EFTA Document EFTA01655234

View in Browser July 02, 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 • FBI Headquarters Moving to Ronald Reagan Building That Housed USAID • FBI Arrests Two Chinese Citizens Accused of Spying on U.S. Navy • FBI Blocked Probe Into Alleged Chinese 2020 Election Meddling to Protect Wray From Fallout, Documents Show • Ex-FBI Agent Charged in Capitol Riot Now Works on Justice Department's 'Weaponization' Task Force • Continued Reporting: Iran-Linked Hackers Threaten to Release New Trove of Emails COUNTERTERRORISM • 16 Alleged 'Anti-Tren' Members Charged in Houston With Drug and Gun Trafficking • Lone Wolf Actor Biggest Threat to 4th of July Festivities in New York, San Francisco • Continued Reporting: Probe Into Idaho Firefighter Ambush Suspect Digging Into Childhood, Gun Familiarity CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • North Texas Woman Wanted for the Murder of Her Six-Year-Old Son, Added to FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted • Bryan Kohberger's Decision to Accept Plea Deal Came After Efforts to Strike Death Penalty Failed • The FBI is Just One Problem Facing Malik Beasley, Amid $8M in Escalating Financial Problems • Cultlike Zizian Group Member Charged in Border Agent's Death Seeks Delay in Death Penalty Decision • DOJ Silent on Whether NYC Politician Who Allegedly Assaulted Ice Officer Will Face Charges • FBI Joins Investigation as Body of Minnesota Teen Missing Since May Found in Landfill • DNA Evidence Ties Fugitive Father to Alleged Murder of Three Daughters as Manhunt Leads Run Cold • Continued Reporting: FBI Investigates Three Major Hospitals for Mutilating Children • MS-13 Leader to Be Sentenced in Racketeering Case Involving Eight Murders • 35 People Charged in "Dismantling" of Pennsylvania Drug Rings That Flooded Montgomery County With Crack Cocaine • Thirteen Michigan Residents Charged in Nationwide Health Care Fraud Investigation • FBI Executes Search Warrant at California Home • Continued Reporting: Judge Says Federal Investigators Should Probe Harmony Montgomery's Death CYBER DIVISION • Continued Reporting: DOJ Announces Arrest, Indictments in North Korean IT Worker Scheme EFTA01655234 • Continued Reporting: Hacker Enlisted to Help Mexican Cartel Track, Kill FBI Informants • Continued Reporting: FBI Issues U.S. Airline Warning • Continued Reporting: FBI Warns of Health Insurance Scam Stealing Personal and Medical Data • Texas Teacher Among Thousands Scammed. FBI Says State Is a Top Target for Financial Crimes • Columbia Data Stolen in Cyberattack That Caused Dayslong IT Outage, University Says INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS • FBI-DOD Program Enlists, Equips International Partners to Help Crush Cartel Violence • DSS, FBI, and Ghana Police Collaborate to Extradite Alleged Romance Scam Leader OTHER FBI NEWS • FBI Supervisor Hired Prostitutes While on Assignment, Watchdog Says • Mystery Surrounds the Jeffrey Epstein Files After AG Bondi Claims 'Tens of Thousands' of Videos OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • U.S. Senate Passes Trump's Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill, Setting up House Battle • DOJ Looking at Denaturalization for American Citizens Convicted of Certain Crimes • U.S. Judge Blocks Deportation of Haitian Migrants • Paramount Settles With Trump Over '60 Minutes' Interview for $16 Million • Trump Vowed to Deport the 'Worst of the Worst' -- But New Data Shows a Shift to Also Arresting Non- criminals • Trump's Achievements Embolden Him to Be Even More Aggressive • Sean 'Diddy' Combs Jury Decides on Some Counts; Verdict Not Yet Known • Trump Escalates Feud With Musk, Threatens Tesla, SpaceX Support • U.S. Federal Workforce Remains Steady Despite Trump's Efforts • A Day Outside an LA Detention Center Shows Profound Impact of ICE Raids on Families • Trump Withholds Nearly $7 Billion for Schools, With Little Explanation WASHINGTON SCHEDULE IN THE NEWS FBI Headquarters Moving to Ronald Reagan Building That Housed USAID Fox News (07/01, Singman) and CNN (07/01, Lybrand) reported that Director Patel is shutting down the J. Edgar Hoover building and moving its headquarters across Washington to the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. According to the articles, the FBI and the GSA have been looking at options for a new FBI headquarters for more than a decade, including locations near D.C. in Maryland and Virginia. "Team, the FBI Headquarters will be moving down the street to the Ronald Reagan Building, and the Hoover Building will be shut down," Director Patel wrote in a memo. President Trump told Fox News Digital that the Ronald Reagan Building is "a wonderful building," and said the FBI is "a wonderful group of people." He continued, "The FBI will finally have the kind of building they deserve. Congratulations to Kash Patel, Dan Bongino, and all the great people at the FBI." In the memo to the FBI, Director Patel described the bureau as "the world's premier law enforcement agency" and said its future headquarters would reflect that status. "After nearly 20 years of constant churn surrounding the matter, we've finally gotten it done," he wrote, calling the move "the most cost-effective way to best serve the American people while most efficiently using the resources available to us." Director Patel emphasized that the new headquarters will provide the bureau's workforce with "a modern, safe, and superior HQ location that will allow us to build for the future and maintain mission success while being tremendous stewards of EFTA01655235 taxpayer dollars." He told employees that he is working "closely with Congress and GSA" to make the move happen as quickly as possible, though he acknowledged "there are a lot of moving pieces." Director Patel said preparations are already underway, noting that "we need to ensure our security and technology requirements are in place before HQ employees can begin making the move, in phases." He thanked employees for their patience and resilience, writing, "Thanks in advance for your patience, and for staying the course." Calling the announcement a major step forward, Director Patel added, "Please join me in celebrating this historic milestone for the FBI," and closed the memo by thanking bureau personnel for "all you do for the country." He concluded with a message of optimism: "And welcome to your new FBI, and your new FBI HQ." The articles noted that Director Patel has long voiced concerns about the current Hoover building, calling it "unsafe for our workforce." He remarked, "If you're going to come work at the premier law enforcement agency in the world, we're going to give you a building that's commensurate