MetaFilter posts tagged with fbi

Cattle mutilation

rmd1023 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:26:54 -0800

A long-standing element of ufo/paranormal conspiracy theory, cattle mutilation has been reported in the United States for several decades. Here's some FOIA documents relating to the FBI's investigation (and discussions of whether they had jurisdiction to investigate) from the 1970's. All links are PDFs: cattle1.pdf, cattle2.pdf. cattle3.pdf, cattle4.pdf,cattle5.pdf.

Transparency Like You've Never Seen Before

up in the old hotel — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:57:59 -0800

You like documents? We got documents:

We Don't Need No Steekin Manual

Xurando — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:42:18 -0800

For your perusal: The New FBI Operations Manual. "Agents may begin such assessments against a target without a particular factual justification. The basis for such an inquiry “cannot be arbitrary or groundless speculation,” the manual says, but the standard is “difficult to define.”

No ordinary informant

MuffinMan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:18:06 -0800

The movie adaptation of Mark Whitacre's story, Steven Soderbergh's The Informant, based on the book by Kurt Eichenwald was released last month. Whitacre's life belies easy explanation: a hugely important corporate whistleblower, at some point during the five years he spent informing on agribusiness behemoth Archer Daniels Midland Whitacre embarked on a massive embezzlement scheme that would see him imprisoned for nearly eight and a half years. To this day, the FBI remain divided on whether he is more hero or villain. What is perhaps interesting about the movie, over and above the extraordinary details of Whitacre's downfall into mental illness and susbsequent release to resume married life as a successful businessman in the biogredients business, is that Soderbergh - who started work on the movie in 2001 after Ocean's Eleven - plays it as a comedy. According to Soderbergh, at least, Whitacre likes the movie. See previously on the blue. And also here.

The FBI was as close to Leonard Bernstein as his nearest telephone

NemesisVex — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:07:44 -0800

Alex Ross examines the 800-page FBI file of Leonard Bernstein. (single page print link.)

The FBI looks Beyond Survival for law enforcement officers

rmd1023 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:20:11 -0800

The May 2009 issue of the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin has a special focus: "Beyond Survival," helping law enforcement officers to do more than survive in their careers. The FBI's Law Enforcement Bulletin ordinarily contains articles like Searching cell phones seized incident to arrest, It's all about them: Tools and Techniques for Interviewing and Human Source Development, or The Computer as Significant Other (derail fodder:"Essentially, cybercentric individuals still believe the childhood fantasy that anyone can fulfill even their wildest dreams.") But the May 2009 issue is different: To discuss these vital concerns, an eclectic assembly of law enforcement professionals, academics, and members of the clergy came together under the auspices of the FBI Academy's Behavioral Science Unit for the first annual Beyond Survival: Wellness Practices for Wounded Warriors conference. During a week of intense and stimulating debate, the group wrestled with many weighty matters. This focus issue contains articles from five of the members that offer a wide range of ideas. These articles represent a significant departure from the normal fare presented in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin and may come as a surprise. However, if approached in the same vein of open-mindedness as this issue is offered, readers should find the contents enlightening.

"High Value Detainee #1"

amyms — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:38:58 -0800

Just released: Saddam Hussein Talks to the FBI. FBI special agents carried out 20 formal interviews and at least 5 "casual conversations" with former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein after his capture by U.S. troops in December 2003, according to secret FBI reports released as the result of Freedom of Information Act requests by the National Security Archive. Via this Washington Post article.

"I rob banks for a living, what do you do?"

