News from 2003


W. Ralph Basham Appointed as Director of the United States Secret Service

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of the Treasury has announced theappointment of W. Ralph Basham as the 21st Director of the United States Secret Service,the nation's oldest investigative federal law enforcement agency. Basham is a 28-yearveteran of the Secret Service and has also served as Director of the Federal LawEnforcement Training Center and Chief of Staff at the newly created TransportationSecurity Administration.


United States Secret Service Suppresses Second Coin Counterfeiting Plant in Colombia This Year

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On January 9, 2003, the United States Secret Service, working together with the Colombian National Police (DIJIN), suppressed a counterfeit U.S. coin plant and seized $450 in counterfeit $1 coins and the metal needed to fill an order for an additional 10,000.


Italian Police and Secret Service Work Together to Seize $1 Million in Counterfeit U.S. Currency

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In what is described as one of the largest seizures of counterfeitU.S. currency in Italy in recent years, the United States Secret Service, working together


Secret Service Arrests Suspects in California Mortgage Fraud Scheme

News Release: LOS ANGELES -- On Thursday, Jan. 23, the United States Secret Service arrestedseven people suspected of carrying out an elaborate mortgage fraud scheme. Thesuspects have been charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud.


United States Secret Service Headquarters Hosts Internet Safety Seminar and Expo

News Release: WASHINGTON -- On Friday, Jan. 24, 2003, the United States Secret Service, incooperation with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, hosted a


United States Secret Service Suppresses Second Coin Counterfeiting Plant in Colombia This Year

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C. --For the second time in as many weeks, the United States SecretService, working together with the Colombian National Police (DIJIN), suppressed acounterfeit U.S. coin plant. Nearly $100,000 in counterfeit "Golden Dollars," the U.S. $1Sacagawea coin, was seized on Monday, January 27th in Bogota.


Colombian Police and United States Secret Service Seize $20 Million in Counterfeit U.S. Currency

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In what is described as the largest seizure associated with anactive counterfeiting plant in Colombian history, the United States Secret Service and the


Counterfeit Detecting Canines Graduate From U.S. Secret Service Training Program

News Release: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA -- On Wednesday, March 5, 2003, United States Secret Serviceofficials attended a ceremony recognizing the latest additions to the arsenal of tools


Security Adjustments for the White House Complex

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C. --In cooperation with our law enforcement counterparts, theUnited States Secret Service has made adjustments to the security perimeter at the White


U.S. Secret Service Electronic Crimes Experts Address House Subcommittee on Fighting Fraud: Improving Information Security

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C. On Thursday, April 3, 2003, agents from the United StatesSecret Service testified before a joint U.S. House of Representative subcommitteehearing on the agencys efforts to protect Americas financial and critical infrastructure.


Secret Service Presents School Threat Assessment Seminar

News Release: Kentucky and Ohio School and Law Enforcement Representatives Take Part


Secret Service Director Praises Signing of the Amber Alert Bill

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C. --On Wednesday, April 30, United States Secret Service DirectorRalph Basham issued the following statement on the signing of the Prosecutorial



U.S. Secret Service Sponsors Major Event Management Seminar

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The United States Secret Service, in partnership with theDepartment of Homeland Security, will sponsor a "Major Event Management Seminar,"June 10-12, 2003, in Chicago, Illinois. The seminar's objective is to provide state andterritorial homeland security advisors with an overview of the fundamental principles andmodels for managing security aspects of major events, and strategies for reducingvulnerabilities related to terrorism and other criminal acts.


U.S. Secret Service Forms Four New Task Forces

News Release: Electronic crimes partnerships bring together law enforcement, academia and private sector


Identity Crime Video/CD-Rom and Video Fact Sheet

News Release: The Identity Crime Video/CD-Rom project is a joint effort between the U.S. SecretService, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the International Association of Chiefs ofPolice and the Federal Trade Commission. It is designed to provide information andresources regarding Identity Crime to local and state law enforcement officers.


U.S. Secret Service Unveils Identity Crime Resource for Law Enforcement

News Release: Over 40,000 Copies to be distributed to state and local police departments


Secret Service Director Praises Blaster Arrest

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On Friday, Aug. 29, United States Secret Service DirectorRalph Basham issued the following statement on the arrest in the "Blaster" computer virus investigation


United States Secret Service and Romanian Police Work Together to Solve Major Computer Fraud Investigation

News Release: WASHINGTON, D.C In what has been described as one of the most significant arrestsrelated to the Internet fraud known as phishing, the Romanian General Directorate for


United States Secret Service and Romanian Police Work Together to Solve Major Computer Fraud Investigation Operation Golden Financial Defendants Sentenced in Mortgage Fraud and Identity Theft Scheme

News Release: LOS ANGELES On Monday, Nov. 3, 2003, a 20-month investigation dubbedOperation Golden Financial came to a close with the sentencing of the last of seven