Case 2:17-mj-00452-JPD Document 1 Filed 10/25/17 Page 1 of 13 Chief Magistrate Judge James P. Donohue UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON, AT SEATTLE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, no. MBI1-452 ida COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATION v. Title 18, United States Code, §§ 912 & 1951 STEVEN W. FISHER, Defendant. BEFORE the Honorable James P. Donohue, Chief United States Magistrate Judge, Seattle, Washington. The undersigned complainant being duly sworn states: COUNT ONE (Robbery) On or about January 25, 2017, at Seattle, within the Western District of ‘Washington, the defendant, STEVEN W. FISHER, did unlawfully obstruct, delay, and affect, and attempt to obstruct, delay, and affect, commerce, and the movement of any article or commodity in commerce, by robbery, that is, the unlawful taking and obtaining of personal property, specifically, cash, from the person of another, against his will by means of actual and threatened force, violence, and fear of injury, immediate and future, to his person. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951. COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATION - 1 strep stares ATTORNEY US. v. STEVEN FISHER ‘bo ewan stare, Sore 5230 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101 (G06) 553-7970Case 2:17-mj-00452-JPD Document 1 Filed 10/25/17 Page 2 of 13 COUNT TWO (False Impersonation of a Federal Officer) On or about January 25, 2017, at Seattle, within the Wester District of Washington, the defendant, STEVEN W. FISHER, did falsely assume and pretend to be an officer and employee of the United States acting under the authority thereof, that is, a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in that he falsely stated that he was an agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and showed a fake FBI badge, and stated he was investigating a bad transaction in his capacity as an FBI agent. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 912. COUNT THREE (False Impersonation of a Federal Officer) On or about June 28, 2017, at SeaTac, within the Westem District of Washington, the defendant, STEVEN W. FISHER, did falsely assume and pretend to be an officer and employee of the United States acting under the authority thereof, that is, a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in that he falsely stated that he was an agent from {the Federal Bureau of Investigation and showed a fake FBI badge, and stated he was trying to obtain video surveillance footage in his capacity as an FBI agent. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 912. COUNT FOUR (False Impersonation of a Federal Officer) On or about June 28, 2017, at SeaTac, within the Westen District of Washington, the defendant, STEVEN W. FISHER, did falsely assume and pretend to be an officer and employee of the United States acting under the authority thereof, that is, a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in that he falsely stated that he was an agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and showed a fake FBI badge, and stated he was investigating a bank robbery in his capacity as an FBI agent. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 912. COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATION -2 UNITED STATES ATTORNEY S ‘ho Srewane Ste, SUE S20 Atetbitettel dea anita ‘SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101 (306) 553-7970oe ee 10 ul 12 13, 14 15 16 7 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 a 28 Case 2:17-mj-00452-JPD Document 1 Filed 10/25/17 Page 3 of 13 COUNT FIVE (False Impersonation of a Federal Officer) On or about July 26, 2017, at Seattle, within the Wester District of Washington, the defendant, STEVEN W. FISHER, did falsely assume and pretend to be an officer and employee of the United States acting under the authority thereof, that is, a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in that he falsely stated that he was an agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and showed a fake FBI badge, and stated he was working to prevent a burglary in his capacity as an FBI agent. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 912. COUNT SIX (False Impersonation of a Federal Officer) On or about August 19, 2017, at Seattle, within the Western District of Washington, the defendant, STEVEN W. FISHER, did falsely assume and pretend to be an officer and employee of the United States acting under the authority thereof, that is, a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in that he falsely stated that he was an agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and showed a fake FBI badge, and stated he was following up on the investigation that he had previously mentioned on July 26, 2017. Allin violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 912. COUNT SEVEN (Attempted Robbery) On or about August 19, 2017, at Seattle, within the Western District of Washington, the defendant, STEVEN W. FISHER, did unlawfully attempt to obstruct, delay, and affect, commerce, and the movement of any article or commodity in commerce, by robbery, that is, the unlawful taking and obtaining of personal property, specifically, cash, from the person of another, against his will