Five Men Arrested And Charged In Plot To Attack And Kill Government Officials And Others Attending The Ultimate Fighting Championship At White House

The U.S. Justice Department released the below information and photos:

The Justice Department announced today charges against five men for an alleged plot to carry out an attack to kill government officials and others attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Freedom 250 event held at the White House last Sunday. 

The FBI launched an investigation into the plot and identified a group of conspirators who procured weapons and made plans to carry out the attack. The FBI made arrests over the weekend in Ohio, Missouri, Nebraska, and California. The investigation remains ongoing.

“The FBI, our law enforcement partners and our U.S. Attorneys did what they do every day to make America Safe through quick response and vigilance in investigating, disrupting, and dismantling this alleged plan before it could be carried out,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We will take immediate and aggressive action to identify and prosecute those who incite and plan acts of violence.”

“On June 10, FBI and our law enforcement partners became aware of a potential threat to the UFC America 250 event in Washington, D.C. involving individuals outside of the National Capital Region — and thanks to the rapid action of this FBI, our partners, and the Department of Justice in a multi-state operation, multiple individuals are now in custody and allegedly planned attacks were stopped cold,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “While the result represented the best of investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team — we are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens — particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC 250 fight. That’s exactly what we did here. I want to thank our great agents and partners, this work remains ongoing and we will continue to update the public as permitted.”

“Protecting the President of the United States and the White House grounds is priority number one for the U.S. Secret Service,” said Director Sean M Curran of the U.S. Secret Service. “The landscape has changed, and as a result we have seen a dramatic rise in threats against our protectees. I am proud of the men and women of the Secret Service that vigorously monitor, investigate, and arrest those that plot to interfere with our protective mission. We are grateful for our extraordinary partnerships we share with DHS, DOJ, Acting Attorney General Blanche, FBI-JTTF, Park Police, and DC Police.”

According to the charges, Tycen C. Proper (seen in the above photo) , 19, of Danville, Ohio; Bryan Omar Roa, 24, of Calimesa, California; Michael Alan Thomas, 32, of Pinon Hills, California; Daniel K. Eskridge, 32, of Kidder, Missouri; and Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, conspired to plan and execute a mass casualty event targeting U.S. officials in attendance at UFC Freedom 250 hosted on the White House grounds. The conspirators allegedly planned to deploy drones armed with explosives in and around the UFC Freedom 250 event in order to force an evacuation of the event and then planned to deploy snipers to fire upon “high value targets” within the fleeing crowd.

Tycen Proper

According to filed complaints in the Southern District of Ohio, the Western District of Missouri, the District of Nebraska, and the Central District of California, investigators interviewed Proper at a medical facility on June 11. During the interview, he allegedly said he had planned with others a coordinated attack against the U.S. government during the UFC event at the White House. He said members of the group who wanted to participate in the attack began communicating with each other around March. More serious members of the group, including Proper, moved their communications to an encrypted chat app. They planned to fly small drones with explosives to detonate over the north side of the UFC arena, forcing high value targets to evacuate the premises; the group would then act as snipers and shoot these individuals. Before executing the plan, Proper and other conspirators allegedly planned to rendezvous in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Screenshot of messages and maps on Proper’s phone, from the complaint filed in the Central District of California.

Screenshot of messages and maps on Proper’s phone, from the complaint filed in the Central District of California.

Proper allegedly amassed firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and tactical gear at his home in Ohio, and he identified potential targets, including multiple members of Congress. 

A photo of Proper’s gun, from the complaint filed in the Central District of California.

Bryan Roa

According to the complaint filed in the Central District of California, law enforcement executed a search warrant of Roa’s residence and vehicle where they allegedly seized a rifle, handgun, tactical belt, ammunition and a rifle magazine, a two-way radio, and an infrared laser target pointer. A search of Roa’s phone allegedly found messages in a group with Thomas, Proper, and others discussing an attack at the UFC event at the White House, with some users discussing using drones rigged with explosives to initiate the attack, with rooftop snipers killing individuals. Law enforcement also allegedly found Instagram videos Roa had posted of himself shooting guns.

Roa’s Instagram post of him shooting guns, from the complaint filed in the Central District of California.

