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From: FBI News Briefing cza To: "FBINewsBriefing" Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Daily News Briefing - July 16, 2025 Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:15:09 +0000 Importance: Normal View In Browser Federal Bureau of Investigation Seal July 16, 2025 Federal Bureau of Investigation Daily News Briefing (In coordination with the Office of Public Affairs) Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here. Table of Contents IN THE NEWS • Alleged Minnesota Shooter Confessed to Killings in Letter to Director Patel • Continued Reporting: With Epstein Conspiracy Theories, President Trump Faces a Crisis of His Own Making • FBI Captures Former Marine Corps Reservist Accused of Shooting at ICE Officers at Texas Detention Center • President Trump Accuses Sen. Adam Schiff of Mortgage Fraud in New Attack on Critic COUNTERTERRORISM • FBI Releases New Images of Iran Intel Officers Allegedly Involved in Robert Levinson Abduction • Five Iranians Nabbed at U.S. Northern Border as Terror Fears Grip Small Towns • Teens Accused of Plotting Bomb Attack at Texas HS Will Remain on Probation Until 18, FBI Says • South Carolina Woman Sentenced for Sending Threats to Kill a New York Man COUNTERINTELLIGENCE • University of Michigan Faces Federal Investigation After Arrest of Two Chinese Scientists • U.S.-China Spy Wars Intensify Under Trump 2.0 as Tech Competition Heats Up • Opinion: I'm an FBI Spy Hunter. This Is the Biggest Threat We Face And It Could Destroy Us All CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • ICE Raids Underway in Alabama, Louisiana, Pennsylvania • Continued Reporting: Former FBI Special Agent 'Extremely Happy' Comey and Brennan Under Investigation • The Secret Service Failure at Butler, Pa., A Year Later EFTA01655340 • 'Glock Boys' Gang Members in Florida Among 19 Indicted in Major Florida Crime Crackdown • FBI Reports Over $2.77 Billion in Wire Fraud Losses Last Year • Federal Judge Denies Judge Steven Stambaugh's Request to Dismiss Fraud Charges • FBI Sting Operation Reveals Local Man's Decades-Long Child Sexual Assault Spree • Ex-U.S. Army Sergeant Gets 12 Years After 2-Month-Old 'Barely Survived' Scalding Hot Bath • Two Suspects Wanted in Attempted Robbery of Brinks Truck in Northeast Philadelphia • Police Arrest Suspect in Michigan Bank Robbery, Sheriff Confirms • Connecticut Police Investigating Hometown Bank Holdup • Serial New York Bank Robber Gets Five More Years In Prison CYBER DIVISION • Former U.S. Soldier Pleads Guilty to Hacking and Extortion Scheme Involving Telecommunications Companies • Continued Reporting: FBI Seized Multiple Piracy Sites Distributing Pirated Video Games OTHER FBI NEWS • Continued Reporting: Key Senate Republican Thinks Deal in the Offing Over FBI HQ Location Dispute • FBI Warns Of New Robbery Trend Targeting Bank Customers • Opinion: Director Patel Reveals 'Vault' Find, Fueling Russiagate Conspiracy Probe • Opinion: Does Director Patel Deserve to Run the FBI? INTERNATIONAL NEWS • Thousands of Afghans Were Moved to UK in Secret Scheme After Data Breach • The Philippines Is Quietly Working With Taiwan to Counter China • Trump Administration Initiates Trade Investigation of Brazil • Canada's Leader Says There's Little Hope of Avoiding U.S. Tariffs • Putin, Unfazed by Trump, Will Fight on and Could Take More of Ukraine • Europeans Open to Buying U.S. Arms for Ukraine Under Trump Plan but Need Details • Nvidia's Resumption of Al Chips to China Is Part of Rare Earths Talks, Says U.S. • UN Finds Rising Child Malnutrition in Gaza, Where Officials Say Israeli Strikes Kill 93 People • China Adds Export Controls to Protect EV Battery Technology • 40,000 Troops, 19 Nations: The China Threat Unites U.S. Allies OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • Pentagon Withdraws About Half of National Guard Troops From Los Angeles • Senate Republicans Divided Over Looming Vote to Rescind $9 Billion in Spending • Trump Administration Sues to Oust Corporation for Public Broadcasting Board Members • House NDAA Draft Mandates Database of Contractors Used in Covert Operations • Waltz Brushes off SignalGate Questions, Points Finger at CISA • Hegseth Lashed Out at DOGE Official in Tense Pentagon Confrontation • Rising Inflation Underscores Risks in Trump's New Tariff Threats • Trump Administration Will Limit Medicare Spending on Pricey Bandages • Hawley Aims to Roll Back Medicaid Cuts He Voted for Just Two Weeks Ago • White House National Security Council Hit by More Departures, Sources Say • Trump Administration Fires 17 Immigration Court Judges Across Ten States, Union Says EFTA01655341 • Judge Says Trump Administration Can't Use Travel Ban to Keep 80 Refugees Out of the U.S. WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS Alleged Minnesota Shooter Confessed to Killings in Letter to Director Patel The Washington Post (07/15, Bailey) reported that Vance Boelter, a 57-year-old man from Minnesota, has been indicted on enhanced murder charges for the killings of state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. According to the article, Boelter allegedly confessed to the shootings in a handwritten letter to Director Patel, claiming he was acting on secret orders from Governor Tim Walz, which authorities describe as a fantasy. Boelter also faces charges for the attempted murders of state Sen. John Hoffman, his wife Yvette, and their daughter Hope, with prosecutors considering the death penalty if he is convicted. The Associated Press (07/15, Karnowski) reported that U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson stated that a decision on whether to seek the death penalty "will not come for several months" and will be up to AG Bondi. "Last month, the State of Minnesota experienced fear and panic. Today, Vance Boelter was indicted by a federal grand jury, marking another step forward in our pursuit of justice," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis in the press release. "As alleged in the indictment, Boelter's actions took the lives of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, both beloved members of our community. The indictment also alleges that Boelter seriously wounded Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. This targeted violence was an attack on the rule of law, resulting in a manhunt involving hundreds of law enforcement officers who worked tirelessly until Boelter was apprehended. The FBI remains grateful to our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners for their dedication throughout this