kirkaracha — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:38:26 -0800

John Dillinger was paroled from Indiana State Prison in May 1933 after serving eight years for assault and battery and attempted robbery and launched a Midwest Crime Wave from June 1933 to June 1934. Dillinger was embittered by his prison sentence. His accomplice "pleaded not guilty, stood trial, and was sentenced to two years." Dillinger "confessed, was convicted of assault and battery with intent to rob, and conspiracy to commit a felony, and received joint sentences of 2 to 14 years and 10 to 20 years." June 10, 1933: Dillinger robbed his first bank, in New Carlisle, Ohio. September 22, 1933: After Dillinger robbed a bank in Bluffton, Ohio, Dayton police captured Dillinger at a girlfriend's apartment. He was sent to the county jail in Lima, Ohio. When he was frisked police found plans for a prison break. Footage of Dillinger yucking it up with prosecutor Robert Estill ended Estill's career. September 26, 1933: Harry Pierpont, Charles Makley, and eight other inmates escaped from the Indiana State Penitentiary following Dillinger's escape plan and using guns he'd smuggled into the prison. October 12, 1933: Pierpont, Makley, and two accomplices broke Dillinger out of the Lima, Ohio jail, killing Sheriff Jesse Sarber in front of his wife and his deputy. ("Charles Makley Was Framed!") January 25, 1934: Dillinger and his gang were captured in Tuscon, AZ, after a fire in their hotel when firemen recognized them from their mugshots. March 3, 1934: Dillinger broke out of the Lake County Jail in Crown Point, Indiana, according to legend using a fake gun he carved out of wood and painted with shoe polish. He stole a car during the escape and crossed state lines, sparking an FBI manhunt led by Melvin Purvis. April 23, 1934: FBI agents accidentally killed a local resident and two innocent Civilian Conservation Corps workers and "Baby Face" Nelson killed Agent Carter Baum during a bungled capture attempt and shootout at the Little Bohemia Lodge ("Dillinger only left because he had to!!!") in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin. July 22, 1934: Dillinger was killed in an ambush outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago. The movie was Manhattan Melodrama ("A human document, picturing every exciting phase of life in the world's greatest metropolis!"). Newspaper illustration: "How death was dealt to death-dealing John Dillinger." The killing made the FBI famous and movies about G-Men superseded the gangster movies popular in the early 1930s. Dillinger went to the movies with Polly Hamilton and Anna Sage (Ana Cumpanas), the "Woman in Red" (she actually wore an orange skirt and white blouse). Sage had set up Dillinger in exchange for a cash reward and a promise to help prevent her deportation. She was deported anyway. More info: Dillinger learned about robbing banks from a fellow inmate who worked for for Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch. "What I Knew About John Dillinger" by longtime girlfriend Evelyn Frechette. Polly Hamilton reminisces about "Jimmy Lawrence." Vintage newsreels. Detailed timeline (scroll down). Another timeline. Lists of gang members and their fates, and banks robbed by Dillinger and his associates. Theories that the real Dillinger wasn't killed at the Biograph persist, but a 2006 documentary concluded that it was the real deal (The Straight Dope agrees). A post-mortem photograph sparked stories that Dillinger was especially well-endowed and other myths, but it's really his arm in rigor mortis.

The Sins of your Fathers

protorp — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:57:07 -0800

Familial genetic profiling of law enforcement DNA databases has already been used to succesfully establish both guilt and innocence. Legal and moral questions on these expanded techniques abound and are comprehensively explored by a speaker at a recent FBI symposium on the topic. In the author's words, scenarios previously limited to movies like Minority Report are unfolding quietly, before most of us have thought about the consequences. (Via)

The high cost of Lisa's tiger-repellant rock

orthogonality — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 04:09:17 -0800

Leaving office, President Bush claimed "that he took 'a deliberate and comprehensive approach' to preventing terrorism that combined military action overseas with strong defensive measures at home."

[As early as 2002] "We knew that the mortgage-brokerage industry was corrupt... Where we would have gotten a sense of what was really going on was the point where the mortgage was sold knowing that it was a piece of dung and it would be turned into a security. But the agents with the expertise had been diverted to counterterrorism."
[. . . . FBI Director Robert] "Mueller actually circumvented the Justice Department and the OMB to get resources. But he was shut down" by the [Bush A]dministration. [. . . . Testifying in October 2004, ] Chris Swecker, then assistant director of the criminal investigation division said ... "The potential impact of mortgage fraud on financial institutions in the stock market is clear. If fraudulent practices become systemic within the mortgage industry and mortgage fraud is allowed to become unrestrained, it will ultimately place financial institutions at risk and have adverse effects on the stock market."

"A strong hunch, based on a pattern of damning circumstances."

availablelight — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 09:44:53 -0800

A New York Times investigative report on the case against alleged anthrax terrorist Bruce Ivins: "[U]nless new evidence were to surface, the enormous public investment in the case would appear to have yielded nothing more persuasive than a strong hunch, based on a pattern of damning circumstances, that Dr. Ivins was the perpetrator." Dr. Ivins committed suicide last summer, before he could be arrested. Despite strong circumstantial evidence (and a psychological profile at least as disturbing as that as the previous suspect, Dr. Steven Hatfill), some scientists aren't convinced Ivins had the time or means to manufacture the anthrax in question. The case has been a bizarre one from the beginning, involving everything from obsessive Wikipedia editing, stalking allegations on both sides, and questions on the credibility of an addictions counselor who assumed a prominent role in the investigation.