Michael Thomas

According to the complaint filed in the Central District of California, Thomas allegedly participated in a group chat planning an attack at the UFC event at the White House. In a group chat, on June 7, he allegedly wrote “$1300 gets us the drones and the charges. Yes we should all pitch in and we need it asap…” 

In another group chat, Thomas, under a pseudonym, allegedly described “tiers” of operators within their anti-government group, with tier 1 being operators on the ground, tier 2 being drivers and drone operators, tier 3 being logistical suppliers, and tier 4 being social media influencers. “Tier one status is not something to take lightly. … We will make sure they have…All the tier 2 support we can provide. We will try to break them out of jail if we need to.” In the same group chats, Thomas discussed meeting with Roa in person in Southern California in order to conduct “marksmen training” and reflected that the group needed to train for “gorilla style warfare.”

In a June 13 search warrant, FBI agents allegedly seized from Thomas’ residence a rifle, 30-round extended magazines for the rifle, 180 of rounds of ammunition, and a pistol. 

Daniel Eskridge

Eskridge was charged with conspiracy to commit murder on White House grounds. According to an affidavit filed in the Western District of Missouri, the FBI identified Eskridge while reviewing electronic communications on Proper’s cell phone. The co-conspirators had electronic chats on encrypted social media platforms. In those chats, members of the group allegedly discussed assassinating several U.S. Senators, Representatives, and prominent business executives. Members of the group targeted some legislators based on the group’s perceived belief that the legislators accepted money from pro-Israel lobbies. When discussing potential targets, Eskridge indicated that the target was “big and someone a majority of the country knows.” In the discussions, power grids were also identified as potential targets. On May 22, Eskridge distributed a picture of tactical equipment, including a rifle, helmet, and ballistic vest. The photograph is below.

Photo of tactical equipment from Eskridge, from the affidavit filed in the Western District of Missouri.

Also according to the affidavit, in a separate chat group, a conversation took place in early June when Eskridge and some of the other chat group members discussed their plan to attack the UFC Freedom 250 event. Specifically, Thomas stated, “Pensilvania [sic] avenue.” Eskridge said the group should obtain $1,300 in U.S. currency and they needed “5 teams of 3 each team consisting of 1 sniper, 1 tier one operator as support/ look out, [and] one drone operator.” Eskridge said the money would provide them the funding to purchase “drones and charges,” and encouraged the group to all “pitch in.” On June 13, law enforcement officials executed a federal search warrant of Eskridge’s residence. Agents recovered rifles, a shot gun, pistol, and other tactical gear. 

A photograph of the equipment from the June 13 search is below:

Tactical gear recovered by the FBI from a June 13 search of Eskridge’s residence, from the affidavit filed in the Western District of Missouri.

Abraham Alvarez

According to the charges filed in Nebraska, the FBI identified Alvarez as the individual using the name “Shepherd” in an encrypted chat app that was used to plan an attack on the UFC Freedom 250 event scheduled to be held at the White House on June 14. The FBI assessed that Alvarez, also known as “Shepherd,” was responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the planned attack, based on conversation excerpts in June when Shepherd posted, “This is the best action I see. Position your teams in the purple dots (counter sniper and drones) Long range (circled area) (great shot) Easy out into the river.” Shepherd also allegedly posted other messages including replying to another member on making drones with explosives, “As many and as deadly as we can get.”; that he was working on drones; and had one drone and was working on more.

The complaint further alleges that Shepherd provided a picture and directions for a safe zone at an old church in Nebraska. He instructed the other members to take back roads or the river down to the “pick up location.” Later that same evening, Shepherd also provided locations in the area for drone launch points and sniper positions.

Screenshot of a church, sent by Alvarez, “Shepherd,” to encrpyted chat group, from the complaint filed in the District of Nebraska.

If convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Conspiracy to commit violence on White House grounds carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.                                        

On This Day In History (Yesterday, June 15, 1944), The U.S. Navy Launched The Invasion Of Saipan, With UDT Frogmen Leading The Way

As the U.S. SEAL Museum in San Diego reports, yesterday was the anniversary of the invasion of Saipan.

