Category: Security News

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

ST. LOUIS, MO—Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Richard Quinn is pleased to announce the selection of the Missouri Masonic Children’s Foundation for the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. Specifically, the FBI is recognizing the foundation’s Missouri Child Identification and Protection (MoChIP) program. The program generates a comprehensive identification kit that can be invaluable when a child goes missing and is free to any Missouri family. Parents and guardians simply bring the child to a MoChIP event to have the kit completed within minutes. “Child ID kits act as force multipliers in helping to protect children,” said SAC Quinn. “Quick, easy, and free, I encourage all parents to take advantage of this invaluable resource by attending a MoChIP event where volunteers will complete the kits.”

The Missouri Masonic Children’s Foundation is the sole sponsor and administrator of the program and buys all the necessary equipment and materials. The child ID kits contain digital photographs, digital fingerprints, child information and emergency contacts, two laminated ID cards, and a dental bite impression. The Missouri Freemasons volunteer at the events to complete the kits. President Emmett Bryson of the foundation’s board said, “The Masonic Children’s Foundation is very excited to receive recognition for our MoChIP program which has been serving families in Missouri for over 15 years. On behalf of the more than 30,000 Freemasons of Missouri who volunteer and support this program, we thank the FBI for recognizing its success.”

The MoChIP program was started in 2006. To date, the Missouri Masonic Children’s Foundation together with the Freemasons of Missouri, have generated approximately a quarter of a million ID kits for Missouri kids.

The MoChIP program complements the FBI’s Child ID app, which can be downloaded for free to your mobile device. The app provides a convenient place to electronically store photos and other vital information about your children so that it’s literally right at hand if you need it. You can also quickly email the information to authorities.

Previous FBI St. Louis honorees*

• 1990 Joseph Cunningham, former St. Louis Cardinals baseball player
• 1991 Martin Mathews, Mathews-Dickey Boys’ & Girls’ Club
• 1993 The late Jean Leible, Neighborhood Activist
• 1995 Pastor Harry Douma, Camp Penuel
• 2005 Martin Mathews (two-time honoree)
• 2006 Karen Aroesty, Anti-Defamation League
• 2007 Pastor B. T. Rice, New Horizon Seventh Day Christian Church
• 2008 Dave Sinclair, Dave Sinclair Auto Group
• 2009 Bill Wilkerson, “Reach Out St. Louis!”
• 2010 Dr. Stephen Bander, Bander Center for Medical Business Ethics
• 2011 Anthony Thompson, Kwame Building Group
• 2012 Kimberly Ritter, Nix Conference & Meeting Management
• 2013 Angel Baked, a social enterprise program empowering inner-city teens
• 2014 Wehrenberg Theatres
• 2015 Emerson’s Ferguson Forward Initiative
• 2016 Shubert Design Furniture (in conjunction with Gary Sinise Foundation honored by FBI HQ)
• 2017 Danny Ludeman, President & CEO, Concordance Academy of Leadership
• 2018 National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse—St. Louis Area
• 2019 Missouri Masonic Children’s Foundation (announcement delayed due to COVID-19)

*unlisted years did not have a recipient

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

BERKELEY, MO—The FBI and Berkeley Police are asking for help with information about a cold-case homicide and carjacking that happened on November 9, 2017, in Berkeley, Missouri.

The victim, 30-year-old Jayvon Vance, was shot and killed around 9:40 p.m. Earlier in the day, the victim was communicating with a person in a Facebook group using the moniker “Tony King.” The two agreed to meet later that night in the 6800 block of Friarwood Drive in Berkeley for a sales transaction.

The victim drove alone to the meeting place in a 2008 white Saturn SUV. At the time of the meeting, two black males were seen standing next to a white vehicle (possibly an SUV) and a black vehicle (possibly a Chevy Monte Carlo). A few minutes later, one gunshot was heard and both vehicles were seen leaving while the victim was left lying on the road.

If you have information about the homicide and carjacking, you can remain anonymous by calling St. Louis Regional CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS.

A subject is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.

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

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO—Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Richard Quinn is pleased to announce three individuals who helped the FBI with tips were presented with reward money.

On April 24, 2020, FBI St. Louis offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the person seen in surveillance video setting fire to the Cape Girardeau Islamic Center. Through investigation and receipt of tip information from these individuals, law enforcement quickly identified Nicholas J. Proffitt as the suspect. On May 12, 2020, a federal grand jury indicted Proffitt on arson and hate crime charges.

SAC Quinn commends each of the three recipients for doing the right thing stating, “These three individuals represent the best of what happens when the community works with law enforcement. Their actions serve as an inspiration and a reminder that good can conquer evil with the help of a courageous community.”

Thank you also to our partners at the ATF, Missouri Division of Fire Safety, and the Cape Girardeau Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.

