law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.
This year, the COPS Office provided administrative support to the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing – a task force comprised of law enforcement and community leaders – which issued 59 recommendations to help agencies and communities build trust and advance public safety.
While policing is primarily a local issue, the federal government has a critical role to play in helping our local law enforcement agencies respond to the challenges of policing in the 21st century. Under the leadership of President Obama and Attorney General Loretta Lynch, the Department of Justice has made supporting local law enforcement one of the Administration’s top priorities.
As a career police officer, I know firsthand just how important this support is, and I can say without hesitation that the men and women of the Department of Justice make this a priority every day.
Thank you and I look forward to your questions.
Source: United States Attorneys General 13
Remarks as prepared for delivery
Thank you, Marc for that kind introduction and thank you for your leadership as United States Attorney. You are carrying the torch on a lot of the work that we did back when I was U.S. Attorney for this district.
Thank you also to:
Thank you all for being here.
It is good to be back.
This is the office where I served for nearly five and a half years. It was the honor of a lifetime, and it was an experience that only deepened my appreciation for law enforcement.
I worked every day with officers from the federal, state, and local levels—including people in this room—to find evidence of crime and to keep the people of Iowa safe.
I am proud of what we accomplished together.
I am especially proud because I have seen the results firsthand. This is the community where I grew up, where I played football, where I went to law school and business school, where I ran a small business, and where I’m still raising my family. I know that Iowans are safer because of what we achieved.
Some of you may have heard that there have been some changes at the Department in recent weeks. One thing that hasn’t changed is our unwavering support for state and local law enforcement.
The Trump administration will always be a law-and-order administration. We recognize that public safety is government’s first and most important task—and we honor the role that law enforcement officers play in protecting our society.
Our federal officers are known all over the world for their professionalism and their competence.
But we are well aware that about 85 percent of the law enforcement officers in this country serve at the state and local levels. It is simple arithmetic that we cannot succeed without you.
That is why this Department of Justice under President Donald Trump has given you more resources and more tools to help you succeed.
One of President Trump’s very first Executive Orders to Attorney General Sessions was to “back the blue” and enhance the safety of law enforcement officers in this country.
We have embraced that goal and we’ve been faithful to it every day.
Over these last two years we have helped hire hundreds of police officers across America, including 10 here in Iowa.
We have reinvigorated the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, which directs our U.S. Attorneys to work with you to develop a customized crime reduction plan—and to target the most violent criminals in the most violent areas.
I ran this program as United States Attorney and I know that it works. We are more successful at the federal level when we listen to our partners at the state and local levels.
Our strong law enforcement partnerships are paying off.
In fiscal year 2017, the Department of Justice prosecuted more violent criminals than in any year on record to that point.
And then, in fiscal year 2018—we broke that record by a margin of 15 percent.
In fiscal year 2018, we charged the highest number of federal firearm defendants in Department history. We broke that record by a margin of 17 percent. We charged nearly 20 percent more firearm defendants than we did in 2017 and 30 percent more than we charged in 2016.
Over the past fiscal year we also broke records for fentanyl prosecutions and for illegal entry by illegal aliens.
At the same time, we increased the number of white collar defendants and the number of drug defendants overall. And we increased the number of deported illegal aliens prosecuted for re-entering our country by 38 percent.
These are remarkable achievements. There can be no doubt that they have had an impact on this nation. And we’ve achieved them together with you, our partners.
The evidence is already coming in that we’ve reduced violent crime and drug overdose deaths.
The FBI’s violent crime numbers for 2017 show that violent crime and murder both went down in 2017 after increasing for two years in a row. And for 2018, one estimate projects that the murder rate in our 29 biggest cities will decline by 7.6 percent.
The DEA’s National Prescription Audit shows that in the first eight months of 2018, opioid prescriptions went down by nearly 12 percent—and last year they went down by seven percent.
While 2017 saw more overdose deaths than 2016, overdose deaths declined by two percent from September 2017 to March 2018, the most recent month for which we have data.
This is what we can achieve when we work together.
Our work is not finished. We are going to continue to support our state and local partners—and I believe that our partnerships are going to continue to deliver results.
I want to conclude with something a mentor of mine used to say every time he spoke to law enforcement, and I believe it too: we have your back, and you have our thanks.
Source: United States Attorneys General 13
Remarks as prepared for delivery
Thank you, Tracy, for your kind introduction. I appreciate your devoted service as Director of the Office of Tribal Justice. I first met Tracy more than 20 years ago when we were young attorneys in the Criminal Division. I am grateful to the employees of the Office of Tribal Justice for everything that they do to promote public safety in Indian Country.