by means of actual and threatened force, violence, and fear of injury, immediate and future, to his person. Allin violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951. ‘COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATION -3 UNITED STATES ATTORNEY 1700 STEWARI STREET, SUITE 5220 US. v. STEVEN FISHER ee en (G09) 533-7970|Case 2:17-mj-00452-JPD Document 1 Filed 10/25/17 Page 4 of 13 ‘The undersigned Complainant being duly sworn further states: I. INTRODUCTION AND AGENT BACKGROUND 1. Tama Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) assigned to the Seattle Division, and have been so employed for approximately 15 years. Asa Special Agent of the FBI, I am authorized to investigate violations of laws of the United States, as well as execute arrest and search warrants as they pertain to Federal Criminal Codes of the United States. I have participated in a wide variety of criminal investigations, to include those pertaining to violent crimes. 2. This affidavit is being submitted in support of a criminal complaint charging STEVEN W. FISHER with Robbery and Attempted Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951, and Impersonation of a Federal Officer, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 912. This affidavit is based upon information I have gained from my investigation, my personal observations, my training and experience, and information related to me by other detectives, investigators, federal agents and police officers, through oral and written reports. I have not stated every fact known to me concerning the investigation of FISHER, but have included those facts which establish probable cause to believe FISHER committed the offenses charged in this Complaint. II. SUMMARY OF PROBABLE CAUSE Red Sea Financial Center 3. On Wednesday, January 25, 2017, at approximately 7:02 p.m., the owner of Red Sea Financial Center, referred to herein by his initials, BK, reported to the Seattle Police Department (SPD) that his business had just been robbed. Red Sea Financial Center is located on South Jackson Street, in Seattle, Washington. 4. BK reported to SPD that Red Sea’s hours of operation are 9:00 a.m, to 7:00 p.m., but that he typically locks the front door of the business around 6:00 p.m. At approximately 6:30 p.m, that day, BK heard a knock on the front door to the business. BK went to the front door and observed an adult white male he did not recognize who COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATION - 4 UNITED STATES ATTORNEY US. v. STEVEN FISHER arevart tas,a230 (G05) 333-7970Case 2:17-mj-00452-JPD Document 1 Filed 10/25/17 Page 5 of 13 ‘was wearing a black three-piece suit with a red dress shirt and no tie. This individual, (the “suspect”) verbally identified himself and stated that he was the “FBI.” According to BK, he asked what the suspect wanted, and was then shown a silver colored badge. The suspect told BK that he had conducted a “bad transaction” and that he would need to look ‘at Red Sea’s transactions for the day. The suspect showed BK a “search warrant,” which BK copied. 5. BK then showed the suspect the transactions conducted at Red Sea that day on his computer. As BK was showing the suspect this information, the suspect looked into another room off the main office and told BK that he would need to look in boxes that were stored in that room. BK questioned why the suspect would need to look in the boxes. At this point, the suspect then pulled out a gun and aimed it at BK. The suspect then ordered BK to open the safe, which was in another cage that had a piece of wood paneling over the front. Fearing for his safety, BK complied with the suspect’s demands and unlocked both the cage that contained the safe and the safe itself. The suspect then instructed BK to remove the cash from the safe and to place it on a table in the room. BK removed what was later determined to be $128,259.00 in U.S. currency and placed it on the table. The suspect took the cash and placed it into a black nylon back pack. 6. BK further reported to SPD that once the suspect had the cash, he instructed BK to unplug the standalone computer tower that maintains the hard-drive for the surveillance cameras inside the business. BK complied and unplugged the computer tower and gave it to the suspect. BK was ordered to remain in the room while the suspect put on a pair of gloves. The suspect produced a pad lock and placed the pad lock on the cage, locking BK in the back room. The suspect then exited the business. 7. BK was able to get out of the locked room when his friend arrived at the business. This friend had also knocked on the door during the robbery, when the suspect opened the door and told him to come back in ten minutes. The friend later returned at the same time the suspect was walking out of the business carrying the computer tower and a black bag across his back. COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATION - 5 “une srares Arron, Cee ee SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101 Gonsss 9mSoe wraaunarwn ra 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Case 2:17-mj-00452-JPD Document 1 Filed 10/25/17 Page 6 of 13 8. On August 25, 2017, BK was presented with a photographic montage and positively identified FISHER as the suspect. 