Steven Pasholk
@stevenpasholk.bsky.social
Retired Special Agent in Charge. Former Economic Crimes Advisor to two dozen+ countries. Proud graduate of The Ohio State University, Fort Hays State University, and Western New Mexico University. Former Oakland Athletics fan White collar crime is crime
The NYT obit by Tim Weiner characterizes now deceased Aldrich Ames as a brawling alcoholic philanderer (with a foregin national) who was given a desk job because he was an ineffective field agent who "failed upward." At least the CIA didn't have a DEI program where the meritless were hired. :)
January 7, 2026 at 3:56 AM
The NYT obit by Tim Weiner characterizes now deceased Aldrich Ames as a brawling alcoholic philanderer (with a foregin national) who was given a desk job because he was an ineffective field agent who "failed upward." At least the CIA didn't have a DEI program where the meritless were hired. :)
The first thing I thought when I saw this picture is "Why is Maduro handcuffed from the front?" Officer safety dictates always having the hands being behind the back. Then it hit me--It's just a photo op and if he was cuffed properly, you couldn't see the handcuffs, which was the whole point.
Solemn-faced Nicolás Maduro sports handcuffs as he makes first public comment since capture during perp walk
The tyrant sported black sweats and a black hat sitting roughly on his head as he clutched a water bottle while being escorted by federal agents inside Manhattan’s Drug Enforcement Administration h…
nypost.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:37 AM
The first thing I thought when I saw this picture is "Why is Maduro handcuffed from the front?" Officer safety dictates always having the hands being behind the back. Then it hit me--It's just a photo op and if he was cuffed properly, you couldn't see the handcuffs, which was the whole point.
Since the U.S. will now "run" Venezuela, will the U.S. switch sides in the border dispute between V and Guyana, which involves oil fields? Guyana currently controls the disputed area, with U.S. support, but will this change? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guyana%...
Guyana–Venezuela crisis (2023–2024) - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
January 4, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Since the U.S. will now "run" Venezuela, will the U.S. switch sides in the border dispute between V and Guyana, which involves oil fields? Guyana currently controls the disputed area, with U.S. support, but will this change? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guyana%...
The 79 year old First Felon just said the US is "going to run" Venezuela until "a safe, proper and judicious transition" of power. Venezuela has 28.5 million people and an area 30% larger than Texas,so this will be difficult. If only the U.S. had an agency that assisted in international development
January 3, 2026 at 6:13 PM
The 79 year old First Felon just said the US is "going to run" Venezuela until "a safe, proper and judicious transition" of power. Venezuela has 28.5 million people and an area 30% larger than Texas,so this will be difficult. If only the U.S. had an agency that assisted in international development
The $1776 "warrior dividend" for the military announced by the 79 year old First Felon is from funds already appropriated by Congress to make up the inflationary effects on basic allowance for housing (BAH). BAH is not taxable. A bonus or "dividend" is. Is he actually hurting the military?
Trump rebrands Congressionally-approved troop housing subsidy as ‘warrior dividend’ bonus
More than $2.9 billion in reconciliation funds was allocated to beef up troop housing allowances. Now it’s being used for $1,776 checks.
www.defenseone.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:13 PM
The $1776 "warrior dividend" for the military announced by the 79 year old First Felon is from funds already appropriated by Congress to make up the inflationary effects on basic allowance for housing (BAH). BAH is not taxable. A bonus or "dividend" is. Is he actually hurting the military?
In 2013 Mick Foley was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, as was the future 79 year old First Felon. Foley is also a two-time NYT number one best selling author. www.si.com/fannation/wr...
Mick Foley Severs Ties With WWE And Reveals The Exact Reason Why
WWE Hall of Famer, Mick Foley, announced in a social media post on Tuesday morning that he's parting ways with WWE. Foley made headlines by criticizing WWE and
www.si.com
December 16, 2025 at 5:58 PM
In 2013 Mick Foley was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, as was the future 79 year old First Felon. Foley is also a two-time NYT number one best selling author. www.si.com/fannation/wr...
Two Bolton search warrant questions. What about the statute of limitations on any alleged criminal offense? How fresh is the probable cause? (I assume they hope to find a classified document, extending the statute as an ongoing offense, but tt still doesn't address the probable cause issue.)
August 22, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Two Bolton search warrant questions. What about the statute of limitations on any alleged criminal offense? How fresh is the probable cause? (I assume they hope to find a classified document, extending the statute as an ongoing offense, but tt still doesn't address the probable cause issue.)
ICE is obviously having bigly recruiting problems. This is horrible for lots of reasons, including officer safety for senior citizen recruits and their colleagues. There's a reason why there is an age limit. www.dhs.gov/news/2025/08...
Secretary Noem Unveils No Age Limit for Patriotic Americans to Join ICE Law Enforcement to Help Remove Worst of the Worst from U.S. | Homeland Security
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will waive age limits for new applicants so even more patriots will qualify to join ICE in its mission to arrest murd...
www.dhs.gov
August 6, 2025 at 5:00 PM
ICE is obviously having bigly recruiting problems. This is horrible for lots of reasons, including officer safety for senior citizen recruits and their colleagues. There's a reason why there is an age limit. www.dhs.gov/news/2025/08...
ICE is getting so desperate for people that they are advertising for retired Special Agents, any agency, to return to work. From looking at the job listing, rules preventing double dipping will be waived. Pay listed at $105-171k yearly. I assume this doesn't include 25% LEAP www.ice.gov/return
Return to Mission
www.ice.gov
July 28, 2025 at 1:43 PM
ICE is getting so desperate for people that they are advertising for retired Special Agents, any agency, to return to work. From looking at the job listing, rules preventing double dipping will be waived. Pay listed at $105-171k yearly. I assume this doesn't include 25% LEAP www.ice.gov/return
As a result of my steelworker sister's death, I own some shares in the company that she worked for. (U.S. based but not U.S. Steel.) Since January 20, share prices have dropped 13.6%.
