Counterterrorism /
International Terrorism /
Domestic Terrorism
International
Terrorism Mission Statement.
The mission of the International Terrorism
(IT) / Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) Squad in Minneapolis
is to aggressively pursue the prevention and prosecution of terrorist
acts directed at the U.S. or its interests overseas. The IT/JTTF
Squad specifically targets threats from International terrorist
organizations and their members, facilitators or supporters.
Minneapolis IT/JTTF investigators collect, analyze, and disseminate
information, gather evidence and pursue criminal persecution
to interdict, and if possible, prevent terrorist acts.
Domestic Terrorism
Program Mission Statement. The Domestic Terrorism Mission of the Minneapolis
Division is to uphold the law and protect the security of our
coverage area and of the nation, through investigations of federal
criminal terrorism statutes and domestic security investigations,
in a manner faithful to the Constitution and laws of the United
States. The conduct of these investigations and the associated
collection of evidence will be directed toward detection and
interdiction of terrorist activities, and prosecution of United
States based terrorists, through effective response to terrorist
threats and incidents. This primary mission will be enhanced
through a domestic preparedness mission to enhance the security
of the three states in our coverage area and of the nation in
order to successfully manage crises and consequences of terrorist
acts utilizing weapons of mass destruction; and to manage designated
special events in a manner adequate to reasonably reduce their
vulnerabilities.
National Foreign
Intelligence Program (NFIP) Mission Statement
The NFIP mission of
the Minneapolis Division is to conduct investigations to collect,
analyze, and use information to identify and neutralize the activities
of foreign powers and their Agents that adversely affect U.S.
national security through counterintelligence, counterterrororism,
and security countermeasures.
Computer
Intrusions and Infrastructure Protection
Minneapolis Division's Cyber Crime Squad
investigates some of the most challenging and difficult problems
addressed by the FBI in meeting its national security and criminal
missions. The special agents comprising Minneapolis Division's
computer squad investigate intrusions, attacks on systems and
networks, as well as data loss, manipulation and theft. Together
with the NIPC (Department of Homeland Security) in Washington D.C.,
Minneapolis Division investigators are responsible for guarding the critical
infrastructures that cover our three state jurisdiction.
Public
Corruption
Corruption
has existed since the early ages, but the FBI's role in investigating
corruption has only developed in the last 30 years. Public Corruption
investigations allege that a public official, elected, appointed,
or under contract, and/or a private individual, has or is engaging
in a corrupt scheme. This scheme involves the direct or indirect
abuse of the public official's trust and/or undermines the integrity
of governmental operations, in violation of Federal law. Public
corruption cases involve officials ranging from local government
regulatory inspectors to officials at the highest levels of the
Federal Government. Corruption cases are among the most sensitive
investigations handled by the FBI.
Public Corruption
presents a fundamental threat to societal order and is a unique
FBI responsibility. Priority investigative areas in Public Corruption
include law enforcement, legislative, regulatory, judicial, contract,
election/campaign finance and executive corruption. FBI responsibilities
include the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Obstruction of Justice,
Perjury/Contempt of Court, Jury panel investigations, election
law matters and the illegal interception of communications. About
50% of law enforcement corruption is drug related.
Recently, the
Minneapolis Division investigated two public corruption matters
involving Minneapolis City Council Members. One Council member,
Brian Herron, was convicted in 2001 of extortion and a Hobbs
Act violation for soliciting a $25,000 bribe. In a second case,
another Minneapolis City Council member, Joseph Biernat, was
convicted in November 2002 of receiving free plumbing/remodeling
work, Mail Fraud and lying to an FBI Agent.
Minneapolis Division
surveys have concluded that public corruption does not appear
to be a big problem in the division. However, to combat public
corruption, the division has actively sought out community leaders
and concerned members of the community, in order to educate them
in the area of public corruption and other matters, such as civil
rights. Concentrated efforts by the Minneapolis Division has
fostered excellent working relationships that mutually benefit
the Public Corruption Program and the community, no matter how
diverse. The FBI is seen as the only agency that is in a position
to fully investigate public corruption matters.
Civil Rights
The Federal Bureau of
Investigation is responsible for investigating violations of
federal civil rights laws including misconduct by law enforcement
officers, racial or religious discrimination, involuntary servitude
and slavery; violations involving public accommodations, educational
facilities, and employment; discrimination in housing; violations
of equal credit opportunity; violations of institutionalized
persons; and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances.
