Category: FBI

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

The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office announced they will vigorously investigate and prosecute threats against election workers and officials, even if federal candidates are not on the ballot next month in New Mexico.

“The FBI wants to make it absolutely clear we will not tolerate threats against any federal, state, or local election worker who is only trying to do their job of serving our democracy,” Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the Albuquerque FBI Division said. “Protecting our democratic process is vital to our nation’s security.”

In July, the Department of Justice announced a law enforcement task force to address the rise in threats against election workers, administrators, officials, and others associated with the election process.

The FBI, as a task force member, will vigorously and thoroughly investigate any and all allegations of election workers being threatened or intimidated.
  
To report suspected threats or violent acts, the public can contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).

You can also file a complaint online at tips.fbi.gov.

If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, call 911 or your local police department immediately.

Here is a link to the FBI elections crimes and security website: https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/election-crimes-and-security.

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

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

So the fakes would go undiscovered for weeks or even months. Coupons typically travel from local stores to central coupon clearinghouses. The coupon clearinghouses collect them and then bill the product manufacturer for their value. That’s how the retailer gets repaid.

“If the coupons are rejected, if they are counterfeit, then the retailer doesn’t get paid back for them,” said Brill. “But that whole process takes a lot of time. By the time a coupon gets identified as being fraudulent or fake, that coupon has already been used who knows how many times.”

Talens not only regularly used her own coupons, but she sold them to a large group of subscribers who found her through social media groups. Using an encrypted app to communicate with her customers, she only allowed in new members if they were referred by an existing member of the group. Each new buyer had to send a copy of their ID and provide evidence that they had used counterfeit coupons before—a way of making sure her buyers accepted some amount of risk in the scheme. Talens accepted payment through popular payment applications or by virtual currency and sometimes exchanged coupons for stolen rolls of the special paper stores use to print out coupons.

Over three years, Talens was paid about $400,000 by her subscribers; the agents credit a diligent FBI forensic accountant for painstakingly tracing thousands of transactions through payment apps and virtual currency wallets.

With the profits, she paid for high-end home renovations, including a new kitchen, sunroom, and in-ground swimming pool. Her family also took trips, shopped, and dined out while paying little or nothing for the things they consumed.

Investigators said that when they served the search warrant, they found fake coupons—worth more than $1 million—in every crevice of the house. “There were coupons in every jacket pocket; they were stuffed in her vehicles,” said Thomasson. They also found designs on Talens’ computer that allowed her to create coupons for more than 13,000 products.

While coupon fraud may sound like an insignificant crime, it creates painful ripples through the economy. “Someone has to eat those losses,” said Thomasson. “It ultimately funnels down to us, the consumers.”

“Anyone who buys anything will pay for those crimes,” echoed Brill. She also wants people to understand there is a real risk in trying to cheat stores and product manufacturers with fake coupons, and those risks extend beyond the person running the scheme. Brill and Thomasson said the Talens investigation is not closed out, and those who participated in her group or engage in similar schemes should not be surprised if they hear from investigators.

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

ANCHORAGE, AK—At approximately 3:18 p.m., on October 14, 2021, an unknown suspect entered a First National Bank Alaska branch located at 1210 West Northern Lights Boulevard in Anchorage, and presented a note demanding money from a bank employee. The suspect then fled the scene on a bicycle.

Witnesses have described the suspect as a slim male individual, approximately 5’5” to 5’7” in height. A vehicle of interest was also seen in the area, which can be described as a dark-colored Dodge Durango with a white decal on the back window, and possibly a spare tire on the rear driver’s side of the vehicle.

If the public has any information concerning the bank robbery, please contact the FBI at 907-276-4441 or online at tips.fbi.gov.

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

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Springfield Division is offering a $10,000 reward and Carbondale Police is offering $5,000 to anyone with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the subject(s) involved in the August 22nd, 2021 murder of Keeshanna Jackson in Carbondale, Illinois.

Jackson was attending a party at 501 W. Cherry Street when Carbondale Police responded to a report of shots fired at that location. Upon arrival, officers found Keeshanna Jackson in the yard with a gunshot wound. She was transported to the hospital and later pronounced dead. Three others were wounded.

Carbondale Police believe there may be multiple shooters involved in the incident and numerous witnesses with information. “The Carbondale Police Department along with the FBI and other law enforcement partners continue to investigate this case to bring justice to Keeshanna and her family,” according to Carbondale Police Chief Stan Reno. “We want anyone with information to assist with this investigation to help us reach this goal and we are willing to reward anyone who does.”

“FBI Springfield and Carbondale Police are actively pursuing leads in this investigation,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. “We hope $15,000 in reward money will encourage the public to come forward with new information and help bring the perpetrator(s) to justice.”

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call FBI Springfield at 217-522-9675, or Carbondale Police at 618-457-3200, or Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 618-549-2677.