NEW YORK, NY – Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., and New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea today announced the indictment of ROBERTO CARMONA, 51, and Tennessee-based HAROLD FLORAN, 51, for selling 80 guns and corresponding ammunition to an undercover NYPD detective. The indictment also charges two other Tennessee residents, ALAN GOODE, 30, and MELVYN MCDONALD, 41, for knowingly supplying the firearms for illegal sales in New York City. The defendants are charged in a 141-count New York State Supreme Court indictment with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree, as well as various counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First, Second, and Third Degrees, and other related charges. 

“Roberto Carmona allegedly used his job as a doorman to operate a highly illegal, one-man gun show out of the Midtown building where he worked – storing ammunition in his locker and selling multiple deadly weapons outside,” said District Attorney Vance. “Mr. Carmona is also accused of bringing his work home with him, selling dozens of guns outside the Morningside Heights building where he lived.

“Not even a global pandemic can stop the flow of guns from Southern states into our City. We can wait a lifetime for states like Tennessee to strengthen their nonexistent gun laws, or we can raise the stakes for trafficking in New York. That’s why, every year since 2016, I have proposed a new Gun Kingpin bill to establish the crime of ‘Operating as a Major Firearms Trafficker’ which would carry a penalty of up to 25 years to life in prison for selling 20 or more firearms in one year. I thank the brave undercover detective and all the members of the NYPD’s Firearms Suppression Division for their partnership and exemplary work on this case.”

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said: “New York City police officers risk their lives every day to prevent guns from getting into criminals’ hands because every shooting is a serious concern to the public and the police. With too many illegal guns already out there, it’s a great service that our NYPD investigators and prosecutors have performed in this case to ensure that these trafficked guns were taken out of commission before reaching our city streets.”

According to the indictment, between January 29, 2021, and September 9, 2021, CARMONA sold a total of 80 guns, including 63 semi-automatic pistols, 11 revolvers, two assault rifles, two rifles, one sawed-off shotgun, one shotgun, and corresponding ammunition to an undercover NYPD detective. The 15 sales took place near CARMONA’s home in Morningside Heights, and at a building on West 55thStreet in Midtown, where he worked as a doorman and stored ammunition in his locker in the building’s basement. Prices ranged from $500 to $3,700 per firearm.

The defendants orchestrated the gun sales through text messages and phone calls and exchanged cash and digital payments. Typically, GOODE and MCDONALD purchased the weapons in Tennessee, and sold them to FLORAN. FLORAN then met CARMONA in Virginia, Tennessee, or New Jersey to exchange the weapons. FLORAN and CARMONA used their personal cars to transfer the guns, but on one occasion, FLORAN transported the firearms in a U-Haul. The Tennessee-based defendants typically purchased the weapons at gun stores, but also discussed buying firearms on ArmsList.com, a classified ad website that serves as a platform for individuals to buy and sell weapons and accessories in private transactions.

The investigation was conducted jointly by the Manhattan District Attorney Office’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Unit (“VCEU”) and the NYPD’s Firearms Suppression Division. VCEU was created in 2010 by District Attorney Vance to lead the efforts of the Office in combatting gun and gang violence, with an enhanced focus on illegal firearms trafficking within New York City. Since its formation, VCEU has brought 42 indictments against 123 gun traffickers operating between New York City and states including Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, leading to the removal of more than 1,800 illegal guns from New York City streets.

Assistant D.A. Jamie Kleidman is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Christopher Prevost (Chief of VCEU), as well as Executive Assistant D.A. Joan Illuzzi-Orbon (Chief of the Trial Division). VCEU Investigative Analyst Vanessa Reider also assisted with the investigation.

District Attorney Vance thanked Chief of Detectives James Essig, Assistant Chief Christopher McCormack, Inspector Brian Gill, Captain Jeffrey Heilig, Lieutenant Michael Raso, Sergeants Brian O’Hanlon, James Lundy, Brian Manning, and especially, Detective Garth Merandy and the courageous undercover detectives of the Firearms Investigation Unit. Additionally, DA Vance thanked the U.S. Marshals at the NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force and Sergeant William Dooley and Detective Michael Dalia, formerly of the NYPD’s Intelligence Division.

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Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a Long Island City man has been arraigned on an indictment in which he is charged with sex trafficking, promoting prostitution, assault, and related charges for the alleged sex trafficking of a young woman in Brooklyn and elsewhere.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This young woman allegedly suffered horrific abuse at the hands of this defendant. Thankfully, she was able to escape and get help. We must continue to do all we can to raise awareness of human trafficking and to prosecute those who engage in this appalling crime.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Walter Pinckney, 25, of Long Island City, Queens. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on a nine-count indictment in which he is charged with sex trafficking, second-, third- and fourth-degree promoting prostitution, second- and third-degree assault, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, and unlawful imprisonment. He faces up to 25 years in prison on the top count and would be required to register as a sex offender if convicted. He was ordered held on bail of $500,000 bond or $100,000 cash and to return to court on November 16, 2021.

The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, between May 11, 2021 and June 6, 2021, the defendant allegedly forced a 24-year-old woman who he met through mutual friends to work as a prostitute after taking sexually suggestive photos of her and posting them in advertisements on megapersonals.com and skipthegames.com, offering sex in exchange for money.

It is alleged that when the victim said she did not want to work in prostitution, the defendant hit her. He allegedly arranged numerous dates for her throughout New York City and specifically at the Imperial Hotel in East New York, giving her Adderall and Ecstasy to keep her awake and working – sometimes for up to three consecutive days.

It is alleged that the abuse escalated throughout the course of the time the woman was with the defendant, including an instance where he allegedly placed both of his hands around her neck and applied pressure restricting her ability to breath because she did not want work as a prostitute.

On another occasion, it is alleged, she was tasered by an unidentified woman and beaten by the defendant after leaving a date and heading to the defendant’s residence on her own instead of waiting to be picked up. She was allegedly punched in the face, chest and abdomen by the defendant and suffered bruising and broken ribs.

