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