Category: Federal Bureau of Investigation

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: John Brown Named Special Agent in Charge of the San Diego Field Office

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: FBI Teen Academy Accepting Applications from High School Juniors

SACRAMENTO, CA—The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Sacramento Field Office encourages high school juniors attending class within the 34 counties the office serves to apply to upcoming Spring 2018 FBI Teen Academy. The full-day academy will be held on Friday, March 23, 2018, at FBI Sacramento Field Office headquarters in Roseville, California.

Students interested in the exciting, one-day program must log onto the FBI Sacramento Field Office’s Community Relations web page to download an application. Students must submit an application package, enclosing a completed application, signed release forms, and an essay—carefully following submission instructions—to be considered. Complete application packages must be received by mail, parcel delivery, or hand delivery at the FBI Sacramento Field Office headquarters no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 22, 2018. Due to the need for original signatures, application packages are not accepted by fax or e-mail. The FBI Teen Academy offers students a unique view into the FBI and its mission, values, investigations, and partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement. Discussion topics may include cyber safety, terrorism, active shooter situations, cyber investigations, and civil rights investigations. Activities may include simulated experiences with the FBI’s Evidence Response Team, Special Agent Bomb Technicians, and within the Firearms Training System(FATS) room. Students also engage in candid conversations about online communication and its risks as well as lifestyle choices required to be eligible for careers at the FBI with FBI personnel.

“The FBI Teen Academy helps youth better understand how we protect the American people and uphold the constitution. We also share how the decisions they make today may impact education and career options in the future,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FB Sacramento Field Office. “Our goal is to provide students with useful information and valuable experiences they can share with others upon returning to their home and school.”

The FBI Teen Academy is open to all high school juniors attending any school—public, private, and home school. No minimum GPA or particular academic path is required. The full-day experience is offered at no charge to students, but families may incur travel costs if they live a significant distance away from FBI Sacramento Field Office headquarters. ###

Direct link to the FBI Teen Academy Application: https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/sacramento-spring-2018-teen-academy-application-121517.pdf/view

The 34 counties served by the FBI Sacramento Field Office are:

• Alpine
• Amador
• Butte
• Calaveras
• Colusa
• El Dorado
• Fresno
• Glenn
• Inyo
• Kern
• Kings
• Lassen
• Madera
• Mariposa
• Merced
• Modoc
• Mono
• Nevada
• Placer
• Plumas
• Sacramento
• San Joaquin
• Shasta
• Sierra
• Siskiyou
• Solano
• Stanislaus
• Sutter
• Tehama
• Tulare
• Tuolumne
• Trinity
• Yuba
• Yolo

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Six Pittsburgh-Area School Districts Win Big

The FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association teamed up with the Penguins Foundation for FBI Pittsburgh’s annual HOPE (Heroin Outreach Prevention and Education) PSA Contest. Tuesday, six local school districts took home prizes at the Penguins game and even more knowledge about the dangers of opioid and heroin abuse.

The students were tasked with creating videos that raise awareness about the dangers of the increasing drug epidemic in our area. It has reached pandemic levels across Western Pennsylvania, impacting all walks of life, regardless of age, race, or socioeconomic boundaries.

That’s why the FBI Pittsburgh Division partnered with key community stakeholders, including educators, law enforcement, and treatment and rehabilitation facilities. The group is striving to formulate proactive solutions, particularly in the areas of education, prevention, and awareness.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: FBI Media Alert: FBI Offers $1,000 Reward in Navajo Nation Homicide

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Bloomington Man Receives 2017 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for His Efforts to Decrypt Ransomware as a Public Service

SPRINGFIELD, IL—Sean M. Cox, special agent in charge of the FBI Springfield Division, announced that Michael Gillespie, creator of ID Ransomware and Malwarehunters.com of Bloomington, Illinois, has been selected as the recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for 2017.

This special award, presented on behalf of the Director of the FBI, was formally created in 1990 as a way to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating terrorism, cybercrime, illegal drugs, gangs, and other crimes leading to violence in America. Michael Gillespie is one of 56 individuals or organizations around the United States who will receive this award this year. Mr. Gillespie is being recognized for his public service, devotion and assistance to victims of ransomware in the United States and Internationally.

Michael first authored the website https://id-ransomware.malwarehunterteam.com/in March of 2016. This website enables victims of ransomware to submit data such as ransom notes and encrypted file samples which are analyzed in an attempt to determine which strain the victim was infected with. In response, the victim is provided with information to where they can learn more about the particular strain of infection, including method of and keys for decryption if available. ID Ransomware receives upwards of thousands of submissions a day and can identify nearly 500 strains of ransomware.

In addition to having cracked and decrypted multiple ransomware strains himself, Michael is plugged into a network of leading cybersecurity experts with whom he collaborates to analyze the malware and discover means of decryption so that victims can avoid paying ransom and recover their data.

Michael also develops custom applications which he offers free of charge to victims to help them recover from ransomware attacks. Examples of these tools are RansomNoteCleaner, which removes ransom notes left behind after a ransomware infection, and CryptoSearch, a tool used to find files encrypted with ransomware. Michael is active on twitter (@demonslay335) and the forums of BleepingComputer.com where he interacts with victims to further ensure they are able to recover their data when possible.

Michael is married, and employed by Facet Technologies, Bloomington, Illinois, as a software analyst.

Christopher Wray, Director of the FBI, will present the Director’s Community Leadership Award to Mr. Gillespie during an official ceremony held at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., in April of 2018.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: FBI Chicago Announces Recipient of Director’s Community Leadership Award

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl Involved in Two Overdose Deaths

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that RUBEN MORALES, 44, of Hartford, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday in Hartford federal court to one count of distribution of heroin and fentanyl.

This matter stems from an ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause death or serious injury to users.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 24, 2016, Hartford police officers and emergency medical personnel responding to reports of unresponsive individuals discovered two male overdose victims in different locations on Zion Street in Hartford.  A 33-year-old victim was pronounced deceased shortly after he was discovered in the rear parking lot of an apartment complex on Zion Street.  At the scene, officers seized various items of drug-related paraphernalia.  Officers found a 25-year-old victim on the rear porch of an apartment on Zion Street.  The victim was transported to the hospital and later pronounced deceased.

The Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner subsequently determined that the 33-year-old victim’s death was caused by a combination of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, and the 25-year-old victim’s death was caused by a combination of cocaine, ethanol, and fentanyl.

The investigation revealed that MORALES supplied fentanyl-laced heroin that both victims consumed shortly before they died.

In January and February 2017, members of the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crime Gang Task Force conducted six controlled purchases of heroin from MORALES.  Subsequent lab analysis confirmed the presence of fentanyl in some of the heroin purchased.

MORALES was arrested on a federal complaint on February 16, 2017.

MORALES is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on May 2, 2018, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years.  He is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.

The FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crime Gang Task Force includes members from the FBI, Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha Freismuth.