I also want to thank everyone throughout the Department who works to improve our relationship with tribes and to further tribal justice, as well as those who worked to create today’s event.
It is my great privilege to join you in celebrating American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.
The theme for this year’s observance is, “Sovereignty, Trust and Resilience.” It encourages us to reflect on the important contributions of Native Americans and Alaska Natives to the Department, and to our nation’s economic, academic, and cultural institutions.
American Indians and Alaska Natives are an indispensable part of our national fabric. They are business owners, teachers, first responders, law enforcement offices, and community leaders. They serve with honor in our Armed Forces. And they work proudly in the Department of Justice.
President Donald Trump said last month, “Native Americans have fortified our country with their traditions and values, making tremendous contributions to every aspect of our national life. We remain committed to preserving and protecting Native American cultures, languages, and history, while ensuring prosperity and opportunity for all Native Americans.”
Consistent with the President’s words, we recognize the many contributions and sacrifices by members of this community. Today, we recommit ourselves to ensuring opportunities for all Americans. Every American enriches the quality and character of our great nation.
The Department of Justice plays a unique role in the government-to-government relationship between the United States and Tribal Nations.
Our U.S. Attorney’s Offices and law enforcement components, such as the FBI and the DEA, are responsible for investigations, prosecutions, and victim services in 51 judicial districts that include Indian country. Federal prosecutors exercise criminal jurisdiction over 250 distinct regions of Indian country, covering more than 55 million acres of land.
Our offices work together with Tribal law enforcement, state and local law enforcement agencies, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs to improve the safety and security of Native American and Alaska Native communities.
The Justice Department also handles a large caseload of civil litigation in Indian country. Our civil cases include matters relating to environmental and natural resources, Tribal treaty rights, and Native Americans’ civil rights.
Our grant making components provided over $259 million to Tribes last year. Those components include the Office of Justice Programs, the Office for Victims of Crime, the Office on Violence Against Women, and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Their grants support police, serve victims, combat domestic violence and sexual abuse, and strengthen tribal justice systems.
We are particularly proud of the Tribal Access Program. That effort is coordinated by the Office of Tribal Justice and the Department’s Chief Information Officer. It provides computer kiosks that allow Tribes to access federal crime databases. The kiosks allow Tribes to protect victims of domestic violence, identify sex offenders, keep guns out of criminals’ hands, and help locate missing people.
There are many success stories involving the kiosks.
Last year, the Gila River Police Department received a report about a sexual assault against a juvenile. Police quickly identified a suspect, and a warrant followed. But the suspect fled.
Using a kiosk, tribal police entered the warrant into the FBI’s National Crime Information Center, which we call NCIC. NCIC is a computerized index of criminal justice information. One of its most important functions is to help police apprehend fugitives.
When police encountered the suspect outside Tribal territory, an NCIC check revealed the tribal warrant. Police took the suspect into custody and transported him to the tribal jail where he was booked using a federal workstation.
Successes likes that would not be possible without the kiosk system. Since the program started in 2015, 47 participating Tribes have entered more than 600 sex offender registrations into the system. Participating Tribes also have entered arrest data that prevents criminals from purchasing firearms. And Tribes have conducted more than 4,500 fingerprint-based record checks for civil purposes, including employment.
The total number of tribes with kiosk access will expand to 114 by the end of 2019.
We are also proud of the Department’s new program to appoint Special Assistant United States Attorneys to work on Tribal issues. The initiative, funded through the Office on Violence Against Women, hires prosecutors to bring cases in both tribal and federal courts. That increases prosecution capacity and helps to prevent criminals from avoiding prosecution because of jurisdiction or sovereignty issues. It will promote the goal of ensuring that every perpetrator of domestic or sexual violence is brought to justice.
These initiatives demonstrate our Department’s steadfast commitment to improving public safety in Indian country by promoting coordination among tribal, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
As part of our observance today, we are fortunate that John Tahsuda is here as a guest speaker.
Mr. Tahsuda is an enrolled member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma State University, and a law degree from Cornell Law School.
Mr. Tahsuda then worked as the acting general counsel of the Oneida Indian Nation of New York. He also taught classes at Cornell Law School about federal Indian law, policy, and history.
Mr. Tahsuda later served as general counsel and legislative director of the National Indian Gaming Association, where he monitored legislation and policy issues affecting the organization’s 180 member tribes and assisted with their lobbying efforts.
