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

FBI Pittsburgh would like to congratulate the winners of our sixth annual Heroin Outreach Prevention and Education initiative or HOPE PSA contest. Opioid abuse and heroin remain at pandemic levels across Western Pennsylvania. In response, FBI Pittsburgh partnered with key community stakeholders, including the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, to form this program. This year we also welcomed partners from the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, CentiMark, Levitt Legacy, Gateway Rehab, and The Bradley Center. Together, alongside our community partners, the FBI Pittsburgh HOPE Initiative strives to formulate proactive solutions, particularly in areas of education, prevention and awareness.

The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to impact our world in unpredictable ways. Virtual schooling and social isolation have had a catastrophic effect on mental health and increased the risk for substance abuse. Overdoses and mental health crises are worsening, and our world continues to present challenges that require us all to reinvent our daily lives, routines, and goals. For this reason, our theme this year went a little deeper. We asked students to create a 1 to 3 minute video looking at the following questions:

Throughout these unsettling times, what are the everyday challenges young adults face this academic year, and why do young adults choose to self-medicate? How can young adults choose a safer coping method?

“We wanted students to remember that anyone can turn their bad decisions into good ones at any given moment,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples. “These videos gave students a chance to think about the stressors we all face in life from anxiety to fear and isolation and loss of control. I’m so proud of the videos all the students put together and for our partners for continuing to support this important program.”

“We are honored to partner with the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association for another year to combat opioid addiction within Western Pennsylvania,” said Jim Britt, executive director of the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation. ‘Our hope is that these PSA videos bring awareness and educate students about the dangers of drug misuse, and how to steer clear of them, in order to live a life of physical and mental wellness.”

“The Levitt Legacy is proud to be a sponsor of the HOPE PSA Video Contest. We found that the contest is a great way to educate students on the Opioid Epidemic while providing a creative outlook and rewarding activity for the students to become involved with. These videos are then used to educate others about this horrible epidemic,” said Barb Levitt, Founder of Levitt Legacy

The winners will receive monetary gifts from our partners, including CentiMark, Levitt Legacy, Gateway Rehab and The Bradley Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation is also providing gift packages for the students, including a Pens Duffle Bag, bobble heads and hat.

Here is a list of the winners with a direct link to the winning video.

First Place:

• South Fayette Township School District
• South Fayette High School: This is Temporary, Addiction Isn’t
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6f01J4UuSE

Second Place:

• Indiana County Technology Center: The Darkness:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CS7frmlubg

Third Place:

• Forest Hills School District-Cambria County
• Forest Hills High School: Blink of an Eye
• https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YDw0t4tz6EY

This year,16 videos from nine school districts across eight different counties in Western Pennsylvania were submitted. For more information on the HOPE initiative and to view all the videos, click here: https://fbipghcaaa.org/hope/youth/psacontest/

For media inquiries please call (412) 396-9504 or e-mail cpolicicchio@fbi.gov

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

Pedro Sanchez-Laporte, a fugitive wanted in connection with a quadruple murder and for gun and drug crimes, has been arrested in Florida, announced Michael J. Driscoll, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division, and Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams. FBI Tampa SWAT personnel took Sanchez-Laporte into custody this morning, April 6, 2021, without incident at a residence in Lake Alfred, Florida.

On January 28, 2018, Sanchez-Laporte and four other alleged members of the Trinidad Drug Trafficking Organization confronted four individuals selling narcotics in Reading, Pennsylvania, in a location operated and controlled by the Trinidad Drug Trafficking Organization. The confrontation escalated into threats, then Sanchez-Laporte and associates allegedly opened fire on the individuals. Three victims died at the scene, with the fourth, Sanchez-Laporte’s nephew, succumbing to his wounds at the hospital.

Sanchez-Laporte’s associates have been indicted, arrested, and are awaiting trial in this case; only Sanchez-Laporte had remained at large.

He will be returned by the U.S. Marshals Service to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where he was charged by indictment with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and murder in the course of using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly A. Lewis Fallenstein and Vineet Gauri, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Rosalynda M. Michetti.

The FBI Philadelphia Field Office would like to thank the Reading Police Department and the Berks County District Attorney’s Office for their partnership in this matter, and the FBI Tampa—Lakeland Resident Agency and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with today’s arrest.

