A deep dive into how a former deputy sheriff became a russian disinformation powerhouse – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Lauren Feiner
A deep dive into how a former deputy sheriff became a Russian disinformation powerhouse.

The New York Times followed the harrowing journey of John Mark Dougan from his time as a deputy sheriff in Palm Beach County, Florida to his new residence in Moscow. From there, he reportedly he runs a vast network of largely AI-generated websites that spout disinformation. He’s apparently managed to build over 160 fake websites, according to The Times.

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