Organized Crime
The FBI's investigations
into organized crime (OC) matters focus on structured OC groups
such as the Italian Criminal Enterprise groups and La Cosa Nostra
(LCN), Russian/Eurasian OC groups, Asian Criminal Enterprises,
and Nigerian Criminal Enterprises. The FBI's mission in its La
Cosa Nostra-International OC Program is to aggressively attack
LCN hierarchy and to address other LCN criminal activities. LCN
is the most well-known domestic OC enterprise operating in the
United States today and represents a national alliance. Currently,
there are 25 LCN families based in 21 cities in this country.
Many cities have one established LCN family; however, five families
are based in New York City. The LCN ruling commission, although
neutralized by a series of successful FBI investigations and
related prosecutions, traditionally has been responsible for
the resolution of turf battles and other disputes between families.
The ruling commission previously included the Bosses of each
of the 25 LCN families. However, it now includes only the Bosses
of the most powerful families.
Italian Criminal
Enterprises. Italian
Criminal Enterprises are those OC groups based in Italy or Sicily.
While they have strong historical and structural ties to the
LCN in this country, they have stronger ties to Italy. The Sicilian
Mafia, Camorra, 'Ndrangheta and Sacred Crown are the four major
Italian Criminal Enterprises that operate in the United States.
They are involved in numerous criminal activities including the
trafficking of cocaine and heroin.
Russian/Eurasian
Organized Crime (OC). Following
the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the United States has been
experiencing increased illegal activity committed by European
and Eurasian criminal groups. Currently, the most significant
threat is from Russian OC groups located and operating in the
United States. These groups are considered to be in their formative
stages and operate with protection from corrupt government officials.
Russian President Boris Yeltsin stated that he considered those
groups to be "the number one threat to national security"
in Russia. There are at least 25 identified Eurasian OC groups
operating in this nation, but they are not as organized or structured
as LCN families, Chinese Triads, or other traditional OC groups.
Asian Criminal
Enterprises. Asian Criminal
Enterprises include Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and Korean
OC groups. FBI investigations into the activities of these groups
have increased dramatically over the past several years. Asian
Criminal Enterprises are involved in domestic and foreign criminal
activities which include murder, kidnapping, extortion, drug
trafficking, gambling, prostitution and smuggling of aliens.
Although Asian OC has had the greatest impact on the West Coast,
its influence is spreading to other major cities.
Chinese Criminal Enterprises
include the Hong Kong-based Triads who trace their roots back
to Chinese secret societies of the 17th century. Another type
of Chinese Criminal Enterprise is the criminally influenced Tong,
which includes groups of Chinese immigrants who band together
for legitimate social and economic purposes. In addition, Chinese
street gangs are formidable structured criminal enterprises,
often with connections to those Tongs which have been infiltrated
by the criminal element. The street gangs often provide "enforcement"
capabilities for more sophisticated Asian Criminal Enterprises.
Vietnamese Criminal Enterprises
have evolved primarily following an immigration period connected
with the 1975 fall of Saigon. Many Vietnamese gang members are
used by Chinese groups to conduct criminal activity. The FBI
has identified Vietnamese criminal enterprise activity in over
20 U.S. communities.
The Japanese Criminal Enterprises,
Boryokudan or Yakuza, are involved in a variety of criminal activities.
The Boryokudan has built one of the world's largest criminal
federations, consisting of approximately 90,600 members. Japanese
laws enacted in 1992 have had noticeable effects including improved
international cooperation. The FBI has identified four Japanese
groups, primarily located in California and Hawaii, which have
the greatest impact on the United States.
Korean Criminal Enterprises have
been detected in Hawaii as well as on the East and West Coasts.
Many Korean criminal activities are closely linked to the Japanese
through associations developed within the large Korean population
residing in Japan. Five Korean groups, organized along gang lines,
operate in Baltimore, New York and Los Angeles.
Asian drug trafficking primarily
involves the trafficking of Southeast Asian heroin which is produced
in the "Golden Triangle" of Burma, Laos and Thailand.
The Asian Criminal Enterprises are the dominant distributors
of Southeast Asian heroin throughout the United States. Most
of the heroin enters this country through New York; however,
the Asian drug trafficking also occurs in Los Angeles, San Francisco
and Seattle.
Nigerian Criminal
Enterprises. Nigerian
Criminal Enterprises engage in drug importation and distribution,
money laundering and fraudulent activities such as credit card,
bank, insurance and student loan frauds. These enterprises are
headed by "Barons" who direct international operations
from Nigeria. Nigerian Criminal Enterprises operate throughout
North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. They are well
organized yet fluid, and operate in an intricate network of cells
that are associated along tribal lines. The average cell includes
10 to 40 members. The exact number of cells operating in this
country is unknown. In the early 1980s, Nigerian Criminal Enterprises
began trafficking heroin, cannabis and psychotropic substances.
