Celebrating 116 Years of Service The #FBI plays a crucial role in combating violent crime nationwide. Read this recent round-up of violent crime stories

New York – Rashad Alkhader -Homeland News – From News- FBI

Celebrating 116 Years of Service

The FBI plays a key role in combating violent crimes across our country—and in some cases, abroad—through our investigative work targeting gangs and criminal organizations, violent crimes against children, Indian Country crime, human trafficking and involuntary servitude, bank robbery, and jewelry and gem theft.

FBI investigators usually work in partnership with other law enforcement groups, often establishing task forces to concentrate resources and efforts. This round-up is only a partial list of recent FBI violent crime stories—for a full list, read more FBI violent crime news and press releases.

New Jersey Man Charged with Terrorism Offenses Relating to His Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie
Hadi Matar was arraigned in federal court in connection with attempting to provide material support to Hizballah, a designated foreign terrorist organization; engaging in an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries; and providing material support to terrorists.
Matar attempted to kill and did in fact assault Rushdie.

• “We allege that in attempting to murder Salman Rushdie in New York in 2022, Hadi Matar committed an act of terrorism in the name of Hizballah, a designated terrorist organization aligned with the Iranian regime,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.
  “The defendant attempted to carry out a fatwa endorsed by Hizballah that called for the death of Salman Rushdie — a fatwa issued in 1989 by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Violence directed at Americans for exercising their First Amendment rights will never be tolerated. The FBI will work with our partners to pursue and hold accountable those who resort to violence.”
• Full press release

Man Pleads Guilty to Making Threats to Arizona Election Office
Brian Jerry Ogstad pleaded guilty to sending threatening messages to election workers with Maricopa County Elections in Phoenix.

• “Violent threats to election workers are threats to our democracy and democratic process. We cannot allow threats of violence against public servants to become normalized,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI takes seriously all threats of violence against public officials and will continue to pursue threats and acts of violence aimed at election workers.”
• “The functioning of our democracy requires that our country’s public servants be able to do their jobs without fearing for their lives,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We have no tolerance for this kind of heinous criminal conduct and the danger it poses to people’s safety and to our democratic process. Threats and acts of violence targeting those who serve the public will be met with the full force of the United States Justice Department.”
• Full press release

Nevada Man Arrested and Indicted for Threatening to Murder Federal Officials and State Employees
Spencer Christjencody Gear was charged with threatening to assault and murder federal officials, including federal judges, and state employees in Washington, D.C., New York, New Jersey, and Montana.

• Gear made threatening phone calls and sent a threatening email to assault and murder eight federal officials with intent to impede, intimidate, and interfere with the officials while engaged in the performance of official duties, and with intent to retaliate against the officials on account of the performance of official duties. Gear also threatened three state employees.
• “The FBI will not tolerate individuals who threaten government officials for doing their jobs and who create a climate of fear,” said Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI National Security Branch. “As this case demonstrates, we will work with our partners to investigate and hold accountable all those who threaten or interfere with government officials as they carry out their duties.”
• Full press release

Georgia Man with Seven Prior Felony Convictions Pleads Guilty to Armed Drug Trafficking Charges
Mandrell Antwoin Hull pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

• Hull faces a minimum mandatory of 15 years in prison up to a maximum sentence of life in prison.
• “Criminals like Hull continue to plague our communities with blatant disregard for the safety of others and reckless indifference to the law. It is only through our local and federal partnerships that we are able to put a stop to these violent repeat offenders,” said Senior Supervisory Special Agent Robert Gibbs of FBI Atlanta’s Athens office. “This case is another example of how the FBI and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to keeping the streets of Georgia safe for everyone in our community.”
• Full press release

U.S. Attorney Announces Prison Sentence for Domestic Violence Against Pregnant Intimate Partner
Steven Williams was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for brutally assaulting and strangling his pregnant girlfriend.

• Between February 11 and 14, 2023, Williams, an enrolled member of the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, repeatedly assaulted Jane Doe, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Indian Tribe. Jane Doe was five months pregnant at the time of the assaults.
• As a result of the attacks, Jane Doe suffered severe bruising, a broken hand, defensive knife wounds, and strangulation. Fortunately, the unborn child survived.
• After enduring days of abuse, Jane Doe eventually managed to escape and receive medical treatment with the help of concerned family members.
• Full press release