My late father, U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Edward M. Davis (seen in the center of the above photo), was a UDT 5 frogman who participated in the invasion of Saipan.

I am a proud son.  

You can read my Counterterrorism magazine piece on the UDT frogmen and today's SEALs via the link below:

Paul Davis On Crime: A Look Back At The World War II U.S. Navy Frogmen: My Piece On The Underwater Demolition Teams, Forerunners of Today's Navy SEALs 

You can also visit the SEAL Museum via the link below:   

Navy SEAL Museum San Diego | History of Naval Special Warfare  

                                                         

My South Philly Review Crime Beat Column: Murdered For A Cell Phone

The South Philly Review posted my Crime Beat column online ahead of Wednesdays’ print edition.

 

You can read the column via the link below or the following text:

Murdered for a cell phone

 

Reports of the tragic murder of 22-year-old Billy Schmidt in South Philadelphia have been carried in the national press, including Fox News and the New York Post, and internationally, in such newspapers as the Irish Sun and the British Daily Mail. The nation and the world grieve for Billy Schmidt.

 

Here in South Philly, the seemingly senseless murder that stemmed from the robbery of his cell phone has left the local community stunned, sorrowful and angry. 

The murder of Billy Schmidt touched me as well for a number of reasons, one of which is that I live not too far from where he was murdered, which is unsettling when I think of my own family, and like Billy Schmidt, I, too, was a Penn State student when I was in my early 20s.

I thought of my fine life post-Penn State and then I thought of what the late young man would now not experience. He was robbed of his future as well as his cell phone.    

Billy Schmidt was murdered near his home in a relatively low-crime neighborhood early on Saturday morning on June 6 as he walked home. Police were called and the arriving officers discovered him lying on the street with a chest wound from a gunshot. He was rushed to a hospital and died at 1:47 am. The robbery and murder were caught on a doorbell video that was provided to the police. 

Bill Schmidt, the father of the late young man, told reporters that his son was his best friend. Billy Schmidt’s sister Anna called for justice for her late brother. 

“He was a really good person who cared about everybody and never hurt or bothered a soul,” the father said. 

I spoke to a couple of neighbors about the tragic crime, one of whom began to cry when I asked her about the murdered young man, although she had never met him.

“What is this world coming to?” she asked. “To be shot for a cell phone or a wallet or a car is madness. I saw the video and the killer looked like a child. I don’t understand how someone can take a life so casually.”

Her companion was enraged. “This is why senior citizen women like us are afraid to go out at night. Once it gets dark, I lock the door and stay inside. I hope the police catch these criminals and lock them away forever.”         

I reached out to Gary Capuano, a fellow South Philadelphian and a retired Philadelphia police sergeant, and asked for his take on the murder.

“First and foremost, I want to extend my condolences to the family of Billy Schmidt,” Capuano said. “Once again, we have an innocent victim gunned down on the streets of Philadelphia by violent criminals. If history is any indication, there is a good chance that when Billy Schmidt’s assailants are caught, we will find they have lengthy criminal records. 

“That raises an important question: Who holds judges accountable when repeat offenders are repeatedly given reduced sentences? I am not saying that is the case in this particular incident, but it certainly appears to have been a factor in some of the most heinous crimes we have seen in recent years.”

Philadelphia Police Capt. Kelly Robbins, the commanding officer of the 1st District, released a statement about Billy Schmidt’s murder on Facebook.

“On behalf of everyone in the 1st District, we extend our deepest condolences to William’s family, his friends and all who loved him. No family should ever have to endure a loss like this,” Robbins stated.

“We are fully committed to bringing those responsible to justice. Detectives have been aggressively working this case and will not stop until an arrest is made. We ask anyone with information to come forward and contact the Homicide Unit or the department tip line, 215-686-TIPS or tips@phillypolice.com.” 

Paul Davis’s Crime Beat column appears here each week. He can be reached via pauldavisoncrime.com. 

Flag Day 2026

When the American Revolution broke out in 1775, the colonists weren’t fighting united under a single flag, notes History.com. 