By the late 1980s, they also began trafficking cocaine. In addition,
these groups facilitate the transportation and distribution of
Southeast and Southwest heroin.
White
Collar Crime
Since 9/11/2001, the number one priority of the FBI is to
protect the United States (U.S.) from terrorist attacks. However,
it should be known that the FBI is still committed to protecting
Americans from corporate criminals and con artists. White
Collar Crime is the FBI's 7th investigative priority. Before
1908, the Department of Justice (DOJ) borrowed Secret Service
Agents from the Treasury Department to conduct white collar
crime investigations. Back then, DOJ worked on national banking,
bankruptcy, antitrust and land fraud matters. In 1924, J.
Edgar Hoover was appointed Director and hired accountants
and lawyers. Today, the White Collar Crime Program is staffed
by 2,302 Special Agents, of which 1,334 are Special Agent
Accountants and 500 are CPAs. This amount of expertise would
rank the FBI in the top 15 in CPA firms. White Collar Crime
involves corruption, financial fraud and government fraud.
White Collar Crime impacts government, industry, business
and people. White Collar Crime has a devastating effect on
our nation's public welfare and its economic health.
White Collar
Crime and Public Corruption have long had the perception that
no one really gets hurt, it's a civil matter or it's the way
business has always been done. The officers and Agents who work
white collar crime can tell you differently. The FBI has seen
devastating results of financial crimes on victims. Many victims
have lost their life savings, businesses have failed, employees
laid off, retirement plans depleted, loss of faith in businesses
and governmental entities has occurred, as well as suicides and
murder. The events of 09/11/03 and corporate-type frauds, such
as MCI and Enron, show how fragile the economy is and how greed
can have dramatic effects on our investments, quality of life,
health and safety. Recent trends suggest that gangs, drug dealers
and other violent criminals are turning to white collar crime,
because it is more profitable and has less risk.
The 2003 White
Collar Crime Survey conducted by the Minneapolis FBI revealed
that white collar crime is significant in the Minneapolis area,
where 75 percent of the state's population resides. Local and
state law enforcement often lack the expertise and resources
to investigate securities and commodities fraud, public corruption,
health care fraud, financial institution fraud and environmental
crime. Based on the survey results, law enforcement agencies
expect the FBI to continue to be a traditional leader in these
complex criminal investigations and a valued member and resource
of the law enforcement community.
Violent
Crime Major Offenders and
Indian Country
The number six priority
of the Minneapolis Division is the Violent Crime/Major Offenders
Program. This investigative program is sub-divided into the following
categories: Crime on Indian Reservations, Violent Incident Crimes,
Street Gangs, Fugitives and Interstate Theft. There are a total
of 14 Indian Reservations in Minneapolis' territory that are
under Federal jurisdiction encompassing a total territory of
2,887,000 acres. CIR crimes investigated by the FBI include homicide,
aggravated assault, rape, and child sexual and physical abuse
cases. Also, under the Violent Crime Program, the FBI finds and
apprehends wanted fugitives and addresses bank robberies.
Crime on Indian Reservations
is the main priority of the Minneapolis Division Violent Crime/Major
Offenders Program. Within the Minneapolis Division's territory,
there are 14 Indian Reservations located in Minnesota, North
Dakota and South Dakota. The FBI has the primary jurisdiction
for investigating felonies which occur on these reservations.
The Minneapolis Division consistently leads the FBI nationwide
in the number of indictments and convictions based upon the extent
of these crimes.
The second priority of the Violent
Crimes/Major Offenders Program is Violent Incident Crimes. These
include kidnaping, extortion, car-jacking, armored car robberies
and bank robberies. Bank robberies are the most common Violent
Incident Crimes. In 1997, the Minneapolis Division experienced
the highest number of bank robberies in the Division's history,
totaling 107, of which 85 occurred in the Twin Cities metropolitan
area. During 2002, there were a total of 70 bank robberies in
the Minneapolis Division, with a total of 52 in the Twin Cities
metropolitan area. As of September 30, 2003, there has been a
total of 49 bank robberies in the Division, with 38 occurring
in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area.
The third priority of the Violent
Crime/Major Offenders Program is the Street Gang sub-program.
The Minneapolis Division has experienced a major influx of gangs
from larger metropolitan areas, most notably Chicago, Detroit
and Los Angeles. While the major criminal activity conducted
by these gangs continues to be drug trafficking, they are also
involved in numerous violent crimes as a result of the trafficking.
Street gangs are also becoming very involved in promoting child
prostitution.
In an effort to address this problem, the Department of Justice
started the "Innocence Lost" initiative in June of
2003. The Minneapolis Division was identified as one of 13 cities
with a large concentration of child prostitution enterprises.