with that, and that's not this place." Additional reporting on the story was provided by Associated Press (07/01, Tucker), Baltimore Banner (07/01, Wood), CBS News (07/01, Rosen, MacFarlane), ClearanceJobs (07/01, Hamilton), Federal News Network (07/01, Heckman), GovExec (07/01, Newhouse), The Hill (07/01, Beitsch), New York Times (07/01, Goldman), Politico (07/01, Pellish), Roll Call (07/01, Tarinelli), UPI (07/01, Heuer), Washington Examiner (07/01, O'Keefe), Washington Post (07/01, Flynn, Cox, et al.), and Washington Times (07/01, Ferrechio). FBI Arrests Two Chinese Citizens Accused of Spying on U.S. Navy The Associated Press (07/01, Tucker) reported that two Chinese nationals, Yuance Chen and Liren "Ryan" Lai, have been charged with spying for Beijing in the U.S. "This case underscores the Chinese government's sustained and aggressive effort to infiltrate our military and undermine our national security from within," AG Bondi said in a statement announcing the case. "The Justice Department will not stand by while hostile nations embed spies in our country —we will expose foreign operatives, hold their agents to account, and protect the American people from covert threats to our national security?' The article added that, according to an FBI affidavit filed in connection with the case, investigators believe Lai had been developing Chen to be a Chinese intelligence asset since at least mid- 2021. Their activities, the FBI says, included coordinating a dead-drop of at least $10,000 in cash to another person who was operating at the direction of the MSS. They also participated and arranged surveillance of a Navy recruiting station in California and a Navy base in Washington state, including through photographs that Chen is accused of taking and that investigators believe were transmitted to Chinese intelligence. Authorities say Lai and Chen also discussed recruiting Navy employees to work for China, with Chen at one point obtaining names, hometowns, and programs of recent recruits. Many listed China as their hometown, and investigators believe the information was sent to China, the FBI affidavit says. UPI (07/01, Heuer) highlighted that the pair allegedly were "attempting to recruit U.S. military service members on behalf of the People's Republic of China," Director Patel said. "The Chinese Communist Party thought they were getting away with their scheme to operate on U.S. soil, utilizing spy craft, like dead drops, to pay their sources," Director Patel continued. He said the case was a "complex and coordinated effort" that involved counterintelligence work by FBI agents in San Francisco, Portland, Houston, and San Diego and the agency's Counterintelligence Division. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Courthouse News (07/01, Simons), Daily Beast (07/01, Archacki), Epoch Times (07/01, Pan), Fox News (07/01, Wehner), KATU (ABC-2) (07/01, Corser), KGW (NBC-8) (07/01, Jensen), NewsNation (07/01, Djordjevic), Newsweek (07/01, Silverman, Mordowanec), New York Times (07/01, Barrett), OregonLive (07/01, Bernstein), Reuters (07/01, Martinez), Security Boulevard (07/01, Burt), USNI News (07/01, Mongilio), and Washington Examiner (07/01, Brest). FBI Blocked Probe Into Alleged Chinese 2020 Election Meddling to Protect Wray From Fallout, Documents Show Fox News (07/01, Singman) reported that the FBI blocked an investigation into allegations that the Chinese Communist Party manufactured fake driver's licenses and shipped them to the U.S. to influence the 2020 presidential election in favor of Joe Biden, as it would contradict then-FBI Director Christopher Wray's congressional testimony, according to newly declassified FBI documents obtained by Fox News Digital. The documents, which include communications between FBI officials ahead of the 2020 election, were declassified by Director Patel and transmitted to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, and they reveal that the FBI recalled the original reporting document on September 25, 2020, just a day after Wray testified before Congress that the FBI had not seen any coordinated voter fraud ahead of the 2020 election. The FBI directed recipients of the original report to destroy all copies and remove it from computer holdings, citing the need to re- interview the source, but additional documents declassified by Director Patel show that the source was reengaged EFTA01655236 and provided additional context to support the initial report, yet the FBI maintained its position not to republish the report because it would contradict Wray's testimony. Assistant FBI Director Marshall Yates wrote in a letter to Grassley that one reason for not releasing the report was that "the reporting will contradict Director Wray's testimony," and Yates also explained that the recall of the original reporting document was "abnormal" and met with disagreement by those in the Albany office. Senator Grassley stated that the records "smack of political decision-making and prove the Wray-led FBI to be a deeply broken institution," and the documents provide evidence of the FBI's decision-making behind the recall and its decision not to republish the intelligence reporting, which alleged that the Chinese Communist Party sought to deliver fake driver's licenses to Chinese sympathizers in the U.S. who would cast a vote for Biden in the 2020 election. Newsweek quoted an X statement from Deputy Director Bongino: "We typically work behind the scenes in this space, but we understand we need to rebuild your trust in the FBI and learn from past mistakes. That's why we have declassified and shared with Congress thousands of pages of documents related to our counterintelligence work, and it's why we're continuing to release as much as we can to the public." Additional reporting on the story was provided by Daily Signal (07/01, Lucas), Just the News (07/01, Dunleavy), New York Post (07/01, Nava), Washington Examiner (07/01, Deese), and Washington Times (07/01, Picket). Ex-FBI Agent Charged in Capitol Riot Now Works on Justice Department's iNeaponization' Task Force The Associated Press (07/01, Kunzelman) reported that Jared Lane Wise, a former FBI agent charged with participating in the U.S. Capitol riot, is now working as an adviser to Ed Martin Jr, the director of the Justice Department's "weaponization working group". Wise was previously arrested and charged with misdemeanor crimes related to the riot, but his case was dismissed after President Donald Trump pardoned or dismissed cases for nearly 1,600 people charged in the attack. Wise repeatedly shouted, "Kill 'eml" as he watched rioters assaulting officers outside the Capitol, according to an FBI agent's affidavit. Wise clapped