Instead, most regiments participating in the war for independence against the British fought under their own flags. In June of 1775, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to create the Continental Army—a unified colonial fighting force—with the hopes of a more organized battle against its colonial oppressors. This led to the creation of what was, essentially, the first “American” flag, the Continental Colors.

For some, this flag, which was comprised of 13 red and white alternating stripes and a Union Jack in the corner, was too similar to that of the British. George Washington soon realized that flying a flag that was even remotely close to the British flag was not a great confidence-builder for the revolutionary effort, so he turned his efforts towards creating a new symbol of freedom for the soon-to-be fledgling nation. 

On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress took a break from writing the Articles of Confederation and passed a resolution stating that "the flag of the Unted States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white," and that "the union be 13 stars, white in blue field, representing a new constellation." 

Over 100 years later, in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson marked the anniversary of that degree by officially establishing June 14 as Flag Day. 

Note: My beautiful and wonderful daughter pleased her patriotic father by being born on June 14^th, Flag Day, in 1987.  

Above is the Jasper John painting Three Flags.                                                                                   

My On Crime Fiction, True Crime & Thrillers Column On Tom Clavin's 'Vengeance: The Last Stand of Custer, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull'

I read and enjoyed Tom Clavin’s book on Custer and the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Vengeance: The Last Stand of Custer, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, just as I’ve enjoyed his other books on Wild West legendary historic figures, several of which I covered for the Washington Times. 

I reached out to him and asked why he write the book and why he called the book Vengeance.

Clavin: Two immediate reasons were to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Bighorn and to offer my take on iconic characters like George Custer and Crazy Horse, as I had done with "Wild Bill" and "Tombstone." To me, vengeance motivated many of the tragic events of war between the U.S. Army and the Plains tribes.

Davis: How does your book differ from other books about Custer and the Little Big Horn battle?

Clavin: I'd like to think one major difference is it is not Custer-centric. No doubt, Custer is a fascinating figure in American history, but so much about what became "Custer's Last Stand" can be seen in the personalities and actions of Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and other dynamic Native characters.

Davis: How would you describe Custer?

Clavin: A charismatic man, which helped to make him a popular figure, and a war-lover, which made him both desirable and expendable to his Army superiors. Custer was a celebrity who was most comfortable in the middle of a battle.

Davis: Why was Custer defeated?  

Clavin: He got much more battle than he bargained for. He underestimated and under-respected the power and devotion of the Sioux-Cheyenne coalition. At least as much of a factor was the brilliance and "good medicine" of Sitting Bull. Every book and movie that makes Custer look stupid or foolish (and he was neither), diminishes the achievement of Sitting Bull in defeating the Army's best field general.

Davis: Why does Custer’s “Last Stand” still fascinate readers?

Clavin: It is a "300 Spartans"-like scenario --- a commander and his men holding out as long as they can against insurmountable odds. And the Little Bighorn battle ranks right along with the Alamo, Gettysburg, O.K. Corral, etc., as one of the most dramatic clashes on American soil.

Davis: Who was Major Reno and what role did he play in the famous battle? 

Clavin: He was Custer's second in command who was bedeviled by drink, especially during the Little Bighorn battle. He survived despite himself, but many of his troopers did not. 

Davis: What officer stood out as competent and brave in the conflict?

Clavin: To me, a big surprise was the heroism of Captain Frederick Benteen. He loathed Custer and spent much of the June 25 battled leading his battalion aimlessly, but the next day, while his and Reno's combined command were under siege, he exposed himself to hundreds of arrows and bullets to lead a successful resistance.

Davis: How would you describe Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, Custer’s opponents?

Clavin: Great warriors and charismatic men. There was about a 10-year age gap so Sitting Bull, the acclaimed leader of the Sioux-Cheyenne coalition, took care of the strategy and Crazy Horse carried it out as the field general.

Davis: How did the battle of the Little Big Horn result in the end of the Indian Wars?

Clavin: The vengeful murder of Crazy Horse a year later and the exile (and eventual death) of Sitting Bull removed the two most inspiring Native leaders. The vengeance of the Army accelerated the virtual imprisonment of tribes on reservations. And the ultimate act of vengeance was the massacre at Wounded Knee, perpetrated by a reconstituted 7th Cavalry. It was the last major "battle" of the Indian Wars.

