Fernando Villavicencio

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

I am writing to request a copy of any FBI files on Fernando Villavicencio. I am seeking records relating to or mentioning Fernando Villavicencio personally, and as well any records relating to Fernando Villavicencio's work as an investigative journalist, a politician, and as a public figure known for his work with the National Endowment for Democracy.

Born October 11th, 1963 in Alausí, Chimborazo, Ecuador, Fernando Villavicencio died August 9th, 2023 in Quito, Ecuador. He was known for investigative journalism work, for his political work with the Ecuadorian Pachakutik Party, and for being a member of the Ecuadorian national assembly. Of note is that two weeks before the Ecuadorian national election while running as a candidate for President of Ecuador, he was assassinated by three gunshots to the head after a Movimiento Construye political campaign rally in Ecuador: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Fernando_Villavicencio

He was an Ecuadorian citizen. His death at the age of 59 was widely reported in the media in late in August of 2023. He is also known by the name Fernando Alcibiades Villavicencio Valencia.

Major media outlets across America and internationally as of early 2024 have reported his death including: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/ecuador-awaits-funeral-assassinated-presidential-candidate-2023-08-11/

Please conduct searches of the Central Records System, including but not limited to the SENTINEL system, FBI email system, the Electronic Surveillance (ELSUR) Records System, the Microphone Surveillance (MISUR) Indices, the Physical Surveillance (FISUR) Indices, Technical Surveillance (TESUR) Indices, Counter-drug Information Indices System (CIIS), Investigative Data Warehouse (IDW) including but not limited to Investigative Data Warehouse - Secret, IDW-S Core, SPT, and DOCLAB-S, FBI Automated Case Support system (ACS), subset of the Electronic Case File (ECF) system, National Crime Information Center (NCIC), Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), Interstate Photo System (IPS) and/or Facial Recognition Databases such as those used by FACE (Facial Analysis, Comparison, and Evaluation) specialists, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant applications and/or Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) record filings, for both main-file records and cross-reference records for all relevant names, individuals, agencies and companies. Please further consult all available cross-reference indices, databases, and records, in addition to any other data sources containing potentially-responsive materials related to Fernando Villavicencio.

Please include all potentially responsive materials, including but not limited to all communications, reports, investigations, inquiries, audio files, photographs or image files, video files, memos, email systems, directives, network packet captures, meeting minute notes, calendar entries, and any other data or data format that is used by the FBI. Please include all materials found in other subject files and all materials associated with any potentially-related names and any other known aliases, code names, nicknames, or any other identifying pseudonyms or references utilized by this agency or any other agency that is known to the FBI. Please additionally include searches for inter-agency or non-agency communications accessible by the FBI about Fernando Villavicencio.

If any potentially responsive records have been destroyed and/or transferred to NARA, then I request copies of the destruction or transfer slips as well as any other documentation relating to, mentioning or describing said transfer or destruction, to include but not be limited to confirmation that the Bureau has no other copies of said records. If previously released records are available, then I request a rolling release consisting of those records while additional records are located and processed for release.

It is my understanding that your agency is required to search the records stored at NARA’s Washington Records Center in Suitland, MD, which remain technically under your agency’s control (see 36 CFR 1250.8). Please also conduct a search of records at NARA's Washington Records Center in Suitland, for records related to Fernando Villavicencio.

Furthermore, I request the FOIA log and copies of all other requests for information on Fernando Villavicencio including the responsive documents.

Fernando Villavicencio was a public figure. This request is a critical part of a journalistic research project which requires the responsive documents for informing the public. I have previously been determined to meet the criteria for a full fee waiver under journalistic and academic requester status. I am however currently waiting for a copy of that determination letter from the FBI. I am able to produce the relevant FOIA reference where this determination was made by the FBI, if that is needed.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Jacob Appelbaum