his hands and raised his arms "in triumph" after he entered the building through the Senate wing door, the affidavit says. He left the building about nine minutes after entering. The article noted that the "weaponization working group" is examining claims of anti- conservative bias within the Justice Department, as requested by Attorney General Bondi. Additional reporting on the story was provided by ABC News (07/01, Mallin, Faulders), New York Times (07/01, Feuer, Goldman), and Raw Story (07/01, Davis). Continued Reporting: Iran-Linked Hackers Threaten to Release New Trove of Emails Fox News (07/01, Phillips) reported that an Iran-linked cyber group is threatening to release a new trove of emails stolen from top Trump officials and allies, including White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and Trump confidante Roger Stone. The hackers claim to have roughly 100 gigabytes of emails and are organizing a sale of the stolen communications, with the threat coming after US and Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. U.S. cyber officials and government agencies, including the FBI, have condemned the hack and warned that Iranian-affiliated cyber actors may still conduct malicious cyber activity in retaliation for the strikes. AG Bondi called the hack an "unconscionable cyberattack" and said government agencies would work to "protect the officials targeted by this rogue group." Director Patel added in a statement, "Safeguarding our administration officials' ability to securely communicate to accomplish the president's mission is a top priority. Anyone associated with any kind of breach of national security will be fully investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." Additional reporting on the story was provided by Axios (07/01, Sabin), Security Affairs (07/01, Paganini), SecurityWeek (07/01, Kovacs), and Washington Times (07/01, Lovelace). Back to Top COUNTERTERRORISM 16 Alleged 'Anti-Trent Members Charged in Houston With Drug and Gun Trafficking KIAH (CW-39) (07/01, Estrada) and KRIV (Fox-26) (07/01, Kite) reported that 16 people, including foreign nationals, have been charged with drug and gun crimes as alleged members of the "Anti-Tren" group in Houston. The suspects are accused of trafficking cocaine and guns, with 14 charged with conspiring to distribute over 5 kilograms of cocaine and 5 facing weapons charges. The arrests are part of "Operation Take Back America" and if convicted, some defendants could face up to life in federal prison and fines of up to $10 million, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The article noted that these arrests mark the largest takedown of suspected Anti-Tren members EFTA01655237 by the FBI so far, according to federal agents. "These arrests are the largest takedown of suspected Anti-Tren members and associates by the FBI, so far, and they happened right here in Houston," said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston Field Office. "These individuals are accused of engaging in a turf war with TdA members and carrying out numerous violent crimes throughout our city, including a mass shooting at a local sports bar that left six people wounded. Fortunately, for the good and safety of our community, these individuals are now in federal custody facing U.S. justice." Lone Wolf Actor Biggest Threat to 4th of July Festivities in New York, San Francisco ABC News (07/01, Barr) reported that the FBI and DHS have identified lone wolf actors as the biggest threat to 4th of July celebrations in New York and San Francisco. The threat includes potential copycat attacks inspired by the New Orleans terror attack and homegrown extremists motivated by various grievances. Authorities are also concerned about malicious actors exploiting demonstrations, using drones, and targeting large gatherings due to the conflict in the Middle East and bias against certain communities. Additional reporting on the story was provided by KGO (ABC-7) (07/01, Noyes) and New York Daily News (07/01, Matthews). Continued Reporting: Probe Into Idaho Firefighter Ambush Suspect Digging Into Childhood, Gun Familiarity ABC News (07/01, Levine, Pezenik, et al.) reported that the investigation into the Idaho firefighter ambush is ongoing, with authorities trying to determine the motive behind suspect Wess Roley's alleged actions. Roley, who was found dead with a shotgun and cell phone, is believed to have acted alone and had no connection to terrorism, according to Idaho police. The article highlighted that the FBI is taking the lead in the technical processing of the phone and what it holds, officials said in an update Tuesday night. Officials hope to exploit the contents of the device to glean any potential insight into a possible motive. In an interview on Tuesday, a former classmate of Roley's said that while the alleged sniper was always "really different," he still has "a hard time trying to correlate the same Wess that I grew up with to the Wess that did what he did." Dieter claimed Roley was someone who talked about Nazism, who was "very pro-gun," who spoke of wanting to join the military, who would often make drawings of bombs and military vehicles and who allegedly got in trouble once for drawing swastikas in a textbook. Additional reporting on the story was provided by Daily Mail (07/01, Hutchinson), Men's Journal (07/01, McBride), NBC News (07/01, Burke), New York Post (07/01, Oliveira), USA Today (07/01, Santucci), and Washington Examiner (07/01, Zimmermann). Back to Top CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS North Texas Woman Wanted for the Murder of Her Six-Year-Old Son, Added to FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted KTVT (CBS-11) (07/01, Jenkins, Miles, Falcon) reported that Cindy Rodriguez Singh, who is wanted for the 2022 murder of her 6-year-old son, Noel Rodriguez Alvarez, is now on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, authorities said Tuesday. A Tarrant County grand jury indicted Rodriguez Singh in October 2023 on capital murder and additional charges related to the disappearance of her son, who was reported missing in 2022. According to the article, the FBI has also increased the reward leading to her arrest, from $25,000 to $250,000. The FBI said it is confident that the increased reward will lead to her arrest. Joe Rothrock, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Dallas Field Office, said that law enforcement has been working diligently to locate Noel with the common goal of finding him. "Cindy's last confirmed sighting was on March 22, 2023, as she, her husband, and six juvenile children boarded an international flight bound for India," said Rothrock. "Noel was not with