ALBANY, N.Y. — A South Carolina woman was sentenced to five months in jail for sending racially charged death threats to a Black man in Catskill, New York, via social media, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.

Kristin Keeble, 54, of Pageland, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to transmitting a threat to injure another in interstate commerce. Along with her jail term, she was sentenced to three years of supervised release, including six months of home detention.

According to court documents, Keeble sent four threatening voice messages through Facebook Messenger on October 26, 2023. The messages were described as profanity-laced, racially derogatory, and included threats to kill the victim by hanging, along with similar threats toward a woman known to the victim and her children.

Keeble claimed in the recordings that she was acting with members of the Ku Klux Klan. Prosecutors said she specifically targeted the victim after seeing his Facebook profile photo and identifying him as Black.

“No one should ever receive despicable, hateful threats like this,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “Those who threaten people over the Internet are going to be prosecuted and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

The case was investigated by the FBI Albany Field Office.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

TAMPA, Fla. — A Pennsylvania man was arrested after federal authorities unsealed a complaint charging him with cyber harassment directed at the CEO of Tampa General Hospital, U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced Thursday.

Lawrence Brunn, 63, of Oakmont, Pennsylvania, is accused of a prolonged pattern of threats and intimidation against the executive, identified in court documents as J.C., dating back to at least 2023. If convicted, Brunn faces up to five years in federal prison.

According to the complaint, Brunn posted repeated threats online, escalating in intensity over the past two years. The threats included explicit references to execution and beheading, including one April 9 post stating that J.C. “should have his head chopped off” and that J.C. “should be scared…of we the people.”

In addition to social media activity, Brunn allegedly sent threatening letters to J.C.’s private residence, to the homes of J.C.’s neighbors, and to members of the Tampa General Hospital Board of Trustees.

Brunn was taken into custody following the issuance of a federal arrest warrant. The charge remains an allegation, and Brunn is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

A Pennsylvania man faces federal charges after allegedly threatening to behead the Tampa General Hospital CEO in a two-year campaign of online and mailed harassment.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

BRONX — A manhunt is underway after a driver slammed a car into three women on a Bronx sidewalk early Sunday morning, police said.

The incident unfolded around 4:30 a.m. outside 3233 East Tremont Avenue, where the driver of a blue Mitsubishi Outlander got into a verbal altercation with a group of individuals, according to police.

Following the dispute, the man drove onto the sidewalk and struck three women — ages 31, 27, and 40 — before fleeing the scene in the direction of Puritan Avenue.

Emergency crews responded and transported all three victims to NYC Health and Hospitals/Jacobi, where they were listed in stable condition.

The suspect is described as a male with a heavy build. He was last seen wearing a black shirt, black pants, white sneakers, and a red baseball cap.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the NYPD.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

CLEVELAND — A former employee at the Trumbull Correctional Institution pleaded guilty Monday to smuggling drugs and contraband into the facility in exchange for bribes, federal prosecutors announced.

James P. Jackson, 39, of Niles, Ohio, admitted to attempting to deliver two packages to an inmate at the Leavittsburg prison while working as a general maintenance worker. Jackson had previously served as a corrections officer at the same facility.

According to court documents, Jackson was in contact with the wife of an incarcerated man from 2022 through early 2024. The two exchanged text messages and phone calls before arranging to meet on Feb. 1, 2024. At that meeting, she gave Jackson two packages and paid him $1,000, with a promise of another $1,000 if he successfully delivered them to her husband.

The following day, Jackson attempted to bring the packages into the prison but was intercepted by law enforcement before entering.

The contents of the packages included 97.67 grams of methamphetamine, 207.63 grams of synthetic cannabinoid, 32.85 grams of PCP, various other controlled substances, a cellphone, and SIM cards.

On July 15, Jackson pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right for using his position to accept payment in exchange for transporting contraband. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

CAMDEN, N.J. — A New Jersey tax preparer pleaded guilty to filing fraudulent tax returns that caused over $16 million in losses to the federal government, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced Thursday.

Michael Sigall, 55, of West Berlin, admitted in federal court to two counts of aiding or assisting the preparation of false tax returns. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Sigall operated a tax preparation business from 2018 through 2024. During that time, he submitted hundreds of returns that falsely claimed residential energy tax credits, inflating refunds for clients who were not eligible for the deductions.

