Neal Rauhauser: FBI Informant?

Posted on | January 13, 2013 | 28 Comments

New information about Neal Rauhauser’s activities has been published recently, and I’m trying to figure out where to begin.

Recall that it was Rauhauser’s involvement in the legal battle between Brett Kimberlin and Aaron Walker that first interested me in that story. Rauhauser’s interest in the 2011 WeinerGate scandal brought him into conflict with SWATting target Mike Stack, who today published links to e-mails between Rauhauser and an online researcher named Kelly Hallissey.

This involves a 50-page PDF document published by a site allied with Anonymous, which has also published several other files related to Rauhauser, including: Phone conversations involving “Project Vigilant” — a government-connected information research operation — and a phone conversation in which Neal admits to being “Carlito2000,” who played a key role in the Barrett Brown meltdown. (Brown, a former spokesman for Anonymous, was arrested in September for a video rant in which he threatened to “destroy” an FBI agent.)

What seems to be clear from the e-mails is that Rauhauser was trying to recruit Hallissey to particpate in one of his schemes. At one point in July — see Page 44 of the PDF document — Rauhauser put Hallissey in touch with an FBI agent. The e-mail shows Neal falsely accusing Brandon Darby of three SWATtings. In a September 16 phone call, Rauhauser tried to direct Hallissey to online chat logs involving Barrett Brown, including the one with Neal as “Carlito2000.”

OK, so what’s going on here? Why has someone within Anonymous started publishing these recorded phone calls and other documents?

We can speculate on motives, but my best guess is that Rauhauser is suspected of being a government snitch, and this evidence is being published by someone who is trying to make Rauhauser “radioactive” — an untouchable, an enemy of Anonymous — so that every hacker will be warned to stay away from Rauhauser.

There is also the clear suggestion that Rauhauser is under federal investigation, so that anyone communicating with him might be under surveillance. Thus, by the logic of Anonymous, hackers connected to Rauhauser are also potential security risks and should be avoided.

How all this fits together, I don’t know yet. but I was intrigued by the publication of an e-mail from January 2012 — a year ago — in which Rauhauser is asked to meet with two FBI agents. Within two months of that date, the LulzSec raids went down. Hmmm . . .

One final note: Neal is a very convincing liar. In his conversation with Kelly Hallissey, Rauhauser tells outright lies with such apparent sincerity that it sounds like he actually believes what he’s saying. And if you didn’t know the truth, you might be tempted to believe him, too.

Category: Crime, The Kimberlin Files

Comments

28 Responses to “Neal Rauhauser: FBI Informant?”

dkmkc2000
January 13th, 2013 @ 10:22 pm

RT @smitty_one_each: TOM Neal Rauhauser: FBI Informant? http://t.co/p4Fr40Gc #TCOT
? Ellie Dahl
January 13th, 2013 @ 10:27 pm

They both tried to use one another to further their attacks on others, and it looks like it’s blowing up in their faces, bigtime. that said, Neal did not approach *her.* She approached Neal after being rebuffed by Devine and Barrett Brown. She wanted him as a go-between.

It should also be noted that while she was telling Tom Ryan that she was helping him ‘investigate’ Neal, she was clearly assisting Neal in his revenge attacks. For the last two days she’s been proclaiming Neal’s innocence to all and insisting he was set up in some ridiculous conspiracy that just happens to involve people they both dislike.
robertstacymccain
January 13th, 2013 @ 11:02 pm

People who think they can “use” Rauhauser for their own purposes are apt to be disappointed by the outcome.
Dianna Deeley
January 13th, 2013 @ 11:11 pm

Wait, really, does anyone believe Rauhauser? We’ve all read his material in links here, and they are wildly inconsistent. Why would the FBI use him?
Steve Skubinna
January 13th, 2013 @ 11:19 pm

Like the FBI thought they could “use” Whitey Bulger.
jwallin
January 13th, 2013 @ 11:28 pm

I’ve suspected both NR and BK of being informants or freelance operatives of one agency or another.

There’s indication that BK was an informant going back to his marijuana days and it also seemed strange the passes he got and gets by both LE and the Court system for his shenanigans.

Almost as if he had a “guardian” angel that would “interface” with various functionaries that had oversight of his cases and interactions with those who were critical of him and would’ve brought the attention of others if they were not demonized and marginalized by officialdom.

To most judges, BK’s actions would mostly be mild irritations and since none (except of course his original felonies) of his actions were causing “real” damage, could be overlooked and justified for official inaction. I’m sure Aaron and others would have a different view as to the damage but judges are separated from reality by quite a few steps and the influence of a “bureau” or “agency” could be sufficient to sway their “opinion”.

His position with certain factions of Occupy and other assorted Leftist/anarchist groups could provide some intel of value to those who want to know who’s talking to who about what. That’s why he’s got that sweet setup as a non profit. Easy way to funnel money to him or through him to others, that’s difficult to track back and what they seem to very protective of.