them, did not board that flight." The Independent (07/01, Hawkinson), KRLD (07/01, Scaia), the Dallas Express (07/01, Washburn), WFAA (ABC-8) (07/01, Snyder, Woodard), WFAA (ABC-8) (07/01, Video), KDFW (Fox-4) (07/01, DeLatte), KDFW (Fox-4) (07/01, Video), KXAS (NBC-5) (07/01, Video), and NDTV (07/02, Chen) also reported on the story. Bryan Kohberger's Decision to Accept Plea Deal Came After Efforts to Strike Death Penalty Failed The Associated Press (07/01, Valdes, Johnson, Boone) reported that Bryan Kohberger 's attorneys had done what they could to spare his life.According to the article, they tried to bar prosecutors from seeking the death penalty in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students on an array of grounds — that it would violate standards of decency or flout international law, that prosecutors had failed to provide evidence properly, that their client's autism diagnosis reduced any possible culpability. They challenged the legitimacy of DNA evidence and sought permission to suggest to a jury that someone else committed the crime. None of it worked. And with Kohberger's EFTA01655238 quadruple-murder trial set to begin next month, they turned to a final option: a plea deal to avoid execution. The article mentioned that Kohberger, 30, is due to appear at 11 a.m. MDT Wednesday before Idaho Fourth Judicial District Judge Steven Hippler in Boise, where he is expected to plead guilty to charges that he murdered Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen at a rental home near campus in Moscow, Idaho, early on Nov. 13, 2022. "This resolution is our sincere attempt to seek justice for your family," prosecutors wrote in a letter to the families. "This agreement ensures that the defendant will be convicted, will spend the rest of his life in prison, and will not be able to put you and the other families through the uncertainty of decades of post- conviction, appeals." The New York Post (07/01, Downing), NPR (07/01, Chappell), Newsnation (07/01, Menezes, Banfield), Newsnation (07/01, Menezes, Entin), CBS News (07/01, Freiman, Dakss), and CNN (07/01, Wolfe, Romine, et al.) also reported on the story. The FBI is Just One Problem Facing Malik Beasley, Amid $8M in Escalating Financial Problems The Detroit News (07/01, Snell) reported that Malik Beasley thrived on the basketball court last season for the Detroit Pistons while coping with a federal gambling investigation and more than $8 million worth of financial problems that include being sued twice by his Detroit landlord and having part of his Pistons paycheck seized, public records show. According to the article, court records paint a picture of a turbulent personal life as Beasley experienced a career breakthrough with the Pistons last season and while debts mounted from a celebrity barber, a dentist, a landlord, a lender and a marketing firm. The court records and details about a years-long history of financial problems are emerging as FBI agents conduct an investigation involving Beasley that is focused on wire fraud, gambling and prop bets. Beasley, who has signed NBA contracts worth more than $59 million during his career, has not been charged with wrongdoing, but the Pistons have pulled back on a three-year, $42 million offer amid the FBI investigation involving the free agent. ESPN (07/01, Purdum), CBS Sports (07/01, Dajani, Mahjouri), SI (07/01, Douglas), the Detroit Free Press (07/01, Romo), New York Post (07/01, Svoboda), Yahoo Sports (07/01, Owens), and MLive (07/01, Richman) also reported on the story. Cultlike Zizian Group Member Charged in Border Agent's Death Seeks Delay in Death Penalty Decision The Associated Press (07/01, Ramer) reported that a woman charged in the death of a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Vermont wants to delay the government's decision on whether to seek the death penalty by at least six months. According to the article, Teresa Youngblut, of Washington state, is part of a cultlike group known as Zizians that has been connected to six killings in three states. She's accused of firing at agent David Maland during a traffic stop on Jan. 20, the same day President Donald Trump was inaugurated and signed a sweeping executive order lifting the moratorium on federal executions. Attorney General Pam Bondi later cited Maland's death in directing federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty in cases involving the murder of law enforcement officers unless they find significant mitigating circumstances. But Youngblut's lawyers argue the government has set a "radically inadequate" and "extraordinarily rushed" timeline for that determination. The article noted that in a motion filed late Monday, Assistant Federal Public Defenders Steven Barth and Julie Stelzig said the government has set a July 28 deadline for them to explain why the death penalty should not be sought, even though Youngblut has yet to be charged with a crime eligible for such punishment. DOJ Silent on Whether NYC Politician Who Allegedly Assaulted Ice Officer Will Face Charges Fox News (07/01, Pinedo, Arcand) reported that as the New York City mayoral results roll in, the Department of Justice is remaining silent on whether it will press charges against city comptroller and former Democratic mayoral candidate Brad Lander, who allegedly assaulted a federal immigration officer inside a courthouse. According to the article, a spokesperson for the DOJ replied to Fox News Digital's inquiry in an emailed statement, simply saying, "Unfortunately, we are not able to provide any additional information." Video footage taken of Lander's arrest, which was on June 17, shows a chaotic scene in which Lander is hanging onto Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as they escorted a defendant out of immigration court at 26 Federal Plaza. He repeatedly asked officials if they had a judicial warrant. The video shows federal officials eventually separate Lander from the immigrant whom the officials were targeting, and they proceed to handcuff Lander. He can be heard repeatedly insisting they do not have the authority to arrest him. One agent seemed to say that he was obstructing an arrest, to which he replied, "I'm not obstructing. I'm standing right here in the hallway. I asked to see the judicial warrant." Hours later, Lander walked out of the federal courthouse where he was being held alongside New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. During a news conference outside the courthouse, Hochul said that charges against Lander had been dropped, though the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York said it was "continuing to investigate" Lander's actions. EFTA01655239 FBI Joins