investigation. Together, we will ensure that justice is served and that a price is paid for the reign of terror and violence our community endured." Additional reporting on the story was provided by New York Post (07/15, Galvin), National Review (07/15, Lynch), Politico (07/15, Svirnovskiy), CBS News (07/15, Premo), NBC News (07/15, Stelloh, Atkins), New York Times (07/15, Smith, Rosman), Axios (07/15, Oot), The Hill (07/15, Schonfeld), TMZ (07/15, Staff Writer), Patch (07/15, Bornhoft), Fox News (07/15, Compton), Washington Examiner (07/15, Knox) and Raw Story (07/15, Hampton). Continued Reporting: With Epstein Conspiracy Theories, President Trump Faces a Crisis of His Own Making The Associated Press (07/15, Swenson, Riccardi) reported that President Trump is facing a crisis due to conspiracy theories surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking investigation, which he helped create by stoking dark theories and embracing QAnon-tinged propaganda. According to the article, Trump's supporters are demanding transparency and the release of Epstein's files, which the Justice Department and FBI say do not exist, and are calling him "out of touch" for downplaying the issue. The article assessed that Trump's attempts to quell the uproar may not work, as his base is demanding answers and may lose faith in him if he doesn't provide transparency, potentially costing him support in the midterms. "I don't understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody," Trump said to reporters on Tuesday. He called the Epstein case "pretty boring" and said the credible information had been given. The article added that the DOJ and the FBI recently walked back the notion that there is an Epstein client list of elites who participated in the trafficking of underage girls. Trump has praised AG Bondi's handling of the case and suggested that she should release "whatever she thinks is credible," but he has also claimed that there are credibility issues with the documents and suggested, without evidence, that they were "made up" by former FBI Director James Comey and former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The article noted that AG Bondi and Deputy Director Bongino had a tense exchange last week at the White House over a story about Epstein. Laura Loomer, who's close to Trump, said Friday she was told that Deputy Director Bongino was "seriously thinking about resigning." The article stated that the FBI declined to comment. Additional reporting from the Associated Press (07/15, Richer) reported that AG Bondi dodged questions about Jeffrey Epstein and her clash with FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, amid calls for her resignation from some high-profile members of President Donald Trump's base. AG Bondi suggested she has no plans to step down, stating she will remain attorney general as long as President Trump wants her to. Despite the turmoil, AG Bondi attempted to shift focus to other Justice Department efforts, such as recent drug seizures, and Trump defended her handling of the Epstein matter. The EFTA01655342 article highlighted that AG Bondi stressed that she had spent the morning with Director Patel, adding that: "I think we all are committed to working together now to make America safe again and that's what we're doing." The article added that AG Bondi had already been under scrutiny after an earlier document release in February that she hyped and handed out in binders to conservative influencers at the White House lacked any new revelations. When that first release flopped, AG Bondi accused officials of withholding files from her and claimed that the FBI later turned over a "truckload" of evidence with thousands of pages of additional documents. The Guardian (07/15, Stein) reported that Democratic members of the House judiciary committee are demanding that Republicans summon AG Bondi, Director Patel, and their deputies for a hearing into Jeffrey Epstein's death and sex-trafficking case. Democrats argue that a bipartisan public hearing with AG Bondi and Director Patel is necessary to restore public trust and resolve questions about a potential cover-up over Epstein's death. Wired (07/15, Mehrotra) reported that nearly three minutes of footage were cut from the surveillance video of Jeffrey Epstein's prison cell, contradicting the DOJ's claim that the released video was "full raw" footage. The cut footage was discovered through metadata analysis, which showed that one of the source clips was approximately 2 minutes and 53 seconds longer than the segment included in the final video. The article noted that the FBI and DOJ have declined to comment on how the video was assembled and edited, raising questions about the integrity of the investigation into Epstein's death. Axios (07/15, Solender, Santaliz) reported that House Republicans voted down a Democratic attempt to force the Justice Department to release documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, with the vote falling along party lines (211-210). This is the second time this week Democrats have tried to bring the issue to a vote, pitting Republican loyalty to President Trump against their base's demand for transparency on the Epstein files. Despite the rejection, House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed support for releasing the documents, saying, "We should put everything out there and let the people decide it." Additional reporting on the story was provided by Rolling Stone (07/15, Ramirez), The Guardian (07/15, Helmore), The Hill (07/15, Schnell) (2), Forbes (07/15, Durkee, Folk), Variety (07/15, Spangler), Politico (07/15, Wendler) (2), the New York Times (07/15, Karni), CNN (07/15, Agiesta), NBC News (07/15, Wong, Kapur), the Washington Post (07/15, Sotomayor), and Newsweek (07/15, Mordowanec). Opinion pieces were provided by The Hill (07/15, Stirewalt) and the Wall Street Journal (07/15, Dershowitz). FBI Captures Former Marine Corps Reservist Accused of Shooting at ICE Officers at Texas Detention Center Fox News (07/15, Wehner) reported that the FBI has arrested Benjamin Song, a 32-year-old former Marine Corps reservist, in connection with a shooting at an ICE detention center in Texas on July 4. Song is accused of firing at ICE officers and faces charges including attempted murder of a federal officer and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He had evaded capture for nearly 11 days before being apprehended by the FBI Dallas Field Office in Dallas. "The FBI has worked tirelessly to arrest everyone associated with the shooting at the Prairieland Detention