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

BRONX, NY—The FBI/New York Police Department Joint Major Theft Task Force is asking for the public’s help finding a man wanted in connection with several robberies in the Bronx in March 2021. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of Jose Medina (DOB: March 6, 1999).

Investigators say Medina and several other men were involved in a series of robberies listed below beginning on March 4, 2021:

• March 4 – A man drove off with an unattended Toyota Rav4 from the Westchester Avenue Car Wash at 1440 Westchester Avenue at around 5:30 p.m.
• March 5 – Four men stole five vehicles from the White Plains Secure Parking at 2835 White Plains Road at around 3 a.m. They forced their way into the office, threatened the attendant with a gun, and took the victim’s wallet and credit cards. They stole a Jeep Grand Cherokee, two Honda Accords, a Kia Optima, and an Acura MDX.
• March 7 – A man broke into the Amoco Gas Station at 1280 Allerton Avenue at around 5 a.m., breaking the glass window and stealing car keys. Other suspects acted as lookouts in the parking lot. They took off in a white Nissan Maxima.
• March 7 – Five men assaulted an employee at the Parkchester Tremont Parking at 2155 Tremont Avenue at around 5 a.m. They took cash from the office, as well as car keys. The employee stopped them from taking any cars. They left in the stolen Acura MDX taken on March 5th.
• March 9 – Four men forced their way into the office of the G and Sons Parking at 2740 Webster Avenue just before 3 a.m. They threatened the attendant with a gun, tied him up, and stole money from him. They grabbed keys for three vehicles and stole a Honda CRV, a Toyota Camry, and a Porsche Panamera.

Anyone with information about the robberies, any of the men involved, or information about Jose Medina’s whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov, or the New York Police Department’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). They could receive a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest.

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

MANHATTAN, NY—Every year, each of the FBI’s 56 field offices nominates members of or agencies in local communities making a difference and exemplifying leadership. FBI New York nominated the 9/11 Memorial & Museum for the 2020 Director’s Community Leadership Award for its work commemorating and maintaining the legacy of one of the most tragic days in our country’s history. Demonstrating the consequences of terrorism on individual lives and the impact on communities at the local, national, and international levels, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum attests to the triumph of human dignity over human depravity and affirms an unwavering commitment to the fundamental value of human life.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum serves as the country’s principal institution for examining the attacks of September 11, 2001, and documenting their continuing impact and significance. The organization remembers and honors the nearly 3,000 victims who died that day, and all those who risked or lost their lives saving others in the months and years after. Through commemoration, exhibitions, and educational programs, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is committed to providing relevant and engaging learning opportunities for students, teachers, families, the general public, and the FBI and other law enforcement partners, and offers content and strategies for learning about the attacks and their aftermath to the community and others.

“Like thousands of others, I watched the smoke billowing from the World Trade Towers on September 11th. I’ve been to the Memorial and Museum many times since it opened. The Memorial is majestic tribute, and the Museum is hallowed ground which reminds us of all who were lost. For the employees who serve at the site, their work is an enduring mission of service to the global community—to make sure we eternally honor the victims and teach future generations of the sacrifices made that day and beyond, so that we truly never forget,” said William F. Sweeney, assistant director-in-charge of the FBI New York Field Office. “This year, as we approach the 20th Anniversary of September 11th, I cannot think of a more deserving cause, or fitting group, to serve as the FBI New York field office’s recipient for the Director’s Community Leadership Award.”

“Our partnership with the FBI has been profoundly meaningful for our staff and institution,” said Clifford Chanin, executive vice president and deputy director for Museum Programs. “The Bureau’s guidance and support has been instrumental for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum since before we opened, and as we approach the 20th anniversary, we are humbled by their commitment to our programs and this history. We are deeply grateful for this award and look forward to continuing this relationship far into the future.”

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum tells the story of 9/11 through media, narratives, and a collection of monumental and authentic artifacts, presenting visitors with personal stories of loss, recovery, and hope. The FBI New York and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum regularly work together towards education on terrorism and other initiatives aligned with the FBI’s mission. The professionals who make up the staff of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum have made valuable contributions to New York City and the world, which is why FBI New York nominated the 9/11 Memorial & Museum for the 2020 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award.

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