Investigation as Body of Minnesota Teen Missing Since May Found in Landfill CBS News (07/01, Chapman, Kaplan) reported that a 16-year-old Twin Cities boy missing since early May has been found dead, authorities said Tuesday. According to the article, after nearly a month of searching the Waste Management Landfill in Elk River, authorities found the remains of Jordan Dupree Collins Jr., there on Saturday, Anoka County Sheriff Brad Wise said. An autopsy has been completed, but Collins' cause of death remains undetermined, according to Columbia Heights Police Chief Matt Markham. Collins was last seen May 8 near the 4900 block of University Avenue Northeast in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. He had been living at an apartment building near there with his father since mid-April, according to Collins' mother. The article mentioned that Wise said the search shifted to the landfill on June 4 after authorities "were offered information that led to a video, and that video showed some evidence that would suggest the body might've made its way into a dumpster and into a garbage truck." The article added that the FBI is assisting in the investigation. Newsweek (07/01, Silverman) also reported on the story. DNA Evidence Ties Fugitive Father to Alleged Murder of Three Daughters as Manhunt Leads Run Cold Fox News (07/01, Bonavita) reported that as the manhunt for a survivalist father accused of killing his three daughters before disappearing into the Washington wilderness sails past the one-month mark, local authorities are expressing their frustration as the trail begins to run dry. "I'm still angry," Chelan County Sheriff's Deputy Mike McLeod said as he recounted the search for 33-year-old Travis Decker. "He still hasn't been found." Decker, a former member of the U.S. Army and a trained survivalist, is wanted for allegedly killing his three children — Paityn, 9, Olivia, 5, and Evelyn, 8. The girls were reported missing by their mother, Whitney Decker, May 30 after they did not return home from a court-mandated custody visit with their father. Numerous local, state and federal agencies have continued to comb the wilderness for the fugitive father while experiencing several environmental hurdles, according to Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison. Continued Reporting: FBI Investigates Three Major Hospitals for Mutilating Children The Daily Citizen (07/01, Washburn) reported that the FBI has initiated criminal investigations into employees at Boston Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital Colorado and Children's Hospital Los Angeles for performing irreversible "transgender" medical procedures on children. The inquiries follow several statements from the Trump administration promising to prosecute so-called gender affirming care for children under laws preventing child abuse and female genital mutilation. On June 2, the FBI wrote on X and Facebook, "As the Attorney General has made clear, we will protect our children and hold accountable those who mutilate them under the guise of gender- affirming care." MS-13 Leader to Be Sentenced in Racketeering Case Involving Eight Murders The Associated Press (07/01, Marcelo) reported that the leader of an MS-13 clique in the suburbs of New York City faces sentencing Wednesday in a federal racketeering case involving eight murders, including the 2016 killings of two high school girls that focused the nation's attention on the violent Central American street gang. According to the article, Alexi Saenz pleaded guilty last year for his role in ordering and approving the killings as well as other crimes during a rash of bloody violence that prompted President Donald Trump to make several visits to Long Island and call for the death penalty for Saenz and other gang members during his first term in the White House. 35 People Charged in "Dismantling" of Pennsylvania Drug Rings That Flooded Montgomery County With Crack Cocaine CBS News (07/01, Brandt) reported that thirty-five people were criminally charged Tuesday after a months long investigative operation targeting the drug market in Norristown, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said in a news release. Hundreds of pages of court documents show how "Operation Cocaine Goldmine" used wiretaps, confidential informants, controlled buys and other surveillance to track three drug trafficking organizations in Norristown — the county seat — from late 2024 to June 2025. Steele said the investigation took place as opioid and fentanyl use declined, but "cocaine and crack cocaine experienced a resurgence, in part due to the dramatic decline in wholesale cocaine prices." The article added that as bulk traffickers, mid-level suppliers, and street-level dealers were able to get easier access to large quantities of the drug due to the price shifts, county detectives worked with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, FBI, DEA and Norristown police on targeting networks operating in Norristown. Steele said the investigation has helped identify "intertwined networks of individuals who are most responsible for the trafficking of bulk quantities of cocaine into Montgomery County." EFTA01655240 Thirteen Michigan Residents Charged in Nationwide Health Care Fraud Investigation CBS News (07/02, Singleton) reported that more than a dozen people in Michigan are facing charges in state and federal court in connection with a nationwide health fraud investigation that resulted in charges against 324 individuals. The charges were filed under the Justice Department's 2025 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the nationwide schemes involved Medicaid fraud as well as the sale of controlled substance prescriptions in exchange for cash. Federal investigators seized more than $245 million in cash, luxury cars, and other items. Investigators estimated the schemes would have resulted in a $14.6 billion financial loss and 15 billion pills illegally distributed. "Today's record-setting Health Care Fraud Takedown sends a crystal-clear message to criminal actors, both foreign and domestic, intent on preying upon our most vulnerable citizens and stealing from hardworking American taxpayers: we will find you; we will prosecute you, and we will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi in a statement. "Make no mistake — this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities." FBI Executes Search Warrant at California Home KTTV (Fox-11) (07/01, Staff Writer) reported that a federal search warrant was executed by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation at a home in Los Angeles Tuesday morning. The FBI and LAPD activity was reported at a home in the 