Finally, it is alleged, the woman was taken to a house in East Flatbush in early June and held at the location and not given adequate food or water. She was confined to a single room and her wrists and ankles were bound with electrical cord. On June 6, 2021, she was able to loosen the cords, escape the residence, run down the street, and call 911 from a local corner store.

The case was investigated by Detectives Antonio Pagan and Liam O’Hara of the New York City Police Department, Human Trafficking Squad, under the supervision of Sergeant Robert Duplessis and Lieutenant Amy Capogna, along with Detective David Mills from the NYPD/HSI Public Safety Task Force, under the supervision of Sergeant Taiwo Adeleke. Both squads fall under the overall supervision of Captain Thomas Milano, Executive Officer and Inspector Fernando Guimaraes, Commanding Officer of the Vice Human Trafficking Unit.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Mary E. Monahan, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney David Weiss, Deputy Chief of the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit, and under the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Miss Gregory, Chief of the Special Victims Bureau.

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shell casings

FRANKLIN TWP., N.J. (SCPO) – Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor and Franklin Township Public Safety Director Quovella M. Spruill announced an investigation into multiple reports of gunshots fired in the area of Franklin Boulevard in the late evening hours of Saturday, October 2, 2021 in Franklin Township.

Prosecutor Robertson stated that on October 2, 2021, at approximately 10:33 p.m., Franklin Township Police officers were dispatched to the area of Fuller Street and Franklin Boulevard in Franklin Township for a wounded victim that was reportedly shot while in the area. The victim sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound while walking to a residence during a party. The victim, a Franklin Township adult female resident, was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Detectives from Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit responded to the scene along with detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department to investigate.

While conducting the investigation, Detectives were notified of a second victim, an Edison adult male resident, who responded to a nearby hospital with a gunshot wound. The victim also sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound from the same incident on Fuller Street and Franklin Boulevard. Detectives have not released a motive for the shooting which remains under investigation.

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BOONTON, NJ – Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes announces Tonya Fea, 49-years-old, from Boonton, New Jersey was sentenced today for committing an act of animal cruelty. On April 30, 2019, members of the West Milford Police Department and the Jefferson Township Police Department began an animal cruelty investigation.

The officers received a call regarding a deceased Golden Retriever puppy in a crate along the bank of Greenwood Pond on Bonter Road in West Milford, New Jersey. Upon receipt of the information the officers responded to the scene where they recovered the remains. Based on the investigation, Ms. Fea was arrested on May 7, 2019. Ms. Fea pled guilty on August 12, 2021, before the Honorable Marilyn C. Clark, J.S.C. to one count of third-degree Animal Cruelty. On October 5, 2021, Judge Clark sentenced Ms. Fea to 5 years of probation with a condition that she serve 180 days in Passaic County Jail.

In addition, Ms. Fea will be required to perform 100 hours of community service and refrain from owning dogs in the future. The State was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Kerry Salkin. The defendant was represented by Richard Baldi, Esq. Any inquiries may be directed to Passaic County Assistant Prosecutor Kerry Salkin, who can be reached at 973-225-5443 or [email protected].

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CAMDEN, NJ (CCPO News) – Last Friday, the Camden High Intensity Drug Task Force (HIDTA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cherry Hill Office, under the direction of HSI Newark working with local and state partners seized 66.3 kilos of fentanyl from a home in Pennsauken Township with a street value of approximately $2 million. The investigation also yielded an AR-15 rifle with a large capacity ammunition magazine and more than $64,000 in cash.  

“I want to thank all of the participating agencies for the hard work and long hours that went into this month-long investigation and for this historic seizure of a deadly narcotic,” Camden County Police Department Chief Gabriel Rodriguez said. “I cannot say enough good things about the work that was done by HSI and Camden HIDTA with assistance from the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, New Jersey State Police, Pennsauken Police Department and the Camden County Sheriff’s Office. This investigation took the purest fentanyl we have ever encountered off street corners in the city and inevitably saved thousands of lives.”

Search warrants were initiated and executed at the 4700 block of Lafayette Avenue in Pennsauken on Sept. 24, by the Office of the Sheriff. Three suspects were arrested on site:

  • Alexander Vargas, 42, of Camden
  • Isidro Gutierrez- Gomez, 57, of Camden
  • Adalberto Rodriguez, 53, of Camden.

Jason J. Molina, special agent in charge of the HSI Newark Field Office, spoke about the impact that this investigation and partnership had on the community:

“Investigations like this one, which remove high quantities of deadly narcotics and powerful weapons from our streets, highlight precisely why joint partnerships among county, state and federal agencies, like the Camden HIDTA, are so successful,” Molina said. “Together, we didn’t just remove a dealer from the streets; we disrupted a sophisticated production operation that showed the link between drug distribution and the gun violence harming our communities.”

Jerry Daley, executive director of HIDTA, talked about the extensive work that was done and the large contribution this seizure made to regional public safety:

“Fentanyl and its analogs have been the region’s and the nation’s most dangerous drugs threat for the past several years. Too often, it’s use has resulted in serious consequences, including thousands of deaths every year,” Daley said. “Any time law enforcement can remove large quantities of fentanyl from the marketplace, we are saving lives.  The Liberty Mid-Atlantic HIDTA congratulates the Camden County Police, HSI and its partners for making this seizure, and extends its support to the agencies who continue the effort to make our communities safer by pursuing those who traffic in this poison. Every dose removed from the drug supply represents one more life likely saved.”

All three suspects are being charged with 2C:35-10A Possession of CDS (Fentanyl), 2C:35-5B (2) Possession with intent to distribute (Fentanyl), 2C:35-4 Maintain or Operate Manufacture Facility (Fentanyl), 2C:39-5F Possessing an AR Style 5.56 Caliber Semi-Automatic Rifle, 2C:39-9K Possession of a  firearm without a manufacture name or serial number, 2C:39-3J Possession of two Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines and 2C:39-4.1A Possession of a Firearm while committing a CDS Offense.

