Category: Security News

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

JACKSON, MS—The FBI’s Jackson Field Office is investigating an assault on a federal law enforcement officer which occurred at approximately 10:45 p.m. on June 26, 2021, in Jackson. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Demario Lamar Cotton.

Cotton, 38, of Jackson, was charged in a two-count criminal complaint filed Monday in United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, and a federal arrest warrant was issued by a United States Magistrate Judge.

Cotton is charged with one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal law enforcement officer, who was engaged in the performance of official duties, by use of a deadly weapon and one count of using, carrying, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, that is assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers.

Cotton is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or at tips.fbi.gov.

All charges are merely an accusation, and all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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

SEATTLE, WA—Scott Barry Uchida, 38, of Seattle, Washington, was detained on April 21, 2021, without incident in Kepong, Malaysia, by Royal Malaysia Police, announced Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Donald M. Voiret of the Seattle Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Uchida is wanted for second degree rape, second degree rape of a child, promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor, and third degree rape of a child in King County.

Court documents allege the following: In January 2018, the Kirkland Police Department opened an investigation into the commercial sexual exploitation, rape, and unlawful imprisonment of three juvenile victims between summer 2015 and January 2018. A 15-year-old victim reported to a Kirkland Police Department school resource officer that two men had raped, forced into prostitution, and made her recruit others. Uchida, who was determined to be one of the men, met the victim through the social media application meetme.com when she was 12 years old. Uchida took the victim to a Seattle apartment where he threatened violence against her and her family members and held her against her will. In March 2021, the Kirkland Police Department requested FBI Seattle’s assistance in locating Uchida, who was thought to have fled the country.

“Thanks to successful international partnerships and the FBI’s global reach, fugitives from justice can find few places to hide. This case highlights the determination of the FBI and Kirkland Police Department to hold someone accountable who is charged with harming our community’s most vulnerable citizens,” said SAC Voiret.

Mark Nichols, assistant special agent in charge of FBI Seattle, commended the strong teamwork and incredible efforts of the case agent and squad to bring Mr. Uchida back to the United States to face justice. “This case is an example of all levels of law enforcement working together to protect the youth of Washington state.”

The FBI Seattle Field Office credits the Royal Malaysia Police, the Immigration Department of Malaysia, the U.S. Embassy – Kuala Lumpur, the FBI Legal Attaché office in Kuala Lumpur, FBI Criminal Investigative Division, the U.S. military’s Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Transportation Command in coordinating Uchida’s deportation to the United States to face charges in King County. The case is being investigated by the Kirkland Police Department and prosecuted by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

The public is reminded that defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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

Special Agent in Charge Dennis Rice is pleased to announce the Utah Navajo Health System, Community Advocacy Team (UNHS/CAT) as the recipient of the 2020 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for the Salt Lake City Division. Each year, FBI field offices nominate individuals or organizations that have demonstrated outstanding contributions to their communities through service.

On Wednesday, July 14th, during a special ceremony in Montezuma Creek, Utah, SAC Rice recognized UNHS/CAT with this honor.

The UNHS/CAT serves the Navajo Nation communities in southeastern Utah to include the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe community at White Mesa. The organization assists individuals who have suffered financial loss, physical injuries, and emotional trauma as a result of violent crime. The program helps victims recover and rebuild their lives by facilitating shelter, providing safety planning, conducting crisis intervention, making referrals, and finding resources.

In 2020, despite challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic, UNHS/CAT provided critical services to 220 clients, to include: providing patients with cell phones, enabling them to communicate with Crime Victim Advocates, the FBI, and medical providers; providing victims with care packages containing essentials like livestock feed, firewood, clothing, blankets, food, hygiene, and cleaning supplies; providing safe temporary shelters for victims in need; providing transportation for victims to Salt Lake City for court hearings.

“Navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justices process can be daunting for victims, and they should never have to do it alone,” said SAC Rice. “The Utah Navajo Health System not only provides essential services, but helps build trust and cooperation with victims
which, in turn, strengthens law enforcement’s ability to investigate crimes and prosecute criminals.”

The dedication and passion of Utah Navajo Health Systems, Community Advocacy Team helps empower crime victims. The FBI is proud to honor their service with the designation as the Salt Lake City Division 2020 DCLA recipient.

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

HOUSTON, TX—The FBI Violent Crimes Task Force is seeking assistance from the public to identify and locate a suspect who is responsible for a Northwest Houston area bank robbery.

Today, June 28, 2021, at approximately 10:00 a.m., a man entered the Wells Fargo bank located at 5625 FM 1960 Road West. He approached a teller and demanded the money in her drawer, while gesturing toward his waistband as though he had a weapon. After the teller complied, the suspect left the bank in an unknown direction or vehicle with an undisclosed amount of money.

Witnesses describe the bank robber as a Hispanic male in his late 20s to early 30s, approximately 5’5” to 5’8” tall, heavy-set wearing a black New York Yankees baseball cap, t-shirt, and a COVID-style face mask.

Bank surveillance photos of the suspect are posted on Twitter @FBIHouston.

Crime Stoppers may pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, charging and/or arrest of the suspect in this case. Information may be reported by calling 713-222-TIPS (8477), submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org or through the Crime Stoppers mobile app. Only tips and calls DIRECTLY TO Crime Stoppers are anonymous and eligible for a cash reward.

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

Press release available in both English and Spanish.

EL PASO—Jeffrey Coburn, acting special agent-in-charge of the El Paso Field Office, is pleased to announce that One Fund El Paso has been named the 2020 recipient of the FBI’s Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for the El Paso Field Office.

