Convicted

Queens Plaza subway attacker convicted of brutal hammer assault on commuter

Queens plaza subway attacker convicted of brutal hammer assault on commuter - photo licensed by shore news network.

Queens Plaza Subway Attacker Convicted of Robbery and Assault

**Queens, NY** – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the conviction of William Blount for robbery in the first degree, assault in the first degree, and other charges. Blount attacked a woman with a hammer as she entered the Queens Plaza subway station in Long Island City in 2022, stealing her tote bag.

Blount, 60, whose last known address was in Manhattan, was convicted of assault, robbery, and weapon possession. He was acquitted of attempted murder charges following a six-week trial that began on February 24, presided over by Supreme Court Justice John Zoll. Sentencing is set for May 7, with a possible sentence of up to 25 years to life in prison.

During the February 2022 incident, Blount attacked a 58-year-old woman, causing her multiple skull fractures. The victim received medical attention, including a bilateral craniectomy, and suffered a broken finger among other injuries.

Investigation led to Blount’s arrest and the recovery of a hammer and the victim’s belongings at a residence in Long Island City. Video surveillance tracked Blount’s movements, and DNA evidence linked him to the crime. The case

Queens Man Convicted in 2022 Triple Homicide

Nypd crime scene investigative unit.

Queens Man Convicted in 2022 Triple Homicide

**Queens, NY** – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the conviction of Travis Blake for murder in the first degree and other charges related to the deaths of his girlfriend and two of her family members. The victims were found with puncture and blunt force wounds in a decomposed state at their home in Jamaica in June 2022.

District Attorney Katz described the incident as a “stabbing rampage” that resulted in the deaths of Blake’s girlfriend, her son, and a visiting relative. The bodies were discovered when a resident of the home found one body and called the police, which led to the discovery of two additional victims. The defendant fled the state but was apprehended and brought back to New York, where he was found guilty by a jury.

Blake, 31, residing on 155th Street in Jamaica, was convicted following a trial that lasted three and a half weeks. He was found guilty of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, and two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Sentencing is scheduled for May 1, and Blake faces a possible life sentence without parole.

The trial proceedings began on March 12 and

Two Men Convicted in San Antonio Mass Smuggling Incident

Two men convicted in san antonio mass smuggling incident - photo licensed by shore news network.

Title: Two Men Convicted in San Antonio Mass Smuggling Incident

**San Antonio, TX** – Two individuals were found guilty by a federal jury for their involvement in a 2022 alien smuggling event in San Antonio, which resulted in 53 fatalities and 11 injuries. A third individual implicated in this incident was extradited from Guatemala to face charges in the United States.

Felipe Orduna-Torres and Armando Gonzalez-Ortega were convicted for their participation in an alien smuggling operation. The operation involved transporting 66 individuals in a non-air-conditioned trailer across the U.S.-Mexico border, resulting in multiple deaths. They allegedly charged each individual and their families between $12,000 and $15,000 for the journey.

Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega were found guilty on charges including conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death and serious bodily injury. Their sentencing is set for June 27, with the possibility of life imprisonment for the charges leading to death.

Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco was extradited as part of a joint effort between U.S. and Guatemalan authorities. He faces various charges related to the smuggling incident. The coordinated efforts have been part of a broader initiative

ICE removes convicted killer with extensive U.S. criminal record

Ice removes convicted killer with extensive u. S. Criminal record - photo licensed by shore news network.

ICE Deports Previously Convicted Manslaughter Offender

**Houston, TX** – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deported Orbelin Benitez-Carbajal, a 49-year-old convicted of manslaughter, back to Mexico. He was removed on Sunday.

Benitez-Carbajal was transferred from the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas, to the Laredo Port of Entry. ICE previously deported him on December 11, 2014.

His criminal history in the U.S. includes multiple offenses dating back to 2006. Notable convictions include assault, manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, and illegal entry.

Bret Bradford, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operation Houston Field Office Director, stated that Benitez-Carbajal repeatedly violated U.S. laws. He cited the alien’s actions as responsible for taking an innocent life.

Fourteen Convicted in Georgia Dog Fighting Case

Fourteen convicted in georgia dog fighting case - photo licensed by shore news network.

Fourteen Convicted in Georgia Dog Fighting Case

**Albany, GA** – All 14 defendants involved in a federal dog fighting case in Albany, Georgia, have been convicted. The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia accepted guilty pleas from individuals including Tamichael Elijah, Marvin Pulley III, Brandon Baker, Christopher Travis Beaumont, Herman Buggs Jr., Terrance Davis, Timothy Freeman, Terelle Ganzy, Gary Hopkins, Cornelious Johnson, Rodrecus Kimble, Donnametric Miller, Willie Russell, and Fredricus White.

According to court documents, the defendants gathered on April 24, 2022, at a property in Donalsonville, Georgia, for a large-scale dog fighting event. The event involved 24 pit bull-type dogs brought for fights over the weekend. Law enforcement officials intervened and discovered numerous dogs in crates within vehicles on the property.

Dogs were stored in vehicles after fighting or while waiting for turns in the fighting pit, and some were kept on chains at the venue. A total of 27 dogs were rescued, including one with severe injuries that later died. Others displayed recent injuries and scars indicative of past fights.

Aside from Freeman, all defendants pleaded guilty to

California Man Convicted in $4 Million Medicare Fraud

California man convicted in $4 million medicare fraud - photo licensed by shore news network.

California Man Convicted in $4 Million Medicare Fraud

**DETROIT, MI** – A federal jury convicted a man from California for defrauding Medicare of over $4 million through fraudulent urine drug testing claims. Sherif Khalil, 50, of Redondo Beach, was found guilty of submitting claims for tests that were not requested by doctors.

Khalil owned Spectra Clinical Labs, a toxicology lab in Gardena, California, and was involved in a scheme where he paid marketers for obtaining expensive drug test orders from doctors. The payments were disguised by channeling them through marketing companies under Khalil’s control.

Medicare paid out over $4 million for these unnecessary tests, resulting from the illegal kickbacks. Khalil faces sentencing on August 7, with potential penalties of up to 20 years for health care fraud and five years for conspiracy related charges.

The case was announced by officials from the Justice Department, the FBI, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Trial Attorneys prosecuted the case as part of the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program.

Man Convicted of Sexual Assault of a Minor in Butler County

Man convicted of sexual assault of a minor in butler county - photo licensed by shore news network.

Man Convicted of Sexual Assault of a Minor in Butler County

**HARRISBURG, PA** — Attorney General Michelle Henry announced the conviction of a Butler County man for sexually assaulting a pre-teen child. The conviction follows charges against 45-year-old Shaun Sheffer, who was accused in 2023 after a Statewide Investigating Grand Jury made recommendations against multiple Jehovah’s Witnesses members.

Sheffer was convicted this week on three counts of rape, including the rape of a person with a mental disability, as well as three counts of indecent assault. His sentencing is scheduled for February.

Attorney General Henry highlighted the vulnerability of the victim based on their age and mental disability. Henry expressed gratitude to the grand jurors, the trial jurors, and the victim for their roles in the proceedings.

The charges were part of the 49th Investigating Grand Jury’s findings, with the abuse occurring between 1995 and 2000 in Butler County. Testimonies revealed that Sheffer was a close acquaintance of the victim, who was between seven and 12 years old during the assaults. The case was led by Senior Deputy Attorney General Alicia Werner.