Bust Em Before They Bite

Xurando — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:33:33 -0800

Since at least February, the St, Paul police and the FBI have been trying to infiltrate protest groups planning to demonstrate and the RNC. Apparently they were successful because they have begun arresting protestors before the convention actually starts. They even went after the press. I have to wonder if any MeFites were busted?

How reliable is DNA in identifying suspects?

finite — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:18:44 -0800

A discovery leads to questions about whether the odds of people sharing genetic profiles are sometimes higher than portrayed. Calling the finding meaningless, the FBI has sought to block such inquiry.

FBI After Vegans

punkbitch — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:29:01 -0800

The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is infiltrating vegan potluck dinners (via the Harper's Weekly Review)

FBI raids Special Counsel Buildings

spock — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:07:08 -0800

(Big) Newsfilter: FBI Searches Office of Special Counsel Building "A multi-year investigation leads federal agents to search the Office of Special Counsel's building. Employees have alleged the agency was misused for political purposes. Neither Office of Special Counsel head Scott Bloch nor anyone else has officially been charged with a crime. But the FBI secured a separate subpoena for Bloch's home." NPR exclusive at the moment, but this is potentially big. Will be the news story of the day.

FBI PowerPoint, Chinese Hackers, and Counterfeit Routers, Oh My!

homunculus — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:11:00 -0800

FBI Fears Chinese Hackers Have Back Door Into US Government & Military. [Via /.]

FBI loses FISA evidence over unpaid phone bills

baphomet — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 13:52:35 -0800

FISA wiretapping: keeping us safe in the war on terror.

"It seems the telecoms, who are claiming they were just being 'good patriots' when they allowed the government to spy on us without warrants, are more than willing to pull the plug on national security investigations when the government falls behind on its bills," said former FBI agent Michael German, the ACLU's national security policy counsel. "To put it bluntly, it sounds as though the telecoms believe it when the FBI says the warrant is in the mail but not when they say the check is in the mail."

Secret Warrants Granted Without Probable Cause

rxrfrx — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 23:32:12 -0800

Secret Warrants Granted Without Probable Cause

Liberty Mint Raid

Sam.Burdick — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 11:00:28 -0800

Secret Service and FBI raid Liberty Mint, arguments of counterfeiting versus constitutional right to commerce ensue! I caught this on NPR this morning. It seems the US Mint doesn't like alternative currencies circulating within the US. The organization in question wants to abolish the Federal Reserve and the US mint and claims that both are the cause for the excessive inflation. At the risk of sounding shrill and/or sarcastic; these folks amuse me. The basic premise of their mint seems to be one of tax dodging and they love Ron Paul so much that they released currency with his face on it. This has been done before by less.... professional... people. The Liberty Mint seems to feel that the only constitutional and moral solution to our current economic is to print money actually backed by real valuable metals. And they claim that the US Mint making money is unconstitutional despite some evidence to the contrary (scroll down on last link). I'm pretty sure I don't buy their arguments. But at least they weren't actually counterfeiting... or so it seems. Were they violating the constitution or laws of this land? Or are they patriots? hmm...

falafelfilter: FBI data mining bad ideas

tarheelcoxn — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:35:54 -0800

The idea was that a spike in, say, falafel sales, combined with other data, would lead to Iranian secret agents in the south San Francisco-San Jose area. I've read this article twice now because I was laughing too hard the first time. If I were more paranoid I might actually seriously ask what sort of data mining the FBI is doing, but... falafel sales! via. Seriously though. My homework for Thursday is to read and respond to an article on HIPAA requirements and prescription compliance programs. Privacy and government stupidity are very much on my mind.

freedom of information

nickyskye — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 06:00:32 -0800

Do you have an FBI file? Or do your grandpa and grandma? "Find out now by ordering a copy of their FBI files and learn a bit more about your family history. Best of all, it's free! (Well, except for the cost of a postage stamp.)" This web site helps you generate the letters you need to send to the FBI to get a copy of your own FBI file. While we're at it, we can generate request letters to some other Federal agencies besides the FBI that you may be interested in (or who may have been interested in you!). FAQ page. Get Grandpa’s FBI file because if you never ask, you’ll never know. Did Grandpa Joe run a gambling ring? Did Aunt Mary ever lead an antiwar protest? Did Cousin Gary smuggle booze during prohibition?... What if I still don't trust you with my personal data? No problem. Just go to the FBI FOIA web site and work directly with the FBI. We flatter ourselves to think that our site is a little easier to use and may be more likely to get you the records you seek, but hey, we've been there, we understand if you don't trust us. If you want to find out the Social Security number of a deceased person, sometimes it's easy to find by going to RootsWeb and in the Search Roots Web box on the left, type the name of the person, press enter. From the Project of Government Oversight page. The FBI also has a famous persons files page and check out the histories of Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr, Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe, among others. Previously on the blue, 2, 3, 4, 5 and the green.