Center," FBI Dallas Field Office Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock said. "We would like to thank all the entities that publicized this case and assisted in our efforts to successfully locate Benjamin Song. His arrest is the result of our determination to protect not only the community, but also our law enforcement partners that were the targets of a coordinated attack," Rothrock continued. "We have said it before, the FBI will not tolerate acts of violence toward law enforcement and will thoroughly investigate anyone who commits these types of offenses." An additional article from Fox News (07/15, Bonavita) reported that federal authorities have charged John Phillip Thomas and Lynette Read Sharp with alleged accessory after the fact in connection with the targeted attack on a Texas ICE detention facility. Thomas and Sharp are accused of helping Song escape after the shooting. Dallas News (07/15, Nguyen) and Dallas Express (07/15, Washburn) also reported on the story. President Trump Accuses Sen. Adam Schiff of Mortgage Fraud in New Attack on Critic The Washington Post (07/15, Siegel) reported that President Trump accused Sen. Adam Schiff of mortgage fraud, claiming he misstated which home was his primary residence to secure a cheaper mortgage. A senior administration official stated that a criminal case had been referred to the Justice Department, but Schiff denied any wrongdoing, calling it "political retaliation" by Trump. The article assessed that the accusation is part of a larger pattern of the Trump administration targeting its critics, with experts questioning the timing and credibility of the allegations against Schiff. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Los Angeles Times (07/15, Rector, Nelson), New York Post (07/15, Nelson), CNN (07/15, Kaczynski, Steck), Axias (07/15, Walker), The Daily Beast (07/15, Palmer), Fox News (07/15, Dorgan), Law & Crime (07/15, Naham), National Mortgage News (07/15, Martinez), National Review (07/15, Lynch), Reuters (07/15, Sullivan), and the Washington Times (07/15, Picket). Back to Top EFTA01655343 COUNTERTERRORISM FBI Releases New Images of Iran Intel Officers Allegedly Involved in Robert Levinson Abduction CBS News (07/15, Czachor) and UPI (07/15, Heuer) reported that the FBI has released new images of three Iranian intelligence officers, Reza Amiri Moghadam, Taghi Daneshvar, and Gholamhossein Mohammadnia, allegedly involved in the 2007 abduction of retired FBI special agent Robert Levinson. According to the articles, the three officers are accused of facilitating Levinson's abduction and the subsequent cover-up by the Iranian government, with the U.S. believing Levinson was kidnapped during an unauthorized CIA mission and wrongfully detained by Iran. The articles noted that the FBI is seeking information on the officers, who were previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for their alleged role in Levinson's abduction, probable death, and Iran's efforts to cover up their responsibility. "These three intelligence officers were among those who allegedly facilitated Bob's 2007 abduction and the subsequent cover-up by the Iranian government. Bob likely later perished in captivity far away from his family, friends, and colleagues," said Steven Jenson, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's Washington office, in a statement. "The FBI will continue its relentless pursuit to hold anyone involved in his abduction to account for their reprehensible actions." Five Iranians Nabbed at U.S. Northern Border as Terror Fears Grip Small Towns Fox News (07/15, D'Abrosca) reported that five Iranians were arrested while attempting to illegally cross the U.S. northern border with Canada, along with two citizens of Uzbekistan. All seven men had been previously arrested for attempting to cross the border illegally and are currently detained, awaiting deportation. The arrests have raised concerns about potential Iranian terrorist sleeper cells in the U.S., with counterterrorism expert Jonathan Gilliam warning that such cells could be hiding in plain sight. Where these sleeper cells may be is in plain sight," he said. "And that's the real terrifying part of this is that putting people in place, as we've seen over the past four years, everyone's scrambling because certain amounts of people could come in here and get in here." Additional reporting on the story was provided by WWNY (Fox-5) (07/15, Moore) and WPTZ (NBC-5) (07/15, Venturo). Teens Accused of Plotting Bomb Attack at Texas HS Will Remain on Probation Until 18, FBI Says KTRK (ABC-13) (07/15, Staff Writer) reported that the two teenage girls accused of plotting a bomb attack at Memorial High School in February will remain on probation until they turn 18, as announced by the FBI. According to the FBI, one of the girls pleaded "true to conspiracy to commit murder," in relation to the alleged plot, which involved planning a "mass casualty attack" with pipe bombs throughout the school. The article noted that the girls, aged 15 and 16 at the time of their arrest, will not only be on probation but will also receive mental health care as part of their probation terms. South Carolina Woman Sentenced for Sending Threats to Kill a New York Man WRGB (CBS-6) (07/15, Day) reported that Kristin Keeble, a 54-year-old from South Carolina, was sentenced to 5 months in jail and 3 years of supervised release for sending threatening messages. According to the article, the messages, which were racially derogatory and included threats to kill, were sent via Facebook Messenger to a man in Catskill, New York. Keeble claimed to be acting with the Ku Klux Klan and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping after an investigation by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force. The article quoted FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli: "No individual should live in fear because of someone's intolerance and hatred. Threats of violence, especially borne from hate, will never be tolerated, and the FBI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold the perpetrators accountable for their disturbing actions and bring justice to the victims." Back to Top COUNTERINTELLIGENCE University of Michigan Faces Federal Investigation After Arrest of Two Chinese Scientists The Associated Press (07/15, Binkley) reported that the University of Michigan is under federal investigation due to two Chinese scientists being charged with smuggling biological materials into the U.S. According to the article, the Education Department has opened an investigation into the university's foreign funding, citing concerns about national security threats from China. The university will cooperate with federal investigators and has announced a review of protocols related to research security, while also condemning any actions that seek to cause harm or undermine national security. The article highlighted that the federal authorities brought charges in June against a EFTA01655344 Chinese scientist and his girlfriend — who worked at a lab at the University of Michigan — after the FBI said it halted their effort to bring a toxic fungus into the United States. Additional reporting on the story was provided by WJBK (Fox-2) (07/15, Staff Writer), Detroit Free Press (07/15, Wisely), and the Detroit News (07/15, Chambers). U.S.