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

The Fairview Heights Resident Agency, part of the FBI Springfield Field Office, has organized a working group consisting of federal partners the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG) to combat Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) fraud.

The PPP and EIDL are part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act designed to provide financial assistance to millions of American businesses during the pandemic. PPP loans help businesses keep their workforce employed during the pandemic. Loan proceeds must be used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, utilities, and other limited property damage and operations costs as specified under the program.

The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that experience a temporary loss of revenue with proceeds used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses.

Criminals are fraudulently applying for these loans or targeting the funds once they have been disbursed. This type of fraud can involve business owners who have inflated their payroll expenses to obtain larger loans, fraudsters who create fake companies and identities, and organized criminal networks that submit identical loan applications under different company names. The ill-gotten money is then used for personal gain.

The PPP/EIDL Fraud Working Group, formed in collaboration with the FBI, IRS-CI, and SBA-OIG will combine resources to target this threat that is escalating at a record pace, and obtain critical data and evidence to identify PPP fraud.

“Unfortunately, when a crisis emerges as the result of a natural disaster or a global pandemic such as COVID-19, there are individuals within our society who will take advantage of the situation to defraud those in need of government economic relief packages as means to line their own pockets. We have seen several schemes related to the COVID-19 crisis. Be wary of anyone seeking personally identifiable information or financial information, in person or online, to facilitate application for or otherwise access government funds. The FBI and our partners are committed to protecting the American people and the integrity of government assistance programs. We will relentlessly pursue those who exploit government relief funds and use them for personal gain at the taxpayer’s expense. Our investigative partnerships will lead to prison terms for these criminals,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Sean M. Cox.

“Our mission is to combat the exploitation of programs designed to help those in need. IRS-CI has successfully investigated PPP and EIDL fraud identifying millions in stolen funds,” said Amanda Prestegard, acting special agent in charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation’s St. Louis Field Office. “IRS-CI will continue to partner with the FBI and SBA-OIG to aggressively pursue those who commit CARES Act fraud.”

Experience demonstrates that cooperation from public-private partnerships is one of the FBI’s best allies in maximizing awareness and visibility of suspicious conduct, including the misuse and abuse of taxpayer funds. If you suspect PPP/EIDL fraud, contact FBI Springfield at 217-522-9675 or submit tips to tips.fbi.gov or IRS.gov or SBA-OIG Fraud Hotline.

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

ORLANDO, FL—The FBI Tampa Field Office is proud to announce Eric Alberts, a leader in emergency preparedness for the city of Orlando, as the recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA) for 2020. Mr. Alberts is the Corporate Director for Emergency Preparedness at Orlando Health. He demonstrates a sincere commitment to protecting his community by strengthening partnerships between the medical and law enforcement communities.

In April of 2016, Mr. Alberts invited the FBI Tampa Field Office to participate in an annual full-scale community exercise designed to test Emergency Management Services’ (EMS) ability to respond to mass casualty incidents. The FBI Orlando Resident Agency worked with several law enforcement and emergency management agencies in the planning and execution of this exercise. Two months later, the FBI responded to the Pulse Nightclub terror attack. The policies, procedures, and protocols instituted because of that training, helped save lives. Since then, Mr. Alberts has joined Assistant FBI Special Agent in Charge Ronald Hopper with crisis response training. Their coordinated message has facilitated partnerships between law enforcement and hospitals across the nation.

“Mr. Alberts has been a friend of the FBI for many years. He’s a leader who recognizes the importance of a well-planned, synchronized response to a crisis event. His dedication to emergency preparedness is helping make the Orlando community a safer place.” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division Michael McPherson.

The FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award was formally created in 1990 to honor individuals and organizations for their extraordinary contributions to the prevention of crime and violence in the community. Every year, FBI field offices around the country select a community partner making a difference and exemplifying leadership to receive the award. For more information about this prestigious award, please go to: www.fbi.gov/about/community-outreach/dcla

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

MIAMI—On June 29, 2021, a Miami Beach resident was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of human trafficking in connection with his coercing numerous women into prostitution through escort services across south Florida from 2015 to 2017. Ashley Moody, attorney general for the State of Florida, George L. Piro, special agent in charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, (FBI), Miami Field Office and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) made the announcement.

Robert Atlee Miner V, 30, of Miami Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty to charges of human trafficking, deriving support from the proceeds from prostitution, and money laundering, in addition to other charges, and was sentenced by 15th Judicial District Court Judge Cheryl A. Caracuzzo to 15 years in prison. Miner is required to register as a sexual offender upon his release in connection with the sex trafficking conviction(s).

The evidence collected during the investigation showed that, between 2015 and 2017, Miner placed employment advertisements across the United States on websites like Backpage.com and Craigslist.com, luring victims to his websites and ultimately to south Florida to work in positions he described as “dancers” or “companions.” However, once victims arrived in Florida (many of them vulnerable or disadvantaged), Miner compelled them to engage in prostitution, using fraud and manipulation. Miner preyed on many of his victims’ lack of financial stability, by promising them cars, residences, and access to bank accounts upon completion of his “program.”

Miner coerced his victims to engage in prostitution at hotels and motels throughout south Florida, to include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, and kept all of the proceeds earned by the victims, which he used to project an upscale lifestyle.

Miner was arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol near Jacksonville, Florida, in October 2017 after law enforcement learned Miner was en route to North Carolina with one of his victims.

The investigation was conducted by the Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force, which included investigators from the FBI and PBSO, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO), the West Palm Beach Police Department (WPBPD), and the Miami Beach Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Justin Chapman and Stephanie Tew.

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

The FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force and the Denver Police Department need your help identifying an individual who robbed the US Bank located at 730 Colorado Boulevard in Denver, Colorado, at approximately 3:35 p.m. on Tuesday, July 13, 2021.

The suspect is described as a bald Black male, 35 to 40 years old, approximately 5’9” with a thin build. He was wearing black/gray shorts, a gray shirt, white athletic shoes, and a white face mask.

Please be on the lookout for anyone matching the above description. Be aware of anyone similar who might have recently changed their spending habits or discussed coming into money suddenly.

Bank robbery is punishable up to a 20-year prison sentence for each offense and increases if a dangerous weapon is used in the commission of the crime. The FBI continues to provide financial institutions with the best practices for security to make them less vulnerable to robberies.

If anyone has any information on the bank robbery above, or any bank robbery, please call the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force at 303-629-7171; or, you may remain anonymous by calling CRIMESTOPPERS at 720-913-STOP (7867).

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

Four nationals and residents of the People’s Republic of China have been charged in a campaign to hack into the computer systems of dozens of victim companies, universities, and government entities in the U.S. and abroad between 2011 and 2018.