LOS ANGELES, CA — A former Los Angeles Police Department officer who posted “#dontdrinkanddrive” on social media shortly before a deadly DUI crash has pleaded guilty to murdering three members…
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. — Former Los Angeles Police Department officer Edgar Verduzco, 34, pleaded guilty Friday to three counts of murder after a 2017 high-speed DUI crash killed three members…
PAOLI, PA — A Wayne-based dentist pleaded guilty Thursday to simple assault by physical menace after admitting to inappropriately touching a female patient during a 2024 appointment, the Chester County…
HARRISBURG, PA — Wednesday — A Dauphin County magisterial district judge was convicted of attempted murder and aggravated assault after shooting a man in the head while he slept at…
GREENBELT, Md. — A California man who traveled across the country with the intent to assassinate a U.S. Supreme Court Justice pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted murder, the Department of…
South Amboy Man Pleads Guilty in Fatal Hit and Run Case
**Toms River, NJ** – Mark Carey, Jr., 21, of South Amboy, pleaded guilty on Thursday to leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death. The plea occurred before the Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C., in connection to a hit-and-run incident on January 13 in Brick Township.
On January 13, at approximately 9:15 a.m., Brick Township Police responded to a hit-and-run at Route 35 South and Bay Avenue. The victim, Julia Sutton, 56, of Weehawken, was struck and later died at Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center.
Investigations by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and other agencies identified the vehicle as a 1999 Ford Explorer registered to Carey. Authorities took Carey into custody at his South Amboy home, processed him at the Brick Township Police Headquarters, and released him under New Jersey Bail Reform.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer credited the efforts of various law enforcement agencies in handling the case. The state will seek a six-year prison sentence for Carey on June 13.
TOMS RIVER, NJ – Naomi Elkins, a 27-year-old mother from Lakewood, New Jersey, has been found not guilty by reason of insanity in the tragic deaths of her two young…
SOMERVILLE, N.J. — A father and son have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the detonation of a homemade explosive device at a public park in Manville that injured a…
NEWARK, N.J. — A Newark expediter admitted Wednesday to conspiring to bribe city officials, including former Councilmember Joseph A. McCallum Jr., and to fabricating official city documents for real estate…
**New York, NY** – Four defendants, including the companies Transcend BS LLC and Clark & Garner LLC and their respective owners, admitted guilt in a bid rigging case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The case involves procurement consulting services for New York City Public Schools.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Transcend BS LLC and its owner, Victor A. Garrido, based in Peekskill, New York, along with Clark & Garner LLC and its owner, Donald Clark Garner II, from Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty to violating Section 1 of the Sherman Act. This violation involves manipulating bids related to contracts for services with New York City schools.
Court documents reveal that from November 2020 to at least January 2023, Garrido, Garner, and their companies submitted false bids, making Transcend appear as the lowest bidder. The scheme resulted in over $707,000 in work orders for NYC Public Schools, with an estimated loss of $141,511 suffered by the NYC Department of Education.
Beyond the bid rigging, Garrido and Garner have agreed to repay the New York State Department of Labor for improperly received unemployment benefits. They previously worked for NYC Public Schools before establishing
Hino Motors Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy and Fraud Charges
**Detroit, MI** – U.S. District Court Judge Mark A. Goldsmith has accepted Hino Motors, Ltd.’s guilty plea to a one-count criminal charge for engaging in a long-term conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and consumers and illegally smuggling goods. The court imposed a $521.76 million criminal fine and a five-year probation period, including a prohibition on importing diesel engines into the United States. A $1.087 billion forfeiture money judgment was also issued against Hino.
Court records reveal that between 2010 and 2019, engineers at Hino Motors submitted falsified applications for engine certification approvals, violating the Clean Air Act. The engineers manipulated emissions test data and submitted fraudulent information, resulting in false fuel consumption values. Over 105,000 non-compliant engines were imported and sold between 2010 and 2022, primarily for heavy-duty trucks.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson expressed that Hino’s actions gave it an unfair advantage and generated over $1 billion in proceeds. The Justice Department is committed to enforcing emissions standards and addressing fraud. Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck emphasized the importance of
Alejandro Huerta-Arias Found Guilty of Vehicular Homicide
**TOMS RIVER, NJ** – Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced the conviction of Alejandro Huerta-Arias, 24, of Toms River, for Vehicular Homicide on March 18, 2025. The conviction relates to a fatal crash in Lakewood Township on March 9, 2022, that resulted in the death of Mark Mandel, 32.
The jury reached a decision after nearly a two-week trial overseen by Judge Dina M. Vicari. Huerta-Arias faces up to ten years in New Jersey State Prison, with his sentencing set for May 16, 2025, aligning with the No Early Release Act.
On March 9, 2022, at approximately 8:15 a.m., officers responded to Madison Avenue and Courtney Road for a serious vehicle crash. The investigation revealed Huerta-Arias was driving a 2012 Infinity G35 northbound when it collided with Mandel’s 2008 Chevrolet Impala, pushing it into a traffic signal and killing Mandel at the scene.