-China Spy Wars Intensify Under Trump 2.0 as Tech Competition Heats Up SCMP (07/16, Razdan) reported that the U.S. and China are intensifying their spy wars, with the FBI arresting a Chinese national for allegedly stealing Covid-19 vaccine research and China's Ministry of State Security disrupting foreign espionage plots. According to the article, the U.S. and China are intensifying their spy wars, with the FBI arresting a Chinese national for allegedly stealing COVID-19 vaccine research and China's Ministry of State Security disrupting foreign espionage plots. The article noted that experts say the spying competition between the two countries will not slow down, despite some easing of export controls, and will continue to escalate into a broader intelligence contest. "The CCP's relentless attacks on our institutions will not go unanswered," Director Patel wrote on social media. "The FBI will hunt down those who threaten our national security — wherever they hide," he wrote, adding, "huge ... manhunting the CCP." Opinion: I'm an FBI Spy Hunter. This Is the Biggest Threat We Face And It Could Destroy Us All An opinion piece from the Daily Mail (07/15, O'Neill) reported that Eric O'Neill, the former FBI operative who helped capture notorious spy Robert Hanssen, warned that cybercrime today is the modern evolution of espionage and poses a national security threat as serious as any traditional spy case. Framing hacking as a technical problem is a mistake, O'Neill argued—it's fundamentally an intelligence issue, driven by deception, data theft, and exploitation, whether by nation-states or organized criminal groups. He described the dark web as a vast, industrialized underground economy, generating trillions in revenue and enabling everything from ransomware-as- a-service to Al-driven deepfakes. O'Neill, now a cybersecurity attorney, shares how even he nearly fell victim to a sophisticated phishing scam, underscoring that anyone can be targeted. Drawing on his FBI experience, he urged individuals and organizations to adopt a spy-hunter mindset: use multi-factor authentication, question digital communications, compartmentalize personal data, and monitor for data exfiltration to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats. Back to Top CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS ICE Raids Underway in Alabama, Louisiana, Pennsylvania WRBL (CBS-3) (07/15, White), KPLC (NBC-7) (07/15, Staff Writer), and LevittownNow.com (07/15, Sofield) reported that federal agents conducted coordinated raids across Alabama, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania on Tuesday as part of multiple ongoing federal investigations involving alleged criminal activity. In Alabama, FBI agents joined ICE, DEA, U.S. Marshals, and HSI in executing search warrants at Mexican restaurants El Jefe and El Patron in the Opelika- Auburn area; FBI Special Agent in Charge Sara Jones was scheduled to speak at a press conference detailing the operation. In Louisiana, FBI agents, alongside ICE, IRS Criminal Investigation, and HSI, carried out raids in Oakdale, Forest Hill, and Baton Rouge, including at the homes of local police officials and a hotel hosting the Louisiana Association of Police Chiefs Convention; arrests were made, and a federal indictment was expected to be unsealed. In Pennsylvania, FBI personnel and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service raided a business in Penndel Borough with local police support, though officials stated the investigation was not immigration-related. The FBI declined to comment in all locations as investigations remain ongoing. Additional reporting on the story was provided by WTVM (ABC-9) (07/15, Etherton), WRBL (CBS-42) (07/15, White), WSFA (NBC-12) (07/15, Staff Writer), WZDX (Fox- 54) (07/15, Shelley), KATC (ABC-3) (07/15, Staff Writer), WBRZ (ABC-2) (07/15, Staff Writer), and KPEL-FM (07/15, Reed). Continued Reporting: Former FBI Special Agent 'Extremely Happy' Comey and Brennan Under Investigation The National Desk (07/15, Staff Writer) reported that a former FBI special agent, Jody Weis, is "extremely happy" that former FBI Director James Comey and former CIA Director John Brennan are under investigation. "You look back at what was going on in the FBI starting in 2016 with these cases and the way they approached Gen. Michael Flynn, Crossfire Hurricane, the Russian collusion case. Then, moving to the raid on Mar-A-Lago — the lawfare that came after President Donald Trump. This is outrageous. And then you had the arrogance of these two individuals -- Comey and Brennan -- it was unbelievable. So, I am extremely happy that someone is looking into this," Weis said EFTA01655345 Tuesday during a one-on-one interview with The National News Desk's Jan Jeffcoat. The investigation is related to the Russian collusion case and allegations that Comey and Brennan made false statements to Congress. The article noted that the Department of Justice may appoint a special prosecutor for a possible criminal grand conspiracy case as the investigation continues. The article highlighted that Director Patel recently called the Russian collusion hoax "the biggest political criminal scheme ever perpetrated by portions of the FBI leadership and other elements of the intelligence community." The Secret Service Failure at Butler, Pa., A Year Later An editorial from the Wall Street Journal (07/15, Editorial) reported that a year after a gunman took 8 shots at Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., it's unclear if enough has changed to prevent similar incidents. According to the article, the Senate report by Chairman Rand Paul calls the near miss a "cascade of preventable failures" due to inadequate preparation and breakdowns in communications among Secret Service agents and local law enforcement. The article noted that despite the severity of the situation, which killed an attendee and injured two others, not a single person has been fired, although several agents were put on temporary leave. The article highlighted that the Secret Service has struggled with a mission divided between protecting the President and other potential targets and the odd-duck pairing of financial investigations. Agents rotate between protective details and desk jobs, an arrangement that has left the Service with an annual attrition rate from 8% to more than 10% in recent years. The article noted that that's several times the rate at the FBI or CIA. 