Ricardo Villarroel Duerto Sentenced to 18 Years for Pool Scam
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Ricardo Villarroel Duerto, the owner of Villa Pavers and Pools, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for defrauding nearly 100 homeowners across Florida. This includes residents in Palm Beach County. The state prosecutor’s office announced the conviction after Duerto, along with accomplices, stole more than $1 million from unsuspecting victims.
Janet M. Huyck Arrested for Crack Cocaine Possession and Sale
WATERVLIET, N.Y. — A 65-year-old woman from Watervliet, Janet M. Huyck, was arrested on December 10 after she was found attempting to ingest an unknown substance during a police stop.
Justin Bouldin Found Guilty of Drug Possession and Intent to Sell
ALBANY, N.Y. — Justin Bouldin, a 48-year-old Albany man, was found guilty on Monday of felony drug charges after a jury trial in Albany County Court.
Samantha Goodrich Arrested for Receiving Ineligible Benefits
WASHINGTON COUNTY, N.Y. — Samantha Goodrich, a 32-year-old woman from Fort Ann, was arrested and charged with third-degree grand larceny after an investigation revealed she had been receiving social security benefits she was ineligible for.
Matthew Monthie Pleads Guilty in Fatal Bethlehem Crash
29-year-old Matthew Monthie of Clifton Park appeared in Albany County Court on Tuesday and accepted a plea agreement related to a deadly car crash on May 1, 2024. The accident, which occurred on Route 85 in Bethlehem, claimed the life of a 53-year-old woman from Selkirk.
Jason Allen and Courtney Gilboy Arrested After Vehicle Pursuit
Town of Milton, NY — On Friday, Saratoga County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two individuals wanted for outstanding felony warrants. Jason Allen, 45, and Courtney Gilboy, 27, both from Greenfield, were apprehended after fleeing a vehicle during a police chase.
Juan Cruceta Arrested for Crack Cocaine Sale in Queensbury
Queensbury, NY — Juan Cruceta, a 38-year-old from Manhattan Street in Schenectady, was arrested by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office on charges related to the sale of crack cocaine in Queensbury.
Jevoun Drake Pleads Guilty to Murder of Usman Pirzada
Schenectady, NY — 19-year-old Jevoun Drake pled guilty to murder in Schenectady County Court for the fatal killing of Usman Pirzada during a robbery on December 19, 2023.
Marquis Dixon Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Weapon and Drug Charges
Albany, NY (WRGB) — Marquis Dixon, 26, was sentenced to nine years in prison with five years of parole in connection to weapon and drug charges.
Kenya Wheat Arrested for Firing Gun Near Teen in McCook Incident
MCCOOK, Neb. (KOLN) — A McCook woman, 49-year-old Kenya Wheat, was arrested on Friday after firing a gun near a 16-year-old during a dispute, according to the Frontier County Sheriff’s Office.
Kearney Man Shelby Olson Sentenced to 10 Years for Meth Distribution
KEARNEY, Neb. (KSNB) — Shelby Olson, 46, of Kearney, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for distributing over 50 grams of methamphetamine, with no possibility of parole.
John Gilligan, Veteran Crime Boss, Arrested in Spain Over Drug Trade
TORREVIEJA, Spain — John Gilligan, the notorious 72-year-old crime boss who led the gang behind the 1996 murder of journalist Veronica Guerin, has been arrested once again in Spain. The arrest took place in the Torrevieja area just before Christmas as part of a drug operation.
Dirk Rodney Nixon Arrested for Drug Trafficking and Felony Charges
VALE, NC — Dirk Rodney Nixon, 44, of Vale, was arrested on Friday, January 3, by the Catawba County Sheriff’s Officers, facing multiple felony charges, including trafficking opium or heroin, maintaining a vehicle or dwelling for controlled substances, and possession with intent to manufacture, sell, and deliver marijuana.
Jerry Blackshear Arrested After High-Speed Pursuit in Florida
PONCE DE LEON, FL — Jerry Blackshear, the driver of a Toyota SUV, was arrested on January 4, 2025, after leading deputies on a high-speed pursuit that reached speeds over 115 mph. The chase began when a Holmes County deputy attempted to stop the vehicle for driving without a tag.
Three Arrested in Bangor Drug Trafficking Bust, $750K in Drugs Seized
BANGOR, ME — Three individuals were arrested after authorities discovered over 15 pounds of drugs, worth an estimated $750,000, inside a Bangor apartment. The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) initiated an investigation into suspected drug trafficking at an apartment on 247 Ohio Street in Bangor.
Christy Keane Arrested in Connection with €560,000 Cocaine Seizure in Limerick
LIMERICK, IRELAND — Christy Keane, a 60-year-old convicted drug dealer from St. Mary’s Park, was arrested on November 22, 2024, in connection with a major cocaine seizure valued at €560,000. The arrest, which took place following searches in Limerick City, has added another chapter to Keane’s criminal history.
Three Indian-Origin Men Among 10 Sentenced in UK Drug Smuggling Case
In a significant drug smuggling case in the UK, three Indian-origin men were among 10 individuals sentenced for their involvement in a major cocaine and cash smuggling ring. The group used hidden compartments in vans and cleverly concealed shipments within pallets of raw chicken to transport millions of pounds worth of illegal drugs and cash across the country.