1400 block of N. Marine Avenue in the Wilmington neighborhood. The article added that video from the scene showed multiple people wearing FBI jackets in the front yard of the home. Under a white awning, people who appeared to be residents of the home were seen covered in blankets. According to the FBI, its SWAT team was used during the execution of that warrant. The LAPD confirmed units were on scene around 4:35 a.m. Continued Reporting: Judge Says Federal Investigators Should Probe Harmony Montgomery's Death CBS News (07/01, Staff Writer) reported that a former judge is requesting that federal authorities start an investigation into the death of Harmony Montgomery. On Tuesday, retired Judge Carol Erskine handed over pages from her own investigation to the U.S. Attorney and FBI in New Hampshire. Erskine wants investigators to look at New Hampshire's Division of Children, Youth and Families and whether the department's workers falsified records. A New Hampshire jury found Harmony's father, Adam Montgomery, guilty of murder and other charges in connection with Harmony's death. Investigators also found Harmony was placed in her father's care even though there was evidence she would not be safe there. According to the article, Erskine said she feels New Hampshire's legal settlement with Harmony's motherwas an attempt to make the case go away. Harmony's mother, Crystal Sorey, filed a negligence lawsuit in 2024. She accused social workers of ignoring signs that Harmony's father physically abused her. Earlier this year, New Hampshire agreed to pay Sorey $2.25 million to settle the lawsuit. WFXT (Fox-25) (07/01, Kavanaugh, et al.) and the New Hampshire Union Leader (07/01, Phelps) also reported on the story. Back to Top CYBER DIVISION Continued Reporting: DOJ Announces Arrest, Indictments in North Korean IT Worker Scheme The Washington Examiner (07/01, Goldsberry) reported that the Dal arrested a North Korean operative for running a fraudulent IT team that stole $900,000 in virtual currency and $5 million in revenue from around 100 U.S. companies. According to the article, the scheme, which involved fake identities and shell companies, resulted in $3 million in damages and compromised 80 identities between 2021 and 2024. The article highlighted that the FBI conducted searches across 14 states between June 10 and June 17, resulting in the seizure of 137 laptops and 29 financial accounts. As the scheme involved shell companies to shield the North Korean actors and the other conspirators from China, Taiwan, and the UAE, 21 fake websites were also at the center of the scheme. The Hacker News (07/01, Lakshmanan) quoted Assistant Director Roman Rozhaysky of the FBI Counterintelligence Division: "North Korea remains intent on funding its weapons programs by defrauding U.S. companies and exploiting American victims of identity theft. North Korean IT workers posing as U.S. citizens fraudulently obtained employment with American businesses so they could funnel hundreds of millions of dollars to North Korea's authoritarian regime." SC World (07/01, Staff Writer) also reported on the story. Continued Reporting: Hacker Enlisted to Help Mexican Cartel Track, Kill FBI Informants EFTA01655241 VICE (07/01, Prada) reported that a hacker affiliated with Mexico's Sinaloa cartel accessed Mexico City's security grid of over 18,000 cameras and phone data to identify FBI informants. According to the article, the hacker obtained an FBI legal attaché's phone number, cracked into the device, and used the data along with camera footage to create a facial recognition system to track informants. The surveillance campaign led to the intimidation or killing of several informants, highlighting the potential for hostile entities to abuse powerful surveillance tools, according to the U.S. Justice Department's report. SC World (07/01, Staff Writer) and Forbes (07/01, Brewster) also reported on the story. Continued Reporting: FBI Issues U.S. Airline Warning Newsweek (07/01, Burman) reported that the FBI has issued a warning to the U.S. airline sector about the growing threat posed by the cybercriminal gang Scattered Spider. According to the article, Scattered Spider has been suspected of infiltrating at least two major U.S. airlines, exploiting remote access tools, and disabling multifactor authentication protocols. The article noted that the FBI is urging companies not to pay ransoms and to report intrusions promptly, and is working with aviation and industry partners to address the activity and assist victims. Fox News (07/01, Genovese) and The National Desk (07/01, Walker) also reported on the story. Continued Reporting: FBI Warns of Health Insurance Scam Stealing Personal and Medical Data HackRead (07/01, Ahmed) reported that the FBI has warned of a health insurance scam where fraudsters pose as insurance companies or investigators to steal personal and medical data. According to the article, the scammers use emails and text messages to pressure individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as banking details and Social Security numbers, which can be sold on the dark web. These scams contribute significantly to cybercrime losses, with fraud accounting for a large portion of the $16.6 billion in total cybercrime losses the FBI reported in 2024. The article noted that to protect yourself from these scams, the FBI advises being suspicious of any uninvited messages — emails, texts, or calls — asking for personal information. Texas Teacher Among Thousands Scammed. FBI Says State Is a Top Target for Financial Crimes Dallas News (07/01, Ontiveros) reported that a Texas teacher, Russell Leahy, was scammed out of over $30,000 by someone impersonating Chase Bank staff, leaving him with significant financial losses. According to the FBI's 2024 Internet Crime Report, Texas ranks second in the nation for internet crime complaints and financial losses, with Texans reporting $1.35 billion in losses last year. The article noted that the FBI advises consumers to be wary of unsolicited communications, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and never share sensitive information over the phone or via email to prevent falling victim to scams. The article highlighted that in 2024, the FBI launched Operation Level Up to combat cryptocurrency investment fraud, a type of scam that tricks individuals into investing in fake cryptocurrency projects. Columbia Data Stolen in Cyberattack That Caused Daysiong IT Outage, University Says Columbia Spectator (07/01, Davis) reported that a hacker caused a days-long IT outage at Columbia University in June and stole data from the university's networks, including personal information of applicants. According