9. The name on the “search warrant” given to BK by the suspect was “Frank Abagnale.” I have confirmed that “Frank Abagnale” is the name of the character (a FBI agent) played by Tom Hanks in the movie “Catch Me If You Can.” According toa Google search, the website Legalfakes.com sells this fraudulent search warrant online. The owner of Legalfakes.com has confirmed that the search warrant used in the robbery of Red Sea Financial was obtained from Legalfakes.com. 10. Red Sea Financial Center is a money wiring service that conducts cash transactions specifically for customers from Eritrea, as well as from other East African nations. Red Sea Financial Center helps facilitate the transfer of its clients’ money to locations outside of the State of Washington (and outside of the United States), such as to family members in Eritrea and other East African nations. Dahabshil, Inc. 11. At approximately 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26, 2017, the manager of Dahabshil, Inc., who is referred to herein by his initials, AO, reported to SPD about an incident that had occurred earlier that day. Dahabshil, Inc. is a money wiring service located on Martin Luther King Jr. Way South in the City of Seattle, Like Red Sea Financial Center, Dahabshil, Inc. conducts cash transactions and helps facilitate the transfer of its clients’ money to locations outside of the State of Washington (and outside of the United States). 12. AO reported to SPD that at approximately 7:30 p.m. that day he had received a telephone call from a man who identified himself as “Jack Ryan,” a Special Agent with the FBI. This man (the “suspect”) asked AO to leave his business and meet him behind a neighboring Chase Bank. AO said that he left his business and walked over to the Chase Bank and met with the suspect. AO also said that he observed that the suspect had a gold and black colored badge on his belt and was holding a file folder. The suspect told AO that the FBI was aware of an individual who was planning to break into COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATION - 6 _ANITED STATES ATTORNEY acerbic SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101 Gag sseCase 2:17-mj-00452-JPD Document 1 Filed 10/25/17 Page 7 of 13 ‘Dahabshil, Inc. that night, and that agents from the FBI were planning to watch the business throughout the night. The suspect showed AO a photograph of the man he said the FBI believed was going to commit the burglary. 13. The suspect also told AO that he would need him to remove all of the cash ‘from the business in case a burglary actually occurred. AO told the suspect that he would need to contact his supervisor and get his approval to remove all of the cash from the business. AO then returned to Dahabshil, Inc., where he was telephoned by the suspect. The suspect, who was still posing as a Special Agent from the FBI, asked if AO had been given permission to remove the cash from the business and inquired about the surveillance cameras for the business (whether they were web based or a hard drive set- up). AO told the suspect that he was not allowed to remove the cash from the business and did not know how the surveillance system operated. AO then hung up the telephone and called 911 to report this incident. The suspect was not located in or around the scene when the reporting officers arrived. 14, During a follow-up investigation, a Google search on the name “Jack Ryan” confirmed that the name “Jack Ryan” is a fictional character in novels written by author Tom Clancy, as well as the character that actor Harrison Ford portrayed in the movies Patriot Games and Clear & Present Danger. 15. Almost one month later, on Saturday, August 19, 2017, at approximately 11:35 a.m., AO again called 911 while working at Dahabshil, Inc., after the suspect, who was later identified as STEVEN W. FISHER, entered the business. As soon as AO observed FISHER enter the business he immediately recognized him from the prior incident on July 26. Believing he was going to be robbed, AO activated the robbery panic alarm. Once FISHER entered the business, he again identified himself to AO as a Special Agent from the FBI, opened the brief case that he was carrying, and removed credentials (badge and identification inside a bi-fold wallet) that identified himself as a Special Agent from the FBI, and then placed the credentials back into the brief case. FISHER told AO that the robbery suspect that he had told him about on July 26 had since COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATION -7 “UN stares ATTORNEY US. v. STEVEN FISHER no Srmnany SraEe, SOE 52 £616) 553-7970|Seomravaunawn i 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Case 2:17-mj-00452-JPD Document 1 Filed 10/25/17 Page 8 of 13 [been arrested, and said he was now at the business to obtain surveillance files. Fisher also said that if AO failed to produce the requested files, he would write a search warrant to obiain those files. 16. An officer from SPD then arrived on scene and AO told him about the prior incident in July and what had happened that day. ‘The officer proceeded to interview FISHER. FISHER said that he was at Dahabshil, Inc. to wire money. FISHER denied being at the business on July 26, and denied identifying himself as a Special Agent with the FBI on either occasion. 