Michael Cris Traya Sordilla Arrested in U.S. Publishing Scam
MANILA, Philippines — Michael Cris Traya Sordilla, the chairman of the prestigious Hiyas ng Pilipinas beauty pageant and CEO of Cebu-based BPO company Innocentrix Philippines, was arrested in December 2024 for his involvement in an alleged multi-million-dollar publishing scam targeting elderly authors in the United States.
Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi Arrested in ISIS Election Day Plot
The Justice Department announced charges against Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, a 27-year-old Afghan national, for allegedly planning a terrorist attack in support of ISIS on U.S. Election Day. The FBI arrested Tawhedi in Oklahoma on Monday after he purchased rifles and ammunition from an undercover officer. He now faces multiple charges, including conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS.
Sebastian Zapeta-Calil Charged with Murder in Subway Fire Death
NEW YORK CITY — Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a 33-year-old undocumented migrant from Guatemala, has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and arson following the December 22 attack that killed Debrina Kawam, 57, on a New York City subway. Zapeta-Calil was arrested after a surveillance video reportedly showed him setting Kawam on fire while she was asleep on an F train in Brooklyn.
Trio Charged in $44M Scam Targeting Elderly Authors in Book Publishing Fraud
SAN DIEGO, CA – A federal grand jury has indicted three individuals accused of defrauding elderly authors across the United States out of nearly $44 million through a book publishing scam that falsely promised to turn their books into blockbuster films and television series. The defendants are charged with conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as money laundering.
Dominique X. Ezell Arrested for Scamming Sikeston Cashiers
SIKESTON, MO – Dominique X. Ezell, 34, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, has been arrested after using a quick-change scam to steal hundreds of dollars from multiple Sikeston retail businesses. The incident was reported on January 18, 2025, following a series of suspicious transactions that were caught on security cameras.
Bench Warrant Issued for Emmanuel Oku in ₦739M Dangote Fraud Case
LAGOS, NIGERIA – The Federal High Court in Lagos has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Emmanuel Oku, a staff member of Dangote Industries Limited, after he failed to appear in court for his trial. Oku is accused of defrauding the company of ₦739 million in a case involving a massive fraud scheme.
Leon Leager Arrested for Theft of Campers in Delaware
ELLENDALE, DELAWARE – Leon Leager, a 39-year-old resident of Ellendale, Delaware, was arrested on January 15, 2025, after being identified as the suspect in the theft of two pull-behind campers from a property in Greenwood.
Lancaster Man Arrested in Multi-State Burglary Series
BEDFORD COUNTY, PA – Dan Quac Tran, 47, from Lancaster, was arrested early Thursday morning after allegedly breaking into a restaurant in Bedford County. Tran, suspected of committing multiple burglaries across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware, was charged with a series of felonies, including criminal mischief, theft, burglary, and criminal trespass.
Former Natchitoches Employee Arrested for Fuel Theft
NATCHITOCHES, LA – Nathan Holmes, 21, a former employee of the Natchitoches Police Department, has been arrested and accused of fuel theft. The arrest followed an investigation into improper fuel purchases made using a city-issued fuel card.
Manhattan Man Landon Beace Arrested on Multiple Charges
MANHATTAN, KS – Landon Beace, 22, from Manhattan, was arrested on Friday afternoon on multiple charges, including vehicular burglary, theft of property or services, and computer crimes. Additional charges include unlawful firearm possession.
LeShaun Bradley, 19, and 17-Year-Old Arrested After Stolen Car Pursuit
NEW CASTLE, DE – LeShaun Bradley, 19, of Wilmington, and a 17-year-old male from the same city, were arrested on multiple felony charges following a pursuit in a stolen Acura early Wednesday morning.
Jamira Loper, 28, Arrested for Macing Victims in Stanton Grocery Store Incident
WILMINGTON, DE – Jamira Loper, 28, of Wilmington, has been arrested and charged with felony assault after she allegedly maced five individuals in the parking lot of a grocery store in Stanton on January 18, 2025.
John Hernandez and Shakair Miller Arrested for Drugs and Guns in Wilmington
Wilmington, DE – On January 13, 2025, two men were arrested in Wilmington on multiple felony charges after a routine traffic stop led to the discovery of drugs and a firearm.
