Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Two foreign nationals — one Russian, the other North Macedonian national —were sentenced today for their role in the Infraud Organization, a transnational cybercrime enterprise engaged in the mass acquisition and sale of fraud-related goods and services, including stolen identities, compromised credit card data, computer malware, and other contraband.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
A federal grand jury in Fort Lauderdale, Florida returned an indictment on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, charging two tax preparers with conspiring to defraud the United States and preparing false tax returns. The defendants made their initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick M. Hunt today.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
NASHVILLE, TN—The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Metro Nashville Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have concluded a significant portion of the investigation into the explosion that occurred on December 25, 2020, at approximately 6:30 a.m. Central Time, in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.
Following the explosion, the FBI worked closely with our law enforcement partners on a coordinated and comprehensive investigation. After recovering more than 3,000 pounds of evidence from the blast site, combing through more than 2,500 tips, and conducting more than 250 interviews, the investigative team has reached the following conclusions.
The investigation found that Anthony Quinn Warner of Antioch, Tennessee, acting alone, built and ultimately detonated the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. His actions were determined to not be related to terrorism.
The investigative team took diligent steps to determine the reason or reasons why Warner decided to construct and ultimately detonate his device in downtown Nashville on December 25, 2020. The FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, based in Quantico, Virginia, further assisted the local investigative team in answering this question.
Based on analysis of the information and evidence gathered throughout the investigation, the FBI assesses Warner’s detonation of the improvised explosive device was an intentional act in an effort to end his own life, driven in part by a totality of life stressors – including paranoia, long-held individualized beliefs adopted from several eccentric conspiracy theories, and the loss of stabilizing anchors and deteriorating interpersonal relationships.
The FBI assesses Warner specifically chose the location and timing of the bombing so that it would be impactful, while still minimizing the likelihood of causing undue injury. The FBI’s analysis did not reveal indications of a broader ideological motive to use violence to bring about social or political change, nor does it reveal indications of a specific personal grievance focused on individuals or entities in and around the location of the explosion.
It is important to note that only Warner knows the real reason why he detonated his explosive device. However, at this time, the FBI is confident, based on evidence collected, Warner’s own writings, and interviews with those who knew him best, that the above assessment is accurate.
Special Agent in Charge Douglas Korneski of the FBI Memphis Field Office stated, “The FBI would like to thank the citizens and private sector partners of Nashville, Tennessee, for their support during the response and investigation, especially those who provided tips and volunteered their time and resources. Additionally, the collaborative efforts of all local, state and federal agencies who responded to this incident, and the hundreds of hours dedicated by their men and women, were truly invaluable to this unified effort. They exemplified the tireless dedication we’ve come to expect from those who respond to these types of critical incidents.”
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Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
The FBI Memphis Field Office immediately responded with personnel in Nashville arriving on scene within the hour of the explosion. Assets from multiple field offices and headquarters components were quickly deployed, along with specialized evidence collection and communications equipment. In total, 277 Special Agents, Task Force Officers, Analysts, and Professional Staff responded. This included specialty units such as the Evidence Response Team, SWAT, Bomb Technicians, Crisis Negotiation, Behavioral Analysis, and Victim Assistance.
130 personnel responded from the FBI Memphis Field Office, augmented by 147 personnel from the following FBI field offices and headquarters components:
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee (USAO)
The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) provided significant support and deployed Assistant U.S. Attorneys, intelligence and research personnel and legal support staff to the Command Center. USAO staff worked to provide legal guidance and issued legal process such as subpoenas and search warrants necessary to allow investigators to recover evidence and conduct a comprehensive investigation. USAO Public Affairs also worked with partner agencies to coordinate and manage the flow of information to the media and the community as details from the investigation emerged.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
The National Response Team (NRT) which was comprised of 40 members including Certified Fire Investigators and Certified Explosives Specialists focused on the processing of explosives at the scene. The NRT was supported by subject matter experts from the National Center for Explosives Training and Research (NCETR) and the U.S. Bomb Data Center both located in Huntsville, Alabama. Due to the extent of the scene the ATF mobile command vehicle was on site to provide additional support both from the communications as well as analytical perspectives. Additional ATF resources included explosives canines, representatives to ESF-13 and ESF-15 as well as the behavioral analysis unit. ATF public and governmental affairs consistently worked with the partnering agencies focusing on the media and congressional inquiries. Finally, the ATF Nashville Field Division had over 60 personnel both onsite and offsite working this incident.
Department of Justice
Department of Justice Counterterrorism Section (CTS) deployed staff from Washington, D.C. alongside FBI personnel. CTS staffed the FBI command post in Nashville and worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee throughout the investigation.
Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD)
Six MNPD personnel from the Central Precinct, a sergeant and five officers, were on the scene when the RV exploded at 6:30 a.m. on December 25, 2020. The response from the MNPD grew exponentially in the minutes and hours following the blast. Hazardous Devices Unit (HDU) officers, who were en route to 2nd Avenue prior to the explosion, started to lockdown the inner perimeter surrounding the actual blast site. All 10 HDU officers responded to the scene and began coordinating initial sweeps of the downtown area looking for any secondary devices with assistance from explosive detection canine teams from the MNPD & Tennessee Highway Patrol. Additional police personnel were requested to expand the perimeter to the interstate with assistance from the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Tennessee Task Force 2 Urban Search & Rescue personnel from the Metropolitan Police & Fire Departments responded to assist any persons trapped by the explosion (thankfully, no one was found). Specialized Investigations Division personnel began work at intelligence gathering to determine if the bombing was part of a larger criminal act.
Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP)
Commissioner Jeff Long and Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Matt Perry immediately called the department into action once notified of the bombing and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security sent a rotation of troopers and agents to assist with the investigation and security of Nashville after the bombing.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI)
In support of the FBI-led effort, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation provided key technical support and expertise in the aftermath of the Nashville bombing. In total, TBI personnel provided 680 hours of work to this investigation, across several divisions:
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
Up to $25,000 Reward for Information
Press release available in both English and Spanish.
The FBI and the Berks County District Attorney’s Office are seeking the public’s assistance in locating Pedro Sanchez-Laporte, wanted in connection with a quadruple murder and for gun and drug crimes.
On January 28, 2018, Sanchez-Laporte and four other alleged members of the Trinidad Drug Trafficking Organization confronted four individuals selling narcotics in Reading, Pennsylvania, in a location operated and controlled by the Trinidad DTO. The confrontation escalated into threats, then Sanchez-Laporte and associates allegedly opened fire on the individuals. Three victims died at the scene, with the fourth, Sanchez-Laporte’s nephew, succumbing to his wounds at the hospital.
Sanchez-Laporte’s associates have been indicted, arrested, and are awaiting trial in this case; only Sanchez-Laporte remains at large. He is believed to travel between Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico.
The FBI is announcing a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to Pedro Sanchez-Laporte’s arrest and conviction.
Anyone with information that may be helpful to investigators is asked to contact their local FBI office, the nearest American embassy or consulate, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
Attached are Wanted posters for Sanchez-Laporte in English and Spanish. He is also to be featured on billboards in Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico, and has been added to FBI.gov.
El FBI y la Fiscalía Federal del Condado de Berks solicitan la asistencia del público para localizar a Pedro Sanchez-Laporte, quien es buscado en relación con un múltiple asesinato, y crímenes de armas y drogas.
El 25 de enero de 2018, Sanchez-Laporte y otros cuatro alegados miembros de la Organización de Trasiego de Drogas de Trinidad, enfrentaron a cuatro individuos que vendían drogas en Reading, Pennsylvania, en una localización controlada por dicha organización. La confrontación escaló a amenazas, cuando Sanchez-Laporte y sus asociados abrieron fuego en contra de los individuos. Tres de las víctimas perecieron en la escena, mientras que el cuarto, el sobrino de Sanchez-Laporte, murió por sus heridas en el hospital.
Los asociados de Sanchez-Laporte han sido acusados, arrestados, y se encuentran esperando juicio en este caso; sólo Sanchez-Laporte se permanece en libertad. Se cree que viaja entre Pennsylvania y Puerto Rico.
El FBI está anunciando una recompensa de hasta $25,000 por información que conduzca al arresto y convicción de Sanchez-Laporte.
Se exhorta a que cualquier persona con información que pueda ser útil para los investigadores del caso contacte su oficina local del FBI, la embajada americana amas cercana o deje una confidencia a través de tips.fbi.gov. Confidentes podrán permanecer anónimos.
Se acompañan afiches de SE BUSCA para Sanchez-Laporte en español y el inglés. Sus imágenes también serán publicadas en “billboards” en Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico, y ha sido añadido a FBI.gov.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
The FBI Miami Field Office and the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, supported by local representatives of the FBI’s Behavioral Threat Assessment Center, conducted a workshop at the Safe School Institute in Boca Raton, Florida, to address targeted violence.
This workshop was conducted in support of the FBI’s national Threat Assessment and Threat Management (TATM) initiative.
The workshop participants included federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and other partners such as schools, institutions of higher education, community mental health organizations, and federal and state prosecutors.
The goal of the training is to enhance partnerships and information sharing in Palm Beach County on targeted violence cases and incidents; inform the participants of the wide array of local, state, and federal tools available to address these threats; and provide ongoing awareness and training about this evolving threat.
This training is proactive in nature in order to be prepared to address potential future threats of targeted violence.
To learn more about the BAU: https://www.fbi.gov/services/cirg.
FBI Behavioral Threat Assessment Center Releases Lone Offender Terrorism Report: https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-behavioral-threat-assessment-center-releases-lone-offender-terrorism-report.