Month: October 2021

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

DALLAS—FBI Dallas Division is joining FBI Headquarters’ nationwide initiative to build public awareness of hate crimes and to encourage reporting to law enforcement. Throughout the entire Dallas Division territory, from Lubbock to Lufkin, advertising will appear at Dallas Love Field, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, area gas stations, digital billboards, on AM and FM radio, and mobile/digital/web mediums.

Hate crimes are the highest priority of the FBI’s civil rights program because of the devastating impact they have on families and communities. The FBI defines a hate crime as a criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.

“One of the FBI’s top priorities is to defend the civil rights of the communities we serve. We actively work with our law enforcement partners to investigate hate crimes and achieve justice for victims impacted by violence,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “The FBI wants to reassure the public that we will pursue individuals who commit violent, hateful acts against any member of our community.”

The FBI is the lead investigative agency for criminal violations of federal civil rights statutes and works closely with local, state, tribal, and other federal law enforcement partners in many of these cases, even when federal charges are not pursued. The FBI also works proactively to detect and prevent incidents through law enforcement training, public outreach, and partnerships with community groups.

Victims and witnesses of any hate-related incident are encouraged to report the information to law enforcement. After a report is made, it is assessed by the FBI and then dedicated resources and specialized expertise are engaged to determine the best course of action for investigation and adjudication.

The FBI protects all victims of crimes, regardless of their country of national origin or immigration status. If you believe you are victim or a witness of a hate crime, you are encouraged to report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitting an online tip at tips.fbi.gov. You may remain anonymous.

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

The Buffalo FBI Field Office has been alerted to an increase in the number of complaints involving “grandparent scams” happening in western New York. These scams target the elderly with local losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Nationally, from January 2020 to June 2021, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received over 650 reports of potential grandparent scams, resulting in losses of more than $13 million. During that timeframe, over 90 victims reported money was picked up from their home, resulting in losses of more than $3.6 million.

This is the version of the grandparent scam that law enforcement has been alerted to in western New York:

• An elderly person receives a phone call from someone claiming to be their grandchild;
• The grandchild is frantic and panicked and claims to have been in a serious car accident;
• The grandchild is in distress and says they have been arrested and in need of bail money;
• The grandchild then gives the phone to their attorney who directs the grandparent to go to the bank and withdraw thousands of dollars in cash, to put the cash in an envelope, and then to wait for a courier to arrive at their house to pick it up the money; and
• A short time later a car or van arrives at the home of the grandparent and someone gets out of the car and collects the cash from the victim.

The Buffalo FBI is asking rideshare drivers who have been called to pick up mail or envelopes from an elderly person’s home to immediately report it to law enforcement.

We are also asking the public to please alert family members and elderly neighbors to this fraud. The scammers are convincing and the experience has proven traumatic for the victims.

If someone receives a call like the one described above they should immediately hang up and report the call to their local police department and to the FBI at ic3.gov. The Buffalo FBI is working with police departments and sheriffs’ offices throughout western New York to find and arrest the people involved in these crimes. We are also investigating those who are orchestrating these scams from outside the region.

To learn more about the grandparent scam read this FBI Alert issued on July 29, 2021.

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

The FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force and the Lakeside Police Department need your help identifying two individuals who robbed the KeyBank located at 5901 W. 44th Ave. in Denver, Colorado, at approximately 5:15 p.m. on Monday, October 4, 2021. The suspects displayed a demand note and fled from the bank in a white SUV.

Suspect one is described as a Hispanic or White male, 5’6” to 5’8” tall, with a thin build. He was wearing a black mask, a baseball cap with a Colorado flag, and a long-sleeve black shirt.

Suspect two is described as a Hispanic or White male, wearing a mask, dark-colored beanie, and a tan-colored plaid jacket over an orange shirt.

Please be on the lookout for anyone matching the above descriptions. Be aware of anyone similar who might have recently changed their spending habits or discussed coming into money suddenly.

Bank robbery is punishable up to a 20-year prison sentence for each offense and increases if a dangerous weapon is used in the commission of the crime. The FBI continues to provide financial institutions with the best practices for security to make them less vulnerable to robberies.

If anyone has any information on the bank robbery above, or any bank robbery, please call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171; or, you may remain anonymous by calling CRIMESTOPPERS at 720-913-STOP (7867).

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

The FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force and the Denver Police Department need your help identifying an individual who robbed BOK Financial located at 1600 Broadway in Denver, Colorado, at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 1, 2021.

The suspect is described as a balding White male, and approximately 5’7” to 5’9” with a medium build. He was wearing a blue surgical mask, long black jacket, blue jeans, and brown shoes.

Please be on the lookout for anyone matching the above description. Be aware of anyone similar who might have recently changed their spending habits or discussed coming into money suddenly.

Bank robbery is punishable with up to a 20-year prison sentence for each offense and increases if a dangerous weapon is used in the commission of the crime. The FBI continues to provide financial institutions with the best practices for security to make them less vulnerable to robberies.

If anyone has any information on the bank robbery above, or any bank robbery, please call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171; or, you may remain anonymous by calling CRIMESTOPPERS at 720-913-STOP (7867).

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

The recent rise in hate crimes across our state and nation concerns me greatly. What worries me even more is the countless people suffering in silence after experiencing or witnessing a hate crime.

Hate crimes have a devastating impact on our communities by striking fear in those who live there. Sadly, those who perpetrate these horrendous acts do so for the purpose of intimidating certain segments of our society. These crimes hurt everyone in the community. In order to stop these heinous acts, we must work together to identify and report perpetrators of these incidents. We cannot let these acts continue any longer. We must not let hate win.

As the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office, my team and I are committed to investigating hate crimes. This fall, the FBI launched a national public campaign to elevate awareness about hate crimes and encourage reporting of these horrific crimes. The campaign highlights the need for us all to work collaboratively to ensure no crime goes unreported.

There are many sources of reporting concerning these matters, to include the news media, local law enforcement, and the community. However, these sources are only a start. In order to successfully address the threat, the FBI needs to collect specific details, which only a victim or witness can provide.

Citizens are often unsure about what constitutes a hate crime. By federal standards, a hate crime is a criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity. In short, a hate crime is a traditional offense like murder, arson, or vandalism with an added element of bias. Hate alone is not a crime—and the FBI is mindful of protecting freedom of speech and other civil liberties.

There are often differences between federal and state statutes concerning similar criminal activity. When a suspected hate crime is reported to a local law enforcement agency, the FBI works closely with its law enforcement partners to support investigations and explore whether federal charges are appropriate. The FBI will support state and local investigations even if the act in question does not meet the threshold for federal prosecution.

The FBI needs your help in eliminating fear in our communities. Our office stands with victims who bravely report their experiences and trust us to conduct a thorough investigation to determine if the reported crime was motivated by bias. The FBI’s focus is not on the background or immigration status of victims or witnesses, only the information and evidence they can provide to help us fill gaps and hold those accountable who sow fear into our communities.

We ask that you always support each other and your community and never let a criminal mute your voice. Hate is only emboldened by silence. If you believe you are a victim or a witness of a hate crime, we encourage you to report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitting a tip at tips.fbi.gov. You can make a report anonymously. You can also review statistical reporting as detailed in the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer.

Learn more about federal hate crime statutes and state hate crime laws at justice.gov/hatecrimes/laws-and-policies.