Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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

James C. Langenberg, who has been the special agent in charge of the Albuquerque FBI Division since August 2018, is retiring from the FBI after a career of more than 25 years.

“It has been an honor and a privilege serving as the special agent in charge of the Albuquerque Division,” Mr. Langenberg said. “Throughout my career, I have focused on the people, the partnerships, and the mission. The entire FBI team enabled me to succeed in New Mexico, and I will be forever grateful for their enduring support.”

Mr. Langenberg’s retirement takes effect on Saturday, February 13, 2021. A permanent replacement will be named at a future date.

During the past two years, Mr. Langenberg said, he has focused on mitigating national security threats, such as preventing terrorist attacks, securing America’s national secrets through a robust counterintelligence program, and addressing domestic and foreign cyber threats.

Mr. Langenberg said during his tenure, the FBI also has helped reduce crime through its Violent Crime and Gang task forces and the Division’s new Guardian squad, which tracks information about possible threats and shares intelligence with local, state, tribal, and federal agencies.

The FBI aggressively investigated reports of civil rights violations, health care fraud, and public corruption, he said.

“On behalf of the Office of the U.S. Attorney, I extend our congratulations to an exemplary partner in our mission to defend justice and reduce violent crime in the District of New Mexico,” said acting U.S. Attorney Fred Federici of the District of New Mexico. “Jim Langenberg led the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office with dignity, integrity, experience and, most importantly, a resolve to make our state a safer place to live and work. He has been steadfast in his commitment to ensuring the success of the Department’s operations and objectives. His presence will be sorely missed, but we wish him all the best in the next chapter of his life.”

U.S. Marshal Sonya K. Chavez said: “SAC Langenberg has not only been a strong partner for us at the United States Marshals Service, he has shown our wonderful state and its citizens that he is truly committed to doing all he can to make our communities stronger. His commitment to public service and to the people of New Mexico will leave a long-lasting impression here that will be remembered and appreciated long after he has retired.”

“I can say with zero reluctance that the contributions of SAC Langenberg, and all the excellent FBI agents he commanded, toward a safer New Mexico will be greatly missed,” interim Secretary Tim Johnson of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety said. “I am sincerely grateful for the partnerships formed between the Department of Public Safety and the FBI during SAC Langenberg’s watch. As a colleague, as a citizen of this state, and as a citizen of this country, I wish to thank him for his many years of public service.”

Before being appointed the head of FBI operations in New Mexico, Mr. Langenberg served as the chief of the External Audits and Compliance Section in the Inspection Division at FBI Headquarters (FBIHQ).

Mr. Langenberg entered on duty with the FBI in 1996, and was first assigned to the Albuquerque Field Office, where he investigated white collar crime, counterintelligence, and violent crime and major offender matters. He was a member of the Albuquerque SWAT team, a certified sniper, and served as the associate division counsel.

In 2001, Mr. Langenberg was promoted to supervisory special agent in the Office of Public and Congressional Affairs, FBIHQ, where he served as the FBI’s liaison to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Senate Judiciary Committee. In 2002, Mr. Langenberg transferred to the Counterintelligence Division, FBIHQ, and became a charter member of the new Counterespionage Section.

In 2003, Mr. Langenberg transferred to the Omaha Field Office as a supervisory special agent for the counterintelligence program. In 2008, Mr. Langenberg was promoted to assistant special agent in charge of the Omaha Field Office, where he was responsible for the office’s National Security Branch.

Mr. Langenberg received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Nebraska, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska – College of Law.

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

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and the FBI is warning of possible romance scams.

Romance scams occur when a criminal uses a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust.

These scammers are present on most dating and social media sites. They look to establish a relationship as quickly as possible and endear themselves to the victim. Many may propose marriage and make plans to meet in person. Eventually, they will ask for money.

To avoid becoming a victim, FBI Newark recommends the following:

Tips for Avoiding Romance Scams:

• Be careful what you post and make public online. Scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you.
• Research the person’s photo and profile using online searches to see if the image, name, or details have been used elsewhere.
• Go slowly and ask lots of questions.
• Beware if the individual seems too perfect or quickly asks you to leave a dating service or social media site to communicate directly.
• Beware if the individual attempts to isolate you from friends and family or requests inappropriate photos or financial information that could later be used to extort you.
• Beware if the individual promises to meet in person, but then always comes up with an excuse why he or she can’t. If you haven’t met the person after a few months, for whatever reason, you have good reason to be suspicious.
• Never send money to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone.

Victims may be hesitant to report being taken advantage of due to embarrassment, shame, or humiliation. It’s important to remember, romance scams can happen to anyone at any time.

If you suspect your online relationship is a scam, cease all contact immediately. If you are a victim who has already sent money, immediately report the incident to your financial institution, file a complaint with the Internet Crimes Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov) (http://www.ic3.gov), and to contact law enforcement.

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

Romance scams occur when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim.

The criminals who carry out romance scams are experts at what they do and will seem genuine, caring, and believable. Con artists are present on most dating and social media sites.

The scammer’s intention is to establish a relationship as quickly as possible, endear himself to the victim, and gain trust. Scammers may propose marriage and make plans to meet in person, but that will never happen. Eventually, they will ask for money.

Scam artists may say they are in the building and construction industry and are engaged in projects outside the U.S. That makes it easier to avoid meeting in person—and more plausible when they ask for money for a medical emergency or unexpected legal fee.

If someone you meet online needs your bank account information to deposit money, they are most likely using your account to carry out other theft and fraud schemes.

Tips for Avoiding Romance Scams:

• Be careful what you post and make public online. Scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you.
• Research the person’s photo and profile using online searches to see if the image, name, or details have been used elsewhere.
• Go slowly and ask lots of questions.
• Be aware if the individual seems too perfect or quickly asks you to leave a dating service or social media site to communicate directly.
• Beware if the individual attempts to isolate you from friends and family or requests inappropriate photos or financial information that could later be used to extort you.
• Beware if the individual promises to meet in person, but then always comes up with an excuse for why he or she can’t. If you haven’t met the person after a few months, for whatever reason, you have good reason to be suspicious.
• Never send money to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone.

If you suspect an online relationship is a scam, stop all contact immediately. If you are the victim of a romance scam, file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov).

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

The FBI Boston Division is continuously working to raise awareness about online romance scams, also called confidence fraud. In this type of fraud, scammers take advantage of people looking for companionship or romantic partners on dating websites, apps, chat rooms, and social networking sites with the sole goal of obtaining access to their financial or personal identifying information. Romance scams are prevalent, especially during this time of year. Increased isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has also resulted in more people looking for love online.

The criminals who carry out romance scams are experts at what they do. They spend hours honing their skills, relying on well-rehearsed scripts that have been used repeatedly and successfully, and sometimes keep journals on their victims to better understand how to manipulate and exploit them. In some cases, victims may be recruited, unknowingly, to transfer money illegally on behalf of others.

“The consequences of these scams are often financially and emotionally devastating to victims who rarely get their money back and may not have the ability to recover from the financial loss,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division. “While we recognize that it may be embarrassing for victims to report this type of fraud, it’s important to do so, so that the FBI and our law enforcement partners can do everything in our power to ensure these online imposters are held accountable.”

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), which provides the public with a means of reporting Internet-facilitated crimes, romance scams have resulted in one of the highest amounts of financial losses when compared to other online crimes. Nationwide in 2020, almost 23,768 complaints categorized as romance scams were reported to the IC3 (4,295 more than the previous year), and the losses associated with those complaints total approximately $605 million. Here in the Boston Division, which includes all of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, 569 complaints were filed with financial losses totaling approximately $11.7 million.

• 57 victims in Maine reported financial losses totaling $1,514,636.
• 361 victims in Massachusetts reported financial losses totaling $8,006,260.
• 71 victims in New Hampshire reported losing $820,326.
• 80 victims in Rhode Island lost approximately $1,381,336.

The reported losses are most likely much higher as many victims are hesitant to report being taken advantage of due to embarrassment, shame, or humiliation.

Be careful what you post online because scammers can use that information against you, and always assume that con artists are trolling even the most reputable dating and social media sites. If you develop a romantic relationship with someone you meet online, consider the following:

• Scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you.
• Research the person’s photo and profile using online searches to see if the image, name, or details have been used elsewhere.
• Go slowly and ask lots of questions.
• Beware if the individual seems too perfect, or quickly asks you to communicate “offline.”
• Beware if the individual attempts to isolate you from friends and family.
• Beware if the individual claims to be working and living far away, whether it’s on the other side of the country or overseas.
• Beware if the individual promises to meet in person, but then always cancels because of some emergency.
• Beware if you’re asked to send inappropriate photos or financial information that could later be used to extort you.
• Never send money to anyone you don’t know personally.
• Never help anyone move money through your own account or someone else’s. You could become an unwitting money mule for the perpetrator helping to carry out other theft and fraud schemes.

If you suspect an online relationship is a scam, stop all contact immediately and if you have already sent money, it is extremely important to report any transfer of funds to your financial institution and file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

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

MERRILLVILLE—Victor Lofton, 57, of Humboldt, Tennessee, was charged in Lake County Superior Court on February 2, 2021, with two counts of murder for the 1992 murders of 4-year-old DenNisha Howard and her 21-year-old mother, Felicia Howard. DenNisha and Felicia were found shot to death inside their second floor apartment at 3804 Washington Street in Gary, Indiana, on July 15, 1992.

The charges against Lofton are the culmination of work by the FBI’s Gang Response Investigative Team (GRIT) who began re-investigating the case in February 2019.

“This was a horrific crime that shocked our local community in 1992,” said Detective Lieutenant Nicholas Wardrip, Hobart Police Department, who investigated this case along with Detective Corporal Justin Clark, Gary Police Department, both of whom are assigned to GRIT. “Lofton was born in East Chicago, Indiana, but moved to Tennessee at an early age. Lofton was interviewed by investigators in September 2020; however, he denied knowing either victim or even being in Indiana at the time of the murders. Investigators utilized DNA technology and interviewed witnesses to bring the case together against Lofton.”

Lofton was arrested in Jackson, Tennessee, by Jackson Police on February 5, 2021, and is currently awaiting extradition back to Lake County.

“This case should serve as notice to those committing violent crimes in Northwest Indiana that the tireless investigators of the FBI’s GRIT Task Force will never rest to ensure justice for those who have been victimized, even if it’s 29 years later,” said FBI Indianapolis GRIT Task Force Supervisory Special Agent Michael Peasley.

Also assisting in the investigation were the Gary Police Department, Lake County Police Department Crime Scene Unit, ATF, and the Humboldt, Tennessee Police Department.

The GRIT Task Force is a team of law enforcement professionals working in unison to reduce violent crimes and other federal criminal violations in Northwest Indiana in support of its local law enforcement partners. Its members are made up of agents, officers and support staff from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lake County Sheriffs Department, Merrillville Police Department, Hobart Police Department, Indiana State Police, Gary Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Crown Point Police Department, St. John Police, and the Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).

This is the 9th cold case GRIT has solved since 2018. GRIT investigators are asking anyone with information on a cold case to call 219-942-4899.