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Schar School in the News
Schar School’s Terrorism Center Joins International Conservation Union to Combat Wildlife and Conservation Crimes
January 19, 2021
Schar School Adds Intelligence Expert, Author, TV Commentor David Priess to Faculty
January 13, 2021
Schar School Partners with UiPath for Robotic Process Automation Initiative
January 11, 2021
Despite Life’s Daunting Challenges, Schar School Senior Cassidy Whitehurst Thrives at Mason
January 06, 2021

Upcoming Events
Hayden Center Event - The Assault on Intelligence: After Trump (1/26)
January 26, 2021
George Hutchinson Oral Defense of Dissertation Proposal in Public Policy (1/28)
January 28, 2021
Race and Social Justice Colloquia (2/4)
February 04, 2021
Virtual Resume Clinic (2/4)
February 04, 2021
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#Biden’s inaugural address linked prosperity to civic virtue. @ScharSchool’s @StevePearlstein analyzed the address in an op-ed for the @washingtonpost. “The pluralistic ideal lies at the core of Biden’s summons to national unity.” https://t.co/UXIeUJabx4 pic.twitter.com/kMD6pffwI9

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 21, 2021

Will the same happen to #Trump? @ScharSchool’s @jomaburt discussed #Peru’s ex-head of state being held accountable in court with @newrepublic. Peru showed “its citizens that its system of justice is capable of prosecuting even the most powerful.” https://t.co/WC5VSpUsO3 pic.twitter.com/KYH96ASO9R

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 21, 2021

Under #Biden, America has rejoined the @WHO. @ScharSchool’s @SaskiaPopescu tells @Forbes: “I’m truly happy to see that the Biden-Harris administration has prioritized rejoining the WHO.” It’s a good signal to our global partners. https://t.co/J5uGBnNROW pic.twitter.com/ODyGFuLfyj

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 21, 2021

As #Biden takes office, he’s expected to issue many orders during his first 100 Days. @ScharSchool’s @MarkJRozellGMU writes in @thehill that this will “showcase that their elections resulted in meaningful and nearly immediate change.” https://t.co/hWWvrorMZR pic.twitter.com/WwRd1ZBnNP

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 21, 2021

Is #Biden’s new #Climate team the most powerful yet? It depends. @ScharSchool’s James Pfiffner tells @nytimes that “Certainly, they can be powerful, but only to the extent that their policy area is of primary importance to the president.” https://t.co/WA9tLrY1G4 pic.twitter.com/4DGua1rqZj

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 21, 2021

Need to rent? Prices have dropped since March, when #COVID hit us hard. @ScharSchool’s Terry Clower tells @ARLnowDOTcom that it’s definitely due to the #pandemic. “Most of the jobs that we have lost… are typically disproportionately renters.” https://t.co/tpGg8EgTfL pic.twitter.com/pBhRYKN7Yt

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 21, 2021

Someone go out and please tell @SenSanders that class @ScharSchool and @GeorgeMasonU don't start until Monday!
(HT @deltondaigle) pic.twitter.com/hdBtQBorir

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 21, 2021

#Congratulations to @AndrwLight for his appointment to lead #Biden's Office of International Affairs @ Department of Energy as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs. We look forward to seeing you in the classroom when your term is over. pic.twitter.com/pvJPopfchu

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 21, 2021

As #Biden takes office in a few hours, we can look back at #Trump's "economic nationalism" as described by @ScharSchool's Kenneth Reinert @thehill. "Trump’s economic nationalism was largely empty talk. Where it involved action, it was the wrong kind." https://t.co/yh5gdWW5Ow pic.twitter.com/boOlHSxWw4

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 20, 2021

What are the pros and cons of living in a state’s capital? Ask @ScharSchool’s Katrin Anacker. Indicators include professional opportunities, affordable housing, decent transportation, infrastructure, amenities, and weather. https://t.co/5qEgUJJJ4t pic.twitter.com/OWgkGP0KNC

— Schar School (@ScharSchool) January 19, 2021
Home » News & Events » Latest News » Funding Terrorism Through Wildlife Trafficking

Funding Terrorism Through Wildlife Trafficking

Alumna, Former FBI Special Agent Explains How Terrorism in Africa Is Funded—And How to Stop It

By Dixie Downing November 08, 2019

Debra LaPrevotte, former FBI agent and George Mason University graduate, in front of a PowerPoint about wildlife trafficking

Debra LaPrevotte has worked tirelessly to end wildlife trafficking in Africa. The Schar School of Policy and Government’s Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) welcomed the former FBI special agent and current international corruption investigator at the Sentry Group for a Tuesday afternoon discussion on how to stop trafficking networks. The talk was held on the Arlington Campus of George Mason University.

LaPrevotte received a Bachelor’s Science in Kinesiology from Mason before embarking on a 20-year career busting corruption and trafficking organizations as an FBI agent. She founded the FBI’s kleptocracy program aimed at stopping the exploitation of natural resources and citizens by a government or state.

Debra LaPrevotte standing with Louise Shelley, director of the Schar School's Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center“At the Sentry, I am investigating the greed that is fueling war crimes in Sudan and South Sudan,” said LaPrevotte, addressing an audience of nearly 45 students, faculty, and staff. “Wildlife trafficking is a $23 billion per year industry, and we focus on following the money to the source.”

Wildlife trafficking includes the illicit trade of ivory, rhino horn, pangolins, and other animal products used for medicine or decorative purposes.

“In South Sudan, they are using the same methods to move ivory as they did for rhino horns before they poached them all,” she said. “Wildlife traffickers are even using the same routes as- human- and drug-traffickers in the region.”

LaPrevotte focused the lecture around taking down the entire operation rather than simply stopping the man or woman in charge. “From the bottom [poachers], work your way up, and seize it all,” she said. “When I see large seizures of illicit goods, what’s missing is the seizure of bank accounts, property, means of transportation, and information on the supporting networks.”

Some 136 countries found at least one instance of wildlife trafficking moving through their airports between 2009 and 2017, she said. “These networks all have commonalities. We need to increase our information sharing to find similarities and figure out who is paying for transport, who bribed who, and what accounts they work for.”

‘Wildlife trafficking threatens security through funding of extremist groups; it hinders economic development; and it undermines the rule of law in many countries around the world,” she said.

The mid-week afternoon talk, delivered at a time when many Schar School students are at work or preparing for class, was well-attended and well-received.

“It is fascinating and important to learn about this environmental and security threat that affects so many countries,” said Richard Catherina, a Master’s in Public Policy student from Fairfax, Va. “I am looking forward to more events from TraCCC addressing non-traditional security threats.”

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