to the article, the alleged hacker claims to have stolen around 460 gigabytes of data, including Social Security numbers, financial aid packages, and employee pay, to prove that Columbia continues to employ affirmative action in its admissions policies. The article noted that the university is investigating the cyberattack, which is ongoing and involves the FBI, and will share the findings with the university community and those whose personal information was compromised. Back to Top INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS FBI-DOD Program Enlists, Equips International Partners to Help Crush Cartel Violence Texas Border Business (07/01, Staff Writer) reported that a training program jointly conducted by the FBI Criminal Investigative Division's Transnational Organized Crime-Western Hemisphere (or TOC-West) Operations Unit and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is taking the fight against violent cartels to these groups' home turf. According to the article, the FBI TOC-West Vetted Team Program brings together Bureau personnel, the military's U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), and Green Berets from the U.S. Army's 7th Special Forces Group to train national civil police forces from partner countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in critical operational skills. These vetted teams are tasked with investigating transnational criminal organizations, including cartels and other criminal organizations based in those nations. Together, the FBI and its TOC-West vetted teams conduct bilateral EFTA01655242 investigations and operations that target every facet of transnational organized crime groups. "We want to target the entire enterprise," explained Mike, a supervisory special agent who serves as the FBI's program coordinator for the TOC-West assistant legal attaches (ALATs), vetted teams, and training. He's also an FBI liaison to the U.S. Department of Defense. "They have—as part of their own agencies—their own command structure, their own lieutenants, their own captains," Mike said of our international law enforcement partners who serve on TOC-West vetted teams. "But the FBI Criminal Investigative Division ALAT, as an advisor to the team, can provide guidance and direction?' The article stated that the TOC West Operations Unit within the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division (CID) oversees 17 ALATs in eight countries. The unit's work focuses primarily on transnational organized crime investigations. The FBI's International Operations Division, which manages the Bureau's overall ALAT program worldwide, provides additional oversight and operational support. DSS, FBI, and Ghana Police Collaborate to Extradite Alleged Romance Scam Leader Graphic Online (07/01, Zurek) reported that the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) has confirmed that its special agents stationed at the United States Embassy in Accra collaborated with Ghanaian authorities to assist the FBI in the extradition of Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, also known as "Dada Joe Remix." According to the article, in a Facebook post, the DSS stated, "Diplomatic Security Service special agents at U.S. Embassy Ghana worked with Ghanaian authorities to assist the FBI in the extradition of Joseph Badu Boateng aka Dada Joe Remix. Boateng was indicted on charges of running a fraud ring that used romance and inheritance schemes to defraud U.S. victims of several million dollars. The subject is now in the United States to face justice." Boateng was arrested in Ghana on May 28, 2025, following an extradition request from the United States based on an unsealed indictment issued by a grand jury in the District of Arizona. He is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The Guardian Nigeria (07/01, Staff Writer) also reported on the story. Back to Top OTHER FBI NEWS FBI Supervisor Hired Prostitutes While on Assignment, Watchdog Says The Washington Post (07/01, Hawkins) reported that an FBI supervisory special agent solicited and had sex with prostitutes on numerous occasions while on assignment, violating Justice Department and FBI policy. According to the article, the agent misused an FBI-issued device to pay for the encounters and failed to self-report contact with foreign nationals, including those they paid for sex. The article noted that the inspector general's investigation substantiated the allegations, but criminal prosecution was declined, and it is unclear if disciplinary action was taken against the agent. Representatives from the FBI and DOJ headquarters did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Independent reported that when asked about the investigation, the FBI told the outlet Tuesday, "While we cannot comment on specific employee matters, all FBI employees are held to the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct. "Allegations of misconduct are taken seriously and referred to the Inspection Division or the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General;' the agency said. "After reviewing relevant information on misconduct, the FBI took appropriate action to uphold our standards of integrity. Through the disciplinary process, the FBI will continue to hold employees accountable for any substantiated misconduct." Mystery Surrounds the Jeffrey Epstein Files After AG Bondi Claims 'Tens of Thousands' of Videos The Associated Press (07/01, Tucker, Richer) reported that it was a surprising statement from Attorney General Pam Bondi as the Trump administration promises to release more files from its sex trafficking investigation of Jeffrey Epstein: The FBI, she said, was reviewing "tens of thousands of videos" of the wealthy financier "with children or child pom." According to the article, the comment, made to reporters at the White House days after a similar remark to a stranger with a hidden camera, raised the stakes for President Donald Trump's administration to prove it has in its possession previously unseen compelling evidence. That task is all the more pressing after an earlier document dump that Bondi hyped angered elements of Trump's base by failing to deliver new bombshells and as administration officials who had promised to unlock supposed secrets of the so-called government "deep state" struggle to fulfill that pledge. The article mentioned that the Associated Press spoke with lawyers and law enforcement officials in criminal cases of Epstein and socialite former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell who said they hadn't seen and didn't know of a trove of recordings like what Bondi described. Indictments and detention memos do not reference the existence of