17. AO has identified FISHER as the man who he met with on July 26, 2017, who pretended to be an agent from the FBI. 18. _ FISHER told the SPD officer that his vehicle, a silver 2005 Mini-Cooper, was parked at the rear of Dahabshil, Inc. It was later determined that the vehicle was not parked at the rear of Dahabshil, Inc., but five blocks away where it was located by SPD. FISHER told the officer there was a sniper rifle and a Ghillie Suit in his vehicle. (A Ghille Suit is a camouflaged suit used by snipers to blend in to their surroundings.) 19. The responding officer asked FISHER if the brief case that had been in his possession was his and if so, whether he had FISHER’s consent to search it. FISHER said the briefcase was his, but did not give consent to search it. FISHER did, however, admit that there was an airsoft pistol with a suppressor and handcuffs inside the briefcase, as well as fraudulent law enforcement documents. FISHER told the officer that he ‘would open the briefcase for him if the officer would allow him to walk away from Dahabshil, Inc. The officer declined FISHER’S request and placed FISHER under arrest for Criminal Impersonation. 20. _ FISHER’s briefcase was taken to the SPD Evidence Room on South Stacy Street in Seattle, Washington, FISHER’s vehicle was impounded into the SPD Processing Room. An officer observed a replica air soft rifle, duct tape, and leg manacles in the back of the vehicle. COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATION - 8 UNITED STATES ATTORNEY US. v. STEVEN FISHERCase 2:17-mj-00452-JPD Document 1 Filed 10/25/17 Page 9 of 13 Subsequent Investigation 21. SPD subsequently obtained warrants to search both FISHER’s vehicle and his briefcase. The briefcase was searched on August 21, 2017. The contents of the briefcase were photographed and included a black bi-fold wallet on top of a manila envelope. The bi-fold wallet contained fraudulent FBI credentials for “Jack Ryan” and a FBI badge. The letters FBI are large and stand out, and at the bottom near the badge is the wording “Federal Bureau of Investigation.” Also in the briefcase were several pairs of handcuffs, a handcuff key, bear spray, bolt cutters, a flashlight, a screwdriver, a garrote, rope, a thumb drive, black gloves and a realistic looking gun with a silencer. The manila envelope inside the brief case had district court papers, three photographs that appeared to be possible surveillance photos and a FBI Bulletin of a “most wanted jerrorist.” A picture of the fake badge and credentials, as well as the realistic looking gun and silencer, are included below: 22. The following non-inclusive list of items were located during the search of FISHER’s vehicle: a laptop, 1-two way radio and earpiece, an airsoft sniper rifle with scope, sniper suit, Go Pro, Cellphone, leg shackles, duct tape, Seahawk tickets, black nylon bag containing a Seattle City Light helmet, vest, goggles and marking paint, gambling receipts from the Tulalip Casino, keys, airsoft body armor, a public storage business card, documents from another money remitter location, and a 380 pistol with ‘magazine in the gun that had no rounds and a magazine next to it with several live rounds. COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATION - 9 UNITED STATES ATTORNEY US. v. STEVEN FISHER 700 Sreware Stier, SUETE 5220, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101 06) 333-7970Case 2:17-mj-00452-JPD Document 1 Filed 10/25/17 Page 10 of 13 1 23. — Law enforcement has reviewed the surveillance footage for the incident on August 19, 2017 at Dahabshil, Inc. The video shows FISHER walking into Dahabshil, Inc. with a brown briefcase. FISHER is seen at the window, where he pulls a black item out of his back pocket and opens the briefcase. The manila envelope can be seen in the video. FISHER appears to pull out and open up the black item, which is the black bi-fold wallet in the briefease. He can be scen pushing it against the glass for AO to read. The video shows FISHER showing the FBI credentials and badge to AO, specifically pointing out things on the credentials to AO, FISHER is then seen looking out the front door and ee ee eS) closing the briefcase, He next attempted to walk out the back door, turned around, set the 10 |} briefcase on a chair and walked out of the store. The credentials FISHER is holding are 11 |] the same credentials that were located in the brief case during the search warrant. 12 24. Looking on-line, I discovered that the fake FBI credentials used by 13] FISHER can be readily purchased from websites like the following: ‘$65.00 mae ow 9 wi si 25 25. On September 14, 2017, SPD obtained a search warrant to search a storage 26 |! locker rented by FISHER at a Public Storage in Everett, Washington. SPD located the 27|| storage unit and determined it was FISHER’s by calling the phone number on the 28 || business card for Public Storage located in FISHER’s vehicle and talking to the manager. COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATION - 10 UNITED STATES ATTORNEY 2 Stew Sty, Sure 220 eee ‘SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101 (G06) 553-7970Case 2:17-mj-00452-JPD Document 1 Filed 10/25/17 Page 11 of 13 The storage locker was searched on September14, and included in the items seized from the storage locker are paperwork identified by BK as having been stolen from Red Sea Financial during the January 2017 robbery. 