FBI_response_to_FOIA_1.pdf

U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation Washington, D.C. 20535 July 9, 2025 MUCKROCK NEWS DEPT MR189272 263 HUNTINGTON AVE BOSTON, MA 02115 Request No.: 1673624-000 Subject: HAUSBERG, LEANNE MARIE (Missing Person March 18, 1999) Dear Sarah Aziz: This acknowledges receipt of your Freedom of Information/Privacy Acts (FOIPA) request to the FBI. Below you will find additional information about your request. Please read carefully. You have requested records concerning one or more missing third-party individuals. We regret that we cannot provide you records regarding a missing person. Therefore, your request will be administratively closed. The FBI recognizes an important privacy interest in the requested information. Third-party information can only be provided if you submit one of the following: (1) an authorization and consent from the individual(s) (i.e., express authorization and consent of the third party); (2) proof of death (i.e., proof that your subject is deceased); (3) a justification that the public interest in disclosure outweighs personal privacy (i.e., a clear demonstration that the public interest in disclosure outweighs personal privacy interests); or (4) documentation showing the requester is the parent or guardian of a minor child or person determined by the court to be incompetent. In the absence of such information, the FBI can neither confirm nor deny the existence of any records responsive to your request, which, if they were to exist, would be exempt from disclosure pursuant to FOIA Exemptions (b)(6) and (b)(7)(C), 5 U.S.C. §§ 552 (b)(6) and (b)(7)(C). Express authorization and consent. If you seek disclosure of any existing records on this basis, enclosed is a Certification of Identity form. You may make additional copies of this form if you are requesting information on more than one individual. The subject of your request should complete this form and then sign it. Alternatively, the subject may prepare a document containing the required descriptive data and have it notarized. The original certification of identity or notarized authorization with the descriptive information must contain a legible, original signature before FBI can conduct an accurate search of our records. Proof of death. If you seek disclosure of any existing records on this basis, proof of death can be a copy of a death certificate, Social Security Death Index, obituary, or another recognized reference source. Death is presumed if the birth date of the subject is more than 100 years ago. Public Interest Disclosure. If you seek disclosure of any existing records on this basis, you must demonstrate that the public interest in disclosure outweighs personal privacy interests. Please note that the public interest in disclosure is not public curiosity; you must show the public interest sought demonstrates how the agency performs its mission or functions, the interest is significant, and that the requested information is likely to advance that significant interest. Verification of Parentage or Guardianship. If you are the parent or guardian of a missing minor or someone determined by the court to be incompetent, you may submit information to demonstrate the relationship. Regarding the subject, please provide the following: name, date of birth, place of birth, and Social Security Number (Optional). Additionally, information is required regarding the parent or guardian. Please complete and return the enclosed Certification of Identity Form. Please also provide a copy of the subject’s birth certificate showing your parentage or a court order establishing your guardianship. Mail your response to: Initial Processing Operations Unit; Record/Information Dissemination Section; Information Management Division; Federal Bureau of Investigation; 200 Constitution Drive; Winchester, VA 22602. You may also email your response to [email protected]. If you submitted your request through the FBI’s eFOIPA portal and you are receiving correspondence through standard mail, it was determined your request did not meet the eFOIPA terms of service. If you are not satisfied with the FBI’s determination in response to this request, you may proceed under any or all of the following options: • You may seek dispute resolution services through the FBI directly by emailing our FOIA Public Liaison at [email protected]. The subject heading should clearly state “Dispute Resolution Services.” Please also cite the FOIPA Request Number assigned to your request so it may be easily identified. • You may contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS), who serves as the federal FOIA Ombudsman. The contact information for OGIS is as follows: Office of Government Information Services, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road-OGIS, College Park, Maryland 20740-6001, e-mail at [email protected]; telephone at 202-741-5770; toll free at 1-877-684-6448; or facsimile at 202-741-5769. • You may file an administrative appeal by writing to the Director, Office of Information Policy (OIP), United States Department of Justice, 441 G Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20530, or you may submit an appeal through OIP's FOIA STAR portal by creating an account following the instructions on OIP’s website: https://www.justice.gov/oip/submit-and-track￾request-or-appeal. Pursuant to 28 C.F.R. § 16.8(a), your appeal must be postmarked or electronically transmitted within ninety (90) days of the date of this response to your request. If you submit your appeal by mail, both the letter and the envelope should be clearly marked "Freedom of Information Act Appeal." Please reference the FOIPA Request Number listed above in your correspondence so it may be easily identified. If possible, please provide a copy of your original request and this response letter with your appeal. Note: Utilizing the FBI’s dispute resolution services or requesting mediation through OGIS does not toll the ninety (90) day limit to file a timely appeal with OIP. Additional information about the FOIPA can be found at www.fbi.gov/foia. Should you have questions regarding your request, please feel free to contact [email protected]. Please reference the FOIPA Request number listed above in all correspondence concerning your request. Enclosed for your information is a copy of Missing Persons Tip Sheet, a copy of the Explanation of Exemptions, and a Certification of Identity Form. Sincerely, Record/Information Dissemination Section Information Management Division Enclosures MISSING PERSONS TIP SHEET We regret that the FBI is unable to assist individuals who are trying to locate missing persons. However, here are some suggestions on how you might want to proceed in finding information on a missing person. • Local law enforcement agencies in the area where the person was last known to reside or the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in the state(s) in which the person might be living may be of possible help. There is a charge for DMV information which varies state to state. • The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers a service whereby, under certain conditions, it will forward mail to another individual if that person's whereabouts can be determined through its computer system. If you would like to look into this service, you will need to send a separate letter to the SSA explaining your reasons for wanting to contact your loved one. Along with that letter, you should include the letter that you would like forwarded if the missing person is located. You letter of explanation should provide as much descriptive data as possible, including the missing person's full name, date and place of birth, and Social Security number, if known. If you do not have the Social Security number, you will need to provide other identifying data such as the father's name and mother's full maiden name. This information should be sent to the Social Security Administration, Office of Public Inquiries, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235. • The Salvation Army also offers a service where