In Espionage Act Prosecution Of Fort Bragg Whistleblower, DOJ Allows Home Detention

In Seth Harp’s book, “The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forces,” he chronicles a double homicide that happened at the North Carolina military base in 2020. 

The 10th Military Police Battalion recognized that they had uncovered a drug ring. But by February 1, 2021, according to Harp, the FBI “stepped in and slammed a lid shut on evidence of organized crime in the most elite echelons of special operations, including the bureau’s trusted partner agency, Delta Force.”

Special Agent Jeremy Speer told Harp that Fort Bragg’s Criminal Investigation Division was instructed to “turn over their complete files and notes” on Delta Force Master Sergeant Billy Lavigne and Army veteran Timothy Dumas, who were murdered. 

“All the whiteboards that they’d used were covered in brown paper and sealed with duct tape. When the FBI team arrived, the feds uncovered the whiteboards, took photos, and then wiped them clean. Next, they took custody of every physical piece of paper related to the case, downloaded all relevant computer files, and deleted the raw evidence from CID’s hard drives,” Harp recounted.

When Harp questioned the FBI’s secrecy, former FBI director James Comey would not substantively respond. All of his FOIA requests were denied, and the FBI intervened and blocked Harp from obtaining a redacted copy of CID’s file on the Lavigne/Dumas case. 

Now, the Justice Department (DOJ), which oversees the FBI, is prosecuting Courtney Williams, a Fort Bragg whistleblower and source for Harp’s acclaimed book. She faces prison and significant fines for allegedly violating the Espionage Act.