The Minneapolis Division has initiated the Minnesota Child Prostitution
Initiative, which aggressively targets criminal enterprises that
promote child prostitution. The Minnesota Child Prostitution
Initiative includes 2 FBI Agents, officers from the Minneapolis
and St. Paul Police Departments, and agents from the Minnesota
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which work as a task force to
identify, penetrate and dismantle those criminal enterprises
engaging in child prostitution.
Over the past several years,
there has also been a large increase of gang related activity
on the various Indian Reservations throughout the Minneapolis
Division. The FBI has created several task forces on the reservations
to address this problem. In addition to FBI Agents, the task
forces are comprised of officers and investigators from county
law enforcement agencies and Indian Tribal Police forces.
The fourth priority of the Violent
Crime/Major Offender program is fugitives. The Minnesota Fugitive
Task Force has been in existence since 1992. It is comprised
of FBI Agents, officers from the Minneapolis and St. Paul Police
Departments, deputies from the Hennepin and Ramsey County Sheriff's
Office, deputies from the United States Marshals Service. The
Fugitive Task Force tracks, locates and arrests individuals who
have outstanding felony warrants for violent crimes. Since its
inception in 1992, the Fugitive Task Force has apprehended some
of the most violent offenders in the Minneapolis Division Territory.
The Minnesota Fugitive Task Force is also responsible for tracking
local fugitives who flee Minnesota to avoid being prosecuted.
Working with other FBI Fugitive Task Forces, the Minnesota Fugitive
Task Force is able to locate and arrest wanted felons from the
Twin Cities metropolitan area, regardless of where they have
fled. The Minnesota Fugitive Task Force also locates and arrests
dangerous fugitives from other jurisdictions who attempt to hide
in Minnesota, to avoid prosecution and prison terms.
The fifth priority of the Violent
Crime/Major Offenders Program is the Interstate Theft Crime sub-program.
These crimes include theft from shipments of goods which are
traveling en-route to other states, interstate transportation
of stolen property, stolen motor vehicles, valuable art theft
and jewelry theft. The Minneapolis Division provides assistance
and intelligence information to other FBI Divisions and local
authorities with regard to these crimes.
The Minneapolis FBI Violent Crime
Program recognizes the need for assistance from the public in
order to effectively combat violent criminal activity. Anyone
with any information regarding any types of violent crimes described
above is encouraged to call the FBI in Minneapolis at (612) 376-3200.
All information is kept strictly confidential.
Drug Investigations.
On January 28, 1982,
the Attorney General granted the FBI concurrent jurisdiction
with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to enforce federal
drug laws. Since then, the FBI has developed its National Drug
Strategy, which was approved by the Attorney General on May 7,
1986. The focus of FBI drug investigations is on: 1) the primary
source countries such as Colombia and its cartels; 2) Mexican
Drug-Trafficking Organizations; and 3) organizations based in
the United States. Money-laundering operations run by drug-trafficking
organizations are another priority of FBI drug investigations.
Minneapolis Division Police
Training Program
The Police Training Program of
the Minneapolis Division is primarily responsible for providing
training opportunities to local, county, and state law enforcement
officers throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.
FBI Special Agents provided training assistance regarding investigative
and administrative aspects of law enforcement as well as specialized
managerial and technical training.
Each year,
law enforcement officers from Minnesota, North and South Dakota
are invited to attend the FBI National Academy at Quantico, Virginia.
This ten week program provides a wide range of leadership and
specialized training to mid-level law enforcement managers as
well as an opportunity to share ideas, techniques, and experiences
with other law enforcement professionals from around the world.
There are four sessions of the FBI National Academy each year,
which is open to law enforcement managers holding the rank of
lieutenant or above. Graduates of the FBI National Academy can
become members of the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA).
The FBINAA Northwest Chapter is comprised of National Academy
graduates from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, the Canadian
Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and western Ontario (Thunder
Bay). Information regarding the FBINAA and its chapters can be
viewed on their website at
www.fbinaa.org.
The Law Enforcement
Executive Development Seminar (LEEDS) is designed for law enforcement
agency chief executives with more than 50 sworn personnel. It
meets twice a year at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
The FBI LEEDS provides advanced leadership training by FBI Academy
instructors as well as other recognized instructors in the field
of leadership. The Minneapolis Division of the FBI sponsors a
regional LEEDS each May at St. Cloud State University. The North
Central States LEEDS was created to provide law enforcement executives
in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota with an opportunity
for advanced leadership training. The target audience for the
North Central States LEEDS is chiefs and sheriffs from departments
of 50 or less sworn officers. However, applications will also
be accepted from deputy chiefs, chief deputy sheriffs, captains
and lieutenants from larger departments or agencies who have
a large number of personnel under their supervision. Graduates
of the FBI Academy LEEDS and regional LEEDS sessions can join
the Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (LEEDA).