Local Man Arrested in Connection with Wire Theft Charges
On January 16th, at approximately 7 a.m., a resident from Triangle Lake spotted three individuals setting a fire on private property. The suspects matched descriptions of those involved in a recent wire theft in the area. Deputies responded quickly and arrested two of the individuals who had outstanding warrants. However, a third suspect, 56-year-old Craig Leon Beaty, managed to flee the scene.
Jacob Holt Johnson Charged in Murder of Intimate Partner
BLUFFDALE, Utah (KUTV) —Charges have been filed against Jacob Holt Johnson, accused of murdering a woman he was romantically involved with. On December 31, officers with the Bluffdale Police Department discovered Johnson unconscious in a white jeep at a 7-11 gas station on Redwood Road. An officer noticed a disturbing sight—a woman’s body in a cardboard box in the trunk of Johnson’s vehicle.
Claude Brelsford Arrested in Kentucky on Drug Charges
HAZEL, Ky. (KFVS) — A man with an active arrest warrant out of Tennessee was apprehended in Kentucky on drug-related charges. On Friday, January 17, at approximately 6:15 a.m., deputies from the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office made contact with 24-year-old Claude D. Brelsford of Puryear, Tennessee, at the Hazel Post Office.
John Allen and Vanessa Jo Snyder Arrested for Cocaine Sales in Williamsport
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — A couple in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, has been arrested after being accused of selling cocaine to confidential informants over the course of several months. John Allen, 43, and Vanessa Jo Snyder, 42, both of Williamsport, allegedly engaged in multiple drug deals, which were recorded by law enforcement officials using surveillance devices.
Christian and Devon Winters Arrested in Macon for Firearms, Drugs
MACON, Ga. — The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office (BSO) arrested two adults and two teenagers on Thursday afternoon after discovering illegal firearms and drugs during a search of a residence in the 3700 block of Greenway Place.
Eliezer Santana Wanted for Fatal Hazleton Shooting
HAZLETON, Pa. — Authorities are still searching for 18-year-old Eliezer Santana, who is wanted for his involvement in a fatal shooting in Hazle Township that occurred on April 14, 2023. Santana is facing criminal homicide and felony aggravated assault charges following the death of 18-year-old Rolando K. Cepeda.
Williamsport Woman Arrested for Retail Theft at Wegmans
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Melanie Leigh Norman, 41, was arrested on January 5, 2025, after leaving Wegmans with groceries she had not paid for. According to police, Norman was stopped by retail theft and prevention officers after exiting the store with soup and chicken valued at $29.
Devin DeLoach Arrested for Fatal Shooting of Dontavious Holsey
MACON, Ga. (WGXA) — The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office (BSO) has arrested 18-year-old Devin DeLoach in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred in September, resulting in the death of 23-year-old Dontavious Holsey.
Harold E. Luster Charged with Murder of Son Kevin M. Ward
HILLSBORO, Mo. (First Alert 4) — A Jefferson County man has been charged with murder following the shooting death of his son on Christmas Eve.
Emily J. Taylor Arrested for Methamphetamine Possession in Illinois
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Ill. (KFVS) — A woman was arrested in Williamson County, Illinois after authorities discovered methamphetamine and other illegal items during a traffic stop.
Jamaican Men Convicted in Multi-Million Dollar Money Laundering Scheme
Two Jamaican men have been convicted for their involvement in an international money laundering operation that funneled over $6 million in drug trafficking proceeds through U.S., Caribbean, and European financial institutions, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced on January 17.
Five Carthage Residents Arrested in Drug Bust on Old River Road
Carthage, NC — Five individuals from Carthage have been arrested following a drug raid on Wednesday, during which authorities seized multiple illegal substances and drug paraphernalia.
Robbins Man Arrested for Setting Fire to Vehicles on His Property
ROBBINS, NC — A 55-year-old man from Robbins is facing felony charges after he allegedly set a fire that destroyed several vehicles on his property on Saturday.