The New Jersey State Police, which worked on the operation and utilized its HazMat team to remove the powerful narcotic from the home, played a critical role in its seizure. Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, talked about the deadly composition of fentanyl.

“It has been proven that even trace amounts of fentanyl can have the potential to sicken or even kill an adult, which really puts a seizure of this magnitude into perspective,” Callhan said. “This investigation undoubtedly saved a countless number of lives, and I am grateful to all of the dedicated law enforcement professionals who worked tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.”

Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer described an effort and operation that may have set a state record for a fentanyl seizure: 

“Thanks to extraordinary efforts of our federal, state, and local partners, we have seized one of the largest, if not the largest, quantity of suspected fentanyl in Southern New Jersey,” Mayer said. “These drugs will never make it to the streets because of the collaborative work of all involved to interrupt this distribution chain.”   

Pennsauken Police Chief, Phil Olivo, talked about the importance of interagency partnerships and the results that can have for the community:

“I am proud of everyone who worked together on this job which led to the extraordinary seizure of fentanyl,” Olivo explained. “We are lucky that our department has enough resources to dedicate a member of our agency to the team. A seizure of this size prevented many overdoses and saved the lives of many people who would have purchased this fentanyl at the street level.”

Camden County Sheriff, Gilbert “Whip” Wilson, and the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT) responded and assisted the operation on Sept. 24:

“Any time we can work with our state and local partners, and remove this poison from the streets of Camden County it’s a good day,” Wilson said. “I want to thank Camden HIDTA, HSI, the state police and all of our other partners who worked on this operation. There is no doubt that lives were saved by keeping these narcotics out of our community.”

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MOUNT LAUREL, NJ – A Mount Laurel man who made national headlines for his racist tirade caught on video and shared on social media is now facing even more charges as he continues to sit in jail pending trial.

The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office reports:

Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced today that the Mount Laurel man arrested in July for bias intimidation of his neighbors and other crimes has been charged with leaving a threatening note on one of his victim’s cars earlier this year, and also vandalizing the victim’s vehicle.

Edward Mathews, 45, of Gramercy Way, was charged today with Bias Intimidation (4th Degree) and Harassment (Petty Disorderly Persons Offense). He was served with the charges in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly, where he has been held since his July 5 arrest.

The investigation of Mathews, conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Mount Laurel Police Department, has now resulted in 22 separate charges against him since July 2, including Bias Intimidation, Harassment, Criminal Mischief, Possession of a Weapon (Slingshot) For an Unlawful Purpose, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute, Stalking, Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The charges are pending presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment.

The racially-charged words and actions of Mathews against his neighbors on July 2 went viral on social media and resulted in a large protest outside of his residence three days later, the same day he was arrested.

Mount Laurel Police Department officers who took him into custody had to work their way through the crowd to place him into a patrol vehicle. Four people who were in the crowd were charged today with crimes that included discharging pepper spray at the police and Mathews, damaging property, and spitting at the police.

Tawanda M. Jones, 48, of Park Boulevard in Camden, is accused of discharging pepper spray onto the officers who were apprehending Mathews. She was charged with Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Third Degree), Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Fourth Degree), Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer (Fourth Degree), Simple Assault (Disorderly Persons Offense), and Disorderly Conduct (Petty Disorderly Persons Offense).

Daniel A. Harris, 25, of Cooper Street in Beverly, is accused of throwing a brick-like object through a window at Mathews’ residence just after he was taken into custody. He was charged with Criminal Mischief (Fourth Degree) and Disorderly Conduct (Petty Disorderly Persons Offense).

Christopher D. Staples, 21, of Colgate Avenue in Pemberton, is accused of throwing rocks toward officers as they were walking the defendant to the Mount Laurel police vehicle. The rocks struck the vehicle, causing nearly $600 in damage. He was charged with Criminal Mischief (Fourth Degree) and Disorderly Conduct (Petty Disorderly Persons Offense).

Khalil Wilson, 18, of Coventry Way in Mount Laurel, is accused of spitting toward police officers while standing on top of a vehicle as they escorted Mathews from his home. He was charged with Throwing Bodily Fluids at Law Enforcement Officers (Fourth Degree) and Disorderly Conduct (Petty Disorderly Persons Offense).

The charges were filed on a summons for each defendant. They were not taken into custody. First appearances in Superior Court will be scheduled in the near future.

“The outrage sparked by Mathews’ conduct on the viral video does not give permission to anyone to commit unprovoked assaults upon police officers or acts of vandalism,” Prosecutor Coffina said. “These were blatant crimes, caught on video, and the individuals responsible must be held accountable, regardless of whether they were committed in the midst of a protest or at any other time.”

The most recent charge against Mathews was filed after a handwriting analysis performed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that a threatening note left on a neighbor’s vehicle in January had been written by Mathews. Feces also had been smeared on the vehicle.

Prior to July, multiple complaints had been lodged with Mount Laurel police concerning Mathews’ behavior, dating to 2016, but no charges had been filed. This led to allegations by some that the department was showing favoritism toward Mathews and failed to investigate the accusations made against him.

As a result, the Prosecutor’s Office announced on July 6 that it would undertake an independent review of all previous incidents reported to Mount Laurel police involving Mathews, and also MLPD’s response to them.

Today, the Prosecutor’s Office is releasing the results of its review. Among other findings, the review found no indication of favoritism shown toward Mathews, and that neither individual MLPD officers, nor the department as a whole, failed to investigate or were dismissive of the complaints raised by his neighbors. However, the report notes that MLPD generally viewed the complaints raised by Essex Place residents on a case-by-case basis, rather than taking a problem-oriented approach. With a broader perspective on the situation in the community, MLPD might have been able to devise an effective solution and brought relief to the residents Mathews had victimized sooner than his July 2 arrest.

