Andrea Noble
Articles by Andrea Noble
Feds’ pursuit of iPhone data in New York case underscores ongoing encryption battle
The FBI may have found a way into the iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino attackers without the help of Apple, but it's not giving up a fight to compel the tech company to help it access data on a cellphone that belonged to a convicted New York drug trafficker. Published April 8, 2016
2 dead in apparent murder suicide at Lackland Air Force base
Authorities responded Friday morning to reports of an active shooter at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Published April 8, 2016
Dennis Hastert attorneys ask for probation, citing remorse and health problems
Citing a deep remorse and health problems, attorneys for former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert asked a federal judge to sentence him to probation rather than time in jail for charges related to hush money payments he made to cover up past misconduct. The Associated Press and other media outlets, citing anonymous sources, have reported that Hastert wanted to hide claims that he sexually molested someone. Published April 6, 2016
DEA to decide within months whether to change federal status of marijuana
The Drug Enforcement Administration says it plans to decide within the next several months whether to change the federal status of marijuana, according to a letter sent to lawmakers this week. Published April 6, 2016
University of Northern New Jersey faked to sniff out student-visa fraud cases
Federal authorities revealed Tuesday -- as they announced the arrests of recruiters involved in the "pay to stay" scheme -- that agents working for the Department of Homeland Security set up the University of Northern New Jersey in 2013 as part of a sting operation meant to catch individuals involved in student visa fraud. The sting operation ensnared 21 people who officials say recruited foreign nationals to pay thousands of dollars in order to obtain fraudulent enrollment status at the school so they could extend their student visas and remain here. Published April 5, 2016
Obama calls on Congress to end U.S. tax loopholes for wealthy
President Obama used a burgeoning scandal about offshore tax havens Tuesday to call on Congress to enact tax fairness measures that he said would benefit middle-class taxpayers. Published April 5, 2016
O.J. Simpson: Knife found at former home reportedly not linked to murders
Police found no forensic evidence linking a knife reportedly recovered from the former home of O.J. Simpson to the 1994 murders of Simpson's ex-wife and her friend, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday. Published April 1, 2016
GunTV aims to spread firearms knowledge in an ‘entertaining, convenient format’
With gun sales recently reaching record highs in the United States, a new home-shopping channel is betting on consumers' desire for firearms. Published April 1, 2016
FBI says no agreement to help Arkansas prosecutors hack iPhone
Now that a third party was successful this week in helping the FBI unlock and gain access to the iPhone belonging to deceased San Bernardino gunman Syed Rizwan Farook, it appears the bureau may now turn its secret weapon loose on such criminal cases. Published March 31, 2016
Federal trial of MS-13 gang members begins in Northern Virginia
One of the primary rules of the street gang MS-13 is not to talk to police. But a federal racketeering case brought against members of one of the most violent gangs in Northern Virginia is laying bare the extent of cooperation between its members and law enforcement. Published March 30, 2016
Ex-attorney says D.C. Madam’s phone records are ‘relevant’ to presidential race
The lawyer who represented the D.C. Madam is asking the Supreme Court to lift a restraining order that prevents him from releasing phone records from his former client's escort service, saying the records could influence the outcome of the upcoming presidential election. Published March 29, 2016
Justice Department to drop encryption case against Apple: report
Investigators have successfully accessed data from the iPhone belonging to dead San Bernardino gunman Syed Rizwan Farook -- a development that brings a stunning end to a court battle that could have forced Apple to help law enforcement officials hack the cellphone. Published March 28, 2016
Feds arrest hundreds of gang members in ‘Project Shadowfire’ raids
More than 900 gang members associated with groups like MS-13, the Nortenos, and the Bloods were arrested across the country as part of a five-week U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-led operation, officials announced Monday. Published March 28, 2016
Iran indictments, sanctions send signal to Obama nuclear deal critics
An Iranian hacker managed to gain control of the computer systems that worked the sluices on a New York dam -- but luckily the gates had been taken offline for maintenance at the time, foiling any possible mischief, federal prosecutors said Thursday, announcing charges against seven Iran-backed operatives for hacking American infrastructure. Published March 24, 2016
Justice Dept. announces charges in dam cyberattack
The Justice Department announced Thursday it has indicted seven hackers linked to the Iranian government with cybercrimes related to online attacks on U.S. banks and a New York dam. Published March 24, 2016
U.S. Marshals arrest 13K in sweep targeting ‘worst’ violent offenders
The U.S. Marshals Service arrested more than 13,000 individuals with open warrants as part of a national operation meant to target the "worst of the worst" violent, repeat offenders. Published March 23, 2016
Jeh Johnson: ‘No specific, credible intelligence’ of terror plot in U.S.
There is "no specific, credible intelligence" of a plot to conduct an attack similar to Tuesday's bombings at a Brussels airport and subway system in the United States, said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson. Published March 22, 2016
Mormon missionaries from Utah, U.S. Air Force officer among injured in Brussels attacks
Three Mormon missionaries from Utah were among the scores of people injured in Tuesday's bombings at the Brussels airport, according to a statement issued by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Published March 22, 2016
Brussels attacks: U.S. officials closely watching developments after ‘appalling assault’
Top military and Justice Department officials have been briefed on the bombings in Brussels that have killed more than 30 people, and agencies are closely monitoring developments from the attacks. Published March 22, 2016
MS-13 gang killings linked to immigrant surge
The notoriously violent MS-13 street gang, known for slashing victims to death with knives and machetes, is reviving its brutal brand of violence to reassert its dominance in the Washington metropolitan area -- with authorities linking at least eight homicides in Virginia and Maryland over the past year to the gang. Published March 21, 2016