Davis: Thanks for speaking to us.

Note: You can read my earlier columns via the link below:

Paul Davis On Crime: My On Crime Fiction, True Crime & Thrillers Columns

Below is a photo of Tom Clavin:

Note: You can read my other On Crime Fiction, True Crime & Thrillers column via the link below:

 Paul Davis On Crime: My On Crime Fiction, True Crime & Thrillers Columns

Tren de Aragua Gang leader Killed In US Airstrike, Trump Says

The New York Post reports that US forces yesterday killed the leader of the Venezuela-based gang Tren de Aragus in an airstrike, according to President Trump.  

“At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully execute Niño Guerrero, the infamous leader of Tren De Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty Terrorist Organizations on Planet Earth,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. 

Trump’s post included a dramatic video that showed a projectile hitting a building, which appeared to be in a remote area, and causing a massive, fiery explosion.

You can read the rest of the piece via the link below: 

Tren De Aragua leader Niño Guerrero killed in US airstrike, Trump says 

My Philly Daily On Crime Column: Stolen Guns Are Crime Guns

Philly Daily ran my On Crime column, which covers crime in the Greater Philadelphia region, on the need to secure firearms.

You can read the column via the link below or the following text:

Paul Davis: Stolen guns are crime guns – Philly Daily

I’m a gun enthusiast. I own several firearms and I have a Pennsylvania license to carry. Trained in firearm safety in the Navy, I properly secure my firearms and ammunition.

Unfortunately, some gun owners don’t. Because of that, there are three deadly scenarios that often play out:

A mentality unstable youngster radicalized by social media wants to kill students at his old school, but he can’t buy a gun, so he takes his father’s unsecured rifle to school and slaughters many innocent people.

A child discovers his mother’s unsecured handgun. Playing around, he accidentally shoots and kills his younger brother.

A burglar breaks into a home when no one is home and steals cash and jewelry. He sees an unsecured handgun on the nightstand next to the bed and he steals that as well. He sells the gun to a convicted felon who can’t legally purchase a firearm. The criminal uses the stolen handgun to commit an armed robbery, and he shoots and kills the store owner with it.

To prevent scenarios like these, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) released information on securing firearms.

 The Philadelphia ATF field office stated that they have seen a pattern repeatedly: unsecured firearms stolen from lawful owners, recycled through violent offenders, and used again and again to commit serious crimes.

“When a gun is stolen, it’s not just a loss—it’s a threat to our communities,” said Walter Shaw, a special agent with the ATF. “We can’t always stop someone who is determined to commit violence, but we can prevent many of the guns criminals use from ever getting into their hands.”

Shaw explained that investigators frequently trace violent crimes back to firearms taken from homes or vehicles where they were left unsecured, sometimes only briefly. Once stolen, those firearms often move quickly through illegal networks, making recovery more difficult and increasing the likelihood they will be used in multiple crimes.

“When we recover a stolen gun at a crime scene, we’re already past the point where prevention was possible,” Shaw said. “Secure storage is one of the few points where lawful gun owners can directly interrupt that chain before it starts.”

According to the ATF, most crime guns recovered in Pennsylvania were originally purchased legally within the state. In 2023 for example, ATF traced 17,027 firearms recovered during criminal investigations in Pennsylvania. Of those, nearly 10,000—approximately 59 percent—were originally sold in in our state.

The ATF stated that stolen firearms are a major source of the illegal firearms market. Nationally, 95 percent of stolen firearms are taken from private citizens. Pennsylvania recovery data shows that 94.8 percent of stolen firearms remain in-state. While Pennsylvania ranks as the nation’s ninth most common source for firearms trafficking, stolen firearms predominantly remain a threat to our own neighborhoods.

“Secure storage is essential,” Shaw warned. “Guns left unattended in homes, vehicles, or unsecured storage areas provide an easy path for theft and diversion into criminal hands. Firearms should be treated as potential community risks—any gun can be used in a crime if it falls into the wrong hands.”

The ATF stated that the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) encourages all gun owners to review their firearm storage practices and take steps to ensure firearms are properly secured. NSSF recommends using a combination of safety tools and educating family members on the core rules of gun safety and proper firearm handling.

