Press Release
☷2023 New York Field Office Year in Review
Federal Bureau of Investigation ( By Press Release office)
Feb 15,2024
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We also took a leading role in investigating major white - collar crimes , ensuring that those who deceive and defraud hardworking customers are brought to justice . In 2023 , FBI New York successfully convicted Samuel Bankman - Fried , the former CEO of FTX , who orchestrated one of the largest financial frauds in history . Similarly , we charged Roman Storm and Roman Semenov , the developers of Tornado Cash , for their involvement in a conspiracy to launder over $1 billion in criminal proceeds . But as always , the FBI rose to the challenge and took a leading role in combating these threats . In 2023 alone , FBI New York achieved around 500 indictments , 580 convictions , 620 sentencings , 820 arrests , and 3000 searches . We also seized approximately $1 . 8 billion in assets and $4 . 9 billion in forfeitures , taking away ill - gotten gains from criminals and returning it to victims and the community . As we head into 2024 , I ' m taking a moment to look back on the big wins we had at FBI New York in tackling our top priorities in 2023 . Last year , the FBI faced a changing threat landscape . We saw an increase in hate - motivated violent crimes , more sophisticated cyber attacks , and a rise in fentanyl distribution and addiction . We also dealt with the challenges of artificial intelligence being used by criminals to make their activities more effective . These threats have had a devastating impact on our community , affecting children , families , public safety , local businesses , and even our nation . Throughout 2023 , we played a crucial part in fighting violent crime in our area , which includes the five boroughs of New York City , eight counties in New York State , and La Guardia and John F . Kennedy International Airports . Working alongside our federal , state , local , and international partners , we worked tirelessly to apprehend the most dangerous gang members , firearms traffickers , and child predators . Over the course of the year , we arrested about 420 violent criminals , seized 147 illegal firearms , and rescued 72 child victims . Our efforts to combat violent crime weren ' t limited to New York City; we also worked internationally in Western Europe , Africa , Canada , and the United Kingdom . As part of our mission to dismantle organized crime , we , along with local and international law enforcement partners , arrested around 140 transnational organized criminals , including 16 members of the Gambino Crime Family , both in New York and Italy . We were also really focused on investigating public corruption , which is a major problem that costs the government and taxpayers billions of dollars each year . As part of our efforts to tackle this issue , FBI New York investigated elected officials Robert Menendez and George Santos . While our main priority is always terrorism , 2023 presented some unique challenges related to the Israel - Hamas conflict . We noticed a trend of individuals getting inspired by the conflict and carrying out their own terrorist attacks . For example , we arrested Kareem Nasr in Nairobi , Kenya for trying to support al Shabaab . Nasr , a 23 - year - old U . S . citizen from New Jersey , was motivated to join the jihadis by the October 7 Hamas attack in Israel . Unfortunately , we also saw an increase in threats against our Jewish and Muslim communities here in New York , but we worked closely with the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force to protect the public from hate crimes . We also kept going after those who commit violence in the name of terrorist groups . In 2017 , an ISIS - inspired terrorist killed eight people and injured many more in Lower Manhattan using a truck . Even though it had been over six years since the attack , FBI New York never gave up on seeking justice for the victims and their families . Last year , Sayfullo Saipov was found guilty and sentenced to eight consecutive life sentences and 260 years in prison for this horrific attack . No matter how long it takes , we will always fight to protect the American people from terrorism and ensure that those responsible are held accountable . On the cyber front , we faced more pervasive threats than ever before . Foreign adversaries like China , Iran , and Russia were using cyber - espionage to achieve their strategic goals , such as disrupting democracy and stealing information . It ' s getting harder to differentiate between cyber - criminal activity and nation - state activity , but the FBI is using a wider range of techniques and resources to combat this threat . In 2023 , FBI New York led efforts to disrupt a sophisticated malware called "Snake , " which the Russian Federal Security Service was using to steal sensitive documents from businesses worldwide . Whenever someone , whether it ' s a foreign state or an individual , puts our national security at risk , the FBI will use every available tool to protect our country . We ' re also using our skills to make sure we protect individuals and businesses who might be targeted by cybercriminals . We ' re equally committed to safeguarding the democratic freedoms of those living in our area of responsibility . Lately , we ' ve noticed a worrying trend of countries like China and Iran using intimidation tactics to silence those who speak out against them . These nations are also becoming more bold in their attempts to silence dissidents and defectors . Just this year , the FBI in New York arrested and charged two people for running a secret police station on behalf of China in Manhattan ' s Chinatown . This secret presence allowed China to monitor and threaten people in the US who criticized its government . While a lot of our counterintelligence work happens behind the scenes , the FBI will always protect the rights of anyone who calls our country home . And we ' ll make sure any state actors who undermine those rights are held accountable for breaking our laws , just like any other criminal who threatens our freedoms . Last year , one of our own , former FBI New York Special Agent Charles McGonigal , pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and committing money laundering in connection with a Russian oligarch . Throughout the investigation , the FBI stayed committed to seeking justice . We followed our processes , stuck to the facts and the truth , and achieved the right outcome . Ultimately , the FBI will always do what ' s right to bring justice to anyone who betrays the public ' s trust . These investigations only scratch the surface of the work done by the people of FBI New York in 2023 . Our people do amazing work across the board to protect the American public and the people in New York . None of our accomplishments would have been possible without the dedicated and committed special agents , analysts , accountants , specialists , and other staff who make up FBI New York . Every day , these individuals work hard to investigate and neutralize criminal and national security threats . But we don ' t do it alone . We work closely with our local , state , federal , and international law enforcement partners . We share information and resources with international law enforcement . We have open discussions with private sector partners about trends and threats . And we rely on the public to help us by reporting potential crimes and terrorism threats . In the past year , I ' ve personally witnessed time and time again how important these partnerships are in achieving our goals . In 2024 , I ' m excited to keep working alongside not just other law enforcement agencies , but also the diverse communities in New York . Together , we can make sure our entire area of responsibility , whether it ' s near New York City , overseas where we handle violations against Americans , or across the entire United States , is as safe as possible for everyone . The challenges we faced in 2023 won ' t just disappear in 2024 . As I look ahead , I realize there ' s still a lot of work ahead of us to tackle the wide range of threats to our community . But I ' m proud to be part of this community and my aim is to build on our successes , come up with proactive and innovative approaches , and stay one step ahead of our adversaries . Thank you for your support as we continue to carry out our important mission . Our work is never finished .
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