The horse is out of the barn

anotherpanacea — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 08:56:39 -0800

Most have forgotten Abdallah Higazy, but he's proceeded with his lawsuit against the FBI. In an interesting twist, the details of the threats made against his family by FBI Agent Michael Templeton have been classified. Sadly for the Second Circuit, they released the unredacted version briefly before withdrawing and replacing it with the classified decision. Good on How Appealing for keeping the opinion online. Here's what they cut: Higazy alleges that during the polygraph, Templeton told him that he should cooperate, and explained that if Higazy did not cooperate, the FBI would make his brother “live in scrutiny” and would “make sure that Egyptian security gives [his] family hell.” Templeton later admitted that he knew how the Egyptian security forces operated: “that they had a security service, that their laws are different than ours, that they are probably allowed to do things in that country where they don’t advise people of their rights, they don’t – yeah, probably about torture, sure.” Higazy later said, "I knew that I couldn't prove my innocence, and I knew that my family was in danger." He explained that "[t]he only thing that went through my head was oh, my God, I am screwed and my family's in danger. If I say this device is mine, I'm screwed and my family is going to be safe. If I say this device is not mine, I’m screwed and my family’s in danger. And Agent Templeton made it quite clear that cooperate had to mean saying something else other than this device is not mine.” Higazy explained why he feared for his family: The Egyptian government has very little tolerance for anybody who is —they’re suspicious of being a terrorist. To give you an idea, Saddam’s security force—as they later on were called his henchmen—a lot of them learned their methods and techniques in Egypt; torture, rape, some stuff would be even too sick to . . . . My father is 67. My mother is 61. I have a brother who developed arthritis at 19. He still has it today. When the word ‘torture’ comes at least for my brother, I mean, all they have to do is really just press on one of these knuckles. I couldn’t imagine them doing anything to my sister. And Higazy added: [L]et’s just say a lot of people in Egypt would stay away from a family that they know or they believe or even rumored to have anything to do with terrorists and by the same token, some people who actually could be —might try to get to them and somebody might actually make a connection. I wasn’t going to risk that. I wasn’t going to risk that, so I thought to myself what could I say that he would believe. What could I say that’s convincing? And I said okay.

Paranoia vs Preparation

nomisxid — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:16:27 -0800

Traditionally, media doesn't print names/photos of people only accused, but not yet convicted, but not always. Lots of towns have a police blotter section where arrests are listed. Here in Seattle, the FBI recently asked the public for help in identifying two men seen acting suspicious on the ferry system. The Seattle PI has decided not to publish the photos. Other local media have. The commentary on if the PI made the right choice follows predictable paths...

Won't somebody PLEASE think of the children?

dersins — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:48:16 -0800

Bored on your summer vacation? Well, the US government has lots of fun stuff for kids to do on line. Learn fascinating facts about cows (and agricultural marketing!) from the Department of Agriculture. Take a ride to Money Central Station with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. If you live in a federally-funded housing project, HUD wants you to learn more about being a good citizen. Want something more action-packed? Help FBI Special Agent Bobby Bureau go undercover, or become one of America's Crypto-Kids at the NSA. Play thrilling puzzle games or visit the world's most secret museum at the CIA. Play more games or become a Disaster Action Kid at FEMA! And no list of government kids' pages would be complete without revisiting the children's art contest from the ATF, which I've linked to before...

Die for love, for art, for... what?

Scram — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 09:37:56 -0800

Game developer/ perfume critic Theresa Duncan has died, and longtime companion Jeremy Blake is missing. The art world is buzzing about the seeming suicide-by-water of video installation artist Jeremy Blake. The perfume blogs are fizzing with sadness over the death of Theresa Duncan, whose suicide preceded Blake's. The cops are not releasing the notes left by the late, pretty people, but a clue might be found in the paranoiac screed Duncan posted on her blog in May, in which Blake's ex-girlfriend, the CIA, FBI, Church of Scientology, Jeff Gannon, bloated plutocrats and many other bugbears of the psy-ops crowd were put on Duncan's mental merry-go-round and given a real strong spin.