Friday, May 30, 2014




Complete DHS Report for May 30, 2014

Daily Report

Top Stories

 • MarkWest Energy Partners’ natural gas refinery in Washington County, Pennsylvania, remained closed after a May 28 lightning strike and fire prompted the evacuation of nearby residents when an unknown substance began to leak into the air. – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

3. May 28, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – (Pennsylvania) Homes evacuated after leak at Washington County gas plant. MarkWest Energy Partners reported a lightning strike and fire at its natural gas refinery in Washington County, Pennsylvania, May 28, prompting the evacuation of dozens of residents for more than 3 hours when an unknown substance began to leak into the air, creating a plume over the plant. The plant remains closed until inspections are completed. Source: http://www.post-gazette.com/local/washington/2014/05/29/Homes-evacuated-after-leak-at-Washington-County-gas-plant/stories/201405290222

 • A former analyst at a San Francisco-based hedge fund pleaded guilty May 28 to taking part in a $27 million insider trading scheme ahead of Foundry Network’s acquisition of Brocade Communications Systems. – Bloomberg News See item 9 below in the Financial Services Sector

 • Lake Breeze Dairy reported that an estimated 50,000 gallons of manure spilled from its dairy operation in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, May 26, which leaked into Pipe Creek, killing fish. – Fond du Lac Reporter

20. May 28, Fond du Lac Reporter – (Wisconsin) Manure spill kills fish in Fond du Lac County’s Pipe Creek. Breeze Dairy Group’s Lake Breeze Dairy reported that an estimated 50,000 gallons of manure spilled from its dairy operation in Fond du Lac County May 26, which leaked into Pipe Creek, killing fish and contaminated portions of Camp Shaginappi park. Source: http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20140528/FON0101/305280316/Manure-spill-kills-fish-Pipe-Creek

 • Mill and Dividing creeks remained closed after a 312,000-gallon waste water spill at the Mill Creek Pump Station in Maryland was cleaned up May 29. – Annapolis Capital/Gazette

22. May 29, Annapolis Capital/Gazette – (Maryland) Waste water overflow at Mill Creek cleaned up; creeks still closed. A May 27, 312,000-gallon waste water spill at the Mill Creek Pump Station in Maryland was cleaned up May 29 after initial estimates concluded that only around 10,000 of wastewater spilled. Mill and Dividing creeks remained closed due to the spill caused by an overflow at the pump station. Source: http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/environment/mill-and-dividing-creeks-closed-because-of-waste-water-spill/article_c82c560b-7cda-5d23-a087-f9a36553e0b7.html

Financial Services Sector

8. May 29, Chicago Tribune – (Illinois) Local investor in alleged Ponzi scheme to face criminal charges. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged the
Chicago-based owner of Blue Horizon Asset Management LLC and Caldera Advisors LLC May 28 with allegedly running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded at least 35 investors out of over $11.4 million. Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-local-investor-charged-in-ponzi-scheme-20140528,0,1381740.story

9. May 28, Bloomberg News – (California) Ex-fund analyst pleads guilty to insider scheme. A former analyst at a San Francisco-based hedge fund charged with taking part in a $27 million insider trading scheme involving nonpublic information ahead of Foundry Network’s acquisition of Brocade Communications Systems pleaded guilty May 28 to passing on insider information. Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-28/ex-fund-analyst-teeple-pleads-guilty-to-insider-scheme.html

10. May 28, WPVI 6 Philadelphia – (Pennsylvania) Dozens charged in Philly insurance scheme. The owner of American Collision and Car One Rental in Philadelphia was charged along with 26 others for allegedly operating a $5 million insurance fraud scheme that submitted fraudulent vehicle accident claims. Source: http://6abc.com/news/dozens-charged-in-philly-insurance-scheme/82162/

11. May 28, WCBS 2 New York City – (New York) FBI: ‘Gatsby Bandit’ sought in series of Queens bank robberies. The FBI asked the public for information relating to a suspect known as the “Gatsby Bandit” believed to be connected to the robberies of three banks in the Queens area of New York City. The most recent robbery linked to the suspect took place at an Astoria Federal Savings Bank May 16. Source: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/05/28/fbi-gatsby-bandit-sought-in-series-of-queens-bank-robberies/

Information Technology Sector

29. May 29, The Register – (International) SAP NetWeaver flaw spews user tables. Researchers with PT Security reported a vulnerability in SAP NetWeaver versions 7.20 and earlier that could allow an attacker to gain access to Central User Administration tables, which could lead to the disclosure of user data. Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/05/29/sap_netweaver_flaw_spews_user_tables/

30. May 29, The Register – (International) Spy platform zero day exposes cops’ wiretapped calls. Researchers at SEC Consult Vulnerability Lab disclosed nine flaws in NICE Recording eXpress voice recording products marketed to law enforcement organizations that include a root backdoor and remote unauthenticated access to intercepted voice recordings. The vulnerabilities were initially reported to NICE 6 months ago, and the company stated that it would have patches released shortly for five issues that remain unpatched. Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/05/29/spy_platform_zero_day_exposes_cops_wiretapped_calls/

