Issue 61 – May 2014

WFO Shares Child Summer Safety Tips WFO is sharing tips on how to keep kids safe. An unfortunate reality is that every year, thousands of children go missing. In cases of child abduction, the FBI works to assist in the investigation and speedy recovery of the missing child. In cases of child exploitation, an individual often targets a child for the purpose of abuse or violence. This targeting can be done in person by an acquaintance or a stranger or it can be done online through social websites and chat rooms. To help in child abduction recoveries, the FBI has developed the Child ID app which provides an effective way for parents and guardians to keep their child’s pictures and information on hand in case he or she goes missing. The app also includes safety tips for parents to help keep their kids out of harm’s way. The app is free and, in the event a child goes missing, parents and guardians can quickly email the photos and information to authorities. No information about you or your child will be collected or stored by the FBI. To download the Child ID app, go to iTunes App Store on your iPhone or Play Store on your Android phone. As the school year draws to a close, many parents are planning for their children’s summer activities. Whether a child is spending the summer at home with parents, a nanny or tutor, or away from home at a summer camp, the safety tips will help ensure that children are being cared for under the watchful eyes of trusted and vetted adults. To review child safety tips for parents and employers, visit www.fbi.gov/summersafety. Gang Leader Sentenced to 40 Years for Sex Trafficking, Robberies, Drug Distribution and Violent Crimes Last September, we told you about 24 members and associates of the Nine Trey Gangsters in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. who had been indicted. This is a subgroup, or “set,” of the Bloods street gang United Blood Nation that was founded in New York City in the early 1970s. This month, the final member and associate involved in the conspiracy were sentenced. Thaddaeus Snow, of Manassas, Va., was sentenced to 40 years in prison and William Sykes, 29, of Bealeton, Va., was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Both men were convicted in February of charges that included conspiracy to commit racketeering, violence in aid of racketeering, robbery, conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force and coercion and multiple firearms offenses. This brought the total number of Nine Trey Gangsters members and associates who have been convicted in the Eastern District of Virginia since 2013 to 37. MS-13 Gang Member Extradited from El Salvador and Sentenced to 35 Years for Attempted Murder This month, Edgar Benitez Hernandez, 26, was sentenced to 35 years in prison on two counts of using and discharging a firearm in relation to an attempted murder. Benitez Hernandez, a soldier in the violent transnational street gang Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13), attempted to murder two people in September 2008 in Loudoun County, Va., to increase his position within MS-13’s criminal enterprise. Benitez Hernandez concealed himself behind some shrubs and when the male and pregnant female victims were within range, he fired multiple shots. Both of the victims were critically injured but lived as did the unborn baby. Benitez Hernandez was apprehended in El Salvador. His extradition marks the first time in recent history that a Salvadoran citizen has been extradited to the U.S. to be held accountable for gang-related crimes committed in the U.S. WFO Participates in Incident Response Exercise Earlier this month, WFO conducted training to simulate a complex terrorist attack in a public venue. The exercise was held at Landmark Mall in Alexandria, Va., and was designed to test response protocols and promote preparedness. In 2013, all 56 FBI field offices hosted facilitated discussions and training exercises with law enforcement, public safety and private sector partners that focused on preparedness, response and recovery efforts necessary to effectively address the growing incidents of active shooter and mass casualty events. FBI Washington Field Office 601 4th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20535 www.fbi.gov/washingtondc Twitter:@FBIWFO (202) 278-2000