LATHAM, NY – Major Dennis Schager, Commander of Troop G, led a memorial service today at the Troop G Headquarters in Latham. The ceremony was held to honor the memory of fallen officers and to support the families they left behind.
During the event, Major Schager emphasized that the fallen heroes are not forgotten and remain an integral part of the State Police family and the esteemed long grey line. The State Police used their Facebook page to reflect on the significance of the ceremony and to reaffirm their commitment to remembering their lost colleagues.
- Baldwin woman accused of stealing $100K in childcare benefits
Baldwin woman charged with stealing nearly $100K in childcare benefits through false income reports
MINEOLA, NY — A 43-year-old Baldwin woman has been accused of falsifying income and employment records to secure almost $100,000 in childcare benefits she was not entitled to receive, prosecutors announced Wednesday.
According to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, Shamika Brown was arraigned on October 1 before Judge Ryan Cronin on charges of grand larceny in the second degree, welfare fraud in the second degree, and five counts of offering a false instrument for filing. She pleaded not guilty and was released on her own recognizance. Brown is scheduled to return to court on October 9. If convicted, she faces up to 15 years in prison.
Prosecutors allege Brown applied for benefits through the Nassau County Department of Social Services in May 2019, claiming she earned $25,000 annually from a Brooklyn business called Hair Studio. She allegedly submitted fabricated payroll documents from that business for her original application and for subsequent recertifications over a four-year period.
Investigators later determined Hair Studio was not a legitimate business, and the payroll records Brown provided were fraudulent. Authorities allege Brown failed to report actual employment with American Express, Amazon, and a consulting firm, where she earned between $128,000 and $319,000 annually.
As a result, prosecutors say Brown received $99,687 in overpaid childcare benefits between June 2019 and June 2023. She surrendered to investigators on October 1.
District Attorney Anne Donnelly said Brown’s actions undermined programs meant to help families in need. “These benefits exist to help families who truly need financial support, not high-earning residents who dishonestly try to offset their childcare costs,” Donnelly said.
The case is being prosecuted by the DA’s Major Financial Frauds Bureau. Brown is represented by attorney Eric Prusan.
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Key Points
- Shamika Brown, 43, allegedly falsified income records to collect nearly $100,000 in childcare benefits
- Investigators say she concealed employment with Amazon, American Express, and a consulting firm while submitting fake payroll documents
- Brown pleaded not guilty and was released; she faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted
- ISIS Agent from Minnesota Pleads Guilty to Helping Terrorist Organization
Minneapolis, MN – A 23-year-old man who twice tried to travel overseas to join ISIS and openly called for jihad has pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, officials announced Thursday.
Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan admitted before U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank that he sought to join ISIS fighters in Somalia and actively promoted the group online. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson said Hassan “flew the ISIS flag, venerated attacks on the homeland, and wanted to kill Americans,” adding that Minnesota would not be allowed to become a “safe haven for terrorists.”
ISIS Agent
According to court documents, Hassan operated social media accounts where he praised terrorist attacks, shared ISIS propaganda, and called for the creation of an Islamic caliphate in Somalia. Posts included images of the black ISIS flag, propaganda videos, and messages glorifying violence, including praise for the New Year’s Day massacre in New Orleans that killed 14 people.
Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan – ISIS In December 2024, Hassan twice attempted one-way travel from Minnesota to Somalia via Ethiopia to join ISIS. Surveillance by FBI agents revealed that on his first attempt he was blocked from boarding due to improper travel documents. He then obtained additional paperwork and tried again. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted him in Chicago, finding his birth certificate, naturalization papers, and high school diploma packed in his single carry-on bag.
A forensic review of Hassan’s two phones uncovered communications with an alleged ISIS recruiter, exchanges with an ISIS media outlet, and instructional documents on explosives and sniper training. Agents also located a series of internet searches on weapons, fertilizer, and ISIS operations.
In February, Hassan posted videos from his car displaying a knife and waving a homemade ISIS flag. When arrested later that month, FBI agents seized the flag, two phones, and the knife. Hassan later confessed to agents that he supported ISIS, routinely posted its propaganda, and sought to fight for the group abroad.
FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. said the plea was the result of extensive investigative work, stressing that ISIS and Al Shabab “represent a clear threat to all Americans.”
Hassan remains in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled.
The man who called ISIS his “commander” now faces judgment in a U.S. courtroom.
- New York’s Real-Life Super Hero Community Reeling and Dealing with Real Life Pedophiles Amongst its Ranks
NEW YORK, NY – The Real Life Superhero (RLSH) movement, which emerged in the early 2000s, consists of individuals who don masks, capes, and alter egos to patrol streets, perform community service, and occasionally intervene in minor crimes.
Inspired by comic book icons, these self-styled vigilantes operate across the United States, from urban centers like New York City and San Diego to smaller towns in Oregon and Wisconsin.