“We empathize with the residents of Essex Place who were on the receiving end of Mathews’ conduct,” Prosecutor Coffina commented about the report released today. “No one should have to endure racial harassment anywhere, but especially not in their own neighborhood and even in their own home.”

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CAMDEN, NJ – Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that a 24-year-old Camden drug dealer has been sentenced to eight years in New Jersey state prison for causing the death of a customer to whom he sold fentanyl-laced cocaine during the summer of 2019.

Marquese Smith will not become eligible for parole until 85 percent of the term has been served. He pled guilty in May to one count of Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Death (First Degree). The sentence was handed down September 3 in Superior Court in Mount Holly by the Hon. Gerard H. Breland, J.S.C.

The investigation began in June 2019 when officers from the Maple Shade Police Department responded to the Ryan’s Run West Apartment Complex and discovered the body of a 33-year-old woman who had fatally overdosed.

The Burlington County Medical Examiner’s Office concluded the cause of death was cocaine and fentanyl toxicity.

The investigation determined that the drugs used by the victim had been purchased from Smith, who was charged in October 2019.

Smith was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Jeremy Lackey and Assistant Prosecutor Michael Angermeier, supervisor of the BCPO Gang, Gun and Narcotics Task Force (GGNTF). The investigation was conducted by the Maple Shade Police Department and the BCPO GGNTF.

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FREEHOLD – A Keansburg cop is facing up to 20 years in prison for forcing himself upon a victim who was passed out, the Monmouth County Prosecutor reported.

The police officer has been arrested and criminally charged with sexually assaulting an incapacitated woman earlier this year, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced Tuesday.

Nicholas Thompson, 24, is charged with first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault, second-degree Sexual Assault, and third-degree Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact.

An investigation by members of the Prosecutor’s Office revealed that in January 2021, the sexual assault took place at a private residence, when the victim was unconscious and incapable of consent.

Thompson, who was sworn in as a Patrolman in Keansburg last month, was a SLEO (Special Law Enforcement Officer) Type II at the time of the alleged assault. He was taken into custody without incident on Monday and transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending a first appearance to take place in Monmouth County Superior Court.   

If convicted, Thompson could face up to 20 years in state prison on the Aggravated Sexual Assault charge, as well as up to 10 years on the Sexual Assault charge.

“The news of yesterday’s arrest was shocking and disturbing for all of us to hear,” Keansburg Police Chief Wayne Davis said. “The Keansburg Police Department is comprised of professional investigators of the highest caliber, and we refuse to allow the actions of one officer to negate or obscure the good work they do every day. We will also continue to cooperate with the Prosecutor’s Office’s investigation and prosecution in any way necessary, in order to bring this defendant to justice.”

At the direction of Chief Davis, Thompson has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of this case.

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TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today signed A681 into law, which expands the scope of the Law Against Discrimination (LAD) by providing protections against age discrimination by employers.   

“Discrimination of any kind has no place in New Jersey,” said Governor Murphy. “Working across departments, alongside the Legislature, and with our partners in advocacy, we are committed to rooting out discrimination and ensuring a stronger and fairer New Jersey for all, regardless of age.”   

Currently, the LAD prohibits discrimination and harassment based on actual or perceived race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, and other protected characteristics, including age. Today’s bill signing amends the LAD to extend protections against age discrimination by:  

  • Implementing a higher standard for a government employer in terms of setting a mandatory retirement age;  
  • Eliminating the provision of the law that allows employers not to hire or promote workers over 70 years old;  
  • Removing the provision within the law that permits higher education institutions to require tenured employees to retire at 70 years old; and  
  • Expanding the remedies available to an employee required to retire due to age to include all remedies available under the LAD and not just reinstatement of employment with backpay.

Primary sponsors of the bill include Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, Senator Shirley Turner, and Assemblymembers Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Angela McKnight, and BettyLou DeCroce.  

“As in many places around the country, New Jersey’s workforce is aging, and we need to be proactive in protecting those older workers against age discrimination,” said Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, a prime sponsor of the bill. “One way to do that is to bring these outdated laws into the 21st Century, in order to grant these valued employees the same protections enjoyed by younger colleagues. I am particularly pleased that one provision of this new law serves to delete language dating back to 1938 that permitted an employer to force retirement on an individual if that employer can show that ‘age bears a manifest relationship to the employment in question.’ This sort of vague, subjective wording has no place in any state that professes to care about all of its workers.” 

“70 is the new 50, and older individuals are continuing to work either due to financial need or because they still have the energy, skills, and experience to offer the workforce,” said Senator Shirley Turner. “I am pleased that we have taken the steps to protect and empower those who might otherwise be forced into retirement before they are ready.”  

“Not every worker has the luxury of retiring at age 65,” said Assemblymembers Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Angela McKnight, in a joint statement. “Some will still need to work well into their golden years to be able to live independently. Others may simply want to keep working for their own personal fulfillment. In any case, older workers should be able to retire by their own volition, not because an employer forced them out solely because of their age. This discriminatory practice furthers unfounded assumptions about age and ability and restricts opportunities for older adults in the workforce who may still need a source of income. This new law is long overdue. It’s time to update our State laws to fully prohibit age discrimination in the workplace and open doors for older workers to stay employed.” 

“New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well (NJAAW) applauds the passage of this 

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Washington County, FL -A man from Old Towne, FL is behind bars this morning on aggravated battery charges against a Law Enforcement Officer and a Firefighter.

