Investigative Programs

Domestic and International Terrorism

Terrorism -- whether it be domestic or international -- is the highest priority within the FBI. Protection of the people of Oregon is the first goal of the Portland Division's anti-terrorism program. To that end, our agents and our partners on the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Counterterrorism Working Groups are striving to prevent any possible terrorist attack. The second goal of the FBI is to investigate those who would carry out such acts.

The Patriot Act of 2001 defines terrorism as an act of violence that appears to be intended "to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, to influence the policy of a government... or to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination or kidnapping".

All FBI investigations related to domestic terrorism must follow the U.S. Attorney General's "Guidelines for General Crimes, Racketeering Enterprises and Domestic Security/Terrorism Investigations". These guidelines establish strict limits for how FBI agents may investigate American citizens who live in the U.S. who are suspected of terrorist activity. For a case to be considered a "domestic terrorism" case, the suspects cannot be acting on behalf of a foreign government.

One of the largest domestic terrorism investigations in the U.S. involved the Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front.  A number of recent indictments and arrests were the result of work by the Portland FBI.

Likewise, "international terrorists" are those who are acting on behalf or with the support of a foreign government. As with domestic terrorism cases, FBI Portland follows a number of federal laws (including the 2001 Patriot Act) and federal guidelines with regards to its investigation of suspected international terrorists.

Foreign Counterintelligence

The FBI develops and maintains connections with Department of Defense contractors, U.S. military facilities and other private corporations involved in the handling of classified, sensitive or proprietary information. The goal is to identify which information might be targeted by foreign intelligence agents and to protect it.

Cyber Crimes

The Portland Division has a squad that deals specifically with Cyber Crimes.  Agents working on this squad are responsible for the Innocent Images program in this state.  Innocent Images is a national investigative effort to track and catch child predators and those who manufacture, distribute and receive child pornography.  It will also be responsible for crimes committed against computers and crimes that use computers.  Examples include computer hacking and the use of computer viruses.

Regional Crime Forensics Lab (RCFL)

The RCFL, which is funded and currently led by the FBI, includes computer forensics examiners from a number of different agencies.  In addition to the FBI employees, the following agencies are supplying personnel:  Portland Police Bureau, Gresham Police Department, Beaverton Police Department, Hillsboro Police Department, Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.  All examiners are trained to a standard certification level that enables them to examine computers and other electronic devices involved in investigations.  The RCFL moved into a state-of-the-art lab in 2005.

InfraGard

The FBI’s InfraGard program allows private industry, the academic community, and the public sector to receive and exchange information with the FBI via secure Internet connections about possible threats.  Members also receive tools to help deal with those threats.

InfraGard is one of the highest priority programs within the FBI’s Portland Division. If your organization is interested in joining InfraGard, please contact the Portland FBI.

Organized Crime/Drugs

The Portland Division works to combat Organized Crime operations -- and the drug operations they operate -- within our area. The agents who work these cases use a variety of investigative techniques, including: undercover operations, court-authorized electronic surveillance, informants, cooperating witnesses and consensual monitoring. The end-goal is to break up the criminal organizations through prosecution and seizure or forfeiture of assents derived from criminal activity.

White Collar Crime

The FBI Portland investigates a wide variety of economic crimes. We are usually tipped off to these cases by citizens, victims of criminal activity and from concerned people inside the various industries we investigate. Some major categories of white collar crime include:

Health Care Fraud -- The FBI has statutory authority to investigate all forms of fraud affecting both government-sponsored and private-insured health benefit programs, including: hospitals, nursing homes, medical transport, home healthcare, and laboratories/clinics.

Financial Institution Fraud -- Agents have the authority to investigate fraud that people commit against federally-insured financial institutions. This fraud could include money laundering, bribery, and collusion. The FBI also works to identify and prosecute those involved in major organized check fraud rings.

Intellectual Property Crimes -- The Portland Office of the FBI is actively pursuing violations of copyright infringement and trademark infringement. Bootleg copies of movies and computer software are examples of copyright infringement.

Telemarketing Fraud -- Unscrupulous telemarketers prey upon citizens by soliciting money for allegedly charitable causes, prize promotions, lottery schemes and investment opportunities. This is an important investigative program for the FBI since such fraud costs Americans up to $40 billion a year.

Bankruptcy Fraud -- The FBI investigates people who take advantage of our bankruptcy laws for their own personal benefit. People who conceal or misstate assets, who mislead creditors and who illegally pressure bankruptcy petitioners damage both the legal and financial structures of our society.

Public Corruption -- Voters deserve politicians and public servants who are honest and spend public money wisely. When there is wrongdoing, however, the FBI will work to convict those who have broken trust with our citizens.

Mail, Wire and Internet Fraud -- Portland FBI also works to investigate cases where the criminals have used the mail, wires or Internet to defraud people with "advance fee" or "ponzi" schemes.

Violent Crime

Violent crimes such as kidnappings, bank robberies and crimes aboard aircraft are often the ones that get the most attention. The Portland FBI has an active violent crime squad working these kinds of cases as well as ones dealing with the manufacturing and distribution of child porn, crimes against children, extortions, violent fugitives, and assaults on federal officers. The Portland division is also responsible for investigating any serious violent crime committed on any of the Indian reservations in the state.

The violent crime squad includes a task force group that bringa together local law enforcement officers and FBI agents to work some of the most serious cases. For more information on the Violent Crimes Task Force, click on this link.

Civil Rights

The Portland Division investigates all possible violations of the federal civil rights laws in our state. The results are given to the Department of Justice which determines whether to prosecute.

There are several categories of civil rights violations, including: racial or religious discrimination, "color of law" (use of excessive force or police misconduct), and involuntary servitude or slavery. The FBI also investigates violations of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act and the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act.