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

Press release available in both English and Spanish.

SAN JUAN, PR—Special Agent in Charge Joseph González, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) San Juan Field Office, announced the arrest of Sixto Raúl Colón-Espada (Colón-Espada).

Colón-Espada was charged under a complaint issued by U.S. Magistrate Judge Marshal D. Morgan, with violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) (felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition) for events that took place in Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico.

Colón-Espada faces charges for being found in possession of various firearms and ammunition during a legal search warrant conducted on September 9, 2021, by agents of the Ponce Division of Drugs and Illegal Firearms of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau. The subject was detained by police during the search warrant and arrested by special agents of the FBI Ponce Resident Agency on September 10, 2021.

This case is being investigated by the FBI San Juan Field Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico E. Giovannie Mercado from the Violent Crimes Section. The FBI would like to thank the Puerto Rico Police Bureau for their continued support to the FBI mission and their assistance on this case.

Tips and information assist the FBI and its federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. Citizens with information are asked to contact the FBI San Juan Field Office at 787-987-6500, or to submit tips through the FBI’s Internet complaint portal at Tips.FBI.Gov.

Tipsters can remain anonymous.

The public is reminded a complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty by a court of law. The U.S. government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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Arresto de Sixto Raúl Colón-Espada

SAN JUAN, PR—El Agente Especial a Cargo de la Oficina de San Juan del Negociado Federal de Investigación (FBI, por sus siglas en inglés), Joseph González, anunció el arresto de Sixto Raúl Colón-Espada (Colón-Espada).

Colón-Espada fue acusados mediante querella, emitida por el Juez Magistrado de los Estados Unidos Marshal D. Morgan, por violaciones al Título 18, Código de los Estados Unidos, Secciones 922(g)(1) (convicto en posesión de un arma y municiones), por eventos que ocurrieron en Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico.

Colón-Espada enfrenta cargos por encontrarse en posesión de varias armas y municiones durante la ejecución de una orden de allanamiento estatal llevada a cabo el 9 de septiembre de 2021, por Agentes de la División de Drogas y Armas Ilegales de Ponce del Negociado de la Policía de Puerto Rico. Colón-Espada fue detenido en el acto por agentes de la policía y posteriormente arrestado el 10 de septiembre de 2021 por Agentes Especiales de la Oficina de Ponce del FBI.

El enjuiciamiento de este caso está a cargo del Fiscal Federal E. Giovannie Mercado de la Sección de Crímenes Violentos y es investigado por la Oficina de Ponce del FBI. El FBI desea agradecer a los compañeros del Negociado de la Policía de Puerto Rico, por su continuo apoyo a la misión del FBI y su asistencia en este caso.

Las confidencias e información ayudan al FBI y a sus colegas federales, estatales y locales en el desempeño de sus funciones. Por ello, se le solicita al público que contacte a la Oficina de San Juan del FBI al 787-987-6500, o reporte confidencias a través de la línea de pistas (tips) del FBI, disponible en la página de Internet Tips.FBI.Gov.

Los querellantes podrán permanecer anónimos.

Se le recuerda al público que una Querella sólo contiene cargos y no es evidencia de culpabilidad. Todo acusado se presume inocente hasta que se pruebe lo contrario más allá de toda duda razonable. El Gobierno de los Estados Unidos tiene el peso de la prueba.

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

FBI agents, with the assistance of the Albany Police Department, arrested David Scott Ryder, age 64, this morning, September 15, 2021, on charges of interstate transmission of a threat and stalking. The arrest, based on a criminal complaint, involved threats allegedly made to an Oregon public official. The threats included three emailed messages between August 10, 2021, and August 23, 2021. They also included a voice mail left on an office phone on August 23, 2021. Some of the statements included:

• “… all the people that won’t get your FAKE [expletive] vaccine are the same ones who you will see hang you in a public place for crimes against America. Resign today!!!”
• “I wish you would show your face you punk! I’d take your WORTHLESS SOUL from you. [Expletive] ALL DEMOCRAT COMMUNISTS like you. Resign today! I’d love to get my [expletive] hands around your neck SCUM!!!”
• “… if you don’t call me back, I’m going to start sending threats and then we’ll get some of your [expletive] little cop friends down here to see me and I’m going to [expletive] kill them. They come in my [expletive] yard. Anybody from the state or federal come in my yard, I’ll kill them.”

Ryder made his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge today. The judge ordered him released pending further court proceedings. “Threats of any kind against a public official are not acceptable in this country,” said Kieran L. Ramsey. “Anyone who has information about threatened criminal activity or violence should contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov.” A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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

The FBI has filed a federal criminal complaint charging Justin David Jackley, age 31, with three counts of bank robbery. Jackley made his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge today, September 14, 2021, on those charges. The judge ordered Jackley detained pending further court proceedings.