Around 7 a.m. this morning, the Washington Communications Center received a call reference to a car fire on Interstate 10 near mile marker 107. Deputies, along with the Florida Highway Patrol responded to assist Five Points Volunteer Fire Department and Bonifay Fire-Rescue with this emergency. On arrival of Law Enforcement, they began to hear a firefighter calling for assistance from the wood line. Law Enforcement observed the driver of the vehicle, 55-year-old, David Chester Lovvorn in the woods yelling while holding a tire iron in a defensive position, after striking the firefighter with the weapon. Lovvorn was given orders to drop the tire iron but instead threw the tire iron striking the Washington County deputy in the finger and the leg. The deputy deployed his taser, striking Lovvorn. Lovvorn was handcuffed, taken into custody and transported to the Washington County Jail on charges of aggravated battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, aggravated battery on a Firefighter and resisting arrest with violence.

If you have any knowledge of crimes being committed, or tips, please contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 850-638-6111. You may also contact us anonymously by calling 850-638-TIPS (8477) or by email at [email protected].

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LOWER GWYNEDD TWP, PA – Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Lower Gwynedd Township Police Chief Paul Kenny request the public’s help in locating a 17-year-old runaway, Joon “Alex” Shin. Shin was reported missing from his family’s home in Lower Gwynedd Township on Sunday, October 3, 2021.

The Lower Gwynedd Township Police and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau are jointly conducting the search for Alex. The boy is of Asian descent, stands 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 175 pounds. He left home by car, but indications are that he might have abandoned the vehicle in favor of public transportation. His cellphone last placed him in Philadelphia around 11th and Arch Streets on Sunday evening.

“There is an urgent concern for Alex’s safety and physical wellbeing,” said DA Steele. “We are asking for the public’s help to get Alex home safely to his family.”

Anyone who spots Alex or has any information about Alex’s whereabouts is asked to call the Lower Gwynedd Police at 215-646-5300 or the Montgomery County Emergency Dispatch at 610-635-4300.

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BREVARD COUNTY, FL – The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the owner of 770 pounds of marijuana found in a storage unit. The department had some fun with their bulletin which can be read below:

If you happened to have lost or misplaced approximately 770 pounds of high-grade marijuana and would like to have your property returned, please contact our Narcotics Agents and we will be more than happy to reunite you with your lost property!!

All of us at one point or another in our lives have lost or misplaced something important and are always hopeful that a good and kind person will find our lost item and do the right thing by returning it to it’s rightful owner.

Since at the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office we always strive to do the right thing, our Narcotics Agents are trying to identify the rightful owner of the approximately 770 lbs of marijuana that was seized from a mini-storage facility in Viera. I mean, trying to identify the rightful owner of the property is the very least we can do, especially since it has a street value of roughly two million dollars!!

So if the 770 lbs of marijuana belongs to you, all we need you to do is come down to our Criminal Investigative Services building on Gus Hipp Blvd in Rockledge and claim your property with absolutely no strings attached!! Once we properly identify you as the rightful owner we will gladly return your property and also make sure that both you and your property are kept in a secure area so that no one can try to rip you off!!

In fact, we are so excited to return something this valuable to its rightful owner that we are also going to throw in an all expenses paid extensive “staycation” so that you can reflect for a while on exactly how much your lost property means to you!!

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D’Illberville, MS – On Wednesday, at approximately 3:50 P.M., the D’Iberville Police Department received a call of a possible kidnapping in the Winn Dixie parking lot. Our officers quickly responded to Winn Dixie and established a perimeter in order to contain any possible suspects. While on the scene, the officers made contact with the alleged victim, who was at their place of employment in a different location. The call was determined to be a hoax, and we, the D’Iberville Police Department, would like to apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. The safety of our fellow citizens and visitors remain our top priority.

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ATHENS – Earlier this year, law enforcement was notified by the Henderson County Adult Probation Department that several probationers were appearing in social media videos purporting to be members of a gang in Athens. Many of these videos included individuals on probation holding firearms and suspected narcotics. Acting on this information, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Athens Police Department, along with members from the Smith County District Attorney’s office and the Henderson County District Attorney’s office worked quickly together to stop this activity.      

The State filed motions to proceed with adjudication and revoke their probation based on multiple violations of the conditions of probation. These violations included failing to avoid people and places of harmful and disreputable character, including people who previously have been convicted of a crime and locations where a criminal act is being committed as well as other violations.    

The state was represented by Jenny Palmer and Daniel Cox.  All these defendants were sentenced by Judge Scott McKee.  

  • Sabian Marcell Young, 21, was sentenced to 12 years TDC on October 4, 2021, for the offense of Burglary of Habitation.  Young had been originally placed on probation in 2018 for this offense. 
  • Justin Young, 19, was sentenced to 12 years TDC on September 13, 2021, for the offense of Burglary of Habitation.  Justin Young was originally placed on probation in 2019 for this offense. 
  • Javiry DeJaun Bowman, 21, was sentenced on September 7, 2021, to 8 years for the offense of Deadly Conduct/Discharge Firearm.  Bowman was originally placed on probation in 2020. 
  • Leslie DeWayne Preston, Jr, 24, was sentenced to three years TDC on October 4, 2021, for the offense of Injury to a Child.  Preston was originally placed on probation in 2019. 

“I am especially thankful for the hard work and thoroughness of the Henderson County Adult Probation Department. Their participation and assistance in this investigation was crucial to a successful outcome,” said District Attorney Jenny Palmer. “When I took office in January 2021, I pledged to work hard to follow through on the good work our law enforcement officers are doing.”

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ESTHERVILLE -The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office is releasing additional details in regard to the discovery of a body found on a rural Emmet County roadway last Saturday that was identified as that of David McDowell age (20) of Estherville.

After an exhaustive investigation by the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Estherville Police Department, two search warrants were simultaneously executed in Estherville and Rockwell City, Iowa at approximately 05:45am this morning. In Estherville, the “HEAT” (High risk Entry and Arrest Team) was utilized to safely enter and execute the warrants. In Rockwell City, the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Tactical Team was utilized. After each scene was secured, the locations were searched and additional evidence was obtained and collected.

As a result of the investigation, Connor Uhde age (19) of Estherville and CeJay Van Der Wilt age (18) of Rockwell City were each charged with Murder in the 1st Degree in Emmet County.