• CABLE LOCK: Can be used on most firearms, allows for relatively quick access in an emergency, and provides basic protection from theft.
• GUN CASE: An affordable option to conceal, protect, or legally transport a registered firearm.
• LOCK BOX: Integrated locking mechanisms provide reliable protection and allow for legal transport outside the home.
• ELECTRONIC LOCK BOX: Prevents unauthorized access and allows only the individual with the code to access the firearm.
• FULL-SIZE AND BIOMETRIC GUN SAFES: Provide protection from theft and environmental damage while allowing safe storage of multiple firearms.

According to national FBI data, firearm thefts from vehicles have been increasing, particularly in rural areas and parking garages. About half of all firearm thefts from vehicles occur when cars are parked at the owner’s residence.

Locking vehicle doors does not provide secure firearm storage. Glove compartments and center consoles—even when lockable—are not secure and can be easily pried open. Firearms should never be left accessible to children.

Vehicle storage options vary widely in price and design. Some manufacturers offer custom solutions for specific vehicle models, including:

• CAR CONSOLE STORAGE: Custom-fitted units that provide concealment and deter theft.
• VEHICLE CARGO AREA STORAGE: Designed for transporting firearms to the range or field.
• CABLE LOCKS: Can be effective when secured to the vehicle and kept out of sight.
• If your firearm is lost or stolen, immediately contact your local law enforcement agency to report the incident. The “time-to-crime”—how quickly a stolen firearm is used in a criminal act—can be alarmingly short.
• Providing a complete and accurate description of the firearm is critical for law enforcement investigations, insurance claims, and recovery of the firearm.

“Responsible firearm ownership does not end at the point of purchase,” Shaw emphasized. “Secure storage is not just about preventing unauthorized access in the home—it is about preventing predictable, preventable harm when stolen guns fall into the hands of individuals willing to use them.”

Paul Davis’s On Crime column appears here each week. He is also a contributor to Broad + Liberty and Counterterrorism magazine. He can be reached via pauldavisoncrime.com. 

My South Philly Review Crime Beat Column: Burglary - The Silent Crime

The South Philly Review published my second weekly Crime Beat column, which covers crime news, crime issues and crime prevention in South Philadelphia. 

You can read the column via the above page or the below text:

Burglary: The Silent Crime

By Paul Davis

The 3^rd Police District sent me a burglary prevention poster that advised South Philly residents that hot weather leads to burglars breaking into homes and business via unsecure air condition units.

The poster notes that as the temperatures rise, many South Philly residents install window air conditioning units.

“Criminals may target unsecure A/C units as an easy point of entry into homes and apartments,” the poster explained.

The poster advises people to secure all window A/C units with mounting brackets and screws. One should also install locks or security bars to prevent windows from being forced open.    

Good advice.

Burglary is defined in Robert Jay Nash’s “The Dictionary of Crime: Criminal Justice, Criminology & Law Enforcement” as illegally entering a building to commit a crime. To break into a premise and steal. Burglary is usually a felony.

Burglary is known as the “Silent Crime” as it is often committed stealthily under the cover of darkness or hidden from view. And the burglar usually slinks away like a rat before the burglary is discovered.   

I’ve discussed burglary with a good number of patrol officers, detectives and security specialists over my many years of covering the crime beat.

All have recommended that residents install an alarm system with cameras, and the placing of a sign in plain sight that states the residence is covered with an alarm system. And one should also install deadbolt locks on doors and good locks on all windows. One should additionally mark all valuables with a UV or indelible pen to help police identify and recover your property.

Burglars prefer to work under the cover of darkness and hate the light, so one should also install exterior lights for visibility. One should also let their immediate neighbors know when they will not be home and ask them to look out for suspicious people walking around the property.

Thankfully, in South Philly most neighbors traditionally and famously look out for one another, and they keep watch on their street.  

One detective told me that he has come across too many burglaries where the resident had an alarm system but chose not to turn it on.

“People get preoccupied with something else or they become complacent and don’t take the time to turn on their alarm systems,” the detective said. “What’s the point of having an alarm system if you don’t use it properly?