videos of Epstein with children, and neither was charged with possession of child sex abuse material even though that offense would have been much easier to prove than the sex trafficking counts they faced. EFTA01655243 Back to Top OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS U.S. Senate Passes Trump's Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill, Setting up House Battle Reuters, Associated Press, BBC, Politico, The Hill, Fox News, Washington Examiner, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post DOJ Looking at Denaturalization for American Citizens Convicted of Certain Crimes ABC News, Fox News, Associated Press, The Guardian, Axios U.S. Judge Blocks Deportation of Haitian Migrants New York Times, Reuters, CBS News, Fox News, Politico Paramount Settles With Trump Over '60 Minutes' Interview for $16 Million Reuters, CNN, New York Times, CBS News, Fox News Trump Vowed to Deport the 'Worst of the Worst' -- But New Data Shows a Shift to Also Arresting Non- criminals ABC News Trump's Achievements Embolden Him to Be Even More Aggressive Fox News Sean 'Diddy' Combs Jury Decides on Some Counts; Verdict Not Yet Known Reuters Trump Escalates Feud With Musk, Threatens Tesla, SpaceX Support Reuters U.S. Federal Workforce Remains Steady Despite Trump's Efforts Reuters A Day Outside an LA Detention Center Shows Profound Impact of ICE Raids on Families Associated Press Trump Withholds Nearly $7 Billion for Schools, With Little Explanation New York Times Back to Top WASHINGTON SCHEDULE White House President Trump • 9:00 AM: In-Town Pool Call Time Vice President Vance • No official presidential schedule released or announced. US Senate • No events scheduled. US House of Representatives • No events scheduled. EFTA01655244 Cabinet Members • Secretary of Defense Hegseth hosts an enhanced honor cordon and meeting welcoming The Honorable Luis Petri, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Argentina, at 9:30 AM. • • Secretary of State Rubio attends meetings and briefings at the Department of State and the White House. Visitors • No events scheduled. General Events • CSIS: Strategic Landpower Dialogue: A Conversation with VCSA General James Mingus — Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Location: Online event, 8:45 AM. Please join the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) for a Strategic Landpower Dialogue event, featuring Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army General James Mingus. The discussion will explore Army force planning, readiness, and initiatives to build a modern, capable force. The discussion will be moderated by Colonel Mark Cancian (USMCR, ret.), Senior Adviser in the Defense and Security Department at CSIS. Dr. Seth Jones, President of the Defense and Security Department at CSIS, will provide introductory remarks. • CSIS: Can Multinationals Win in China? Lessons from Apple's Experience — Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Location: Online event, 9:00 AM. The world's largest multinationals are all in China, and when surveyed, a majority report that they are making a profit there. Yet there is a widespread view that China's business landscape is heavily tilted in favor of domestic firms and that in strategic industries, foreign companies are primarily helping their Chinese competitors to catch up and displace them rather than helping themselves grow and maintain their advantages. There is a parallel debate about whether multinationals operating in China have helped to marketize the economy and made society more open, or whether these investors have instead become complicit in supporting the illiberal foundations of Chinese Communist Party rule. • CSIS: The Impossible State Live Podcast: Special Conversation with Senator Andy Kim — Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Location: Online event, 11:00 AM. Please join us for a bonus episode of the Impossible State Live podcast, recorded during the Looking Forward: The Future of United States-Japan-Korea Trilateral Relations event on June 18, 2025. Senator Andy Kim engaged in a conversation with Dr. Victor Cha to discuss the key challenges and opportunities across various sectors that will shape the future of trilateral relations among U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific. • AEI: Holding Colleges Accountable: From Graduation to Gainful Employment — Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Location: Online event, 4:00 PM. Recent legislative proposals in the House and Senate signal heightened interest in making colleges financially responsible for students' outcomes. The House's version of the "One Big Beautiful Bill" contains a "risk-sharing" provision requiring colleges to repay a portion of the federal student debt that their graduates fail to repay. The Senate version omits this provision, but it raises the stakes by demanding that colleges demonstrate a positive return on investment to retain access to federal student loans. These proposals reflect a growing focus on the federal role in ensuring colleges' and universities' program quality and economic value. • Atlantic Council: Holding Colleges Accountable: From Graduation to Gainful Employment — Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Location: Online event, 10:00 AM. The Atlantic Council's Europe Center hosts a panel discussion in Skopje, North Macedonia to discuss how to bridge the trust gap between the Western Balkans and the EU on the region's path to EU membership. • Atlantic Council: Central Bank Governor Leonardo Villar on Colombia's monetary policy trajectory — Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Location: Online event, 3:00 PM. Central Bank Governor Leonardo Villar joins the Atlantic Council to discuss Colombia's monetary policy trajectory and the central bank's role in promoting macroeconomic stability, transparency, and innovation amid global uncertainty. • Hudson Institute: After Midnight Hammer: The State of Iran's Nuclear Program and What's Next in the Middle East — Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Location: Online event, 12:00 PM. Institute for Science and EFTA01655245 International Security Founder and President David Albright, one of the leading experts on the Iranian nuclear program, will join Hudson's Michael Doran for a fireside chat. They will discuss the state of Iran's nuclear ambitions following Operations Rising Lion and Midnight Hammer and how the United States, Israel, and their regional partners can capitalize on Iran's weakened state to promote long-term peace and stability. Email Public Affairs to subscribe to the Daily News Briefing. Mobile version and archive available here. EFTA01655246