Uhde was transported to the Emmet County Jail where he was booked without incident and remains in custody on a “no bond” warrant for his arrest. Van Der Wilt was transported to the Buena Vista County Jail where he also remains in custody on a “no bond” warrant.

Also assisting with the investigation were the Rockwell City Police Department, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa State Patrol.

A charge is merely an allegation and all persons are presumed innocent unless or until they are found guilty in a court of law.

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French President Emmanuel Macron is still unsure whether President Joe Biden values France as an ally, Politico reported.

“We will see,” Macron said when asked if he thought Biden now understood the value of France’s relationship with the U.S., Politico reported.

France reacted in anger in September when Australia backed out of a submarine deal to instead strike one with the U.S. and United Kingdom. It recalled its ambassadors from the U.S. and Australia, while Macron refused to take Biden’s call for days, Politico reported.

“I just believe in facts,” Macron said, Politico reported. “I do hope. I do think it’s feasible. I do think it’s more productive for both of us. I will see. And I think we scheduled to discuss together mid-October, we will catch up during the G20 and I think it will be the right occasion to see how we can reengage very concretely.”

Macron made the comments at a European Union leaders’ meeting in Slovenia on Tuesday, where he made a point to arrive last, Politico reported. “My point is,” Macron said, “it’s not an issue about words or perceptions. It’s an issue about facts and what to do together.”

A number of officials in the EU believe France is risking transatlantic relations by pitting the union against the U.S. unnecessarily, Politico reported. EU leaders called Biden disloyal for not consulting Paris or Brussels about the deal in a sign of solidarity.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Paris as part of efforts to fix relations, while National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will also make the trip on Friday after attending meetings at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

“We sometimes tend to take for granted a relationship as important and deep as the one between France and the United States,” Blinken said in an interview Tuesday.

“And we expected better, especially with the change of administration, and especially with you,” France 2 TV journalist Anne-Sophie Lapix responded.

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President Joe Biden’s administration’s Education Department announced plans Wednesday to overhaul its loan forgiveness program to provide further debt relief to public sector workers.

Under the changes, public sector workers will qualify for debt relief more easily to further assist the over 550,000 borrowers enrolled in the program, the Education Department said. Enacted in 2007, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program cancels loans of public servants like teachers, nurses and firefighters after 10 years of public service with the goal of recruiting more workers for “high-need fields” and allowing borrowers to stay in their jobs.

A borrower must work in a public sector job and make 120 on-time debt payments in order to qualify for forgiveness under the plan, The Wall Street Journal reported. PSLF is only available to borrowers who have Direct Loans from the federal government, a fact which sometimes confuses borrowers.

Borrowers have previously been allowed to consolidate other loans into Direct Loans, but payments predating that consolidation aren’t considered for qualification for PSLF, the WSJ reported.

A limited waiver, outlined in Wednesday’s announcement, will temporarily allow payments of all loan types to qualify for PSLF so long as borrowers consolidate their student debt by Oct. 31, 2022.

“This Limited PSLF Waiver will apply to borrowers with Direct Loans, those who have already consolidated into the Direct Loan Program, and those with other types of federal student loans who submit a consolidation application into the Direct Loan Program while the waiver is in effect,” the Department said.

“Borrowers who devote a decade of their lives to public service should be able to rely on the promise of Public Service Loan Forgiveness,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said. “The system has not delivered on that promise to date but that is about to change.”

Only 5,500 borrowers have had their debt completely wiped under PSLF due to rules that have “spawned much confusion and frustration,” according to a June Education Department publication, the WSJ reported.

America’s largest labor union, the National Education Association, praised the PSLF overhaul, which “could not have happened without the activism of more than 48,000 NEA members who sent letters and public comments to ED regarding the broken PSLF program,” the statement said.

The changes will also allow active duty service members to count deferments and forbearances and review denied PSLF applications for errors in order to reconsider their eligibility, according to the Department.

The Education Department will contact borrowers about the changes, how they can benefit and the actions they might need to take for eligibility.

In August, the Biden administration extended the pandemic-related moratorium on student loan repayment, interest and collection to January 2022. In June, the administration said it would forgive $500 million in loans of the now-defunct ITT Technical Institute.

“These changes are important steps toward a better and stronger PSLF program, one that will move away from the current situation in which too few borrowers receive forgiveness, and too many do not receive credit for years of payments they made because of complicated eligibility rules, servicing errors or other technicalities,” the Department said.

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The American Principles Project tore into Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe in an ad released Wednesday, highlighting the Democrat’s comment that parents shouldn’t “be telling schools what they should teach.”

“Terry McAuliffe doesn’t think you should be in charge of your kid’s education,” the ad said. “Parents: it’s time to fight back.”

During a late September gubernatorial debate, Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin challenged McAuliffe on the Democrat’s progressive education stances.

“I’m not gonna let parents come into schools and actually take books out and make their own decisions,” McAuliffe told Youngkin. “I stopped the bill that I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.”

American Principles Project President Terry Schilling told the Daily Caller News Foundation on Wednesday that “we are in the midst of a war on families” and on the family’s ability to “determine what their children are learning, what they’re exposed to, what they’re allowed to do.”

“I would argue many corporations are at war with parents and families and children for the hearts, minds, and souls of our kids,” Schilling said.

At least 165 local and national groups have formed to combat Critical Race Theory (CRT) instruction in schools across the U.S., according to an NBC analysis published in June. Many of these groups were founded by parents appalled to discover what was being taught to their children. Their advocacy has launched local CRT debates onto the national stage, spurring far-left activists and establishment media outlets to accuse conservatives of ignorance and, in some cases, racism.

CRT holds that America is fundamentally racist, yet it teaches people to view every social interaction and person in terms of race. Its adherents pursue “antiracism” through the end of merit, objective truth and the adoption of race-based policies.

