The FBI’s Most Wanted List celebrates its 60th anniversary and one retired agent explains its importance: “It’s probably every agent’s dream to capture a top 10 most wanted fugitive.”
An investigation by the Washington Post revealed that from 2002 to 2006, the FBI wrongly invoked terrorism to obtain the phone records of thousands of U.S. citizens. When questioned by the paper, FBI general counsel Valerie Caproni admitted that the agency violated the Electronic Communications Privacy Act when agents invoked nonexistent emergencies to collect records. I hope they didn’t notice all those calls I made to chat lines after a bad break-up in ‘03! |Washington Post|
The FBI announced their latest strategy for capturing fugitives: digital billboards. The 30- by 40-foot display was unveiled today in Times Square as it flashed the mug shots of three wanted suspects. Can’t wait to see the look on tourists’ faces when they get a glimpse of a massive, digitally aged Osama staring them down.
Photo: AP/Richard Drew
As part of a recent effort to solve dozens of racially-motivated murders that took place throughout the South during the 50s and 60s, the FBI is seeking help in tracking down the surviving family members of the deceased, people the agency believes may be able to help in their investigations. About the effort, FBI Civil Rights Chief Cynthia Deitle said, “Even if the bad guy was dead, we can finish the investigation and tell the family what happened.” |Nola.com|
As part of a controversial new program, the FBI is using facial-recognition technology and searching driver’s license photos in DMV databases to try and find wanted fugitives. So far its been a big success: “The project in North Carolina has already helped nab at least one suspect.” |AP|
Hey remember those raids of suspected terrorist residences that took place a few days ago? Well, the Daily News is reporting that they’re only a small part of a larger plan by the Feds to dismantle a group that’s been planning a massive attack on the New York City subway system. Read more »
Like the FBI, the DEA often uses erroneous data and scare tactics to argue against legalizing weed in the United States. They falsely characterize how the liberal policies adopted by the Netherlands have transformed that nation into an oasis of crime and drug abuse, even publishing bogus shit like this on their website: “The increasing use of marijuana is responsible for more than increased crime. It has widespread social implications as well.” Well if that’s true, then why are the Dutch closing eight prisons? This could be the reason: “The overcapacity is a result of the declining crime rate, which the ministry’s research department expects to continue for some time.” Someone needs to update their site.
Congressman Smokes Out FBI Director for Propagandist Weed Theories
In this clip, Congressman Steven Cohen (D-Tenn.) schools FBI Director Robert Mueller on legalization, the not so harmful effects of weed, and the bullshit that is the “gateway theory.” The politician also suggests that it’s time the crime fighting agency starts prioritizing their anti-drug strategies and stop lumping the more benign cannabis in with heroin, cocaine, or crack. |MPP|
Four men were arrested for allegedly plotting to bomb a synagogue in the Bronx and shooting down military planes at the New York Air National Guard Base at Stewart Airport in Newburgh, New York. The FBI, with the help of an “informant” apprehended them after providing the amateur terrorists with inert explosives” and “inactive” Stinger surface-to-air guided missiles. Unlike the suggestion of the photo on the FBI website, the Empire State Building was never in jeopardy. No reason to start bringing your executive parachutes to work again.
When William Kingsland died in 2006, he left behind a treasure trove of artwork, but “no will…and no apparent heirs to claim the floor-to-ceiling stacks of paintings and art works crammed into his one-bedroom apartment,” according to the FBI. After hiring Christie’s to help sell the work, the auction house did some investigating and discovered that many of the pieces were reported stolen in the 60s and 70s—so much for the FBI’s, intricately logo’d 13 agent strong Art Crime Team. The Feds later learned that Williams Kingsland was actually born Melvyn Kohn and that he choose Kingsland because “it had a more literary sound to it and would help him gain acceptance among Manhattan’s upper crust.” The FBI has compiled a neat online gallery and is urging the public to take a look and see if any of the work looks familiar including some Picassos, like this one (pictured right).
Pablo Picasso “Tete de Femme”
Editor-in-Chief:
