Latest news with #WashingtonFieldOffice
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Documents: DC educator paid minors on CashApp, received explicit images
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Officials said that a D.C. school employee is facing charges for child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The FBI Washington Field Office's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is investigating 56-year-old Devonne Keith Brown, who was arrested on Monday, June 2. The affidavit said Brown was working for IDEA Public Charter School and affiliated with a track club called 'Project Impact Sports.' Virginia high school teacher arrested, accused of receiving inappropriate photos, grooming minors According to court documents, the investigation started in November of 2024 when a CashApp account was reported for grooming minors and purchasing CSAM. CashApp found three possible minors' accounts and the adult's account. Documents said that there was activity that implied that the adult — later identified as Brown — was grooming minors. The investigation was assigned in January of 2025. Investigators reported that there were 36 CashApp transactions with one of the victims between Feb. 18, 2024, and Sept. 22, 2024. When officials went to speak to the victim, she said that she had been talking to a person named 'Joseph.' She later revealed that he was an adult man she met at a Giant grocery store near her home in Prince George's County. She told investigators that she had messaged the man via Instagram and iMessage. She said that she had sent him nude photos during these conversations and that he also sent an explicit photograph to her. Black bear spotted in Bethesda area days after it was captured, relocated from Langley Park In May of 2025, investigators got a search warrant for Brown's email and found nearly 30 emails between him and two different email accounts believed to belong to the minor victim. These emails included explicit photos and videos. 'Those who prey on minors to solicit the production of CSAM are morally reprehensible and will be held accountable for their heinous crimes,' Steven Jensen, assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, said in a release. 'The FBI remains committed to protecting our children and ridding our communities of this grievous scourge.' The FBI asks that anyone with any information about Brown or his involvement in the solicitation of CSAM send their contact information to DBVictims@ or fill out a form online. You can also make an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or going online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
FBI axes public corruption squad ‘CR15' that backed Special Counsel Jack Smith's probe into Donald Trump's Capitol riots
The FBI Washington Field Office under Director Kash Patel shut down the unit that supported Jack Smith's investigation into Donald Trump In a major shake-up, the FBI has shut down one of its key units known as CR15, the same squad that supported special counsel Jack Smith 's investigation into US President Donald Trump . The closure of the federal public corruption squad was confirmed by three people familiar with the matter, NBC News reported. CR15 played a central role in the FBI's 'Arctic Frost' investigation, which laid the groundwork for Smith's probe into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. That probe ultimately led to one of the two federal cases against Trump , both of which have since been dropped after his election victory. FBI officials said agents from CR15 will be reassigned to other parts of the bureau. A spokesperson explained that the decision to shut down CR15 was part of a broader reorganisation of the FBI's Washington Field Office, with more changes expected soon. The bureau stressed that public corruption investigations will continue under the new structure. The closure comes at a time when FBI resources are increasingly being directed towards immigration enforcement. The area is mainly handled by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is under the Department of Homeland Security. The decision also follows earlier cuts at the Justice Department, which significantly reduced the Public Integrity Section that also investigated corruption. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Health: Over-40s are snapping up the new indestructible military smartwatch Indestructible Smartwatch Undo Several staff members resigned after reportedly refusing to drop the federal corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. A judge later dismissed the case and barred it from being reopened, saying it would give the government unfair leverage over the mayor. 'This is yet another sign that it's open season for political corruption,' said Stacey Young, founder of Justice Connection. 'The administration gutted the Public Integrity Section, neutered the U.S. Attorney's Office in D.C., and is now shuttering the FBI's pre-eminent federal public corruption squad. This isn't what voters had in mind when they heard, 'drain the swamp.'' Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson, who had scrutinised CR15's work, welcomed the closure. Grassley said, 'It's good news it's been shut down after I exposed the unit for its misconduct.' The investigation into Trump began before he launched his 2024 campaign. Though Smith indicted Trump in 2023, the case stalled amid appeals. Smith's report said that Trump 'inspired his supporters to commit acts of physical violence' during the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots and knowingly spread false claims of election fraud.