In 2002, Mr. Tahsuda joined the staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, first as senior counsel and later as staff director. He handled policy and legislation affecting gaming, federal recognition, self-governance, and Indian health care.
From 2007 through 2017, Mr. Tahsuda worked in the private sector, providing clients with advocacy and counsel services about tribal affairs policy issues.
Last year, Mr. Tahsuda was appointed as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior. Indian Affairs manages Federal trust, treaty, and other responsibilities to 573 federally recognized Indian Tribes. Mr. Tahsuda helps to develop and interpret policies affecting Indian Affairs bureaus, offices, and programs.
He is a strong advocate for Indian country issues, and we are grateful to him for joining us today. Please welcome John Tahsuda.
Source: United States Attorneys General 13
Remarks as prepared for delivery
Good morning. I am joined by Criminal Division Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski, New Jersey U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito, and FBI Executive Assistant Director Amy Hess.
Also on stage are the two prosecutors handling this matter: Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Herring, and Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section Senior Counsel William Hall Jr.
A federal grand jury in New Jersey indicted two Iranian citizens for a three-year scheme that involved hacking into computers of hospitals, municipalities, public institutions, and businesses. It involved a high-tech, sophisticated extortion plot.
The defendants allegedly hijacked victims’ computer systems and shut them down until the victims paid a “ransom.”
The conspirators collected more than $6 million in extortion payments and caused more than $30 million in losses.
Many of the victims were public agencies with missions that involve saving lives and performing other critical functions for the American people.
The indictment was returned on November 26, and unsealed today in Newark, New Jersey. It alleges that Faramarz Shahi Savandi and Mohammad Mehdi Shah Mansouri used sophisticated software to execute their computer hacking and extortion scheme.
Acting from inside Iran, the men developed and deployed a form of ransomware that they named “SamSam.” Ransomware is a destructive computer code that encrypts victims’ computers and then holds the computers “hostage” until a “ransom” fee is paid.
Starting in January 2016, the defendants gained access to victims’ computers by exploiting cyber security weaknesses. After gaining access to the computers, they remotely installed ransomware. The ransomware encrypted computer data, crippling the ability of the victims to operate their businesses and provide critical services to the public.
The victims included two major municipalities – the City of Atlanta, Georgia and the City of Newark, New Jersey. The defendants also sought to interrupt critical transportation infrastructure by infiltrating the Port of San Diego, California, and the Colorado Department of Transportation.
In addition, the defendants infected the computers of six health-care related entities from across the country, impairing the ability of these businesses to provide health care to sick and injured people.
The defendants chose to focus their scheme on public entities, hospitals, and municipalities. They knew that shutting down those computer systems could cause significant harm to innocent victims.
The indictment alleges that the defendants demanded payment from their victims in the form of the virtual currency known as Bitcoin. Bitcoin contributes to the increasing sophistication of criminal schemes. It is a common currency for criminal schemes, including websites that distribute child pornography and deadly opioid drugs, and ransomware and other tools of extortion.
The defendants allegedly communicated with victims using Tor, an encrypted computer network designed to facilitate anonymous communication over the Internet.
We support the use of encryption to safeguard private information and strengthen cybersecurity. But this case highlights another example of the challenges posed to law enforcement by encryption designed to resist law enforcement.
Sophisticated encryption technologies like the Tor network are used by cybercriminals to commit serious offenses. These sophisticated technologies pose a real threat to the government’s ability to keep people safe and ensure that criminals and terrorists are caught and brought to justice.
Every sector of our economy is a target of malicious cyber activity. But the events described in this Indictment highlight the urgent need for municipalities, public utilities, health care institutions, universities and other public organizations to enhance their cyber security.
Publicly revealing this nefarious hacking scheme makes it harder for the perpetrators, and others like them, to do business in the future. As a result of the Indictment, the defendants are now fugitives from justice. They face arrest and extradition to the United States in many nations that honor the rule of law.
We call on all civilized nations to prevent their citizens from using the internet to perpetrate fraud schemes in foreign countries.
By making clear that criminal actions have consequences, we deter schemes to victimize the United States government, businesses, and citizens, and we help to protect foreign allies.
This case demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to identifying and prosecuting cybercriminals, regardless of where they base their operations.
We are grateful for outstanding work and collaboration between American and international law enforcement partners in this investigation. In particular, I want to thank two United Kingdom agencies – the National Crime Agency, and the West Yorkshire Police – and two Canadian agencies, the Calgary Police Service, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Our National Security Division and our Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs also provided critical support.
Next, I want to invite Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski to provide some remarks.