“These were materially false statements relating to tax credits for residential energy improvements,” prosecutors said. “As a result of these false and fictitious credits, Sigall’s clients received inflated refunds.”

The total tax loss attributed to Sigall’s fraudulent filings exceeded $16 million, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Each count carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine or twice the financial gain or loss caused by the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for December 2.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

OCEAN CITY, N.J. — A viral video circulating online shows a worker at Primavera Pizza hurling a slice at a group of teenagers on the Ocean City boardwalk, sparking widespread speculation but few confirmed details.

The short clip, posted Saturday, captures the moment a pizza slice is thrown from behind the counter toward teens filming the scene with their phones. The video does not show what occurred before or after the incident.

The footage quickly drew attention on social media, with commenters split over who was at fault.

The teenagers have not been identified, and no official statements have been made by local authorities regarding the event. The restaurant, located along the popular tourist boardwalk, did not respond to requests for comment as of Sunday.

It remains unclear what prompted the exchange, though some online have speculated the teens may have provoked the incident.

The Ocean City Police Department has not indicated whether it is investigating.

Uncertainty around the video’s context has fueled debate, but neither the restaurant nor the teens have made public statements.

The clip has added to a growing list of boardwalk confrontations that have gone viral in recent month

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A Rochester man who admitted to setting two fires, including one at a local grocery store and another at the city’s Hall of Justice, has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison.

Jermaine Fields, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa after pleading guilty to arson, U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles E. Moynihan, Fields was identified through security footage after a fire broke out in the men’s bathroom of the Abundance Co-Op Market on South Avenue on April 17. Responding firefighters detected the smell of burning rubber and found charred debris and burn marks on the bathroom floor and wall, though no active flames were present.

Security video from inside the store showed Fields walking through the premises, entering the bathroom, and exiting just before the fire alarm was triggered. He was arrested several days later.

Fields also admitted to a separate incident on April 5, in which he ignited papers in a stairwell at the Hall of Justice on Exchange Boulevard. No injuries were reported in either fire.

Fields pleaded guilty to one count of arson and was sentenced to the statutory minimum for the offense.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

GREENBELT, Md. — Three alleged members and associates of MS-13 have been indicted in federal court for their roles in a RICO conspiracy involving the fatal stabbing of a homeless man and drug trafficking, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Maxwell Ariel Quijano-Casco, 24, and Daniel Isaias Villanueva-Bautista, 19 — both nationals of El Salvador — and Josue Mauricio Lainez, 21, of Hyattsville, Maryland, made their initial appearances in the District of Maryland following their arrests.

Court documents detail that on July 4, 2024, the three men allegedly carried out a coordinated attack resulting in the death of a homeless man. The next day, a passerby discovered the victim’s body inside a blue 2008 Dodge Caravan parked in a used-car lot in Hyattsville and contacted authorities.

Upon responding to the scene, investigators located the deceased male, who appeared to have suffered a stab wound to the neck. Surveillance video from a neighboring business showed that at approximately 11:35 p.m. on July 4, Quijano-Casco and another individual approached the victim, who then brandished a metal pole in response. Quijano-Casco and the other person fled the area, and the victim returned to the van.

Roughly 15 minutes later, Quijano-Casco returned to the scene accompanied by Villanueva-Bautista, Lainez, and another individual. At 11:48 p.m., video footage shows the group approaching the van, opening the driver-side sliding door, and making repeated striking motions into the vehicle. The victim was not seen exiting the van afterward.

“The brutal retaliatory murder of this victim is a chilling reminder of the MS-13 gang’s callous disregard for human life,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes.

On August 23, Prince George’s County Police arrested Quijano-Casco and Villanueva-Bautista. Quijano-Casco was found with a black Ruger P95DC semi-automatic handgun and eight grams of cocaine. During questioning, both men admitted to being present during the fatal altercation. Quijano-Casco stated he stabbed the man but claimed it was in self-defense.

All three defendants are charged with conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. If convicted, each faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.

Authorities say surveillance footage and confessions from the suspects were critical in building the case.

The investigation was led by the FBI, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, and the Prince George’s County Police Department.