Bulent Aslanoglu Arrested in Major Cocaine Smuggling Bust
Bulent Aslanoglu, a dual Swedish-German national and alleged former leader of the Södertälje gang, was arrested as part of Operation Botnia, which dismantled a significant international drug trafficking network. The operation, led by the Spanish National Police in collaboration with Colombian authorities, resulted in the seizure of 100 kilos of cocaine, worth millions of pounds, and the arrest of 12 individuals across Spain and Colombia.
Three Men Jailed for 30 Years Over £10 Million Cocaine Bust in Birmingham
A major cocaine operation has been dismantled after police seized drugs worth over £10 million in Birmingham. Three men were sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison for their roles in one of the UK’s “top-end” cocaine networks.
Birmingham Taxi Driver Jailed for Role in Cocaine and Firearms Network
A Birmingham taxi driver, Safdar Pervez, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role as a trusted courier in a major criminal network responsible for distributing cocaine and firearms across northern England. The sentencing, which took place on Tuesday, January 7, follows an extensive National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation into the gang’s operations.
Julius Kivimäki Jailed for Blackmailing 33,000 Therapy Patients
Julius Kivimäki, a hacker infamous across Europe, has been sentenced to six years and three months in prison for blackmailing 33,000 therapy patients with their stolen confidential records. This sentencing concludes Kivimäki’s 11-year spree of cyber-crimes, starting when he was just 13 years old and involved in teenage hacking gangs. His criminal activities, including high-profile attacks, marked his rise in the hacking world.
Noyan Nihat Behind Firms Fined £340,000 for Nuisance Calls
Noyan Nihat, the director of two financial firms with the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) approval, is now under scrutiny after being linked to two companies fined a total of £340,000 for making over 1.43 million nuisance calls to elderly and vulnerable victims. The two companies, Outsource Strategies Limited and Dr Telemarketing Limited, were investigated by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) after complaints emerged regarding aggressive sales tactics aimed at consumers who had opted into the Telephone Preference Service’s ‘do not call’ list.
Detective Andrew Talbot Convicted for Cocaine Theft and Distribution
Andrew Talbot, a former detective with Greater Manchester Police (GMP), has been convicted for stealing almost 4kg of cocaine from the police evidence store and distributing it on the streets of Manchester. Between February 2018 and January 2020, Talbot used his position in the Serious Crime Division to access confidential police systems to identify known or suspected drug dealers. This information helped him sell the stolen drugs, contributing to an illicit drug trade in the area.
Damon Keegan Jailed for Stealing Luxury Cars Worth £350,000
Damon Keegan, a car thief from Hyde, Greater Manchester, has been sentenced to six years and 11 months in prison for stealing luxury cars worth almost £350,000. Keegan, 31, used a variety of methods to target high-value vehicles, including disabling doorbell cameras by blocking Wi-Fi signals with a radio frequency jammer. This allowed him to break into homes and steal the cars without being detected.
Former Police Sergeant Ben Cooke Jailed for Theft and Corruption
Ben Cooke, a 34-year-old former police sergeant from Hirwaun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, was sentenced to six years and four months in prison after being convicted of theft, burglary, and corruption. Cooke, a ten-year veteran of the police force, exploited his position to plan and commit crimes, using confidential police data for personal gain.
Walter Tarver Arrested After Burglary at Augusta Pharmacy
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Early on January 5th, at approximately 4:04 am, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a burglary alarm at Barney’s Pharmacy on Furys Ferry Road.
Three South Korean Nationals Arrested in Cebu for Robbery Charges
MANILA – On Thursday, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed that three South Korean nationals, arrested for robbery charges in their homeland, will remain in its custody.
Nicole Rought Charged with Grand Larceny in Conesus Theft
CONESUS – A 29-year-old Mount Morris woman, Nicole Rought, has been charged with grand larceny following an investigation into the theft of cash and personal items from a Conesus residence, according to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.
Anstice Dewitte White Arrested for Third-Degree Robbery
MOBILE, Ala. – Anstice Dewitte White, 34, was arrested on Tuesday, January 7, in connection with a robbery that took place on Saturday, January 4, at Shoe Station, located at 741 Hillcrest Road.
Christian Dave Vicencio Arrested for Robbery in Brooke’s Point
BATARAZA, Philippines – A man suspected of being involved in a robbery in Brooke’s Point was arrested on July 16 following a hot pursuit operation in Bataraza. The suspect, identified as Christian Dave Vicencio, 23, a resident of Barangay Rio Tuba in Bataraza, was apprehended at Sitio Bukid Bukid.
Nagaura Hiroki, Member of “Luffy” Gang, Arrested in Manila
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported the arrest of another member of the notorious “Luffy” gang, wanted by Japanese authorities for theft and robbery. Nagaura Hiroki, 26, was apprehended by the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) on Sunday along Estrella Avenue in Barangay Poblacion, Makati City.
Rogério Faria da Silva, Leader of Brazil’s PCC, Arrested in Santos
Rogério Faria da Silva, 44, also known as ‘Morcegão,’ a prominent leader of Brazil’s infamous criminal organization, the First Commando da Capital (PCC), was arrested at the Giusfredo Santini Passenger Maritime Terminal in Santos. His capture took place on December 26 as he disembarked from the Costa Pacifica cruise ship after returning from a family vacation, which began on December 22.
Farhats Bathijevs Charged with Gold, Cash, and Drugs Seizure
A 55-year-old man, Farhats Bathijevs, was recently arrested in Dublin after a significant police operation uncovered nearly €1.4 million worth of gold bullion, substantial amounts of cash, and suspected drugs, including cocaine and MDMA.