While many focus on homeless outreach, anti-bullying campaigns, and neighborhood watches, the community has faced scrutiny for harboring individuals involved in serious offenses, including pedophilia and child luring.
Reports from within the RLSH network and external investigations reveal a pattern of arrests and convictions related to child sexual exploitation, prompting internal calls for accountability.
The RLSH community, often organized through online forums, wikis, and groups such as the Heroes Network or California and New York Initiatives, emphasizes heroism and the protection of the vulnerable.
However, the anonymity of costumes and online personas can attract or shield those with predatory intentions.
Social media posts from RLSH members highlight efforts to expose abusers, with one prominent voice,
New York Initiative member Vigilantea, said on a social media post, “The first step of building anything is deciding what you DON’T want. That would be all of the many violent and sex criminals hiding within the RLSH community.”This sentiment reflects a growing pushback, where members report peers to authorities and distance themselves from disgraced figures.
Notable Cases of Arrests and Convictions
Several RLSH participants have been arrested and convicted for crimes involving children, ranging from possession of child sexual abuse material to direct assaults.
Below are documented instances, drawn from court records, news reports, and community disclosures.
Joshua Darren Taylor (Guardian Shield)
Joshua Darren Taylor, known in the RLSH community as Guardian Shield, was a Keizer, Oregon-based vigilante and founder of the Community Superheroes group.
He positioned himself as a protector, including outreach work with schools and families. However, in 2019, Taylor was arrested on charges of first-degree sexual abuse, a Class B felony under Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 163.427.
The charges stemmed from allegations involving two minors under 16 in Lebanon, Oregon, whom he knew. Court documents indicate the abuse included non-consensual sexual contact with victims under 14 or those unable to consent.
Taylor pleaded no contest in 2020 and was convicted. Further sentencing occurred in 2024 for additional abuses involving two girls under 14 between June and September 2022, marking a repeat offense. Community members have publicly condemned him, noting his role as a father and school-affiliated worker amplified the betrayal.
As of 2025, he remains inactive in RLSH circles.
Parker Barnes
Parker Barnes, a “clown-based” RLSH from La Crosse, Wisconsin, was arrested in June 2023 following a tip about child sexual abuse material on his Google account. At the time, Barnes worked at a local YMCA, interacting with children. Charges included possession of child pornography, methamphetamine, and related offenses. He pleaded no contest in 2025 and was sentenced to jail time, with requirements for probation and registration as a sex offender.
Barnes’ case drew attention within the RLSH community, where he was somewhat notable for his eccentric persona.
Reports allege the material involved violent depictions, and community insiders have accused him of abusing his own children through neglect, including living conditions infested with pests. This arrest fueled discussions about vetting members, with some RLSH groups vowing to report suspicious behavior.
Rashawn Eston
Rashawn Eston, linked to the RLSH scene through community mentions, has a history of sexual offenses against minors. In 2014, he was convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct in Ramsey County, Minnesota, leading to prison time and conditional release. In 2019, while on release, Eston was accused of raping a victim outside a Bloomington church.
By 2022, he faced additional charges as a predatory offender for failing to update his address, resulting in a two-year sentence.
As of early 2025, Eston is a wanted fugitive in Ramsey County for violations related to his 2014 criminal sexual conduct case.
While his direct RLSH activities are less documented in public records, internal community posts flag him as part of the broader network, raising concerns about predators using vigilante roles to access vulnerable populations.
Christian Grimes
Christian Grimes, an Elk Grove, California resident associated with RLSH, was arrested in May 2024 following a California Highway Patrol investigation into child sexual abuse material. The probe, spanning months, led to his custody on charges related to possession and distribution of such material.
Grimes’ involvement in the RLSH community is noted in social media discussions, though specifics of his vigilante alias remain unclear. This case underscores the use of digital tools by offenders within the group.
Other Figures and Broader Patterns
While not all involve child-related crimes, they contribute to a narrative of unchecked behavior. Broader searches reveal isolated RLSH arrests for vigilante overreach, but child exploitation cases like these highlight a specific vulnerability.
The outreach and anger even lead one former Real Life Superhero known as the Dark Guardian to falsely accuse, harass and doxx a book author. Eventually, Dark Guardian was forced to apologize for the extreme harassment of the man, who was found to be completely innocent. In exchange for the apology, the victim didn’t not file charges or a lawsuit against the overly aggressive and falsified claims lodged by the Dark Guardian, an RLSH superhero based out of Staten Island.
He later fell out of favor with the New York Initiative.
“There was a bunch of them and I had to split off from the larger team—it’s a lot of weird stuff,” Pollak told The Daily Beast in 2016. “I don’t want anything to do with them. They do some good stuff, I have no problem with them, but I’m splitting off and doing my own thing.”The New York Initiative did not elaborate on why they split with the Dark Guardian.