Federal prosecutors say the three suspects carried out the attack as part of MS-13’s operations in the region.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

PITTSTOWN, N.J. — U.S. Senator Andy Kim criticized recent Republican-led legislation during a visit to solar panel installations in Hunterdon County, warning it could threaten jobs and New Jersey’s competitive edge in renewable energy.

Kim toured the facilities on Friday, meeting with workers and industry leaders involved in the state’s solar sector. He said the tour highlighted how the state is “helping to make NJ a leader in the solar industry,” but warned that progress could be undermined.

“Those jobs and our competitiveness are at risk of going away because of the votes Rep. Tom Kean Jr. and other Republicans took to pass their Big Disastrous Bill,” Kim said on social media.

He did not specify the legislation by name, but was referring to a Republican-supported appropriations bill that included cuts to clean energy programs. The measure, passed in the House last month, has been criticized by Democrats for slashing funds that support renewable energy development and climate initiatives.

Kim said the cuts jeopardize not only local employment but also America’s global standing in the solar market, which is currently dominated by China.

“It’s going to take a lot to reverse these cuts and restore those opportunities,” he said, adding that he plans to “work with our neighbors to get it done.”

The visit comes as Kim continues his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by indicted Sen. Bob Menendez.

The senator’s remarks underline ongoing partisan divisions over federal energy policy and domestic manufacturing priorities.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

HARTFORD, Conn. — A New Jersey man was sentenced Tuesday to three years of probation, including six months of home detention, for stealing thousands of pieces of mail from U.S. Postal Service collection boxes in New Haven and West Haven, federal authorities announced.

Ixavier Holman Jr., 34, of Secaucus, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala and ordered to perform 150 hours of community service. Holman pleaded guilty to mail theft on November 20, 2024.

According to court documents, between December 2022 and June 2023, Holman used stolen USPS collection box keys to access blue mailboxes at multiple locations, including 95 Fountain Street in New Haven and two West Haven sites: 589 Campbell Avenue and 844 Jones Hill Road.

Holman was arrested on June 12, 2023, after returning to one of the locations in West Haven and attempting to access a mailbox. At the time, he was in possession of two collection box keys. A search of his residence led to the recovery of more than 3,000 pieces of stolen mail, USPS mail bins, a credit card reader, and an embosser.

Federal investigators reported that the stolen mail included thousands of checks and money orders, sorted by bank, with a combined face value of more than $1.5 million.

The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

TULSA, Okla. — A former middle school teacher and coach from Missouri has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for traveling to Oklahoma to engage in illegal conduct involving a minor, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

Ronald Dale Sanders, 57, of Belton, Missouri, was convicted of six federal offenses, including traveling with intent to engage in unlawful activity, abuse and contact offenses in Indian Country, tampering with evidence, coercion of a minor, and production of illegal material. U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill handed down a 360-month sentence, followed by lifetime supervision. Sanders must also register as a sex offender.

According to court documents, Sanders initiated contact with a former student through social media. Over several weeks, the communication became inappropriate, and he encouraged the minor to conceal the relationship. Between August and October 2023, Sanders traveled from Missouri to Oklahoma on multiple occasions, misrepresenting himself to the child’s family and entering their community under false pretenses.

Officials said Sanders used his prior position as a teacher to gain trust, attending school events and claiming to act as a tutor. He also gave gifts and made efforts to avoid detection. In October 2023, one of the minor’s parents discovered Sanders outside their home and notified law enforcement. He was later stopped by officers and taken into custody.

A joint investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol uncovered extensive communication between Sanders and the minor that supported the charges brought against him.

“This sentence reflects the serious nature of the crimes committed and the breach of trust involved,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma in coordination with federal and local law enforcement.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

NEWARK, N.J. — A 22-year-old Essex County man pleaded guilty Tuesday to multiple federal firearms offenses, including possession of a ghost gun and an illegally modified machine gun, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Kaiyir Green of Newark entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner in Trenton federal court. He admitted guilt to a four-count indictment that included two counts of possession of a firearm and/or ammunition by a convicted felon, one count of illegal possession of a machine gun, and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.

According to court documents and statements made during the hearing, the charges stem from a March 1, 2023, incident in which Green fled from law enforcement responding to a stolen vehicle report. Officers apprehended Green after a foot chase and recovered a loaded privately manufactured firearm, commonly known as a ghost gun, from his possession.