Information regarding LEEDA can be viewed on their website at
www.leedafbi.org.
Information regarding these and other FBI sponsored training
programs can be obtained from the Minneapolis Division's
Police Training Coordinator at (612)376-3200.
FBI
National Academy Northwest Chapter
In 1934,
then FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover envisioned a FBI Police Training
School that would "raise the level of professionalism nationwide by
training local police officers" to effectively cope with criminal
operations. This training concept was Hoover's response to advocates of
a national police force. In his view, law enforcement was a local
problem, with the federal government's obligation to "provide assistance
in training through methods of scientific criminal detection and other
law enforcement activities."
The first class convened on July 29, 1935, and twelve weeks
later, 23 graduates completed the course. Classes were
scheduled to take place twice a year. An alumni group was
formed and the first retraining program for the group was
held in 1938. The first international student graduated in
1938. The motto of "Knowledge, Courage and Integrity" was
chosen for the group. In 1941, the group moved to the FBI's
training facility at Quantico, Virginia, and in July, 1944,
changed the name to "FBI National Academy. "
Today, there are four National Academy sessions held
annually at the FBI Academy. Each session has approximately
275 students. Graduates have remained dedicated to Hoover's
initial goal of professionalism through education. One of
every seven graduates now heads a law enforcement agency,
and most graduates remain active in the training oriented
FBI National Academy Associates.
Over the years, graduates have formed separate alumni groups
throughout the United States and the rest of the world. The
Northwest Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates
consists of graduates from North Dakota, South Dakota,
Minnesota, the Canadian province of Manitoba and the western
portion of Ontario. There are over 300 active members of the
Northwest Chapter. The Northwest Chapter graduates have
training scheduled each summer to supplement training
previously received. The training each year is rotated
throughout the area.
InfraGard of Minnesota
Partnership for Protecting the Information Infrastructure
Our Nation's critical
infrastructures must be protected to ensure our National defense,
economic prosperity and quality of life. The National Infrastructure
Protection Center (NIPC) was formed in 1998 to coordinate the
efforts to protect infrastructures. The NIPC brought together
government, industry, and academia to foster awareness, monitor
threats and coordinate the response to cyber and physical attacks.
InfraGard was an association formed by the NIPC to exchange
information concerning the protection of the information
infrastructure. The NIPC program was transferred to the Department
of Homeland Security as of March 1, 2003.
National InfraGard
National Infragard
coordinates InfraGard activities at the national level. National
InfraGard consists of 72 chapters affiliated with the FBI's field
division offices.
InfraGard of Minnesota
InfraGard
of Minnesota is affiliated with the FBI's Minneapolis Field Division,
which has responsibility for the States of North Dakota , South Dakota
and Minnesota. The Minnesota chapter may be subdivided into local
chapters. Other state chapters, such as Fargo, North Dakota, and Sioux
Falls, South Dakota, may be added as needed.
Program Objective
InfraGard of Minnesota will
provide forums to bring together law enforcement, the security
community, and the information community to cultivate threat awareness
and exchange ideas on preventing, assessing and recovering from attacks
to the information infrastructure. These forums are critical to the
prevention of and eventually the prosecution of physical and cyber
attacks.
Your
Investment in the Program
The success
of this program depends on the participation and contribution of the
entire community. Your investment of time, human resources, technical
expertise and financial support will ensure the organization achieves
its objective.
Benefits of Participation
As a member
of InfraGard, you will be invited to attend chapter meetings and
educational seminars. You will receive security advisories via the alert
network and assistance from the Infragard's Help Desk, and may be
granted access to the secure web site. Most importantly, you will become
a member of a network of people interested in protecting the
infrastructures vital to our community.
Infragard Meeting (Large Group) Schedule
Meetings are
held every second Tuesday of alternate months from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Registration starts at noon. All meetings are conducted at: Health
Partners, 8100 34th Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55440. For more
information about InfraGard of Minnesota, please contact
Special Agent Douglas Dvorak at 612-376-3200.
InfraGard
Executive Planning Board Meeting Schedule
Meetings are
held every second Thursday of alternate months from 9:00 am until 11:00
am. at Health Partners, 8100 34th Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55440.
If you are interested in being a part of the Executive Planning
Committee (planning the agenda for the above "large group" meetings)
please contact Special Agent Douglas Dvorak at 612-376-3200.
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