it will attempt to help individuals locate immediate family members. You may, therefore, wish to contact the Missing Persons Service of the Salvation Army. It has four regional offices whose addresses are: Eastern Territorial Headquarters 440 West Nyack Road West Nyack, New York 10994-1739 Central Territorial Headquarters 10 West Algonquin Road Des Plaines, Illinois 60016-6006 Southern Territorial Headquarters 1424 Northeast Expressway Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2088 Western Territorial Headquarters 180 East Ocean Boulevard P.O. Box 22646 Long Beach, California 90802-4709 U.S Department of Justice Certification of Identity FORM APPROVED OMB NO. 1103-0016 EXPIRES 03/31/17 Privacy Act Statement. In accordance with 28 CFR Section 16.41(d) personal data sufficient to identify the individuals submitting requests by mail under the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. Section 552a, is required. The purpose of this solicitation is to ensure that the records of individuals who are the subject of U.S. Department of Justice systems of records are not wrongfully disclosed by the Department. Requests will not be processed if this information is not furnished. False information on this form may subject the requester to criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. Section 1001 and/or 5 U.S.C. Section 552a(i)(3). Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.50 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Suggestions for reducing this burden may be submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Public Use Reports Project (1103-0016), Washington, DC 20503. Full Name of Requester 1 Citizenship Status 2 Social Security Number 3 Current Address Date of Birth Place of Birth OPTIONAL: Authorization to Release Information to Another Person This form is also to be completed by a requester who is authorizing information relating to himself or herself to be released to another person. Further, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Section 552a(b), I authorize the U.S. Department of Justice to release any and all information relating to me to: Print or Type Name I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct, and that I am the person named above, and I understand that any falsification of this statement is punishable under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Section 1001 by a fine of not more than $10,000 or by imprisonment of not more than five years or both, and that requesting or obtaining any record(s) under false pretenses is punishable under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552a(i)(3) by a fine of not more than $5,000. Signature 4 Date 1 Name of individual who is the subject of the record(s) sought. 2 Individual submitting a request under the Privacy Act of 1974 must be either “a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence,” pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Section 552a(a)(2). Requests will be processed as Freedom of Information Act requests pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Section 552, rather than Privacy Act requests, for individuals who are not United States citizens or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence. 3 Providing your social security number is voluntary. You are asked to provide your social security number only to facilitate the identification of records relating to you. Without your social security number, the Department may be unable to locate any or all records pertaining to you. 4 Signature of individual who is the subject of the record sought. FORM DOJ-361 EXPLANATION OF EXEMPTIONS SUBSECTIONS OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, SECTION 552 (b)(1) (A) specifically authorized under criteria established by an Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or foreign policy and (B) are in fact properly classified to such Executive order; (b)(2) related solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of an agency; (b)(3) specifically exempted from disclosure by statute (other than section 552b of this title), provided that such statute (A) requires that the matters be withheld from the public in such a manner as to leave no discretion on issue, or (B) establishes particular criteria for withholding or refers to particular types of matters to be withheld; (b)(4) trade secrets and commercial or financial information obtained from a person and privileged or confidential; (b)(5) inter-agency or intra-agency memorandums or letters which would not be available by law to a party other than an agency in litigation with the agency; (b)(6) personnel and medical files and similar files the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy; (b)(7) records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes, but only to the extent that the production of such law enforcement records or information ( A ) could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings, ( B ) would deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication, ( C ) could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, ( D ) could reasonably be expected to disclose the identity of confidential source, including a State, local, or foreign agency or authority or any private institution which furnished information on a confidential basis, and, in the case of record or information compiled by a criminal law enforcement authority in the course of a criminal investigation, or by an agency conducting a lawful national security intelligence investigation, information furnished by a confidential source, ( E ) would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions if such disclosure could reasonably be expected to risk circumvention of the law, or ( F ) could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual; (b)(8) contained in or related to examination, operating, or condition reports prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of an agency responsible for the regulation or supervision of financial institutions; or (b)(9) geological and geophysical information and data, including maps, concerning wells. SUBSECTIONS OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE, SECTION 552a (d)(5) information compiled in reasonable anticipation of a civil action proceeding; (j)(2) material reporting investigative efforts pertaining to the enforcement of criminal law including efforts to prevent, control, or reduce crime or apprehend criminals; (k)(1) information which is currently and properly classified pursuant to an Executive order in the interest of the national defense or foreign policy, for example, information involving intelligence sources or methods; (k)(2) investigatory material compiled for law enforcement purposes, other than criminal, which did not result in loss of a right, benefit or privilege under Federal programs, or which would identify a source who furnished information pursuant to a promise that his/her identity would be held in confidence; (k)(3) material maintained in connection with providing protective services to the President of the United States or any other individual pursuant to the authority of Title 18, United States Code, Section 3056; (k)(4) required by statute to be maintained and used solely as statistical records; (k)(5) investigatory material compiled solely for the purpose of determining suitability, eligibility, or qualifications for Federal civilian employment or for access to classified information, the disclosure of which would reveal the identity of the person who furnished information pursuant to a promise that his/her identity would be held in confidence; (k)(6) testing or examination material used to determine individual qualifications for appointment or promotion in Federal Government service the release of which would compromise the testing or examination process; (k)(7) material used to determine potential for promotion in the armed services, the disclosure of which would reveal the identity of the person who furnished the material pursuant to a promise that his/her identity would be held in confidence. FBI/DOJ