Following his arrest, Green made several phone calls from a recorded detention center line directing someone to retrieve a “black bag” from his home. Surveillance confirmed an individual removed a black bag from the residence. A search of the bag later revealed a modified firearm equipped with a switch enabling fully automatic fire. The weapon was loaded with a single round of 9mm ammunition and connected to a large-capacity magazine. Authorities also recovered a 50-round drum magazine.

Green faces up to 15 years in prison for each count of being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition, and up to 10 years each for possession of a machine gun and an unregistered firearm. Fines for the offenses could total up to $760,000.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New Jersey State Police, and the Elizabeth Police Department.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

TRENTON, N.J. — A nickname coined by a conservative social media user has drawn a bizarre digital response from Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s campaign, or followers, escalating tensions in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race.

Sherrill is now running for governor in New Jersey.

The term “Vanilla Harris,” used by the account @Oldglorycries to mock Sherrill, was posted earlier this week and quickly picked up by right-wing users, including @AWokeZombie. The Sherrill campaign responded by purchasing the domain vanillaharris.com, which now hosts a direct rebuttal accusing critics of deflection and misinformation.

The name appears to be a cross-reference to Sherrill being a watered-down version of former Democratic candidate for President, Kamala Harris, with a side order of mocking former President Joe Biden’s love of vanilla ice cream, perhaps.

“Right-wing operatives would rather invent childish nicknames and spread misinformation than talk honestly about policy,” the campaign website reads.

The message continues with criticism of political opponents for “threatening budget cuts and school closures after pursuing frivolous lawsuits through crony law firms,” while positioning Sherrill’s Affordability Agenda as a contrast.

The website promotes her policy platform focused on clean energy investment, universal pre-K, and tax relief for working families. It does not address the origin of the nickname directly.

The domain move drew ridicule from the nickname’s creator, who reposted the site alongside emojis and taunts. “Vanilla Harri”s was coined by @oldglorycries,” the user wrote.

Sherrill, a Democrat and former Navy helicopter pilot, announced her campaign for governor earlier this year. She has not made a personal statement about the nickname or the website.

The web address remains active as of Sunday and continues to display a message countering the online mockery.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — A former federal correctional officer at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC-Brooklyn) pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle contraband into the facility, federal officials announced Tuesday.

Najee Jackson admitted in court to concealing vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana and cigarettes inside his Bureau of Prisons-issued protective vest in January 2025, while on duty at the Brooklyn facility. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Orelia E. Merchant.

Jackson now faces up to five years in federal prison for attempted provision of contraband in prison.

According to prosecutors, Jackson was caught attempting to bring the contraband into MDC-Brooklyn, violating federal law and institutional regulations.

“The defendant admitted to bringing contraband into the very jail he was charged with protecting,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “His actions undermined the safety and security of his fellow correctional officers and the inmates at MDC-Brooklyn.”

The investigation was led by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG).

“Those who betray the trust and jeopardize the safety of their fellow correctional officers and citizens will face consequences for doing so,” said DOJ-OIG Special Agent in Charge Ryan T. Geach.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

ST. PAUL, MN — Two men face federal charges after law enforcement seized nearly 900 pounds of methamphetamine in what authorities are calling one of the largest drug seizures in Minnesota history, prosecutors announced.

Joel Casas-Santiago, 46, and Guillermo Mercado-Chaparro, 44, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Mercado-Chaparro also faces an additional charge of illegal reentry by a removed alien, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.

Court documents state that an undercover officer purchased one pound of meth from Mercado-Chaparro, who was driving a Toyota Tacoma at the time. Surveillance revealed Mercado-Chaparro traveling throughout south Minneapolis conducting suspected drug transactions.

Days later, investigators observed Mercado-Chaparro removing two large garbage bags from the Tacoma and placing them in a nearby Jeep Wrangler. Officers stopped the vehicle and detained both suspects. A drug-sniffing dog indicated the presence of narcotics, and a search of the Jeep uncovered over 250 pounds of meth hidden in garbage bags and a cooler.

Police then executed a search warrant on the Tacoma and found an additional 630 pounds of methamphetamine in the truck bed.

In total, authorities recovered approximately 900 pounds of methamphetamine.