March 11, 2025 at 3:54 PM
As a result of my steelworker sister's death, I own some shares in the company that she worked for. (U.S. based but not U.S. Steel.) Since January 20, share prices have dropped 13.6%.
February 14 is the birthday of my grandfather, Valentine born 1887. Grandmother also born in the U.S. in 1890, never learned English. I've seen at least 6 different spellings of the last name that my grandfather used. He had a 2nd grade education, so it was probably that and not being on the lam.
February 14, 2025 at 5:05 PM
February 14 is the birthday of my grandfather, Valentine born 1887. Grandmother also born in the U.S. in 1890, never learned English. I've seen at least 6 different spellings of the last name that my grandfather used. He had a 2nd grade education, so it was probably that and not being on the lam.
My Dad used to call President Nixon "Honest Richard" and by today's standards he was right. In October, 1973, Vice President Spiro Agnew pled guilty to felony tax evsion (He did not report bribe income when he was a county commissioner/governor.) Special Agents or Prosecutors were not fired
February 1, 2025 at 3:01 AM
My Dad used to call President Nixon "Honest Richard" and by today's standards he was right. In October, 1973, Vice President Spiro Agnew pled guilty to felony tax evsion (He did not report bribe income when he was a county commissioner/governor.) Special Agents or Prosecutors were not fired
Why do I keep getting emails from Linkedin suggesting that I follow Vivek Ramaswamy? Hard pass.
November 29, 2024 at 5:09 PM
Why do I keep getting emails from Linkedin suggesting that I follow Vivek Ramaswamy? Hard pass.
Book read this week: "Jewish Space Lasers: The Rothschilds and 200 Years of Conspiracy Theories" by Mike Rothschild (no relation).
November 22, 2024 at 1:43 PM
Book read this week: "Jewish Space Lasers: The Rothschilds and 200 Years of Conspiracy Theories" by Mike Rothschild (no relation).
Thisis one of the difficult cases to grade when assigning it to a Special Agent. Because of the sensitivity/notoriety of the investigation, it needs a very senior, experienced person. However, the investigative steps (Venmo and checks) warrant assignment to the most junior person available.
Gaetz sent over $10K in Venmo payments to 2 women who testified in House probe, records suggest
The House Ethics Committee has records showing Matt Gaetz allegedly paid more than $10,000 to two women who later testified in front of the panel, ABC News has learned.
abcnews.go.com
November 21, 2024 at 12:24 AM
Thisis one of the difficult cases to grade when assigning it to a Special Agent. Because of the sensitivity/notoriety of the investigation, it needs a very senior, experienced person. However, the investigative steps (Venmo and checks) warrant assignment to the most junior person available.
Reposted by Steven Pasholk
"A fire-gutted shack in San Francisco with no bathroom, kitchen, running water, or electricity can be yours — or dare I say mine? — for $299,000."
sfstandard.com/2024/11/18/s...
sfstandard.com/2024/11/18/s...
Finally, a San Francisco home in my price range
There’s no water or electricity, and it’s burned to a crisp, but at least it’s near public transit and restaurants. And at $300,000, I could actually afford it.
sfstandard.com
November 18, 2024 at 8:58 PM
"A fire-gutted shack in San Francisco with no bathroom, kitchen, running water, or electricity can be yours — or dare I say mine? — for $299,000."
sfstandard.com/2024/11/18/s...
sfstandard.com/2024/11/18/s...
California law enforcement authorities allege that four people involved in an insurance claim concerning a bear attack on a Rolls Royce committed fraud since the attack was actually by a human in a bear suit.
‘Bear attack’ on Rolls-Royce was scam using human in costume, California officials say
Four people charged with insurance fraud and conspiracy after analysis of videos and discovery of bear costume
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2024 at 3:48 PM
California law enforcement authorities allege that four people involved in an insurance claim concerning a bear attack on a Rolls Royce committed fraud since the attack was actually by a human in a bear suit.
Book read this week (for no particular reason). "The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters" by Tom Nichols.
November 15, 2024 at 2:12 PM
Book read this week (for no particular reason). "The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters" by Tom Nichols.
The head of anti-money laundering for the national police in Spain has been arrested after 20 million Euros was allegedly found at his residence. The alleged source was payoffs from drug dealers. Placement, let alone layering and integration, of ill-gotten gains is hard.
Spanish police arrest ex-fraud chief after €20m found in walls of his house
Investigation into country’s largest cocaine bust reveals cash in home of former head of anti-money laundering
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2024 at 3:59 AM
The head of anti-money laundering for the national police in Spain has been arrested after 20 million Euros was allegedly found at his residence. The alleged source was payoffs from drug dealers. Placement, let alone layering and integration, of ill-gotten gains is hard.
Reposted by Steven Pasholk
Folks: we hate doing these posts, but now is the time to rebuild our pro-democracy community right here on BlueSky. No more leaving our future in the hands of Elon Musk. If you are able, please follow, repost this, and let your followers know we are here. Let's do this!
November 10, 2024 at 9:17 PM
Folks: we hate doing these posts, but now is the time to rebuild our pro-democracy community right here on BlueSky. No more leaving our future in the hands of Elon Musk. If you are able, please follow, repost this, and let your followers know we are here. Let's do this!