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.
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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.
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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.
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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
The Underline has become a popular spot in the Brickell area.
Open House Miami (OHMIA) returns for its second annual celebration, set to showcase Greater Miami from Feb. 28 to Mar. 2, by highlighting its architectural connectivity.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition, OHMIA 2025 promises a more expansive program with new themes, experiences and immersive encounters designed to engage the community and visitors in the spirit of Greater Miami’s architectural and cultural legacy.
Once again spearheaded by the Miami Center for Architecture and Design (MCAD) in collaboration with the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA), Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and a network of dedicated local partners, OHMIA 2025 invites the public to explore Miami-Dade County’s unique stories, spaces and design.
This year’s festival – open free and to the public – will offer over 100 curated experiences across more than 20 neighborhoods, supported by 100-plus partners. Attendees can expect an expanded array of tours, lectures, workshops and exclusive behind-the-scenes access to some of Greater Miami’s most iconic and hidden spaces.
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“There are no shortages of special places throughout Greater Miami that create an engaging background for stories about our community to be shared and celebrated,” said David Whitaker, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“Open House Miami and its focus on design and architecture is the perfect event to complement everything else our destination is known for – from fashion and food to culture and beaches.”
The festival will continue to explore popular themes from last year, such as Culture, Resilience, Building Miami, and Sports, while also introducing new focal points that celebrate Miami’s culture and history.
Highlights will include exclusive tours of the Kaseya Center; Museum of Graffiti; HipHop Museum; Istituto Marongoni; Frost Museum of Science; a Photo Walking Tour on Collins Avenue with Laura Paresky Gould, award-winning artist and graphic designer; a Skateboard Tour, as well as deep dives into Miami’s transformative neighborhoods and opportunities to engage with the city’s leading designers, artists, and tastemakers.
One of the new featured experiences will invite visitors to The Kampong of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, designed by Miami-based architect Max Strang, a location that is rarely open to the public.
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“We are proud to support the second annual Open House Miami Festival, inviting Miami Beach’s visitors and locals to experience the architecture, art and design that continues to make our city stand out as an award-winning destination,” said Grisette Marcos, Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority executive director. “The hand-picked selection of interactive events, tours and discussions featuring expert personalities and talent will inspire attendees and showcase the artistic fabric of Miami Beach and the surrounding area. Travelers can start planning their trip to experience Open House Miami with assistance from our dedicated EXP Miami Beach Tours App.” The EXP Miami Beach Tours App is available on Apple and Google platforms.
Open House Miami was established in 2024, making Greater Miami the fourth U.S. destination, alongside New York, San Diego and Chicago, to join the global Open House Worldwide network. This movement celebrates architecture, design and urbanism by creating opportunities for citizens to engage with and appreciate their city’s-built environment in a way that’s transparent, inclusive and community-focused.
For the latest updates on Open House Miami 2025, visit www.openhousemia.org/.
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This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
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Nearly 350 riders hailing from all corners of Florida revved their motorcycle engines in the parking lot of a Doral church, as they waited for the signal to start their ride. The chilly temperatures that plagued South Florida for a week warmed up to a nice 70 degrees. Perfect for a Sunday ride.
BOTTOM LINE: Miami (FL) will try to break its seven-game losing streak when the Hurricanes take on SMU.
The Hurricanes have gone 7-4 in home games. Miami (FL) scores 71.2 points while outscoring opponents by 3.9 points per game.
The Mustangs have gone 2-6 against ACC opponents. SMU is 5-5 in games decided by at least 10 points.
Miami (FL)’s average of 6.3 made 3-pointers per game this season is only 0.2 fewer made shots on average than the 6.5 per game SMU gives up. SMU averages 5.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.4 fewer made shots on average than the 8.1 per game Miami (FL) gives up.
The matchup Sunday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams in conference play.
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TOP PERFORMERS: Haley Cavinder is averaging 17.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Hurricanes. Jasmyne Roberts is averaging 12.1 points and 1.5 steals over the last 10 games.
Nya Robertson averages 2.3 made 3-pointers per game for the Mustangs, scoring 19.3 points while shooting 29.9% from beyond the arc. Jessica Peterson is averaging 9.3 points and 12.7 rebounds over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hurricanes: 3-7, averaging 65.4 points, 31.2 rebounds, 14.5 assists, 7.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 43.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 67.7 points per game.
Mustangs: 5-5, averaging 61.5 points, 37.1 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 6.7 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 35.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.5 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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