Oklahoma City FBI: We remain resilient amid growing criminal threats

The women and men of the FBI Oklahoma Metropolis Subject Workplace have a fierce ardour for our mission: To guard the American folks and uphold the Structure of the US. As I replicate on our work over the previous yr, the listing of prison and nationwide safety threats we face is just not solely rising, but in addition turning into extra advanced. The expectations positioned on our workforce have by no means been larger, and we’re dedicated to sustaining the belief and confidence of the communities we serve. By highlighting just some current successes, my hope is that you’ll know the optimistic affect of the FBI’s efforts in Oklahoma.

Indian nation crime

The 2020 Supreme Courtroom ruling in McGirt v. Oklahoma drastically elevated the FBI’s jurisdiction over felony offenses involving tribal members. The federal authorities is now accountable for prosecuting crimes dedicated by or towards Native People inside the territories of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), Seminole and Quapaw tribes. Mixed, all six territories embody about 32,000 sq. miles, or 45% of the state, and account for a complete inhabitants of virtually 2 million. To place that into perspective, the FBI in Oklahoma traditionally managed roughly 50 prison circumstances per yr involving Native People, however the SCOTUS resolution shifted a number of thousand Indian nation circumstances to us nearly in a single day. Dozens of violent criminals throughout Oklahoma have been scheduled for quick launch from custody. The FBI moved to rapidly rearrest essentially the most harmful offenders. The FBI conservatively prevented a whole bunch of latest offenses within the quick aftermath of the McGirt resolution. That is particularly noteworthy as Native People statistically undergo larger ranges of violent crime inside their communities.

In his congressional testimony earlier this yr, FBI Director Christopher Wray stated, “The Oklahoma Metropolis Subject Workplace now has the FBI’s largest investigative duty.” In response, the bureau surged an abundance of sources within the type of particular brokers and assist workers from everywhere in the nation to work momentary rotations within the areas most impacted by the McGirt resolution. We additionally strengthened our partnerships by deputizing a number of hundred state, native and tribal law enforcement officials as FBI Secure Trails Activity Pressure Officers, permitting them to steer and help with federal investigations. As well as, Director Wray made a proper request to Congress for dozens of latest everlasting positions all through Oklahoma, with the aim of prioritizing Lacking and Murdered Indigenous Individuals circumstances, and pursuing justice for victims below newly expanded laws, such because the Violence Towards Ladies’s Act and Savanna’s Act.

Violent crime

It’s no secret that trendy prison organizations have gotten extra harmful and complex, however the FBI has by no means been extra poised to tackle the problem.

In 2022, we introduced some of the prolific prison enterprises working within the coronary heart of Oklahoma Metropolis was efficiently dismantled. This may not have been attainable with out the strategic coordination of the U.S. lawyer’s workplace for the Western District of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Metropolis Police Division and different regulation enforcement companions. The fruits of this five-year, statewide investigation right into a violent drug trafficking gang is greatest illustrated by the next accomplishments:

• Over 160 federal indictments

• 2,400 kilos of methamphetamine seized

• Over $1.4 million in money seized

• 266 firearms taken off the road

I’ve little doubt Oklahoma residents are safer because of this investigation and the efforts of the FBI’s Secure Streets Activity Pressure. Our partnerships with different native, state and federal businesses have enhanced the affect of our circumstances in methods I can’t quantify. We’ll proceed to work with our allies within the struggle towards violent crime in Oklahoma and throughout the nation.

Cyber crime

The FBI has remained vigilant towards the rising risk of nation-state and prison cyber actors, and this yr we’ve imposed threat and penalties on a lot of our technical adversaries. For instance, three defendants have been charged within the Western District of Oklahoma with violating federal wire fraud and cash laundering statues in an operation to promote over $88 million in stolen software program licenses from Avaya Holdings Corp. This large scheme prevented Avaya from benefiting from its mental property because the defendants undercut the worldwide market within the firm’s software program licenses, and developed into the second-largest software program piracy case ever prosecuted in U.S. historical past.

Moreover, two of Oklahoma’s cyber-trained particular brokers have been honored this yr with the thirtieth Annual Director’s Award for Excellence in an Excellent Cyber Investigation. For over 5 years, the FBI and Division of Justice officers labored to disrupt the advanced operations of a malicious, cyber-enabled group whose mission is to additional Russia’s geopolitical targets and solidify the nation’s affect overseas. This investigation resulted within the indictment of six Russian army intelligence officers accountable for executing the most expensive cyber-attack in historical past.

These are just some of the various successes we have now labored towards over the previous yr. The affect of our work has solely been enhanced by the collaboration and assist of our authorities, non-public sector, and neighborhood companions. We’re honored and humbled to serve alongside them and stay steadfast in our joint dedication to the residents of Oklahoma.

Edward J. Grey is the particular agent in cost for the FBI in Oklahoma Metropolis.

This text initially appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Metropolis FBI: We stay resilient amid rising prison threats