Tina Burris, Doimeire Gray, and Devon Young Arrested in Drug Raid
MAGNOLIA, Del. — Three residents of Magnolia, Delaware, were arrested following the execution of a search warrant that uncovered significant quantities of illegal drugs, firearms, and suspected drug proceeds at a residence on Gray’s Lane.
Fayetteville Father Arrested in Connection to Death of 2-Year-Old Son
WEST END, NC — A Fayetteville man has been arrested in connection with the death of his 2-year-old son, River Carter, in December 2023.
Mark Weston Arrested for Stealing $1,000 in Electronics from Walmart
ABERDEEN, NC — A 40-year-old man from Albermarle was arrested for allegedly stealing over $1,000 worth of electronics from Walmart in Aberdeen.
Three Arrested After Shootout Over Child Custody Dispute in Aberdeen
ABERDEEN, NC — A violent child custody dispute led to a shootout in Aberdeen on Christmas Eve, resulting in three arrests.
David Revels Arrested for Larceny and Drug Possession at Aberdeen Walmart
ABERDEEN, NC — A 51-year-old Laurinburg man was arrested at Walmart in Aberdeen on Friday after being linked to a larceny incident, and was found in possession of methamphetamine and stolen property.
Crystal Tripp and Keith Marsh Arrested on Drug Charges in Carthage
CARTHAGE, NC — Crystal Tripp, 38, and Keith Marsh, 47, were arrested on Friday after a probation search led to the discovery of drugs and paraphernalia at a residence on McCrimmon Road in Carthage.
Brian Borowski and Zachary McKoy Arrested for Break-In and Drug Offenses in Seven Lakes
SEVEN LAKES, NC — Brian Borowski, 41, and Zachary McKoy, 44, both of Spring Lake, were arrested on May 21, following a break-in at a business on MacDougall Drive in Seven Lakes.
Former Florida State Representative Carolina Amesty Arrested on COVID Relief Fraud Charges
ORLANDO, FL — Carolina Amesty, a former state representative from central Florida, has been arrested on federal fraud charges, accused of stealing $122,000 in COVID-19 relief funds.
Brothers Zaki and Hanzalah Daudo Sentenced for Multi-Year Bank Fraud Scheme
LONDON — Zaki Daudo, 34, and Hanzalah Daudo, 46, have been sentenced for their roles in a multi-year bank fraud scheme that lasted from 2019 to 2024, where they used stolen banking information to make fraudulent online purchases.
Bloomington Family, Edwin, Kathleen, and Everson Pierce Charged
Bloomington Family Charged in Organized Retail Crime Scheme
Brian Tymone Auplant Charged with Fraud Scheme in Gainesville
Brian Tymone Auplant, 36, has been arrested and charged with engaging in a fraudulent scheme after allegedly visiting multiple businesses at Butler Plaza in Gainesville, Florida, over a period of several months. Between October and December of 2022, Auplant approached employees at these businesses, claiming to be a partial owner of the land or a representative with connections to Butler Enterprises. He allegedly demanded money from the businesses, though he never specified a dollar amount.
Chavez Fox Arrested for Alleged Drug Trafficking at Southern Pines Barbershop
Chavez Fox, 43, of Southern Pines, North Carolina, is facing multiple serious charges after his arrest for allegedly operating a drug trafficking operation out of his barbershop, Fox Cuts. The arrest followed a joint operation between the Southern Pines Police Department’s Investigation Division and the Moore County Sheriff’s Office.
Dillon Jayce Welch Faces Charges for Stolen Bank Card and Drug Offenses
ROCKINGHAM — Dillon Jayce Welch, 31, is facing multiple charges after allegedly using a stolen bank card to purchase gasoline. According to arrest records, Welch stole a Truist debit card from a woman on or around November 11, 2024, and used it for unauthorized purchases.
Francisco Garcia-Franco Arrested in Albuquerque Murder Case
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Francisco Garcia-Franco, 33, has been arrested in El Paso, Texas, as the second suspect in the murder of Steven Keliiaa in northeast Albuquerque on December 23, 2024. The arrest occurred over the weekend, nearly three weeks after police initially arrested the first suspect, Javier Irigoyen, on January 2, 2025.