False flag ops and hidden conduits for cash, wouldn’t be the first time government’s done something like this and protected the shady characters running it, now would it?

As to Rauhauser. Seems he’s an eMoby at the least. Maybe he’s not actively aiding in anyone’s investigations but they may be observing him so see if he stirs anything up. (like barrett brown’s diatribe)

His shunning by the online community could be the best result to be hoped for.
MrPaulRevere
January 13th, 2013 @ 11:29 pm

Talking to law enforcement for ANY reason is verboten to that collection of malcontents. This is the mindset we are dealing with.
Adjoran
January 13th, 2013 @ 11:30 pm

Rauhauser obviously suffers from some pathology, but it is impossible to ignore the frequency with which he appears in the vicinity when some of these things occur. Hasn’t every non-celebrity who has been “SWAT-ted” in the last two years been either the object of Rauhauser’s ire or at odds with Kimberlin or some other associate?

And Barrett Brown? He was a sad kid who just wanted to be somebody with his limited skill set. Add Rauhauser to stir vigorously and he ends up in federal custody.

As Ian Fleming wrote, “The first time, it’s happenstance. The second might be coincidence. But the third must be direct enemy action.” Too many coincidences with Neal. The FBI ain’t that dumb. He should have chosen to fool around with the TSA instead.
Adjoran
January 13th, 2013 @ 11:31 pm

They don’t have to believe someone to use them. Neal has friends in low places, as the song goes.
MrPaulRevere
January 13th, 2013 @ 11:45 pm

I think your hunch is spot on. As to the identity of said guardian angel, his wealthy aunt comes to mind. Her name escapes me at the moment, but Stacy did a post on her.
WJJ Hoge
January 13th, 2013 @ 11:55 pm

Remember, folks, that Truth is stranger than Fiction—because Fiction is supposed to make sense.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
January 13th, 2013 @ 11:55 pm

Neal Rauhauser is a snitch? It would explain a lot.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
January 13th, 2013 @ 11:57 pm

Because he would sell out his mother.
Becca Lower
January 14th, 2013 @ 12:11 am

You mean this piece about Harriet Crosby?
MrPaulRevere
January 14th, 2013 @ 12:30 am

Yes and thank you. People like her just make a few calls to old college chums and things get done or go away if you will.
? Ellie Dahl
January 14th, 2013 @ 12:39 am

This is true. I think that’s quite apparent at this point.
Monitor2112
January 14th, 2013 @ 12:58 am

Eventually you would figure they would be burned if they were working for an agency.

There has been an extraordinary amount of heat on both Kimberlin and Rauhauser all of 2012…and it does not look to be letting up coming into 2013. They can only be of service as long as they are in the shadows…and they are NOT in the shadows at the moment with all the lights being shown their way.

It would explain some of the crazy things happening in the Walker v Kimberlin case, I suppose. The dismissals both basically because the judge says they are “political” arguments. One I can see, BOTH using the same basic reasoning…seems fishy. The VA judge even mentioned the ruling by the Federal judge, IIRC.
Adjoran
January 14th, 2013 @ 4:42 am

If I had to guess – and it is only speculation – I would think Neal may have avoided trouble at some point by being “helpful” and since thinks himself able to manipulate the Feds. He has likely provided them more information inadvertently than by intent. Yet he still thinks himself in charge of the relationship.

His big advantage isn’t any control over the FBI, but the fact he is just too darned small a fish to be worth their time, despite the grief he causes others.
Adjoran
January 14th, 2013 @ 4:44 am

I expect everyone who has ever known him has been disappointed by the outcome – including his children.
SDN
January 14th, 2013 @ 6:27 am

And given such examples of unequal justice as the David Gregory non-prosecution it’s hard to blame them for that mindset.

The police are not to be trusted.
Rob Crawford
January 14th, 2013 @ 9:31 am

Meh. Trust, but verify.
McGehee
January 14th, 2013 @ 9:31 am

One I can see, BOTH using the same basic reasoning…seems fishy.

Going by the Ian Fleming rule quoted above by Adjoran, we’ll have a pretty good idea what’s going on if it happens again.
Rob Crawford
January 14th, 2013 @ 9:32 am

BK is protected because he’s useful to some politicians.
Zilla of the Resistance
January 14th, 2013 @ 11:50 am

Stacy must have struck a nerve, because I’m getting spam with links to altnet “from” Stacy today. I know Stacy didn’t really send it, but this is what the lame impersonator troll does routinely when it gets a bug in its ass over something.
Quartermaster
January 14th, 2013 @ 12:50 pm

Never! NEVER, trust the Police. They are just another criminal gang. The only difference between them and Crips is they have the power of the state behind them and, in most ways, that makes them far more dangerous and far less trustworthy.
Becca Lower
January 14th, 2013 @ 4:35 pm

You’re welcome.
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