“But boy when they return home to see their place burglarized, they sure wish they had.”

The detective explained that there are three types of burglars. There are professional burglars, thieves and opportunists.

The professional uses sophisticated tools and targets rich homes and major businesses. The thieves target homes and businesses where there is cash, guns or jewelry on hand. The opportunists are teenagers and/or drug addicts who will break into a place to steal items quickly and clumsily.          

I’ve been out on numerous ride-alongs with Philadelphia police officers when they responded to burglaries.  

I recall how homeowners and apartment renters acted when they found their residence burglarized. The most common reaction initially was outrage that some burglar had entered their home and stole their valuables, some of which had sentimental value and were irreplaceable. 

The most common subsequent reaction was the feeling of being violated. To know that some stranger was in their home and rummaged through their private and personal belongings brought on a physical sickening feeling.  

I remember discussing burglary with former Philadelphia Detective Mark Tartaglia. The detective, like me, a born and bred South Philadelphian, happened to be my good friend for more than 30 years before he sadly passed away a few years ago.

“Burglars are creeps,” I recall Mark Tartaglia telling me. “They are sneak thieves who prowl around and look for weaknesses in the security of people’s homes.

“In the past, people were too trusting, or lacked a healthy fear of criminals, and they often left a window open or a door unlocked, which is an invitation for a burglar to step inside and loot the place. But things are changing. The burglars I’ve known say they fear the homeowner with a gun far more than a cop. They think they are more likely to be shot by the homeowner protecting their home.”

Mark Tartaglia recommended security alarms and locks and lights like other detectives, but he added one additional crime prevention tool.       

“Get a dog,” he said succinctly. “Burglars hate dogs.”

Paul Davis’s Crime Beat column appears here each week. He can be reached via pauldavisoncrime.com. 

American Citizen Pleads Guilty To Working As An Agent For The People's Republic Of China

The U.S. Justice Department released the below information:

Thomas Weir Pauken II, 50, an American citizen who lived and worked in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), pleaded guilty today to acting as an agent of a foreign government within the United States.

“In effect, Pauken admitted to being part of a conspiracy to obtain sensitive information from the U.S. government for the PRC,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “His actions are a betrayal of this Nation and pose an unacceptable risk to our national security. NSD remains committed to safeguarding information essential to our national security, including through appropriate prosecution.”

“By his own admission, not only did Thomas Pauken attempt to infiltrate U.S. political circles at the direction of China’s Ministry of State Security, but he gathered intelligence on his American targets and reported it back to his Chinese intelligence handlers,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “This case illustrates the lengths to which the Chinese Communist Party will go to undermine our democratic institutions and degrade our political freedoms, but it also demonstrates the FBI’s resolve to defend the homeland from threats to our national security. Let this plea serve as a clear warning: If you attempt to help a foreign adversary as an unregistered agent in the U.S., the FBI will find you and bring you to justice.”

According to court documents, from at least 2019 until February 2026, Pauken worked at the direction and control of people he knew worked for the PRC, including a person he met in 2017 identified as “Cathy.” Cathy provided Pauken with taskings, including meeting with potential intelligence assets, providing them with devices such as a laptop and cellphone to communicate with Cathy, providing taskings for the assets on what information was required, and providing Cathy with reports from the assets.

Pauken received at least $100,000 for his work with Cathy. Cathy also paid for Pauken to travel several times between 2019 through 2025 from China to meet with individuals in the United States who could provide Pauken, and ultimately Cathy and the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS), with information.

Pauken worked for two other people in China whom he met in 2017 and knew as “Richard” and “William.” They told Pauken that reports he wrote for them went to Japan, but Pauken believed they worked for the PRC government.

Pauken also sold reports to a group of Chinese individuals from Wuhan who sought information about technology and the U.S. Department of Justice. The Wuhan clients wanted Pauken to find an expert to help them engage in cyber espionage.

Pauken is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 1 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Philadelphia Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the FBI’s Washington Field Office.

Trial Attorney Eli Ross of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gavin R. Tisdale for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case.

Note: The Assistant Attorney General's quote has been updated from the previous version