NBC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
FBI folds the public corruption squad that aided Jack Smith's Trump investigations
WASHINGTON — The FBI's Washington Field Office is folding its federal public corruption squad, the same unit which aided Jack Smith's special counsel investigation into now-President Donald Trump, three people familiar with the matter tell NBC News. The FBI's Washington Field Office has three units that work on public corruption issues, but this one — known internally as "CR15" — was deeply involved in the bureau's "Arctic Frost" investigation, which was the precursor to the Smith probe into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results by Trump and his allies. That investigation ultimately resulted in one if the two federal criminal cases against Trump, both of which were dropped after Trump's election. FBI special agents assigned to the squad will be reassigned. The move to shutter the unit comes amid a major shift of FBI resources towards immigration enforcement, an area which is primarily the responsibility of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is part of the Department of Homeland Security. A top leader in the FBI's Washington Field Office was also recently reassigned, two people familiar with the matter said. Earlier this year, the Justice Department slashed its Public Integrity Section, which had also worked on public corruption cases. Members of the unit had also resigned after refusing to sign off on dropping the federal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. A judge ultimately dropped the case against Adams, adding a condition beyond what the Trump administration had specified: He said that the Justice Department would not be allowed to revive the cases later, because that would give the government leverage over the mayor. 'This is yet another sign that it's open season for political corruption," said Stacey Young, the executive director and founder of the group Justice Connection, a network of Justice Department alumni supporting DOJ's workforce. "The administration gutted the Public Integrity Section, neutered the U.S. Attorney's Office in D.C., and is now shuttering the FBI's preeminent federal public corruption squad. This isn't what voters had in mind when they heard, 'drain the swamp.'' An FBI spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Senate Judiciary Committee chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations chair Ron Johnson, R-Wis., have recently scrutinized the work of CR15, writing letters to FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi about the unit. 'My oversight has shown time and again how the FBI's CR-15 unit was weaponized to execute one-sided political attacks, particularly against President Trump and his allies,' Grassley said in a statement. 'It's good news it's been shut down after I exposed the unit for its misconduct. Transparency brings accountability, and the FBI must ensure all records are preserved as my investigations continue.' The investigation into the effort by Trump and allies to overturn the 2020 election results was launched in April 2022, before Trump had announced his run for president in 2024. After Trump launched his campaign, then-Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith as special counsel in late 2022, saying it was in the public interest to have an outsider lead the investigation rather than have Garland, who was appointed by President Joe Biden, oversee the probe. Trump was indicted in August 2023, but his trial was delayed by appeals, which resulted in a Supreme Court ruling that g ave Trump immunity for his official actions taken as president. Smith issued a report, writing that Trump '' during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and that Trump had knowingly spread an objectively false narrative about election fraud in the 2020 election.
New York Post
03-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Ex-FBI agent involved in Hunter Biden, Trump probes celebrated Peter Navarro's 2022 indictment: ‘Wow. Great'
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) released internal FBI emails Thursday showing at least one former agent celebrated the Biden administration Justice Department's June 2022 decision to slap contempt of Congress charges against White House adviser Peter Navarro. 'Wow. Great,' wrote former FBI Washington Field Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Timothy Thibault, in an email to colleagues upon learning in May 2022 that Navarro would be prosecuted for failing to comply with a subpoena from the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol. Thibault was among several agents in the FBI's Washington Field Office who played a lead role in investigating President Trump and his allies, as well as former first son Hunter Biden. Thibault resigned from the bureau in August 2022. Thibault's celebratory note is one of several emails Grassley included in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, demanding more communications between Thibault and his colleagues be released. 'I am making these emails public in the interest of transparency,' wrote Grassley. 'The American people have a right to know as much as possible regarding the internal Biden Justice Department and FBI process to determine where to allocate taxpayer resources to investigate and prosecute former Trump officials.' 