31. May 28, Threatpost – (International) Siemens fixes DoS flaw in Rugged OS devices. Siemens issued patches to address a denial of service (DoS) vulnerability in some of its devices that run its Rugged Operating System, which could allow an attacker to crash Rugged OS by sending specially-crafted packets to the devices’ Web interface. Affected devices running Rugged OS are used in several industries, including energy, transportation, and healthcare. Source: http://threatpost.com/siemens-fixes-dos-flaw-in-rugged-os-devices

Communications Sector

Nothing to report

Thursday, May 29, 2014




Complete DHS Report for May 29, 2014

Daily Report

Top Stories

 • A series of small explosions were reported at the Rio Valley Biofuels plant in New Mexico May 27 prompting authorities to evacuate the area for several hours while crews worked to extinguish the fire. – Associated Press

1. May 27, Associated Press – (New Mexico) New Mexico biofuel plant catches fire. A series of small explosions were reported at the Rio Valley Biofuels plant in New Mexico May 27, prompting authorities to evacuate the area which included about 350 homes, for several hours while crews worked to extinguish the fire. Investigators are assessing the site to determine what chemicals may have been affected or released and are working to determine the cause for the explosions. Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/manager-burning-biofuel-facility-workers-23885656

 • Three New York City men pleaded guilty May 27 to stealing over $5 million from customers’ bank accounts by installing skimming devices and pinhole cameras on various ATMs in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut between June 2012 and July 2013. – Associated Press See item 7 below in the Financial Services Sector

 • Authorities are investigating after 13 inmates and 2 guards were injured when a prison-yard riot broke out involving nearly 300 inmates at the Calipatria State Prison in California May 27. – Los Angeles Times

23. May 27, Los Angeles Times – (California) Guards fire warning shots in inmate riot at Calipatria State Prison. Authorities are investigating after 13 inmates and 2 guards were injured when a prison-yard riot broke out involving nearly 300 inmates at the Calipatria State Prison in California May 27. Guards fired warning shots and foam-tipped rubber bullets, and also used pepper spray to help control the inmates who had created weapons used for stabbing. Source: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-inmate-riot-calipatria-state-prison-20140527-story.html

 • Authorities are investigating a 4-alarm fire May 27 at an apartment complex in Lorton, Virginia, that damaged or destroyed 24 units and displacing dozens of residents. The blaze killed one individual and injured 4 firefighters. – WUSA 9 Washington, D.C.

29. May 27, WUSA 9 Washington, D.C. – (Virginia) 1 dead in 4 alarm apartment fire in Fairfax Co. Authorities are investigating a 4-alarm fire that broke out May 27 at an apartment complex in Lorton, Virginia, damaging or destroying 24 units and displacing dozens of residents. The blaze killed one individual and injured 4 firefighters. Source: http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/lorton/2014/05/27/heavy-fire-at-lorton-virginia-apartments/9635733/

Financial Services Sector

7. May 27, Associated Press – (New Jersey; New York; Connecticut) 3 men plead guilty in ATM ‘skimming’ case. Three New York City men pleaded guilty May 27 to stealing over $5 million from customers’ bank accounts by installing skimming devices and pinhole cameras on various ATMs in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut between June 2012 and July 2013. Source: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/crime/article/3-men-plead-guilty-in-ATM-skimming-case-5507412.php

8. May 27, KSTU 13 Salt Lake City – (Utah; Alabama) 2 men plead guilty to security fraud, money laundering in investment scheme. A Liberty, Utah man and an Alabama man pleaded guilty May 27 to using their company, the Elva Group, to run a Ponzi scheme that stole millions of dollars from investors over 4 years. The men agreed to pay more than $9 million in restitution and will be sentenced in July and August. Source: http://fox13now.com/2014/05/27/2-men-plead-guilty-to-security-fraud-money-laundering-in-investment-scheme/

9. May 27, Arlington Heights Daily Herald – (Illinois) St. Charles man charged with tax evasion, wire fraud. A St. Charles, Illinois businessman and his office manager were indicted and set to be arraigned May 29 on charges that they charged customers’ payment cards for services they did not provide, defrauding banks of around $1.2 million. The two men were also accused of filing fraudulent tax returns that allegedly enabled them to avoid paying $1.57 million in taxes. Source: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20140527/news/140528418/

Information Technology Sector

25. May 28, SecurityWeek – (International) Compromised Apple IDs used to hold iPhones for ransom. Users of Apple mobile devices reported attackers using compromised Apple IDs to enable Lost Mode through Apple’s iCloud service, using the service to lock devices and demand a ransom to unlock them. The ransom messages bear the name of an Oracle engineer that was likely chosen at random by the attackers, according to a Symantec researcher. Source: http://www.securityweek.com/compromised-apple-ids-used-hold-iphones-ransom

Communications Sector

Nothing to report