Search Results for: Crime

**Defendant sentenced to 12 years for child sex crimes**

Middletown, NY

Elser Anibal Ramirez-Mejia was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree. The sentencing occurred on Thursday, October 16, where Ramirez-Mejia will also serve 20 years of post-release supervision and register as a sex offender.

Ramirez-Mejia, 28, admitted to committing multiple acts of sexual conduct with a child under 11 years old between September 1, 2019, and September 30, 2022. The case was investigated by the Town of Newburgh Police Department.

District Attorney David M. Hoovler praised the work of the police department and expressed relief that the victim was spared the trauma of testifying. The prosecution was led by Senior Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Mangold.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A criminal charge is merely an allegation by the police and not evidence of guilt.

Javier Abeyta allegedly opens fire, leaving woman brain dead in Gillette shooting

GILLETTE, Wyo. — A man has been charged after he allegedly shot a woman at a residence on O’Henry Drive while exhibiting erratic behavior. Javier Abeyta, 43, reportedly gunned down Marissa Allen on the night of October 9 after she tried to take a pistol away from him.

According to an arrest affidavit, Abeyta had been using methamphetamine before the shooting. Witnesses say he opened fire when Allen attempted to disarm him during a confrontation. The police report noted that Allen’s boyfriend was also involved in the incident.

Allen reportedly observed Abeyta with a “blank stare” before he aimed his weapon at her boyfriend. The gun malfunctioned while targeting the boyfriend, leading Abeyta to then shoot Allen.

After the incident, Abeyta allegedly admitted to shooting Allen to a witness. “I shot her,” he reportedly said.

Abeyta’s sister informed the police that he had been acting paranoid and required medical attention earlier that day. Witnesses described him as believing that others were trying to kill him.

Law enforcement recovered evidence, including a bullet from the drywall and the 9 mm handgun connected to Abeyta. Following the shooting, Allen was transported to a hospital and later airlifted to a medical center in Colorado, where she was declared brain dead.

Authorities indicate that Abeyta has a significant criminal history, with multiple previous arrests. He was being held on a $1 million bond for attempted second-degree murder and aggravated assault, with potential upgrades to murder charges pending Allen’s condition.

Gunfire erupted, leaving one woman dead and raising questions about Abeyta’s mental state.

State’s attorney partners with business school to combat financial crimes

COLLEGE PARK, MD – State’s Attorney Charlie Smith has announced a partnership with Justice for Fraud Victims, Inc. to address financial crimes in Frederick. The nonprofit, which collaborates with the University of Maryland Smith School of Business, aims to support victims of economic crimes.

The Justice for Fraud Victims, directed by Samuel Handwerger, is composed of financial professionals and retired F.B.I. investigators. The organization has already partnered with the State’s Attorney for Prince Georges County and has produced numerous court exhibits in various cases.

The JFV offers free services that include fraud examination and detailed fraud reports on cases such as embezzlement and payroll fraud. Its team also performs tracing of stolen funds within public blockchain systems and conducts risk assessments for small businesses and nonprofits.

“Fraud victims are underserved due to the lack of necessary investigation and resources needed to make a case for prosecution,” said State’s Attorney Charlie Smith. He emphasized the importance of forensic accounting reports in determining the criminal nature of a case.

In a recent jury case involving elder fraud, UMD student volunteers contributed to the production of a comprehensive 40-page report. The report included data analytics and visualizations, analyzing over a year’s worth of bank statements and recorded calls.

The partnership will allow the Smith School of Business to extend its forensic accounting training programs this fall. The initiative is part of a broader network involving several universities across the country that tackle similar issues in their regions.

Charlie Smith, a finance graduate from the University of Maryland, anticipates that this collaboration will enhance justice for fraud victims in Frederick.

In a significant move to address fraud, local leaders partner with academic professionals to bring justice to financial crime victims.