School districts, such as Loudoun County Public School Systems, often side-step parents’ accusations by pretending the problem does not exist — insisting that they are not implementing CRT. But parents and activists say that the elements of CRT are evident in training, classes, conversations about diversity and equity and reading materials chosen for class, such as books by authors like Ibram X Kendi and Robin DiAngelo.

“It’s out of control,” Schilling said.

He continued: “And nothing could be more clarifying about this war against parents and the American family than what the Department of Justice just did with Merrick Garland,” referring to a Monday memorandum which encouraged the FBI “using its authority” against parents who use violence against or threaten public school officials.

“Threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter to our nation’s core values,” wrote Attorney General Garland. “Those who dedicate their time and energy to ensuring that our children receive a proper education in a safe environment deserve to be able to do their work without fear for their safety.”

Schilling insisted “there aren’t any threats,” noting that if there were, these threats would be publicized in every major newspaper and on every major news channel.

“There would be people in jail, but that’s not happening,” he said. “What’s really happening is parents across the country are so outraged that they’re showing up in numbers that these school boards aren’t used to.”

The APP president said that school boards “aren’t used to the heat” or getting any push back. The reason APP decided to run the ad in Virginia is because of what is at stake in this gubernatorial election, Schilling told the DCNF.

“In Virginia you have Terry McAuliffe, who has the same views as these school boards and as the Department of Justice, who views these parents as the enemy,” Schilling said. “He views them as domestic terrorists. He doesn’t think they should have a say in what their kids are learning in school. And he’s the enemy.”

“If parents really care,” Schilling continued, ” if they really want to make sure that they have a say over what their kids are learning and going through in school…then they’re going to make sure that they don’t elect Terry McAuliffe to the governor’s mansion.”

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The federal government released its annual international energy projection Wednesday, and the projection showed global emissions will increase by about 25% over 2020 levels by 2050.

While regional policies are expected to decrease emission intensity, or the rate of pollution relative to the energy produced, emissions will continue to increase due to the growth of developing nations, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported. The 38 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries will see a 5% growth in emissions by 2050, but non-members will produce 35% more emissions in that same time span.

“Even with growth in renewable energy, without significant policy changes or technological breakthroughs, we project increasing energy-related carbon dioxide emissions through 2050,” EIA Acting Administrator Stephen Nalley said in a statement.

The EIA blamed non-OECD countries’ projected reliance on coal over the next 30 years for their expected emissions increase. The agency said those developing nations will see an emissions increase of nearly 8 billion metric tons compared to the increase of just under 0.6 billion metric tons in OECD countries.

Overall, global emissions will increase from their 2020 level of around 35 billion metric tons to roughly 43 billion metric tons in 2050, according to the EIA report.

Natural gas and liquid fuels such as oil will account for the emissions increase in OECD member nations, the EIA said. In non-OECD nations, coal will also contribute to the emissions boost.

Liquid fuels will still account for the majority of global energy production in 2050, the report further concluded. However, renewables will account for the largest growth among all energy sources over the next 30 years.

“Population and (gross domestic product) are key drivers in our long term energy consumption and emissions trends,” EIA Assistant Administrator for Energy Analysis Angelina LaRose said during a presentation Wednesday. “Although these key drivers are partly offset by current efficiency laws and regulations, the overall trend is increased consumption and, consequently, increased emissions.”

In November, the U.K. will host a United Nations climate conference where world leaders are expected to accelerate previous actions in an effort to reduce emissions. President Joe Biden has made curbing emissions a top priority, and he introduced a goal for the U.S. to cut greenhouse gas pollution by 50% from 2005 levels within a decade.

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Samantha Renck on October 6, 2021

Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas discussed a recent Drug Enforcement Administration report that found an eye-popping amount of fentanyl-laced pills, what should be done about the amount of drugs crossing the border and more.

WATCH:

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Hackers released source code and data detailing the inner workings of popular streaming platform Twitch in a massive data breach Wednesday.

“We can confirm a breach has taken place. Our teams are working with urgency to understand the extent of this,” Twitch announced in a tweet.

The leaked data includes the company’s source code for its mobile, desktop and video game clients, the “commit history” or logs of all code changes, code related to Twitch’s cloud infrastructure and information about how much money Twitch streamers receive from subscribers and donors, according to The Verge. The leaks also include details related to Twitch’s proprietary, internal tools, the outlet reported.

“We will update the community as soon as additional information is available. Thank you for bearing with us,” Twitch said.

The data was spread early Wednesday on anonymous online forums, multiple sources reported, with one user reportedly sharing the data to popular and controversial imageboard 4chan, claiming the leak was intended to “foster more disruption and competition in the online video streaming space” because “their community is a disgusting toxic cesspool.”

It does not appear as if any customer data such as passwords or addresses were included in the leaks, The Verge reported. However, the anonymous user who posted the data to 4chan described the leaks as “part one,” according to archived 4chan posts.

Twitch has not yet confirmed the contents of the leaks. The data also includes code related to an unreleased competitor to the video game marketplace and platform Steam that was being developed by Amazon’s game studio, according to Video Games Chronicle.

Twitch did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

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NEW BERN, N.C. – A Marion, South Carolina man was sentenced today to 90 months in prison for sex trafficking. Enrique Tyreek Williams was also ordered to pay $5,600 in restitution to his victim.  On June 23, 2020, Williams pleaded guilty to one count of transporting the victim across state lines for the purpose of prostitution.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Williams, 23, offered to let a homeless 18-year-old female live with him. After the victim was isolated from family and friends, with no money, no job, and no phone, Williams revealed his plan to have her prostitute for him. Fearing physical violence and feeling she had no choice, the victim complied. In late Summer and early Fall 2018, Williams proceeded to prostitute the victim in South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina, including approximately 8 prostitution trips to Wilmington, NC. Williams controlled all aspects of the prostitution and took all the money the victim earned. The victim’s fears of physical violence were realized, as she reported approximately 20 instances of physical violence by Williams in their short time together. In particular, investigators obtained evidence from an October 1, 2018 incident in which Williams dragged the victim out of a house by her hair and violently attacked her in front of numerous witnesses. Williams even video-recorded the attack on his phone. Police responded and the victim was transported to the hospital and treated. Shortly after, Williams told the victim she owed him and again took her to Wilmington to prostitute. During the trip, Williams was caught in an undercover sting operation and investigators recovered the victim.