Director’s Community Leadership Award

The FBI can only conduct investigations and protect the American people from crime and acts of extremism if it has the support and understanding of the American people. That’s why the special agents-in-charge of each of our 56 field offices work so closely with their communities and community organizations. What happens when these special agents-in-charge get such tremendous support from people in their communities that they want to specially recognize them? They nominate them for a Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA). This special award, presented on behalf of the Director of the FBI, was formally created in 1990 to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence in America.

2020 FBI El Paso-DCLA Recipient-One Fund El Paso

Following the tragic events of August 3, 2019, at the Walmart in El Paso, Texas, in which 23 people were killed and hundreds physically and emotionally injured, the El Paso Community Foundation rose up to begin assisting with donation management of the financial contributions that immediately started pouring in from individuals, businesses, and organizations across the nation wanting to help those affected. In doing so, the One Fund El Paso was developed with Stephanie Karr and Sanjay Mathur taking the lead and being instrumental in ultimately getting millions of dollars from generous donors into the hands of those who needed it the most with the help of local community members, agency representatives, and the National Compassion Fund.

El Paso FBI victim specialists along with the FBI Victim Services Response Team deployed to El Paso and other local victim service providers, worked closely with Ms. Karr and Mr. Mathur to identify victims and convey their immediate and long-term needs. Ms. Karr, Mr. Mathur, and their team worked tirelessly in the hours, days, and months following the shooting to get monies distributed IMMEDIATELY to the next-of-kin of the deceased and surviving victims who had been shot and eventually to those emotionally injured. This immediate distribution of funds was able to assist with some of the most pressing needs of these victims and ultimately led to the distribution of over $11,000,000.00 by December 2019, just a few short months following the shooting.

The speed at which the funds were distributed and the amount of work that went into getting this monumental task accomplished not only demonstrated community leadership but also care, kindness, and compassion for victims and a community devastated by a horrible act of mass violence. The One Fund El Paso was developed out of a need from the community in order to assist individuals suffering from this tragedy. The organization epitomizes the essence of the El Paso community. It is an honor for the El Paso Field Office to have Ms. Karr and Mr. Mathur receive such a prestigious recognition for their work with One Fund El Paso.

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Jeffrey Coburn El Agente Especial a Cargo Interino de la Oficina del FBI en El Paso, se complace en anunciar que One Fund El Paso ha sido nombrado como el recipiente 2020 del Premio del Director por Liderazgo Comunitario (DCLA) de la Oficina de Campo en El Paso.

Premio del Director por Liderazgo Comunitario

El FBI logra llevar a cabo investigaciones y proteger al pueblo estadounidense de crímenes y actos extremistas solamente si cuenta con el apoyo y la comprensión del pueblo estadounidense. Es por eso que los Agentes Especiales a Cargo en cada una de las 56 oficinas del FBI trabajan en estrecha colaboración con la comunidad y las organizaciones comunitarias. ¿Y qué sucede cuando estos Agentes Especiales a Cargo reciben un apoyo extraordinario por parte de alguien en la comunidad a quien quieren reconocer? Lo nombran como candidato para el Premio del Director por Liderazgo Comunitario (DCLA). Este premio especial, presentado en nombre del Director del FBI, fue creado formalmente en 1990 para honrar a individuos y organizaciones en sus esfuerzos para combatir el crimen, terrorismo, drogas y la violencia en América.

2020 El FBI en El Paso-Recipiente DCLA-One Fund El Paso

Tras los trágicos acontecimientos del 3 de agosto del 2019 en la tienda Walmart en El Paso, Texas, en los cuales 23 personas perdieron la vida y cientos de personas se vieron afectadas física y emocionalmente, El Paso Community Foundation inicio el reto significativo y asistió con el manejo de las donaciones monetarias que comenzaron a recibirse de inmediato por parte de individuos, negocios, y organizaciones a través del país que deseaban ayudar a las personas afectadas. De este modo, Stephanie Karr y Sanjay Mathur desarrollaron One Fund El Paso y tomaron el mando en ser instrumental desempeñando la distribución de millones de dólares de parte de los donantes generosos a aquellas personas que más lo necesitaban, con la ayuda de líderes comunitarios, representantes de agencias y el Fondo Nacional de Compasión.

Los Especialistas en Asistencia a Víctimas del FBI en El Paso en conjunto con el Equipo de Respuesta de Servicios para Víctimas del FBI que fue desplegado a El Paso y otros proveedores de servicios locales trabajaron estrechamente con la Srta. Karr y el Sr. Mathur para identificar a las víctimas y poder transmitir las necesidades inmediatas y a largo plazo. La Srta. Karr y el Sr. Mathur trabajaron sin cesar durante las horas, días, y meses después del tiroteo para distribuir fondos INMEDIATAMENTE al familiar más cercano en caso de muerte o a las víctimas que sobrevivieron heridas de balas, y eventualmente a aquellos que sufrieron daños emocionales. Esta distribución inmediata de fondos hizo posible que se atendieran la mayoría de las necesidades más urgentes de las víctimas, y finalmente resultó en la distribución de más de $11,000,000 para diciembre del 2019, solo meses después del tiroteo.

La rapidez con la que los fondos fueron distribuidos y la cantidad de trabajo que se realizó para poder lograr el cumplimiento de esta tarea tan monumental no solo demostró el liderazgo comunitario sino también el cuidado, la bondad, y la compasión hacia las víctimas y la comunidad afectada por tan terrible acto de violencia masiva. El One Fund El Paso fue desarrollado por necesidad de la comunidad para asistir a individuos que sufrían por esta tragedia. La organización personifica la comunidad de El Paso. Es un honor para la Oficina de Campo de El Paso de tener a la Srta. Karr y al Sr. Mathur al recibir un reconocimiento tan prestigioso por su trabajo en One Fund El Paso.