'Glock Boys' Gang Members in Florida Among 19 Indicted in Major Florida Crime Crackdown Tampa Bay Times (07/15, Sullivan) reported that five members of the "Glock Boys" gang in Tampa face federal racketeering-related charges for crimes including shootings and a $2.9 million identity theft scheme. According to the article, the "Glock Boys" gang was tied to numerous shootings throughout Tampa in 2020, including a high- profile shootout that injured eight people outside the Truth Lounge nightclub, and were involved in a long-running feud with a rival enterprise known as the Robles Park gang, whose members Keaujay "Plug" Hornsby and Kareem "Reem" Spann were already prosecuted and sentenced to 16 and 10 years in prison, respectively. The article noted that the investigation was conducted by Tampa police and the FBI, and Tampa police Chief Lee Bercaw said that the indictments make the streets of Tampa safer, as the "Glock Boys" had "wreaked havoc" on the community. Additional reporting on the story was provided by WFTS (ABC-28) (07/15, Gutierrez), WTVT (Fox-13) (07/15, Swanson), and WFLA (NBC-8) (07/15, Rodriguez). FBI Reports Over $2.77 Billion in Wire Fraud Losses Last Year Axios (07/15, Lawier) reported that CertiflD, a company that tackles wire fraud in real estate transactions, has raised $47.5 million in a Series C round led by Centana Growth Partners. According to the article, the company uses advanced identity verification, secure payment workflows, and direct insurance coverage to protect against fraud, and has prevented $1.3 billion in potential losses last year. CertiflD has raised approximately $84 million since its founding in 2017 and plans to apply its fraud prevention capabilities to other sectors beyond real estate. The article highlighted that BEC remains a significant financial threat, with the FBI reporting over $2.77 billion in losses last year. Federal Judge Denies Judge Steven Stambaugh's Request to Dismiss Fraud Charges York Daily Record (07/15 Argento) reported that a federal judge has denied York County Judge Steven Stambaugh's request to dismiss federal charges, including wire fraud, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice. Stambaugh, 61, faces 31 counts stemming from a scheme to defraud the unemployment compensation program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article explained that among the evidence was a recording of a conversation between one of his former employees and FBI agents in which the employee retracted previous statements made to investigators. FBI Sting Operation Reveals Local Man's Decades-Long Child Sexual Assault Spree WOAI (NBC-4) (07/15, Moreno) reported that Charles Lopez, 30, has been sentenced to 65 years in prison for sexually assaulting at least three children. Lopez admitted to sexually assaulting 15 children since he was 10 years old and provided evidence of his crimes to an undercover FBI agent. He was arrested in 2023 and sentenced on Tuesday, with U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons stating that Lopez's actions as a child predator cannot be tolerated in society. Ex-U.S. Army Sergeant Gets 12 Years After 2-Month-Old 'Barely Survived' Scalding Hot Bath EFTA01655346 The Tennessean (07/15, Sandala) and Hoodline (07/15, Robinson) reported that Andrew J. Garasich, a 29-year-old former U.S. Army sergeant, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for aggravated child neglect. The neglect resulted in severe injuries to his two-month-old child, including extensive burns and a skull fracture. The investigation was a collaborative effort between several agencies, including the Army Criminal Investigation Division and the FBI Nashville Field Office. Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office commented on the community's collective intolerance for child abuse and the concerted efforts to ensure perpetrators face significant consequences because our society cannot permit such repugnant behavior, as "there is no place in our community for those who harm children," he stated. Two Suspects Wanted in Attempted Robbery of Brinks Truck in Northeast Philadelphia CBS News (07/15, Dougherty) reported that Philadelphia police are searching for two armed suspects who attempted to rob a Brinks truck in Northeast Philadelphia on Tuesday morning. The suspects fled the scene in a black Nissan Maxima or Altima after the Brinks employee fired his weapon at them, and they also reportedly fired their own weapons. The article noted that the Philadelphia Police Department and the FBI Task Force are collaborating on the investigation, which may be part of a pattern of armored truck robberies in the city. The Philadelphia Inquirer (07/15, Moran) also reported on the story. Police Arrest Suspect in Michigan Bank Robbery, Sheriff Confirms mLIVL (07/15, Video) reported that a suspect in a Bay County bank robbery is in custody, arrested by deputies, Bay City police, and FBI agents about 24 hours after the heist. According to the article, the 27-year-old male suspect was taken into custody on Tuesday, July 15, but his name has not been disclosed pending arraignment. The article noted that the robbery occurred at the Independent Bank on Monday, July 14, where the suspect, wearing a disguise and carrying a pistol, demanded cash and fled the scene without injuring anyone. Connecticut Police Investigating Hometown Bank Holdup Telegram & Gazette (07/15, Staff Writer) reported that Webster police are investigating a reported robbery at Hometown Bank on Gore Road. A suspect, who claimed to have a gun, fled on a blue Suzuki GSXR motorcycle towards Connecticut via Interstate 395. The article noted that the incident is being handled by Webster police and FBI agents, with no reported arrests yet. Serial New York Bank Robber Gets Five More Years In Prison Patch (07/15, Schinella) reported that Jesse Hippolite, 37, from Manchester, has been sentenced to up to 60 months in prison for robbing the Granite State