Amy Jo Lyons recently was named the special agent-in-charge of the Baltimore office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
After taking down Italian crime families in New York, Latin gangs in New Haven, Conn., and terrorists after Sept. 11, Lyons told The Examiner she?s ready for Baltimore, one of the most murderous cities in America.
What is your background?
Ridgewood, New Jersey.
I went to the University of South Carolina for undergrad.
I went to Ball State University for my master?s, also in psychology.
I had an athletic scholarship to South Carolina, so I had my education paid for.
I played softball. I played second base.
You first made your mark at the FBI in New Haven, Conn., where you led a task force that busted up the Almighty Latin Kings Nation. Can you tell us about that takedown?
We conducted a long-term investigation into the hierarchy of the Latin Kings.
The leader was actually from Connecticut.
We targeted his network, and we were able to incorporate drug trafficking and homicide into a prosecution of the Latin Kings.
Did you think you really broke up that gang?
No doubt ? that piece of the Latin Kings.
In Bridgeport, [Conn.,] the homicide rate dropped dramatically.
There?s nothing more rewarding than going out on the street after the takedown and seeing children playing where previously they were truly prisoners in their own homes. Elderly people would … thank us for allowing them to have a safe environment to work and sit out on the front porch. Previously, gunfire was commonplace.
We have similar problems in Baltimore, withlots of violence and homicides, sometimes attributed to gangs. What do you plan to do?
The true strength of law enforcement is when we work together. We want to utilize the sophisticated investigative techniques to disrupt and dismantle [gang] leadership.
In February 1999, you went to New York, where you managed an Italian Organized Crime Squad focused on the Columbo organized crime family.
The Columbo organized crime family was one of the most violent of the five families. You try to target people at the highest levels where you?ll have the most significant impact.
You were also the on-the-scene commander during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
When the first plane hit, I was on the street. It?s burned into my mind what happened that day. I remember looking up at the building at what I originally thought was debris flying out of the building, and later I saw people just jumping.
You were involved in the Zacharias Moussaoui investigation.
Yes, for six months, I was detailed to headquarters to oversee the investigative efforts after the events of 9/11 and the prosecution of Zacharias Moussaoui.
… We flew people overseas to [interview] people who were detained by other governments who may have information.
We were pursuing Moussaoui and others who masterminded the plot, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Ramzi Binalshibh, all of the players.
Did you feel a sense of calling during that period in our nation?s history?
… The day after the attacks, I went down to ground zero, and on the way back we drove up the West Side Highway and there were people with American flags. It was moving. You saw people who were proud and wanted to protect our country. What was particularly moving is: They were proud to stand up for the values that America has.
Your predecessor Bill Chase, who has retired, said his top priority was protecting against terrorism. Is that also your top priority?
Terrorism is the FBI?s top priority. So it?s our top priority here.
There hasn?t been a terrorist attack in the United States since 2001. We have violent gangs and murderers killing people almost every day in Baltimore. Does it make sense for terrorism to be the top priority of the FBI here?
It does. You never know. Those 19 hijackers were here in our territory. We have to do everything in our power to make sure that doesn?t happen again. If someone is here, a sleeper cell … we?re ready, and we?re hyper-vigilant. … We have to also address the day-to-day threats that are so prominent in our territory, violent gangs being very close to the top of the list, along with public corruption.
Speaking of public corruption, this office this past year helped convict state Sen. Thomas Bromwell in what was hailed as one of the biggest public corruption cases in recent Maryland history. But it seems hard to believe he was the only corrupt politician in Annapolis. Will we see anything more coming out of the Bromwell case?
I don?t know.
[Baltimore FBI spokesman Rich Wolf: As far as we know, it was a solo thing.]
The Baltimore FBI doesn?t have any major environmental crimes cases. Is that something you?d like to see more of?
Absolutely. If there are crimes against the environment, we will investigate aggressively. We just don?t know of any at this point.
It?s been more than four years since the mysterious death of federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna. Is it frustrating that that case hasn?t been closed or solved?
I can?t really comment on that. I wasn?t here and I haven?t been briefed on it.
[Wolf: It?s like a pending, inactive. There hasn?t been an official decision one way or the other.]
The coroner ruled Luna?s death a homicide. The FBI, as I understand it, believes Luna committed suicide. So, the case is just sort of hanging in limbo?
[Wolf: There?s nothing new that has developed. The U.S. Attorney?s Office will have to make a final decision.]
Earlier this year, an unarmed man, Edward Lamont Hunt, was shot in the back by a Baltimore City police officer. Your office has opened an investigation into that shooting, after civil rights groups cried foul. How closely will you work with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on civil rights issues?
This will be a very high priority for us and for me personally: civil rights, hate crimes, human trafficking. I put a lot of emphasis on protecting against those kinds of violations.
In 2005, businessman Robert Clay died from a gunshot wound to the head. The medical examiner ruled the death a suicide, but his supporters believe Clay was murdered. The FBI reviewed the Baltimore City police?s work, and agents said they agreed with the suicide conclusion. Do you think the FBI did enough investigation?
I don?t know the particular case.
[Wolf: I think the perception is we can supersede an investigation by another law enforcement agency. In that particular case, the Baltimore homicide unit requested our assistance. It wasn?t our purview to take over the investigation.]
What Clay?s supporters said they wanted was for the FBI to interview more people and dig for more evidence ? if it exists ? that Baltimore City police did not discover.
If, in the course of reviewing the case file, we found gaps that needed additional investigative efforts to resolve the case, then we would do that.
What would you like Maryland residents to know about you?
I subscribe to the philosophy of leader as servant.
I?m a big believer in working cooperatively not just with other law enforcement agencies, but minority communities, religious and other groups.
