Category: FBI

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

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the man suspected of robbing four banks in New Mexico.

The unidentified suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his mid-40s, approximately 5’5” tall, with a medium build. He has tattoos on his neck.

He is suspected of using demand notes to rob two banks in Moriarty, July 15 and July 19, Tijeras on July 19, and Socorro on July 22.

“The FBI is working with our local law enforcement partners to find this individual and bring him to justice,” Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the Albuquerque FBI Division said. “Bank robberies can put innocent employees and customers at risk. We are asking the public to call us if they have any information on this suspect.”

Anyone with information about these robberies is asked to contact the FBI at (505) 889-1300.

Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.

Information about other bank robbers wanted by the FBI can be found at bankrobbers.fbi.gov.

Bank robbery carries a possible prison term of up to 20 years. The use of a gun, other dangerous weapon, toy gun, or hoax bomb device during the commission of a bank robbery can be punishable by a prison term of up to 25 years.

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

The FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force and the Greenwood Village Police Department need your help identifying an individual who robbed the Chase Bank located at 8501 East Arapahoe Road in Greenwood Village, Colorado, at approximately 4:38 p.m. on Friday, July 23, 2021. The suspect displayed a demand note and fled from the bank.

The suspect is described as a Caucasian male with blonde/brown hair, approximately 6’0” and weighing 150 to 160 pounds. He was wearing eyeglasses, a white button-down dress shirt, brown pants, and a black face mask.

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 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 Crime News (b)

With Monday’s sentencing of Channel Lewis, the federal investigation into a June 2020 Louisville, Kentucky CVS burglary has concluded. Along with Lewis, Jean-Pierre Crowdus and Frederick Eaves had previously pleaded guilty in the United States District Court to Conspiracy to Commit Burglary Involving Controlled Substances. Earlier this year, Crowdus and Eaves were both sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release. On July 26th, Lewis was sentenced to 7 months’ imprisonment and 18 months’ supervised release.

“While the FBI is committed to protecting the public’s right to participate in legitimate, peaceful protests, once that activity constitutes a federal crime or poses a threat to national security, we will not hesitate to step in,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray of the FBI’s Louisville Field Office. “Violent and destructive behavior in our neighborhoods will not be tolerated. As shown by this investigation, know that if you cross the line from expressing beliefs to violating federal law, you will be held accountable.”

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

MILWAUKEE, WI—Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Robert E. Hughes of the Milwaukee Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is pleased to announce that Victor Barnett, the founder of Milwaukee’s Running Rebels Community Organization (RRCO), has received the nationally recognized FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for 2020.

It was 41 years ago when Victor Barnett saw that gangs were beginning to form in Milwaukee around 1980. Mr. Barnett wanted to provide something to deter youth and focus them in a more positive direction. He believed that the right relationships and activities would keep them from gangs, violence, substance abuse, and other negative behaviors. As a young man himself, at the time—19 years old, Mr. Barnett founded the Running Rebels Community Organization.

The program was initially started as organized basketball teams that incorporated not only the fundamentals of the game, but also the elements that translate into strengthening talent and character both on and off the court. Education has also played an important part in RRCO programming. Each player had to bring their report card so Mr. Barnett could personally see the areas in which they needed additional help. From those early years to present day, hundreds of young men have come to know Mr. Barnett as a mentor, a brother, and a friend.

Today, the Running Rebels Community Organization is co-managed by Victor and his wife Dawn Barnett and serves 2,500 youth annually.

The Director’s Community Leadership Award was established in 1990 by the FBI to publicly recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations that have gone above and beyond the call to service by making extraordinary contributions to their communities in the areas of civil rights, terrorism, cyber, drug, gang, or violence prevention and education. SAC Hughes is proud to present the DCLA award on behalf of FBI Director Christopher Wray, to the Running Rebels Community Organization for their significant impact on the young lives of thousands of teens in Milwaukee for more than four decades.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

Welcome to the Oregon FBI’s Tech Tuesday segment. Today: Building a digital defense against travel scams.

It seems as though everyone is desperate to escape this summer… to go anywhere other than your basement office or the neighborhood park. And, finally, with lockdowns lifting, we are getting the chance to travel. Beware though—scammers are not going to let such a good opportunity go to waste. Your desire to get out drives their desire to cash out at your expense.

Here are some tips from our friends at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC):

• Watch out for offers of a “free” vacation that require you to pay fees or taxes to get it.
• Pay attention to the details. You get offered a stay at a “five-star” resort or a cruise on a “luxury” ship… but the contact won’t give you more specific details? It’s a red flag if you can’t get the name and address of the hotel or details about the cruise company.
• Just say no if the travel offer requires you to pay by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency. Scammers know that once you pay in one of these ways, it is almost impossible for you to get your money back. Always pay by credit card.
• Don’t allow someone to pressure you into making a quick decision about a “great deal.” Scammers use social engineering techniques— playing on your fear of missing out—to rush you to act without thinking.
• Watch for premium vacation properties advertised for super cheap prices. Below-market rent can be a sign of a scam. Do some extra research to confirm the deal is legit before jumping in.
• Get a copy of the cancellation and refund policies before you pay. If you can’t get those details, walk away.
• Do your own research. Look up travel companies, hotels, rentals, and agents with the words “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.”
• Check the address of the property to make sure it really exists. If the property is located in a resort, call the front desk to confirm their location and other details on the contract.

If you are the victim of any online fraud, you should also report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or call your FBI local office.