Milwaukie Police Department officers arrested Jackley on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, following a robbery at the Bank of the West branch located at 11050 SE McLoughlin Boulevard. According to the criminal complaint, FBI agents believe Jackley is responsible for two previous robberies as well:

• August 23, 2021 – Bank of America branch located at 9171 SE 82nd Avenue, Portland
• September 4, 2021 – OnPoint Community Credit Union located at 8085 SE 13th Avenue, Portland

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Oregon Bank Robbery Stats & Trends

While the overall number of bank robberies in Oregon has been low in 2021, there has been a noticeable increase in just the past few months. In total, the FBI has reports of 22 bank robberies from throughout Oregon since January 1, 2021. Half of those—11—have occurred just since July 1, 2021.

• 2020
  • Total for Year 54
  • Year to Date 50
• 2021
  • Total for Year N/A
  • Year to Date 22

Of concern to investigators are reports that some suspected bank robbers are drawn to this crime because they are being told that bank robberies that do not involve physical violence or which remain under a certain loss amount are often not prosecuted, particularly at the federal level.

“Bank robbery is a violent crime. Period. Whether you show a weapon, threaten a weapon, or make criminal demands, there is an impact on the victim. Tellers often experience fear and ongoing trauma from the experience. If you choose to commit a bank robbery, we will investigate and ensure that victims can see justice done,” said Kieran L. Ramsey, special agent in charge of the FBI in Oregon.

If you have information about a bank robbery or any other federal crime, report it to 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov.

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

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

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is warning about a large increase in the number of sextortion complaints. Sextortion happens when someone threatens to distribute your private and sensitive material if their demands aren’t met. Oftentimes, the fraudster demands additional sexual images, sexual favors, or money—creating financial and emotional distress for the victim.

In just the first seven months of this year, IC3 has received more than 16,000 sextortion complaints. The losses have topped $8 million. Almost half of these extortion victims were in the 20 to 39 age group. Victims over the age of 60 years are also prime targets.

Most adult victims report the initial contact with the fraudster is mutual and made using dating websites and apps. For kids, the contacts can come through online games or social media platforms that young people tend to use.

Soon after the initial encounter, the fraudster requests the interaction be moved from the website or app to another messaging platform. The fraudster either threatens that he already possesses embarrassing photos, or he instigates the exchange of sexually explicit material. He often encourages the victim to participate via video chat or to send their own explicit photos.

Immediately after the victim complies, the fraudster blackmails the victim and demands money to prevent the release of the photos or videos on social media. He may also demand more and more images. The fraudster often gains access to the victim’s social media accounts or contact information and threatens to send the images to the victim’s family and friends.

How to protect yourself:

• NEVER send compromising images of yourself to anyone, no matter who they are or who they say they are.
• Do not open attachments from people you do not know. Links can secretly hack your electronic devices using malware to gain access to your private data, photos, and contacts. There is also malware that can control your web camera and microphone without your knowledge.
• Turn off your electronic devices and web cameras when not in use.

If you are receiving sextortion threats:

• Remember you are not alone as thousands are victimized by this scam.
• Stop all interaction with the extortionist and do not be embarrassed or afraid to contact law enforcement.

Additional information on sextortion is available here:

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

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

MIAMI—Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro announced the nomination of the Broward Human Trafficking Coalition (BHTC) as the Division’s selection for the 2020 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) during a ceremony earlier today at FBI Miami’s headquarters in Miramar, Florida.

Accepting the nomination was BHTC Chairperson Jumorrow Johnson, from the Broward County State Attorney’s Office.

The DCLA annually honors organizations and individuals who are doing the hard work of improving their communities.

“We honor the dedication and commitment of the Broward Human Trafficking Coalition as they perform vital and essential work addressing the heinous crime of human trafficking,” said George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami. “The BHTC is addressing urgent needs within our community. South Florida is truly fortunate to have an organization which is tackling the problem of human trafficking at all levels from the victim to the perpetrator, to resources, and legislative issues.”

BHTC is a coalition of community partners and individuals whose mission is to raise awareness about human trafficking. The purpose of the BHTC is to impact the response to victims of human trafficking through outreach and advocacy activities, to coordinate informational, educational, and training seminars, and to identify available resources.

The BHTC performs these functions through three action committees:

• S.T.A.R.S. (Stop Trafficking and Rescue Survivors) – This committee is solely focused on identifying gaps in service provisions needed to support juvenile victims.
• S.T.R.I.P.E.S. (Stop Trafficking and Rescue Individual Persons Exploited through Slavery) – This committee primarily focuses on supporting adult victims of human trafficking and works to support 18–24-year-old individuals migrating from foster care.
• A.I.M. (Arrest Perpetrators, Investigate Criminal Enterprises, Manage Human Trafficking Cases) – Law enforcement only group comprised of local, state, and federal entities that work human trafficking cases.

The FBI urges anyone who may be a human trafficking victim or have information about a potential human trafficking situation to call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. If you believe a child is involved in a trafficking situation, submit a tip through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.