“This isn’t just another drug bust—it’s one of the largest methamphetamine seizures in Minnesota history,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Thompson.

Both men remain in custody pending further legal proceedings.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
A gavel and a block i

HOUSTON, TX — A Brenham man who led a nonprofit veteran support organization has been charged with misappropriating federal grant funds intended to aid homeless veterans, federal prosecutors announced.

Clifford Wayne Robertson, 59, was charged in a criminal information with embezzling federal funds awarded to Castle Cares Community Ministry Inc., doing business as The Warrior’s Refuge. The nonprofit operates as a homeless shelter and support facility for veterans.

Robertson is accused of misusing portions of approximately $1.8 million in combined federal grants awarded by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Labor (DOL) between February and April 2020.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, during his tenure as CEO and executive director, Robertson submitted multiple federal assistance applications on behalf of the organization. After the grants were awarded, prosecutors allege that he used some of the funds for personal expenses and for counseling services he did not provide to veterans.

Robertson is scheduled to make his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard W. Bennett on July 28 at 10 a.m.

If convicted, Robertson faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

WASHINGTON — Two Richmond residents and one Maryland man have been indicted on federal charges for conspiring to traffic firearms purchased from licensed dealers in Virginia to individuals prohibited from owning guns, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Moniqua Jefferson, 31, and Valentino Hall, 28, both of Richmond, along with Derrick Boyd Jr., 32, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, were arrested at their homes and made their initial court appearances in the District of Columbia. Magistrate Judge Matthew Sharbaugh ordered the defendants held pending a detention hearing scheduled for Thursday.

The indictment, unsealed in the District of Columbia, alleges that from September 2022 through September 2024, Jefferson and Hall purchased over 22 firearms from licensed retailers in the Richmond area. The pair then allegedly transferred those weapons to individuals barred from legally owning guns, including minors and convicted offenders, sometimes for cash.

According to the indictment, Hall and Jefferson communicated regularly with customers seeking to circumvent federal firearms laws. On multiple occasions, they allegedly bought firearms and delivered them to co-conspirators, including Boyd, in exchange for payment. In one instance, Boyd accompanied Jefferson to a licensed Richmond firearms retailer where she purchased a Ruger handgun. Boyd later transferred funds to Jefferson totaling more than the retail price of the weapon.

The charges further detail that on June 6, 2024, Jefferson bought a firearm that was recovered just over two weeks later from an underage individual in Washington, D.C. Additional firearms purchased by the defendants were later seized in Maryland and the District from individuals who could not legally possess them.

The case is being prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe Again initiative, a federal law enforcement program aimed at curbing gun violence and enforcing firearm-related offenses in the nation’s capital.

All three defendants face charges related to conspiracy to traffic firearms and remain in custody pending further proceedings.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil complaint against Global Office Furniture, LLC (GOF) and its owner, Malcom E. Smith, alleging that the Myrtle Beach-based company defrauded the federal government by underpaying customs duties on imported office chairs from China.

Federal prosecutors claim that from 2019 to 2023, GOF and Smith conspired with a Chinese manufacturer to submit false invoices and undervalued entry summaries to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), thereby reducing the amount of customs duties owed.

According to the complaint, the defendants used a double-invoicing scheme to report lower values on imported office furniture, while concealing the actual purchase prices. The underreported values led to decreased duty payments on merchandise shipped from the People’s Republic of China.

The United States also alleges that after learning of the federal investigation, GOF and Smith took steps to destroy evidence related to the scheme.

The case, United States ex rel. Joyce v. Global Office Furniture, LLC, et al., is being prosecuted under the False Claims Act. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Austin McCullough and James Leventis are leading the case, with investigative support from CBP and Homeland Security Investigations.

A South Carolina office furniture importer is accused of falsifying invoices to dodge customs duties and later trying to destroy evidence of the scheme.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Police handcuffs and criminal fingerprints card

WASHINGTON — A former Fairmount Heights, Maryland police officer was sentenced Wednesday to 74 months in federal prison after being convicted of violating a man’s civil rights by using excessive force during a 2019 traffic stop, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.

Philip Dupree, 40, was found guilty by a federal jury on June 17 of one count of deprivation of rights under color of law. In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered Dupree to serve three years of supervised release.