26. While performing follow up investigation, on October 19, 2017, a SPD detective spoke with a business owner with the initials “AI” whose business is located in SeaTac, Washington. Al’s business offers travel, money wiring, telephone, and food services, all out of the same location. Al informed the detective that on June 28, 2017, a Caucasian male in his 40s visited his business claiming to be an FBI agent. Al described this individual as clean cut with a muscular build and tattoos on his arm, all of which are physical characteristics that match FISHER. 27. According to Al, on June 28, 2017, he and his son were working in the store when this individual entered the store and first spoke to his son, asking to speak to the owner. The individual then approached Al, identified himself as an FBI agent, and displayed what appeared to be an FBI badge in a bi-fold wallet. This individual told AI that he wanted to speak with him about the surveillance cameras at the business because he was looking for footage from the burglary/robbery of a neighboring business. Al was suspicious about whether the individual was actually an FBI agent (based on what he was wearing), and therefore told him he was busy with a customer and that his surveillance cameras were not working. The individual then went outside and walked around the business, after which Al observed him going into a neighbor’s grocery store. 28. ALalso reported that his business was burglarized early in the morning of June 29, 2017, the day after he was visited by the individual claiming to be an FBI agent. Al reported the burglary to SeaTac Police that same day. Al reported that approximately $2000 cash, three telephones, and paperwork (including documents that had the personal information of customers, and cashed cashier checks) were taken during the burglary. AI has identified paperwork that law enforcement found in Fisher’s vehicle (seized on August 19, 2017 near Dahabshil, Inc.) as paperwork stolen from his business during the burglary. COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATION - 11 UnrTap stATHS ATTORNEY US. v. STEVEN FISHER ‘oo Saar Stet Ste 520 ‘SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101 (G05) 553-7970Case 2:17-mj-00452-JPD Document 1 Filed 10/25/17 Page 12 of 13 29. On October 24, 2017, Al identified FISHER from a photographic montage as the individual who visited his family’s business and claimed to be an FBI agent on June 28, 2017. On October 24, 2017, Al also told SPD that according to his son and another employee, the same individual had visited his business two days earlier, on June 26, wearing a shirt that said “FBI” and flashed a badge, but that he left immediately when told that the owner was not present. AI’s son was unable to identify FISHER from the photographic montage. When viewing the montage on October 24, 2017, Al's son narrowed his identification down to FISHER and one other male with similar physical characteristics, but ultimately chose the photograph of the other individual, 30. SPD has also interviewed the owner of the grocery store located near AI’s business in Sea-Tac, Washington. On October 24, 2017, the owner of the grocery store identified FISHER from a photographic montage and stated that she remembers him visiting her store on June 28, 2017, when he identified himself as an FBI agent and showed her what appeared to be an FBI badge. The owner of the grocery store further stated that on October 24, 2017, after identifying himself as an FBI agent, FISHER told her he was there investigating the robbery of a neighboring bank, and that they then discussed her surveillance cameras. The owner of the grocery store also stated that after FISHER left her store he loitered around outside for approximately 30 minutes before leaving. I a a COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATION - 12 unrren stares « US. v. STEVEN FISHER soostewarr ras SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101 (G5) 553-7970CoewraAnrwn 10 12 13 14 15 16 7 18 19 20 21 2 23 24 25 26 21 28 Case 2:17-mj-00452-JPD Document 1 Filed 10/25/17 Page 13 of 13 II. CONCLUSION 31. Based on the above facts, I respectfully submit there is probable cause to believe STEVEN W. FISHER did knowingly and intentionally commit the crimes of Robbery and Attempted Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951, and Impersonation of a Federal Officer, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 912. ai SS Complainant Special Agent, FBI SSSTF The above named agent having eo statement attesting to the truth of day of October, 2017, the Court hereby finds that there is probable cause to believe the Defendant, STEVEN W. FISHER, the contents of the foregoing affidavit on the committed the offenses set forth in the Complaint Dated this 2-5” day of October, 2017. COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATION - 13 UNITED STATES ATTORNEY % -nostevany sane, ome $220 eure ‘SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98101 (G06) 553-7970