Further investigation showed Huerta-Arias was driving at an average speed of 93 mph
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The owner of the Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls has pleaded guilty to defrauding federal COVID-19 relief programs out of more than $1.8 million, the U.S. Attorney’s…
Texas Resident Pleads Guilty to Supporting ISIS
**Richmond, TX** – A former Iraqi refugee and legal permanent resident of Richmond, Texas, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Abdulrahman Mohammed Hafedh Alqaysi, 28, acknowledged his involvement in supporting the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). From 2015 to 2020, he utilized his computer skills to assist the ISIS media arm known as the Kalachnikov team.
He provided hacking videos, instructions, stolen credit card data, and fraudulently produced identity documents to ISIS members. U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett accepted Alqaysi’s plea and scheduled sentencing for June 5.
Alqaysi faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He remains in custody awaiting sentencing. The case was investigated by the FBI Houston Joint Terrorism Task Force with support from Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Winter is leading the prosecution, assisted by Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
CAMDEN, N.J. — A Department of Veterans Affairs firefighter admitted in federal court to defrauding the government of nearly half a million dollars in workers’ compensation benefits, authorities said. Richard…
MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. — A former Mount Laurel police officer has pleaded guilty to illegally accessing social media accounts and distributing private images of multiple women, Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia…
MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. — A former Mount Laurel police officer has pleaded guilty to illegally accessing social media accounts and distributing private images of multiple women, prosecutors announced. Ayron Taylor,…
LAS CRUCES, N.M. — A New Mexico man has been convicted of first-degree murder for stabbing another man 84 times, beheading him, and then kicking the severed head around a…
HOGANSBURG, N.Y. — A New York woman pleaded guilty Thursday for her role in a human smuggling conspiracy that led to the deaths of a Romanian family of four, including…
BUDD LAKE, N.J. — A New Jersey man admitted Wednesday to concealing efforts to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist…
ABSECON, N.J. — A New Jersey man has pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in a high-speed crash that killed an 8-year-old boy sleeping in a parked car while his father…
ORLANDO, Fla. — A Florida man accused of stabbing his childhood friend and boss to death after a political argument was found not guilty by reason of insanity, according to…
Former Navy Sailor Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy and Attempted Attack
**Chicago, IL** – In a significant development, former Navy sailor Xuanyu Harry Pang has pleaded guilty in a federal court in Chicago to plotting an attack on Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, Illinois, on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The plea was entered on Tuesday in a U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and subsequently unsealed.
Court documents reveal that in the summer of 2021, Pang engaged with a person in Colombia about collaborating with Iranian actors to avenge the death of Qasem Soleimani, an IRGC Quds Force general killed by the U.S. military in 2020. The FBI, through a covert employee posing as a Quds Force affiliate, initiated contact with the Colombian individual, ultimately connecting with Pang.
The communications focused on potential targets, including Naval Station Great Lakes and other locations in Chicago. In fall 2022, Pang met with an FBI associate, providing photos, videos of the Naval Station, two U.S. military uniforms, and a cell phone intended for use as a detonator test.
Pang remains in custody without bond and awaits sentencing, facing a maximum
Raleigh Businessman Pleads Guilty to Illegal Export to China
**Raleigh, NC** – David C. Bohmerwald, 63, owner of Components Cooper Inc., a Raleigh electronics resale business, pleaded guilty to attempting to export military-use accelerometer technology to China without a license. This action violates the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA) and could lead to a maximum of 20 years in prison upon sentencing.
Court records revealed that Bohmerwald purchased 100 accelerometers from a U.S. electronics company, intending to export them to a Chinese company. These devices are significant in fields spanning from research and product development to critical military applications like flight control and missile navigation. A license is necessary for exporting such technology to China.
Upon purchasing the accelerometers, Bohmerwald falsely stated they were for a Missouri-based end user. However, the Missouri company denied any such transaction. After obtaining the accelerometers, Bohmerwald attempted to ship them via FedEx to China. Agents from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security detained the package, uncovering the lack of a proper export license and noting Bohmerwald’s undervaluation of the items.
The investigation is conducted by the Bureau of Industry and Security, FBI
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud Scheme
**Jackson, MS** – A Florida resident has admitted guilt in a case involving a decade-long scheme promoting an illicit tax shelter and committing wire fraud. The individual also confessed to aiding in the preparation of false tax returns for clients using the shelter.
Stephen T. Mellinger III of Delray Beach worked as a financial advisor, insurance salesman, and securities broker in various states. Since late 2013, he and his accomplices marketed an illegal tax shelter, encouraging clients to claim inappropriate deductions for “royalty payments” to unlawfully minimize their taxes.
Court documents reveal these royalty payments constituted a deceptive money flow, creating the facade of legitimate business expenses. Clients would transfer funds to accounts managed by Mellinger and his partners, who would return the sum—minus their fee—to an account controlled by the client, allowing them to claim false deductions.
Through the scheme, clients claimed over $106 million in misleading tax deductions, leading to a $37 million tax loss for the IRS. Mellinger and one unnamed co-conspirator reportedly earned approximately $3 million from the operations. They also misappropriated over $2.1 million from clients under investigation, some of which M