Miami, FL
FBI Miami investigates remote freelance IT workers using laptop farms
MIAMI – The FBI Miami Field Office is investigating a case related to a network of remote freelance IT workers who are defying U.S. sanctions.
According to Bryan Vorndran, the assistant director of the FBI’s cyber division, North Korean agents are pretending to be based in the U.S. “to generate revenue.”
According to Devin DeBacker, a supervisory official of the Justice Department’s national security division, the revenue funds even “weapons programs.”
Federal prosecutors released statements by Vorndran and DeBacker with a 27-page indictment Thursday accusing five of participating in the scheme.
Two of the five are from North Korea, one is from Mexico, and two are from the United States. According to prosecutors, at least 64 U.S. companies, including a Miami-based cruise line and a staffing agency in Fort Lauderdale, fell for their scheme.
The two defendants from North Korea, Jin Sung-Il and Pak Jin-Song, allegedly used fake identifications and laundered the earnings through a Chinese bank account.
The two from the U.S., Erick Ntekereze and Emanuel Ashtor, allegedly received laptops from U.S. employers and installed remote access software on them.
The FBI raided Ashtor’s North Carolina home and accused him of operating a “laptop farm” that hosted victim company-provided laptops, according to the indictment.
Ashtor, formerly of New York, also co-owned Vali Tech, a staffing agency registered in Florida. Ntekereze, of New York, owned Taggcar, a staffing agency registered in Delaware.
Pedro Ernesto Alonso De Los Reyes, the Mexican defendant, allegedly allowed the North Koreans to use his identity. He was living in Sweden and was arrested on Jan. 10 in the Netherlands.
The two North Koreans, Alonso, Ntekereze, and Ashtor are facing charges of conspiracy to cause damage to a protected computer, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to transfer false identification documents.
The two North Koreans living in China are also facing charges of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
The U.S. Treasury warned about the fraudulent scheme in 2022 reporting that it involved forced labor and human trafficking.
To submit a tip about this or other similar schemes, visit this page and submit a form.
Two North Korean nationals, Jin Sung-Il and Pak Jin-Song, were indicted for illegally obtaining remote information technology work with U.S. companies. With co-conspirators, they generated over $860,000 in illegal revenue for the North Korean government: https://t.co/PEzFOf1wTR pic.twitter.com/Uqj5nsQRcN
— FBI (@FBI) January 23, 2025
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Miami, FL
Urban Meyer, Brady Quinn get in heated exchange during Alabama, Notre Dame, Miami CFP discussion
Let the College Football Playoff debate begin. It did after the Big Ten Championship, when FOX’s Urban Meyer and Brady Quinn got into an argument over the final two at-large spots. Specifically, when it comes to a potential battle between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
“If you set the precedent that you go play Georgia, at Georgia,” Meyer said of Alabama. “Notre Dame, Miami, who would lose that game in that place?”
“Notre Dame beat Georgia last year?” Quinn responded. “Why are we saying that?”
Meyer fired back, saying his opinion forms from watching tape of all the teams out there. His main point remained the same, though. Moving Alabama out of the 12-team field cannot be done in his opinion, just because they played in the SEC Championship.
But another box got opened when mentioning Notre Dame “never, ever” playing in a conference championship game. Quinn did not give many thoughts on that front, instead focusing on the result Notre Dame got in last year’s College Football Playoff in New Orleans.
“Just watching them on tape,” Meyer said. “I’m just saying if you penalize a team that goes to the Southeastern Conference that plays Georgia at Georgia and kicks them out — people are going to say, ‘Why make it to the championship game?’ You can’t do that. You can’t penalize a team. Notre Dame will never play in a championship game. Notre Dame will never, ever play in a championship game. How is that fair?”
“That’s a whole different discussion then about them joining a conference,” Quinn said. “The reality is, they went through the Playoff and ended up playing for a national championship last year. So, we can’t act like those games didn’t happen. I mean, they beat Georgia last year.”
Of course, Quinn spent his playing days in South Bend, meaning he was going to defend Notre Dame. Nobody on the FOX panel represents Miami in any fashion. The statement from Meyer did not receive much pushback from the Hurricanes’ end.
Meyer and Quinn will find out with the rest of us as to who will earn the final two spots in the College Football Playoff. Making a final prediction, Quinn decided to go with Miami and Notre Dame. Meyer kept Miami in there — due to the head-to-head over Notre Dame — but thinks Alabama is deserving due to their participation in the SEC Championship.
Art Basel took over Miami Beach the first weekend of December 2025. The event is the centerpiece of Miami Art Week and features hundreds of global galleries showing art from international artists. Art Basel brings out celebrities, influencers, and collectors in droves for their extravagant parties and more. Rihanna, ASAP Rocky, Larsa Pippen, Alix Earle, and more flew out for the events.
Sweetwater police announced an arrest at Dolphin Mall ahead of the holiday shopping season.
Officers arrested 24-year-old Luis Merchan-Meron on two felony counts related to counterfeit goods. Investigators said they seized more than 150 items worth thousands of dollars from the back of his truck.
According to court documents, an undercover officer spotted a transaction in the mall parking lot from about 10 feet away.
Police moved in after witnessing someone allegedly buying designer bags from Merchan-Meron.
Operation Safe Holidays ramps up security
Sweetwater Assistant Police Chief Frank Fernandez said the department has increased security at the mall with uniformed and undercover officers as part of the city’s “Operation Safe Holidays” program.
“We have eyes, we have drones, we have motorcycles, we have uniforms, we have plain clothes. You can’t get away from us now,” Fernandez said.
Mayor stresses zero tolerance for fakes
Mayor Jose “Pepe” Diaz said the city has zero tolerance for counterfeit sales and has invested heavily in protecting shoppers.
“It’s all here to make sure that we protect those citizens that are coming here to make the purchase,” Diaz said. “Have a good time with your families, but there’s people that try to do illicit things like selling fake merchandise.”
Court records detail alleged profit margins
Court records show Merchan-Meron told police he buys the goods for about $8 each and sells them for up to $60. He said he does not know the supplier, only that the items are shipped from overseas.
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