“Christopher ‘Dark Guardian’ Pollak is a former NYI member who left on bad terms, but we wish him well,” the group said after his departure.
“A lot of it didn’t manifest until I was older,” Pollak revealed in an episode of a podcast he used to run, “Super Yourself.”
“As a teenager, you’re looking for a little adventure, a little action, and I got into the wrong things. I did wrong in my life,” the former superhero, now running for office in Jackson Township, New Jersey said.
Case Alias/Name Location Charges/Convictions Year Status Joshua Darren Taylor Guardian Shield Oregon Sexual abuse in the first degree (minors under 16 and 14) 2019-2024 Convicted, sentenced Parker Barnes (Clown-based RLSH) Wisconsin Possession of child pornography, methamphetamine 2023-2025 Convicted, jailed Rashawn Eston Rashawn Eston Minnesota Third-degree criminal sexual conduct, predatory offender violations 2014-2025 Convicted, fugitive Christian Grimes Christian Grimes California Possession of child sexual abuse material 2024 Arrested, in custody Tothian Tothian New York/New Jersey Abuse allegations (civil case) 2024 Accused, community ostracized Community Response and Challenges
Many RLSH members actively combat these issues, turning in peers and using platforms like Instagram and X to expose predators.
Groups like the New York Initiative (NYI) broadcast warnings, emphasizing: “If you can’t fight this in your own community, how will you ever be effective in the rest of the world?”
This self-policing has led to arrests, but challenges persist due to the decentralized nature of the movement—no central authority vets members or enforces standards.
Critics outside the community, including law enforcement, warn that RLSH activities can blur lines, with some using heroism as a lure.
A 2011 incident in Vancouver saw teen “superheroes” shut down for unauthorized pedophile stings, illustrating the risks.
Despite this, the RLSH wiki and forums continue to document members, promoting positive actions while acknowledging scandals.
While the RLSH movement aims to embody comic book ideals, cases of pedophilia and child luring reveal a darker underbelly. Ongoing exposures suggest the community is evolving, but vigilance remains essential to protect those it claims to serve and as long as members from within aren’t afraid to report sexual offenders in the midst, they will continue on, defending themselves from those fallen heroes who crossed the line between good and evil.
- New Jersey Lottery Winner Still Has Not Claimed $1.3 Million Ticket Sold in Freehold
TRENTON, NJ – A Jersey Cash 5 jackpot worth $1.3 million is about to slip away, as the winning ticket purchased in Monmouth County last November remains unclaimed and is set to expire in just weeks.
The ticket, valued at $1,300,245, was sold at the Wawa located at 3303 Route 9 in Freehold. It matched the winning numbers for the November 25, 2024, drawing. Under New Jersey Lottery rules, winning tickets must be redeemed within one year.
“Players really should check their tickets,” New Jersey Lottery Executive Director James Carey urged. “We have several ways our players can verify if they are winners. More than once, I’ve seen players come to us after a period of time saying they won a prize after finding a misplaced ticket.”
The reminder comes as several other large prizes approach their expiration dates. A $150,000 Jersey Cash 5 ticket purchased at White Oak Liquors in Belleville will expire November 1, while a $50,000 Powerball ticket sold at Stew Leonard’s in Paramus must be claimed by November 23.
In May, a Mercer County player discovered a four-month-old Mega Millions ticket worth $1 million, proving forgotten jackpots do get redeemed — but only if players check.
A millionaire may be out there holding nothing more than a slip of paper.
- Cape May breaks ground on $21.5 million justice complex
Cape May Court House, NJ – County officials marked the start of construction Wednesday on a $21.5 million Justice Complex that will modernize facilities and centralize public safety and prosecutorial services.
The project calls for demolishing outdated buildings and constructing a new 37,000-square-foot facility, along with 9,600 square feet of renovations to existing structures. Plans also include landscaping and site improvements to create a secure campus for law enforcement and public safety operations.
The complex will house the County Prosecutor’s Office, providing greater efficiency and upgraded technology. It will also feature new barracks for the Public Safety Academy, with capacity for 108 cadets and room for expansion.
“Today we move forward with building a facility that meets the needs of our dedicated public safety personnel and strengthens the County’s ability to serve and protect our residents,” said Commissioner Director Leonard C. Desiderio. Commissioner Melanie Collette added that the investment “ensures that we have the capacity, security, and technology to meet the everchanging challenges facing law enforcement.”
The new complex will feature modern workspaces, energy-efficient utilities, and cutting-edge technology to support investigative, prosecutorial, and training functions. Ernest Bock & Sons has been selected as general contractor, with completion expected in 645 days.
A ceremonial groundbreaking marked the start of a project officials call a generational investment in county justice.