'Moreover, the FBI officials involved in the Navarro case were also involved in the politically-infected cases against President Trump, to include Arctic Frost and Special Counsel Mueller's investigation.' In a separate email, from May 19, 2022, former FBI Special Agent Walter Giardina notes that the DC US Attorneys Office 'after consultation with main Justice' opted not to pursue charges against former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Trump aide Dan Scavino but that 'they would like to charge Navarro in the next two weeks.' Giardina then lays out the plan for what the FBI must do to secure an indictment. 'Here is what we need to accomplish: locate him (Sam – can you assist with this?), get subpoena return from Verizon for his phone (subpoena served about 10 days ago), issue preservation letter to Apple prepare a search warrant for his phone and iCloud account, conduct a knock and talk interview,' Giardina instructs several Washington Field Office agents. Thibault updates the team on May 26, 2022, about the FBI's attempt to interview Navarro. Navarro was indicted on contempt of Congress charges in June 2022. Getty Images 'FYSA. This morning, CR-15 agents attempted to interview former WH official Peter Navarro in connection to the pending Contempt of Congress case. Navarro declined to be interviewed and accused the agents and the AG of harassment. Navarro filmed the encounter,' wrote Thibault. On June 1, 2022, a day before Navarro's indictment, an FBI Washington Field Office public affairs officer emails Thibault and other agents the 'press plan' for when the White House official is arrested, which the public affairs officer notes is 'similar to Bannon's,' referring to former Trump aide Steve Bannon, who was also charged with contempt of Congress. Navarro ultimately became the first White House official in history to be jailed on a contempt of Congress conviction. He served four months in prison in 2024 and currently serves as White House adviser to Trump. Thibault resigned from the FBI in August 2022 after whistleblowers presented Grassley with evidence of Thibault's alleged involvement in 'a scheme' to 'undermine derogatory information connected to Hunter Biden by falsely suggesting it was disinformation.' He had served as the bureau's 'point man' for handling evidence submitted by Tony Bobulinski, a business associate of Hunter Biden, who alleged Joe Biden was the 'big guy' and due a 10% stake in one of Hunter's US-China ventures — but Thibault allegedly buried the information he obtained from Bobulinski. Thibault's resignation also came amid an investigation by the Office of Special Counsel into his anti-Trump social media posts. In February, Grassley and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) obtained emails from Thibault allegedly showing that he improperly shared investigative information and a nude photo of his girlfriend with people outside the bureau via his government email while allegedly shielding Hunter. Grassley asked Bondi and Patel for additional communications, including text messages, from Thibault, Giardina and other agents by May 13, 2025.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Head of FBI Washington Field Office is forced out
WASHINGTON — David Sundberg, the assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, was notified Thursday that he was going to lose his job and is preparing to leave the bureau, according to two senior law enforcement sources — the latest step in an unprecedented purge of top executives at FBI headquarters as well as leadership in FBI field offices across the country. Sundberg is the highest-ranking field agent so far to be fired from the FBI in Trump's second term. Sundberg, who joined the FBI in 2002, was put in charge of the Washington Field Office by then-FBI Director Christopher Wray in December 2022. It is one of the highest-profile positions an agent can achieve in the field at the FBI. Special agents from the Washington Field Office were heavily involved in former Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigations of now-President Donald Trump, as well as the sprawling investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol that resulted in criminal charges against hundreds. News of Sundberg's departure comes amid a broader slate of firings hitting leadership at the bureau. NBC News reported that as many as eight senior executives at FBI headquarters have been told to resign or be fired. New faces are coming in, too, with a Republican Capitol Hill staffer as well as an affiliate of Elon Musk have taken on leadership roles within bureau headquarters. It's part of a broader effort to reshape the federal workforce, which has hit the upper levels of the Justice Department particularly hard in recent days. Sundberg was in charge of nearly 1,600 employees at the Washington Field Office, leading FBI operations across Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia, including high-profile cases involving terrorism and public corruption, like the Trump investigations. Sundberg inherited the Jan. 6 Capitol riot investigation, as well as the investigation into the pipe bombs left near the Republican and Democratic party headquarters buildings the night of Jan. 5, 2021, which still remains unresolved. Sundberg also served as the special agent in charge of the New Haven Field Office in 2020 and led the tactical efforts across the Department of Justice for the presidential inauguration in January 2021. Trump pardoned more than 1,500 people charged in connection with the Capitol attack, and the Trump administration got rid of the FBI's Capitol Violence website, which featured images of rioters who assaulted law enforcement officers but were never arrested. The new administration also shut down the section of the D.C. U.S. Attorney's office that had been investigating the riot. This article was originally published on
