Category: FBI

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

The FBI’s Richmond Area Violent Enterprise (RAVE) Task Force has joined the Petersburg Bureau of Police in the investigation of a shooting that occurred in May 2021, resulting in two innocent children being injured.

During the evening hours of May 22, 2021, officers with the Petersburg Bureau of Police were called to the 500 block of Cottonwood Drive, within the Pecan Acres public housing sector in Petersburg, for reports of shots fired. Responding officers located a 5-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy suffering from gunshot wounds. These children had been playing with others in the common play area of the complex when shots erupted.

Investigators are seeking information regarding a small light-colored Honda or Toyota Camry, and its occupants, observed in the area during the time of the shootings. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the person(s) responsible for these shootings.

Tips regarding this investigation may be provided to the FBI by calling (804) 261-1044 or submission to https://tips.fbi.gov/, or to the Petersburg Bureau of Police at 804-734-4222.

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

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Memphis Field Office is reminding Tennesseans to #BeCyberSmart. Cybersecurity Awareness Month, observed in October, is a government and private sector partnership that raises awareness about cybersecurity and stresses the collective effort required to stop cybercrimes, online thefts, and scams.

The FBI works to keep you safe online, but you should follow the tips below to help protect yourself and your family. If you do become a victim, contact us to report the online crime.

Cyber Safety Tips

• Keep software systems up to date and use a good anti-virus program.
• Examine the email address and URLs in all correspondence. Scammers often mimic a legitimate site or email address by using a slight variation in spelling.
• If an unsolicited text message, email, or phone call asks you to update, check, or verify your account information, do not follow the link provided in the message itself or call the phone numbers provided in the message. Go to the company’s website to log into your account or call the phone number listed on the official website to see if something does in fact need your attention.
• Do not open any attachments unless you are expecting the file, document, or invoice and have verified the sender’s email address.
• Scrutinize all electronic requests for a payment or transfer of funds.
• Be extra suspicious of any message that urges immediate action.
• Confirm requests for wire transfers or payment in person or over the phone as part of a two-factor authentication process. Do not verify these requests using the phone number listed in the request for payment.

Learn More and Know How to Report a Crime

Keep Yourself and Your Systems Safe

• Visit the National Cyber Security Alliance website for technical tips and guidance on how to stay safe online. Among the most important tips is to create a strong, unique passphrase for each of your accounts and institute a multi-factor authentication process for all account changes.

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

NEW YORK, NY—The New York FBI/NYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is searching for possible victims involved in a child sexual exploitation investigation involving a man named Rigoberto Garcia. A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of New York indicted Garcia on October 19, 2021, on 19 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, coercion, enticement, and possessing child pornography.

Investigators say Garcia allegedly used social media applications to entice young girls, and then produced videos of the girls having sex with him. Investigators say he used several aliases to include “Chris Perez”, “Sean Alvarez”, “Steven Skylar”, “David Schineberg”, and “Nate Floriano.”

The FBI is asking parents or guardians, or possible victims, to please contact the New York office at 212-384-1000.

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

The Albuquerque FBI Division marked recent National Police Week events honoring our nation’s fallen law enforcement officers along with the release of the FBI’s annual report on officers assaulted in the line of duty.

In New Mexico, 162 law enforcement officers were assaulted in 2020, according to the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted report issued October 18.

In 2019, 88 law enforcement officers were assaulted in New Mexico.

“Law enforcement officers are a valuable and essential part of the communities they serve,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda said. “Too often, these brave men and women are called upon to risk their lives to keep their fellow Americans safe. It is fitting we always keep in the mind the heroic sacrifices federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers make on a daily basis.”

The Albuquerque field office added two recently fallen FBI agents to its Wall of Honor, including Laura Schwartzenberger, who started her agent career in Albuquerque and was killed in Florida while investigating crimes against children.

An Albuquerque FBI agent was shot and wounded in December 2020 and another in July 2021 while performing their duties.

According to statistics reported to the FBI, 60,105 law enforcement officers were assaulted nationwide while performing their duties in 2020.

Based on these reports, there were 4,071 more officers assaulted in 2020 than the 56,034 assaults reported in 2019.

An FBI press release with a link to the data can be found at: https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-releases-2020-statistics-for-law-enforcement-officers-assaulted-in-the-line-of-duty.

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

According to statistics reported to the FBI, 59 police officers were killed in the line of duty from January 1, 2021, to September 30, 2021. This marks a 51 percent increase in the number of police officers killed when compared to the same period last year.

Nationally, 60,105 law enforcement officers were assaulted while performing their duties in 2020. These assaults were reported to the FBI by 9,895 law enforcement agencies. Based on these reports, there were 4,071 more officers assaulted in 2020 than the 56,034 assaults reported in 2019.

In an interview during Police Week events last week, FBI Director Christopher Wray reflected on the sacrifices of the Bureau’s law enforcement partners, who risk their safety to protect the public. “We are looking at now 59 officers or agents murdered in the line of duty this year. That’s an over 50 percent increase from last year. That basically translates to every five days—more often than every five days in this country—an officer is murdered in the line of duty. And that’s totally unacceptable, and it’s a tragedy and it needs attention,” Wray said.

In FBI Dallas’s area of responsibility, four police officers have been killed in the line of duty for 2021. This includes a deputy sheriff and sergeant from the Concho County Sheriff’s Office, a sergeant from the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, and a Dallas Police Officer who was assisting a motorist. Overall, seven police officers in Texas were killed in the line of duty during 2021. This surpasses the five police officers feloniously killed in 2020.

“The statistics released this week are a stark reminder of the dangerous work done by law enforcement every day,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno. “The FBI values our partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. We will continue to assist and offer resources when called upon.” Nationally

• 59 police officers were killed in the line of duty from January 2021 through September 2021.
• This includes two special agents from the FBI’s Miami Field Office.
• Of the 60,105 officers who were assaulted in 2020, 18,568 (30.9%) sustained injuries.
• 44,421 officers were assaulted with personal weapons (e.g., hands, fists, or feet); 25.8% of these officers were injured.
• 2,744 officers were assaulted with firearms; 6.1% of these officers were injured.
• 1,180 officers were assaulted with knives or other cutting instruments; 9.7% of these officers were injured.
• The remaining 11,760 officers were assaulted with other types of dangerous weapons; 16.8% of these officers were injured.

Texas

2020

• 12 officers were assaulted in the state of Texas.
• Two of those assaults occurred in the Dallas-Fort Worth area
• 1 Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) officer
• 1 Plano police officer
• 6 officers were accidentally killed in Texas.
• In Grand Prairie, an officer was accidentally struck by a vehicle and died of their injuries.
• 5 officers were feloniously killed in Texas.
• 2 McAllen police officers
• 1 San Marcos police officer
• 1 Houston police officer
• 1 Houston Fire Marshal officer

Data regarding these assaults were released in the Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) portion of the FBI’s Law Enforcement Data Explorer. 2020 assault data tables and companion documents are exclusively located on the FBI’s Law Enforcement Data Explorer (a subset of the Crime Data Explorer).