Credit Union. According to the article, Hippolite, described as "a prolific bank robber", pleaded guilty in April and has a history of victimizing bank employees. He was previously involved in multiple bank robberies and was released from prison in February 2023, before committing the latest crime on February 4. Ted E. Docks, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Boston Division, said Hippolite was "a crime spree unto himself," due to all the banks he robbed before this credit union hit. In March 2012, he pleaded guilty to three counts, despite investigators accusing him of involvement in many more. "This sentence nips his burgeoning bank robbery career in the bud and holds him accountable for menacing innocent people who are just trying to make an honest living," he added. "This case is just one example of how the FBI continues to support our partners in pulverizing violent crime to improve public safety." Back to Top CYBER DIVISION Former U.S. Soldier Pleads Guilty to Hacking and Extortion Scheme Involving Telecommunications Companies CyberScoop (07/15, Kapko) reported that Cameron John Wagenius, a 21-year-old former Army soldier, pleaded guilty to charges including conspiring to commit wire fraud, extortion, and aggravated identity theft. Wagenius, who used online aliases "kiberphantOm" and "cyb3rph4nt0m", faces up to 27 years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on October 6. The attacks, which targeted companies including AT&T and Snowflake, involved extortion attempts and the theft of sensitive information, with Wagenius and his co-conspirators attempting to extort at least $1 million from victim data owners. The press release noted that the FBI and DCIS are investigating the case. Additional reporting on the story was provided by TechCrunch (07/15, Franceschi-Bicchierai), Reuters (07/15, Vicens), and Medium (07/15, Staff Writer). EFTA01655347 Continued Reporting: FBI Seized Multiple Piracy Sites Distributing Pirated Video Games Security Affairs (07/15, Paganini) reported that the FBI, with the help of the Dutch FIOD, seized multiple piracy sites, including nsw2u.com, ps4pkg.com, and mgnetu.com, that distributed pirated video games for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. According to the article, the seized sites had been active for over four years, offering early access to popular game titles, and caused an estimated $170 million in losses with 3.2 million downloads between February and May 2025. The article noted that the FBI has dismantled the infrastructure of these websites, and visitors to the domains now see FBI seizure notices. SC World (07/15, Staff Writer) also reported on the story. Back to Top OTHER FBI NEWS Continued Reporting: Key Senate Republican Thinks Deal in the Offing Over FBI HQ Location Dispute Politico (07/15, Tully-McManus) reported that Sen. Jerry Moran hopes to resolve the dispute over the location of a new FBI headquarters and bring a key spending bill back up before the full Senate Appropriations Committee as soon as Thursday. According to the article, the full panel was thrown into uncertainty last week after Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) joined all Democrats in adopting an amendment from Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) aimed at blocking President Donald Trump from diverting FBI money intended for moving the agency headquarters to Greenbelt. The article noted that President Trump has sought to unilaterally relocate the agency's campus to downtown Washington, D.C. instead. The bipartisan adoption of the Van Hollen amendment derailed the committee's planned approval of the larger bill that would fund the Departments of Commerce and Justice, as well as the FBI and science programs, for the fiscal year that starts in October. Moran said, "The only administration official I've talked to about this is the director of the FBI." Murkowski said in a brief interview Tuesday afternoon that she had met with FBI officials and that "we're working with the chairman" to come to an agreement. FBI Warns Of New Robbery Trend Targeting Bank Customers WBIW-FM (07/15, Staff Writer) reported that the FBI is warning about a new crime trend called "jugging", a type of robbery targeting individuals who handle large amounts of cash, often near banks, ATMs, or retail stores. According to the article, the FBI offers safety tips to protect yourself, including staying alert, keeping cash out of sight, varying your routine, and being cautious if you suspect you're being followed. The article noted that local law enforcement and the FBI encourage residents to report suspicious activity around banks or ATMs and to follow the provided safety tips to reduce their risk of falling victim to jugging. Opinion: Director Patel Reveals 'Vault' Find, Fueling Russiagate Conspiracy Probe An opinion piece from The National Desk (07/15, Minnaugh) reported that the FBI, under the direction of Director Patel, has made a significant discovery of an evidence room, referred to as a "vault" or "lockbox", which could lead to damaging results and further investigations into various scandals, including Russiagate. According to the article, Director Patel has been open and honest about the discovery, mentioning it in an interview with Joe Rogan, and has also discussed an "overarching conspiracy" probe that examines the political weaponization of law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The article noted that the conspiracy probe may involve evidence related to Russiagate, which could potentially warrant a grand jury investigation, and has sparked interest among Republicans to further investigate scandals such as Russiagate and the Biden family corruption. Opinion: Does Director Patel Deserve to Run the FBI? An opinion piece from The Guardian (07/15, Mandawi) reported that Director Patel, the director of the FBI, has written a children's book trilogy called The Plot Against the King, which promotes conspiracy theories and has a storyline that mirrors his devotion to President Trump. According to the article, Director Patel has increased the use of lie detector tests in the FBI to screen employees for loyalty, with questions including whether they have been rude about him or his deputy. The author criticized Director Patel's leadership and the use of polygraph tests, which are notoriously unreliable. Back to Top INTERNATIONAL NEWS Thousands of Afghans Were Moved to UK in Secret Scheme After Data Breach EFTA01655348 BBC, Associated Press, Reuters, BBC, Wall Street Journal The Philippines Is Quietly Working With Taiwan