According to court documents, the incident occurred on August 4, 2019, in Washington, D.C., when Dupree conducted a traffic stop on Eastern Avenue NE. After detaining the driver and the driver’s sister, Dupree pepper-sprayed the driver while he was handcuffed and seated in the back of a police vehicle.

Jurors concluded that Dupree’s actions constituted the use of unreasonable force in violation of the victim’s constitutional rights.

“When the defendant used unnecessary and excessive force on a man in handcuffs, he violated his duty and betrayed his oath to serve and protect,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division added, “Dupree abused his authority as a police officer, and today Dupree was held accountable for his actions.”

The case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

BENTON, IL — Five men from Mississippi were sentenced in federal court for using spotlights to illegally hunt white-tailed deer across multiple counties in southern Illinois, then transporting the animals across state lines in violation of federal wildlife laws, prosecutors announced.

Between 2018 and 2022, the men used high-powered spotlights at night to locate and kill deer in Massac, Jefferson, Union, Pope, and Clark counties. They later returned to retrieve the carcasses and transport them to Mississippi, where they harvested the animals and often mounted their heads or antlers.

Lee J. Johnson, 54, of Saucier, pleaded guilty to unlawful transport of wildlife in violation of the Lacey Act. He was sentenced to five years’ probation and ordered to pay $75,000 in restitution and a $10,000 fine.

Steven J. Pique, 56, of Biloxi, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and received five years’ probation and $2,000 in restitution.

Gerald B. Moran, 40, of Saucier, was sentenced to five years’ probation and ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution and a $2,500 fine after pleading guilty to unlawful transport of wildlife.

Joshua A. Marshall, 30, also of Saucier, received three years’ probation, $7,500 in restitution, and a $2,500 fine for his role in the illegal activity.

John M. Pritchard, 57, of Biloxi, was sentenced to five years’ probation and ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution and a $5,000 fine after pleading guilty to unlawful transport of wildlife.

Authorities said the group’s actions violated the Lacey Act, a federal law that prohibits trafficking in illegally taken wildlife.

“This was not an isolated incident of unlawful hunting; rather, it was a calculated, multi-year operation that exploited Illinois’s prized wildlife resources for personal gain,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Assistant Director Douglas Ault.

Fines collected from the defendants will be deposited into the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Lacey Act Reward Account. Restitution payments will go to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

“This case sends a clear message: wildlife laws are not only about species protection, but they also uphold the principles of fair chase and ethical hunting,” said Jed Whitchurch, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Law Enforcement.

The coordinated investigation involved federal and state agencies, highlighting what officials described as a deliberate effort to dismantle a network of illegal hunting that spanned years and state borders.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

ALBANY, NY — A Rhode Island man admitted in federal court Tuesday to stealing more than $55,000 from ATMs across multiple states, including New York, Massachusetts, and Kentucky, and transporting stolen funds across state lines, prosecutors announced.

David Degrasse, 59, of West Warwick, pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property in connection with a series of burglaries targeting small businesses. He remains in custody pending sentencing.

According to court documents, Degrasse sawed into an ATM at a restaurant in Catskill, New York, in the early morning hours of April 27, 2023, stealing approximately $9,300, which he transported out of the state. He had also attempted to burglarize a convenience store in Hillsdale, New York, after cutting its alarm wires, but abandoned the effort before moving on to the Catskill location.

In his plea, Degrasse also admitted to similar ATM thefts in Walden and Pine Plains, New York; Lenox, New York; Concord, Massachusetts; and Bagdad, Kentucky. In total, he stole more than $55,000 from machines across the six locations.

As part of his plea agreement, Degrasse has agreed to forfeit the $9,300 stolen in Catskill and pay restitution.

“David Degrasse’s multi-state crime spree is over,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III.

Degrasse faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release at sentencing. No date has yet been set.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

BROOKLYN, NY — Federal prosecutors unsealed an 11-count superseding indictment in Brooklyn federal court Tuesday, charging four members of the violent Euro 380 gang with racketeering, murder, armed robberies, and narcotics distribution.

Kashawn Mason (aka “Jojo,” “Jojo Euro”), Daniel Horton (aka “DayDay,” “DayDay Tz”), Ryan Nieves (aka “Rocket,” “TooSturdy”), and Dylan Stanley (aka “Brady”) face charges that include firearm-related murder, assaults in aid of racketeering, and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Mason and Stanley were arrested and arraigned Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge James R. Cho. Horton and Nieves, already in federal custody, will be arraigned at a later date.

