Gavin Friedman

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

A 21-year-old Austin man who threatened to kill President Obama and a U.S. attorney and blow up federal buildings was sentenced Tuesday to more than five years in prison.

Gavin Friedman pleaded guilty to making a threat against the president and mailing threatening communications, the Dallas Morning News reports. 

In a January 2016 letter threatening to kill Obama, Friedman said he would become a martyr in the name of Allah.

Either month later, Friedman threatened in a letter to blow up the FBI field office in Houston and the White House.

“Threats such as these have no place in a civilized society and will be vigorously prosecuted,” U.S. Attorney John Parker said in a written statement.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

A veteran DEA agent accused of stealing money and property during drug investigations has been indicted.

The agent, Chad Allen Scott, who worked in New Orleans, is also accused of perjury and accepting illegal payments of $10,000 and more for advocating for a reduced sentenced for a criminal defendant, the U.S. News reports. 

Also charged was Hammond Police Officer Rodney Gemar also has been charged with conspiracy.

The Justice Department investigated.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

A Border Patrol agent was assaulted while trying to take immigrants into custody Thursday morning in the Lower Valley of Texas.

Three undocumented immigrants were arrested following the assault, the El Paso Times reports. 

Border Patrol spokesman Ramiro Cordero said the agent was not seriously injured and did not require treatment at a hospital.

Details were fuzzy late Thursday because the case is under investigation, but officials said the unidentified agent was assaulted before the trio of immigrants were arrested.

Border Patrol received help from El Paso County sheriff’s deputies, Socorro police and a CBP helicopter.

Former FBI agent writes true-crime book.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

A former FBI agent is writing his first true-crime book about corruption, extortion and staged burglaries in the unlikely Texas town of Tenaha.

Former Agent Stewart Fillmore began investigating the case in 2009 and has turned it into a book entitled, “Tenaha: Corruption and Cover-Up in Small Town Texas.”

“You know dirty public officials. I think that’s an intriguing topic to a lot of people,” Fillmore told KTRE.

The case involved a federal civil lawsuit that accused elected officials in the small town of stopping black motorists and seeing their money and property under the threat of arrest.

“There was nothing that we found to be illegal that would rise to the level of putting someone in jail,” Fillmore said.

Fillmore got a break int he case after receiving a letter by then-Constable Fred Walker.

“It was an extortion letter and it was from someone calling themselves Jack Frost,” Fillmore said. “Jack Frost claimed that Fred Walker and another individual named Rod McClure were stealing narcotics out of the Tenaha City Marshal’s evidence room and that Jack Frost, in this extortion letter, wanted $70,000 from both of them for his silence.”

Border Patrol boat, via CBP

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Border Patrol has rescued about 450 people in the Houston area in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

John Morris, chief of staff in South Texas, told the Associated Press that agents “absolutely 100% here for rescue and safety” and are not enforcing immigration laws. 

Morris said Border Patrol deployed 35 boats to navigate the flooded streets. The boats came from stations along the Rio Grande.

The agency drew criticism for failing to suspend highway checkpoints in Texas as the storm was moving across the state.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Authorities are warning flood victims in Houston that Homeland Security impersonators are telling residents to evacuate before burglarizing their homes.

In response, Houston officials are urging residents to ask for officials’ badges and credentials before taking orders, the Associated Press reports. 

The city also notified residents that ICE won’t be conducting immigration enforcement operations in the area, including at shelters.

The hurricane’s death toll has reached at least 18 and is expected to climb.

CBP helps rescue Houston residents stranded by historic flooding.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

As Hurricane Harvey continues to dump heavy rain on Houston, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection is using aircraft to help rescue people trapped by historic flooding.

CBP’s Air and Marine Operations from Tucson are using UH-60 Blackhawks, 12 crew members, five support staff and three search-and-rescue agents whose expertise is water rescue, Tucson.com reports. 

At 12:30 p.m. Monday, air crew members rescued four people trapped in their homes.

The Tucson Sector also plans to send 50 Special Operations Detachment agents Tuesday for public safety purposes.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Aware that some undocumented immigrants want call for help from flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he would help any immigrant who faces deportation as a result of requesting assistance.

“There is absolutely no reason” why anyone shouldn’t call for help, Turner said at a press conference, The Hill reports. 

“I and others will be the first ones to stand up with you,” said Turner. “If you need help and someone comes and they require help, and then for some reason, then somebody tries to deport them, I will represent them myself, okay?”

Turner encouraged immigrants to call for help if they need it.

“If you are in a stressful situation, I don’t care who you are, I don’t care what you’re religion is, I don’t care what your language is, you come and take advantage of every service that we have,” he said. 

“If you’re in a stressful situation and you need help, you call us for help. We want you to call. There is absolutely no reason why anyone should not call okay?”

U.S. Custom and Border Protection and ICE said its “highest priorities” will be saving lives.

“Routine noncriminal immigration enforcement operations will not be conducted at evacuation sites, or assistance centers such as shelters or food banks,” the agencies said. “The laws will not be suspended, and we will be vigilant against any effort by criminals to exploit disruptions caused by the storm.”