FW: Media - 8.11.20

Good morning,

FYSA-

Documents Unsealed In Legal Battle Between Dershowitz, Epstein Accuser. The New York Post (8/10, Feuerherd, 4.57M) reports that new documents have been unsealed in the "legal battle between Jeffrey Epstein accuser and Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz." The documents relate, "in part, to Dershowitz's effort to subpoena and depose billionaire Les Wexner for evidence in his counter suit of ." Dershowitz "is hoping to show that Mtried to extort Wexner — the former head of Victoria Secret's parent company who has ties to multi-millionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein." Dershowitz "is also asking that Wexner's attorney, John Zeiger, be deposed and be forced to provide documents related to Wexner's relationship with Epstein accusers."

Pennsylvania Synagogue Vandalized. The Harrisburg (PA) Patriot-News (8/10, 427K) reports that the FBI is investigating the vandalizing of Kesher Israel Congregation, which "was defaced sometime Monday morning with two red swastikas spray painted at the entrance." Rabbi Elisha Friedman said, "It's sort of disappointing to know there's people out there who want to behave in this kind of way." He continued, "I don't think it's in any way a reflection of our Harrisburg community. The community is very supportive — the Jewish and the non-Jewish community, law enforcement, elected officials and neighbors."

Georgia Resident Gets 30-Year Prison Sentence For Cocaine Trafficking. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (8/10, Lee, 895K) reports Georgia resident Alfonzo Jamal Lewis "has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after being found guilty of trafficking a half-million dollars of cocaine from Atlanta to Albany in 2015." The Journal-Constitution quotes US Attorney Byung Pak, who said, "My office and the Office of National Drug Control Policy's HIDTA program are committed to ensuring that drug dealers and traffickers like Lewis are held to account for their crimes."

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Minnesota Man Is Third Charged In Probe Of Magazine Sales Scam. The Minneapolis Star Tribune (8/10, Montemayor, 1.04M) reports, "Federal authorities in Minnesota charged a third man with helping to run a multimillion-dollar nationwide magazine sales scam, arresting him as he tried to leave the country over the weekend." The Star Tribune adds, "According to charges unsealed on Monday, Brian James Williams, 51, of Orono, used companies in South St. Paul and San Diego to allegedly bilk thousands of 'elderly or otherwise vulnerable' consumers out of $2.4 million over five years. Williams was arrested Saturday before he could board a Los Angeles flight to Canada, making him the third defendant in an ongoing federal fraud probe that has so far publicly outlined more than $100 million in losses to victims around the country."

Federal Prosecutors Recommend Probation For Ex-Rep. Hayes. The AP (8/10) reports from Charlotte, North Carolina, "Prosecutors asked a judge on Monday to give a former North Carolina congressman no prison time for lying to the FBI about his role in a plan to try to bribe the state's top insurance regulator with large political contributions." The federal prosecutors "made the probation recommendation for Robin Hayes, who pleaded guilty in October to making a false statement in 2018 to FBI agents conducting an investigation while Hayes was state Republican Party chairman. The recommendation is in keeping with sentencing guidelines, the government said, and the request of Hayes' lawyers in June." Hayes "was among four men indicted last year on charges involving efforts to give campaign money to help state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey in exchange for Causey removing an official in his department. Hayes entered a plea agreement!"

Michigan Woman Defrauded By Fake FBI Employee. MLive (MI) (8/10, 925K) reports from Lapeer County, Michigan, "A 60-year-old Lapeer County woman lost $17,000 as part of a fraud case under investigation!' According to MLive, "Deputies with the Lapeer County Sheriff's Office were dispatched Aug. 6 after a call to Lapeer County 911for a fraud complaint in Marathon Township. The victim told police she was contacted on the phone by an unidentified male who claimed to be with the Federal Bureau of Investigations." MLive adds, "Three calls were received by the victim from three different phone number with area codes 810, 202, and 210, police said. A text message was also sent from the 210 area code phone number, along with a picture of an FBI identification card and badge. The person claimed they had already arrested the victim's ex-husband, ex-uncle, and she would be arrested if she didn't provide $17,000 in gift card codes!'

Thanks,

Executive Staff Unit I CID

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