According to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph Nocella Jr., the four defendants are members of Euro 380, a subset of the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation gang operating out of the Marcy Houses in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

Authorities allege that on September 30, 2023, Nieves, Stanley, and two juveniles opened fire at the Sumner Houses, rival territory of the “900” subset of the Bloodhound Brims. The group allegedly fired 34 rounds in broad daylight, killing 21-year-old Kyle Forde and wounding two others. The shooting was allegedly ordered by Mason and another high-ranking gang member.

In addition to the homicide, the indictment links the defendants to three armed robberies committed in Brooklyn between September and November 2023, including the targeting of a smoke shop, a bodega, and private individuals. Firearms or simulated weapons were used in each incident.

Mason and Stanley also face charges of fentanyl distribution and possession with intent to distribute.

“This was brazen, targeted violence that put entire communities at risk,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

Authorities described Euro 380’s actions as a campaign of violence intended to elevate the gang’s status and intimidate rivals, turning public housing areas into battlegrounds.

The charges are part of the FBI’s “Summer Heat” initiative, targeting violent crime nationwide during the summer months.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

NEW YORK, NY — A New York man pleaded guilty to running a 14-year investment fraud scheme in which he stole more than $5 million from close friends and family members, federal prosecutors announced.

Joseph D’Ambrosio, operator of a private investment vehicle called Hereford Holdings, entered a guilty plea Tuesday before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel to one count of wire fraud. The charge stems from a scheme that spanned from 2010 through December 2024.

According to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, D’Ambrosio told investors he was placing their money in legitimate securities and private funds he managed as chief investment officer. In reality, the funds were misappropriated for his personal use.

“Joseph D’Ambrosio stole more than $5 million from his friends and family and hid this fraud until the money ran out,” Clayton said.

Federal investigators said D’Ambrosio issued fake investment performance statements and fraudulent tax forms to investors, falsely showing profits. When withdrawal requests were made, he used new investor money to repay earlier investors in a Ponzi-style arrangement. The scheme collapsed in December 2024 when D’Ambrosio was unable to fulfill redemption requests and confessed.

“For years D’Ambrosio, using deceptive tactics, allegedly stole from people who trusted him all in the name of greed,” said Edward Gallashaw, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s New York Division.

Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. D’Ambrosio remains free on bond pending further court proceedings.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

BOSTON, MA — A Dominican national who had been deported from the United States three times was convicted last month of illegally reentering the country following his most recent removal, federal officials announced.

Santo Beato Aybar-Aybar, 49, pleaded guilty on June 16 in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.

Aybar-Aybar was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers in Lawrence after authorities determined he had returned to the U.S. without inspection, admission or parole by a U.S. immigration official.

He had previously been removed from the country on three separate occasions, most recently on September 21, 2021.

“Santo Beato Aybar-Aybar repeatedly displayed a blatant disregard for U.S. immigration laws, and that resulted in his conviction for illegally reentering the country after deportation,” said ICE ERO Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde.

Aybar-Aybar faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. His sentencing is scheduled for September 11. He is also subject to deportation upon completion of any prison term.

ICE Boston stated it will continue targeting individuals who violate federal immigration laws.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

STAFFORD, VA — A 32-year-old woman has been charged with second-degree murder following a deadly shooting Saturday afternoon in South Stafford, authorities said.

Deputies from the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office responded at approximately 12:40 p.m. to a report of a person shot. The caller told dispatchers she believed she had shot and killed her ex-boyfriend. She was located shortly after in the parking lot of the Giant grocery store at 550 Celebrate Virginia Parkway and detained without incident.

Deputies simultaneously responded to a residence on Rocky Run Road, where they found a 31-year-old male with apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The suspect, identified as Ashlynn Blair, was found in possession of the firearm believed to have been used in the shooting. Investigators determined the incident was domestic-related.

Blair was charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. She is being held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

The name of the victim has not been released, pending family notification.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

You can't access this website

Shore News Network provides free news to users. No paywalls. No subscriptions. Please support us by disabling ad blocker or using a different browser and trying again.