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

The FBI is partnering with the Chaldean Community Foundation to warn the community about the dangers of sextortion. As part of this awareness campaign, the FBI Detroit Field Office along with the Sterling Heights Police Department, a representative from the Warren Consolidated School District, and a behavioral health specialist from the Chaldean Community Foundation will take part in a Facebook live event on May 20, 2021, at 6:00 p.m.

The event can be accessed on the Chaldean Community Foundation Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/chaldeanfoundation.

The FBI is seeing more and more cases involving sextortion, particularly of young kids—sometimes as young as seven or eight years old. The extortionist finds children and teens on social media, through gaming apps, or through other online platforms. He will either find victims who respond to attention from an adult, or he will pretend to be another child. Either way, he will groom the victim using flattery or gifts. Those gifts could be real or something as simple as virtual tokens or extra progress in a game.

Eventually, he convinces the child to send a naked photo—and one is all it takes. If the child tries to pull away, the extortionist will threaten the victim with exposure, telling the child that he will send the photo to friends and family or post it online. Over time, the extortionist continues to threaten while escalating demands, which can include the production of more explicit photos. He may even command that the child perform sex acts alone or with siblings and friends.

For too many parents, the thought is that it can’t happen to my child, and it can’t happen here. Unfortunately, it can on both counts.

What can parents do to protect their children?

Often children and teens are so concerned that they will get in trouble that they are reluctant to come forward. It’s up to you— the parent—to develop that open, honest line of communication. Start with some short conversations, and ask:

• When you are online, has anyone you don’t know ever tried to contact you?
• What would you do if they did?
• Why do you think someone would want to talk to a kid online?
• Why do you think adults sometimes pretend to be kids online?
• Has anyone you know ever sent a picture of themselves that got passed around school?
• What do you think can happen if you send a photo to anyone—even a friend?
• What if that picture were embarrassing?

Finally, consider using what you’ve just learned to start the conversation. “Hey, I heard this story on the news today about kids getting pressured to send pictures and videos of themselves to people online. Have you heard anything like that before?”

What to do if sextortion has already taken place:

If your child discloses that he or she is the victim of sextortion, report it to the FBI by calling 313-965-2323 or 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov.

If you are a victim and not ready to talk to the FBI yet, go to a trusted adult. Tell that adult that you are being victimized online and need help. Remember, you are not the one in trouble. Criminals will try to make you feel unsure, scared, or embarrassed. Your willingness to talk to a trusted adult, though, may just be the key to keeping this predator from hurting someone else.

More information: Students, parents, and educators can find more tools and information on the FBI’s website at https://www.fbi.gov/stopsextortion.

If you have questions about the Facebook live event, please contact FBI Community Outreach Specialist Mary Abouljoud (mjabouljoud@fbi.gov).

All media inquiries should be directed to Special Agent Mara Schneider (mrschneider@fbi.gov).

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

Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters is pleased to announce the Michigan Muslim Community Council as the FBI Detroit’s Community Leadership Award recipient for 2020.

Annually, since 1990, each FBI field office presents the Director’s Community Leadership Award to an individual or organization in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to the education and prevention of crime in their communities.

The Michigan Muslim Community Council (MMCC) is a committed member of FBI Detroit’s multicultural engagement council and in that role has fostered dialogue between the FBI and Michigan’s large Muslim community. During the last year, the MMCC participated in virtual town halls during which leaders from the Muslim community and FBI Detroit discussed making communities safer by creating trust between law enforcement and the community. The MMCC also provided FBI information on COVID-19 schemes, elder fraud, and hate crimes to the Muslim community.

“The FBI’s mission is a heavy one: to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution. And we can’t carry that weight alone. We can’t fully succeed without strong law enforcement, intelligence, business, and community partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters. “The MMCC has helped us learn and understand more about the people we serve and helped the community learn and understand more about the FBI. This is a key step in making our communities stronger and safer.”

In addition to its commitment to fostering open dialogue and encouraging relationships between law enforcement and Michigan’s diverse communities, the MMCC stepped up to assist law enforcement and first responders, health care workers, and the community at large throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, the Holy Month of Ramadan overlapped with the early phases of the pandemic and the MMCC organized to provide delivery of halal meals to health care workers at hospitals in the metro Detroit area.

Additionally, MMCC led a humanitarian food relief effort spanning six counties and 12 cities in the State of Michigan that provided approximately 500,000 food boxes to more than 100,000 families. Hundreds of volunteers assisted with the no-contact distributions, including truck drivers, truck owners, students, professionals from various fields, elected officials, and law enforcement. These distribution events provided the FBI Detroit Field Office an opportunity to connect and engage with our diverse communities when it mattered most for our State.

“The FBI in Detroit is honored to be able to recognize and thank the MMCC for its service to the community and for helping the FBI better protect the people of Michigan,” said SAC Waters.

The commitment the MMCC has demonstrated to fostering open dialogue and encouraging relationships between law enforcement and Michigan’s diverse communities is laudable and worthy of this recognition. On behalf of the FBI Detroit Field Office, we are honored to present the Michigan Muslim Community Council with the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for 2020.