G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. Mr. Acker commented: “This case is about the victim, who suffered at the hands of a greedy trafficker. Our community will not tolerate perpetrators like this defendant targeting vulnerable victims for their profit.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation and New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Stephany  prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:19-CR-00149-FL.

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PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man with several prior drug trafficking convictions was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of heroin in Oregon and Washington State.

Christian Zepeda-Quezada aka Miguel Agredano, 32, was sentenced to 130 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.

According to court documents, Zepeda-Quezada was a heroin dispatcher who used multiple drug dealers to distribute large quantities of heroin in Portland and Vancouver, Washington. In his role as dispatcher for the trafficking network, Zepeda-Quezada took heroin orders from customers by phone and arranged for dealers to hand-deliver the orders directly to the customers. As such, Zepeda-Quezada was insulated from direct exposure and faced less risk of harm than his co-conspirators.

Between January and August 2019, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Clark Vancouver Regional Drug Task Force (CVRDTF) made multiple controlled purchases of heroin from Zepeda-Quezada’s network before obtaining a warrant to search Zepeda-Quezada’s Vancouver residence and other locations. On August 7, 2019, agents seized distribution quantities of heroin and cocaine from Zepeda-Quezada’s residence. Zepeda-Quezada was arrested during the search and ordered detained pending trial.

On August 6, 2019, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a five-count indictment charging Zepeda-Quezada and two co-conspirators—Javier Perez-Alejandre, 22, a California resident, and Angel Umanzor-Ardon, 21, of Portland—with conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin.

On June 2, 2021, Zepeda-Quezada pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin.

On October 20, 2020, Umanzor-Ardon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and, on April 28, 2021, he was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release.

Perez-Alejandre remains in custody pending a four-day jury trial scheduled to begin October 18, 2021.

Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.

This case was investigated by DEA with assistance from CVRDTF. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

Heroin is a leading cause of overdose deaths in the U.S. If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 8am and 11pm Pacific Time daily.

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Home invasion - File Photo.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 41-year-old Corpus Christi has been ordered to prison for role in an attempted armed robbery of local clock shop, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

A federal jury convicted Eric Richard Garza June of attempting to effect commerce by robbery and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. They deliberated for only approximately one hour following a two-day trial.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos handed Garza a 78-month-term of imprisonment for the attempted robbery and an additional 120 months for the discharge of a firearm which must be served consecutively. The total 198-month prison term will be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard from the victim who explained how he suffered severe physical and psychological injuries as a result of being shot twice as well as financial losses from lost wages and hospital bills. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the severity of the offense, the harm caused to the victim and his financial losses as a result of Garza’s crime.

On Dec. 14, 2018, Garza drove to Central Watch and Clock Repair in Corpus Christi with Christopher Rangel-Musial. They put on masks and entered the store. Once inside, Rangel-Musial brandished the 9mm semi-automatic pistol Garza had given him and pointed it at the owner as Garza had instructed. Garza then demanded the victim to get on the ground, but he refused. Garza subsequently told Rangel-Musial twice to shoot the victim. Once again, Rangel-Musial did as told and fired three shots, hitting the victim in the stomach and back.

The shop owner managed to get to his revolver and chase Garza and Rangel-Musial out of the store. The victim shot Rangel-Musial as he fled.

At trial, the victim testified about the injuries he sustained when the would-be robbers shot him. The victim required two surgeries, lost eight inches of his colon as well as his spleen and suffered an injured kidney. He was in the ICU for four days. He now has an 11-inch scar as a constant reminder of that day and suffers from persistent insomnia.

At trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury that Rangel-Musial’s girlfriend was the accomplice. However, the victim was steadfast in his testimony that the voice he heard tell Rangel-Musial to “shoot him” belonged to a man. The jury did not believe the defense theory and found Garza guilty as charged.

Garza has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.  

Rangel-Musial, 26, Corpus Christi, previously pleaded guilty, accepted responsibility and testified against Garza at trial. He later received a 108-month prison sentence.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel Dunn and Christopher Marin prosecuted the case.

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BOISE – An inmate in the Idaho Department of Correction, serving prison sentences for rape and lewd conduct with a minor under sixteen, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a child.

According to court records, Cole Alexander Pipkin, 30, originally of Kellogg, used a prison e-mail account to send messages to an adult woman living in Idaho between February and May 2019. In the messages, Pipkin attempted to persuade, induce, and entice three children, ages 8, 7, and 5, to engage in sexual activity with him upon his release from prison. In the e-mails, Pipkin promised the adult money and other incentives to persuade the adult to permit him to have sexual contact with the children. Pipkin’s e-mails graphically described the sexual acts he wanted to commit with the children, requested that the adult send him sexually explicit images of children, and included messages intended for the children referencing sexual acts.

Pipkin is a repeat sex offender, currently serving state prison terms for a 2009 conviction for rape from Shoshone County, and a 2010 conviction for lewd conduct with a minor under sixteen from Kootenai County. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye ordered Pipkin’s federal sentence to run consecutively to the state sentences. Judge Nye also ordered that Pipkin be placed on lifetime supervised release upon completion of his federal term of imprisonment. Pipkin will be required to register as a sex offender upon release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr., of the District of Idaho made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Idaho Department of Correction, which led to charges. “We have aggressively pursued those who thrive on exploiting and victimizing the innocent. Together with our local, state, and federal partners throughout Idaho, we will continue to do everything in our power to protect our nation’s greatest asset – our children!”

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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