to Counter China Washington Post Trump Administration Initiates Trade Investigation of Brazil New York Times Canada's Leader Says There's Little Hope of Avoiding U.S. Tariffs New York Times Putin, Unfazed by Trump, Will Fight on and Could Take More of Ukraine Reuters Europeans Open to Buying U.S. Arms for Ukraine Under Trump Plan but Need Details Reuters Nvidia's Resumption of Al Chips to China Is Part of Rare Earths Talks, Says U.S. Reuters UN Finds Rising Child Malnutrition in Gaza, Where Officials Say Israeli Strikes Kill 93 People Associated Press China Adds Export Controls to Protect EV Battery Technology Wall Street Journal 40,000 Troops, 19 Nations: The China Threat Unites U.S. Allies Wall Street Journal Back to Top OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS Pentagon Withdraws About Half of National Guard Troops From Los Angeles Washington Post, New York Times, Reuters, ABC News, Los Angeles Times, NBC News, USA TODAY, The Guardian, Washington Examiner Senate Republicans Divided Over Looming Vote to Rescind $9 Billion in Spending Washington Post, Associated Press, NBC News, Fox News Trump Administration Sues to Oust Corporation for Public Broadcasting Board Members Reuters, Washington Post, Bloomberg, Fortune House NDAA Draft Mandates Database of Contractors Used in Covert Operations NextGov Waltz Brushes off SignalGate Questions, Points Finger at CISA CyberScoop Hegseth Lashed Out at DOGE Official in Tense Pentagon Confrontation Washington Post Rising Inflation Underscores Risks in Trump's New Tariff Threats New York Times Trump Administration Will Limit Medicare Spending on Pricey Bandages New York Times Hawley Aims to Roll Back Medicaid Cuts He Voted for Just Two Weeks Ago New York Times White House National Security Council Hit by More Departures, Sources Say Reuters EFTA01655349 Trump Administration Fires 17 Immigration Court Judges Across Ten States, Union Says Associated Press, USA TODAY Judge Says Trump Administration Can't Use Travel Ban to Keep 80 Refugees Out of the U.S. Associated Press Back to Top WASHINGTON SCHEDULE White House President Trump • 9:00 AM: In-Town Pool Call Time • 11:00 AM: The President greets the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain • 11:15 AM: The President participates in a Bilateral Meeting with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain • 11:45 AM: The President participates in a Bilateral Lunch with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain • 3:00 PM: The President participates in a Bill Signing Ceremony • 7:00 PM: The President participates in a Dinner with the Prime Minister of the State of Qatar Vice President Vance • No official presidential schedule released or announced. US Senate • Business meeting to consider the nominations of Anjani Sinha of Florida to be Ambassador to the Republic of Singapore Jeffrey Bartos of Pennsylvania to be Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations for U.N. Management and Reform with the Rank of Ambassador and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as an Alternate Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations Lynda Blanchard of Alabama to be U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture with the rank of Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle of Florida to be Ambassador to Greece and Jennifer Locetta of Florida to be Alternate Representative of the United States of America for Special Political Affairs in the United Nations with the rank of Ambassador and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as an Alternate Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations all of the Department of State• to be immediately followed by hearings to examine reforming the State Department to compete in the 21st century. — 10:00 AM — Host: Foreign Relations • Hearings to examine the nominations of Crystal Carey of New Jersey to be General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board for term of four years Brian Christine of Alabama to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services and Brittany Panuccio of Florida to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. — 10:00 AM — Host: Environment and Public Works • Business meeting to consider Amendment of Rule 6(b) of the Committee Rules to establish the reporting quorum an original resolution to provide for the funding of the Committee for the 119th Congress and the nominations of Douglas Burgum of North Dakota to be Secretary of the Interior and Christopher Wright of Colorado to be Secretary of Energy. — 9:30 AM — Host: Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions • Hearings to examine constructing the surface transportation reauthorization bill focusing on stakeholders' perspectives. — 10:00 AM — Host: Environment and Public Works EFTA01655350 • Hearings to examine the nominations of Derek Barrs of Florida to be Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Jonathan Morrison of California to be Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Paul Roberti of Rhode Island to be Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration both of the Department of Transportation. — 10:00 AM — Host: Commerce, Science, and Transportation • To receive a briefing on persecution to protection focusing on strategies to defend freedom of religion. — 2:30 PM — Host: Judiciary • Hearings to examine the nomination of William Kirkland of Georgia to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior. — 2:30 PM — Host: Indian Affairs • Business meeting to consider 5.1555 to increase loan limits for loans made to small manufacturers 5.1199 to extend the statute of limitations for fraud under certain pandemic programs 5.2232 to expand the surety bond program under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 and 5.1703 to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to improve access to disaster assistance for individuals located in rural areas. — 2:30 PM — Host: Small Business and Entrepreneurship US House of Representatives • Hearing: Breaking China's Chokehold on Critical Mineral Supply Chains. — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on Foreign Affairs • Hearing: "Surveillance Sabotage and Strikes: Industry Perspectives on How Drone Warfare Abroad Is Transforming Threats atHome". — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on. Homeland Security • Hearing: Bankruptcy Law: Overview and Legislative Reforms. — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on the Judiciary • Markup: H.R. 3838 - Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026. -10:00 AM — Host: Committee on Armed Services • Markup: Fiscal Year 2026 Interior Environment and Related Agencies Bill. — 10:00 AM — Host: Committee on Appropriations • Markup: Markup of an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 4275 the "Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025". -10:00 AM — Host: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure • Business Meeting: Business Meeting. — 10:15 AM — Host: Committee on Energy and Commerce • Hearing: Antisemitism in Higher Education: Examining the Role of Faculty Funding and Ideology — 10:15 AM — Host: Committee on Education and Workforce • Markup: Committee on Natural Resources Full Committee Markup of:H.R. 281 Rep. Hageman Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2025 Amendments to H.R. 281 must be drafted to the amendment in the nature of a substitute attached to this noticeH.R. 435 Rep. Issa Direct Hire To Fight FiresH.R. 556 Rep. Wittman Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025 Amendments to H.R. 556 must be drafted to the amendment in the nature of a substitute attached to this noticeH.R. 831. -10:15 AM — Host: Committee on Natural Resources • Markup: Markup of One Bill. — 10:30 AM — Host: Committee on Energy and Commerce • Markup: Fiscal Year 2026 National Security Department of State and Related Programs Bill. — 11:00 AM — Host: Committee on Appropriations • Markup: Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce Justice Science and Related Agencies Bill. — 12:00 PM — Host: Committee on Appropriations • Hearing: How Leftist Nonprofit Networks Exploit Federal Tax Dollars to Advance a Radical Agenda. — 2:00 PM — Host: Committee on the Judiciary • Hearing: Case by Case: Returning Parole to Its Proper Purpose— 2:00 PM — Host: Committee on Homeland Security EFTA01655351 • Hearing: FY26 State Department Posture: Management and Resources. — 2:00 PM — Host: Committee on Foreign Affairs • Hearing: Oversight: Right Time Right Place Right Treatment with VA Community Care. — 2:15 PM — Host: Committee on Veterans'Affairs Cabinet Members • Secretary of State Rubio hosts a Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony on Nuclear Cooperation with Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani at the Department of State at 9:30 AM. Visitors • No events scheduled. General Events • Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr: Booms busts and financial regulation — Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Location: Online event, 10:00 AM. The Federal Reserve and Trump-appointed financial regulators are making significant changes to bank and other financial regulations imposed after the global financial crisis and during the Biden administration. Proponents see this as a welcome adjustment; critics see it as a dangerous step in the wrong direction. • CSIS: U.S.-South Korea Trade Deal I The Capital Cable #117 — Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Location: Online event, 9:15 AM. This week, President Donald Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on all goods from South Korea, which are paused until August 1. Top South Korean officials were in Washington this week to continue trade negotiations with the Trump administration, including South Korean Trade Minister Yeo's proposal of a "manufacturing renaissance" and National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac's offer of a "package deal" of economic and security considerations. What's at stake for both economies? What are the roadblocks and opportunities for the two sides? • CSIS: Clean Energy Strategies Conference — Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Location: Online event, 1:00 PM. Please join the CSIS Energy Security and Climate Change program for a conference examining how U.S. clean tech firms can scale, compete, and thrive in global markets to drive domestic economic growth. • CSIS: Fortifying Deterrence through Logistics: A Conversation with DASD Patrick Kelleher and Maj. Gen. David Sanford — Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Location: Online event, 2:00 PM. The Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group (DIIG) is pleased to welcome Mr. Patrick N. Kelleher, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for Materiel Readiness and Major General David J. Sanford, Director of Logistics Operations (J3) and Commander of Joint Regional Combat Support for the Defense Logistics Agency, for a discussion on the importance of logistics for deterrence and military readiness. Effective logistics and sustainment planning enables the United States to fight and win if a protracted conflict arises, strengthening deterrence. CSIS Senior Fellow Dr. Cynthia R. Cook will moderate a conversation focused on innovation and new approaches to sustainment since being able to sustain the fight is just as critical as building capabilities for it. • AEI: Federal Data Consolidation: Protecting Civil Liberties in the Digital Age — Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Location: AEI Auditorium, 10:00 AM. The American Enterprise Institute and the Center for Democracy & Technology are pleased to invite you to join an upcoming event examining the federal government's current effort to gather sensitive information from states and its reported goal to consolidate these data into a centralized record of individuals residing in the US. A panel of experts will examine the implications of these actions for individuals' civil liberties, privacy, and security and discuss how data systems can be used in ways that are lawful and that respect fundamental human rights. • Atlantic Council: Digital occupation: Inside Russia's Telegram battle in Ukraine — Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Location: Online event, 10:00 AM. A new report—launched in partnership with the Digital Forensic Research Lab, Eurasia Center, and OpenMinds—uncovers how thousands of fake Telegram accounts were used in a covert Russian influence campaign targeting Ukrainians in occupied territories. EFTA01655352 • Hudson Institute: After the Fall: Planning for a Post-Communist China — Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Location: Hudson Institute, 12:00 PM. While the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has weathered crises before, a sudden regime collapse in China is not entirely unthinkable. Policymakers need to consider what might happen and what steps they would have to take if the world's longest-ruling Communist dictatorship and second-largest economy collapses. Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here. EFTA01655353