Franklin County Sting Operation Uncovers Major Financial Scam
In a coordinated sting operation, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) in Tennessee apprehended two suspects involved in a complex financial scam that deceived a local resident.
Kimberly Harris Arrested for Stealing Pandemic Benefits in SC
Kimberly Harris, a 49-year-old woman from Columbia, was arrested for her involvement in a fraudulent scheme that stole thousands in pandemic assistance funds. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) announced her arrest on charges including first-degree computer crime, forgery, insurance fraud, and breach of trust.
Ronald Leblanc Jr. Arrested for Murder of His Father in Victoria County
On Sunday, February 16, at around 7:00 p.m., deputies from the Victoria County Sheriff’s Department responded to a report of a shooting in the 1000 block of Cooley Road. Upon arriving at the scene, officers found 78-year-old Ronald Leblanc Sr., deceased, with an apparent gunshot wound.
Xander Phoenix Wanted for Forgery Charges in Kelowna Fraud Case
An arrest warrant has been issued for Xander Phoenix, a 52-year-old former resident of New Westminster, who faces two forgery-related charges following a lengthy fraud investigation by Kelowna RCMP.
Two New York Men Arrested in Howell PayPal Scam
A Howell resident became the victim of a sophisticated scam after receiving an email claiming her PayPal account had been compromised. Following the instructions, she bundled up more than $20,000 in cash and waited for someone to pick up the package.
Three Arrested in Thiensville for Stealing $9,000 from Local Restaurant
Three individuals were arrested in Thiensville, Wisconsin, after reportedly stealing over $9,000 worth of alcohol and other items from a local restaurant.
Brittany Butrum Arrested in Columbia, KY on Multiple Charges
Columbia, KY – Brittany Butrum, 37, of Columbia, was arrested on Wednesday evening by Deputy Pearson of the Russell County Sheriff’s Office. She faces multiple charges, including Theft of Identity of Another without Consent, Non-Payment of Court Costs, Fees, or Fines, and was also served with a bench warrant for court.
Couple Arrested in White Settlement for Stealing $4,875 in Boots
White Settlement, TX – A husband and wife, Valentine Cardenas, 57, and Melissa Marez, 47, were arrested in White Settlement and charged with theft after being accused of repeatedly stealing boots and other items from Boot Barn stores across North Texas.
Treasurer Arrested in Corning for Stealing Over $45,000 from PTA and Union
Corning, NY – Kari A. Warner, 35, the treasurer for the Calvin U. Smith Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the Corning-Painted Post CSEA Union 8710, was arrested on Wednesday, Feb. 26, after an investigation led by New York State Police uncovered the alleged misappropriation of funds from both organizations.
Ilion Woman Arrested for Felony Grand Larceny at Skenandoa Golf Club
Clinton, NY – Deanna Hannigan, 47, of Ilion, was arrested on Feb. 25 and charged with felony grand larceny following an investigation into stolen funds from the Skenandoa Golf Club in Clinton, Oneida County.
Mohawk Man Arrested for Arson, Assault, and Strangulation in Domestic Incident
Mohawk, NY – Christian M. Callen, 49, of Mohawk, was arrested on Feb. 13 and charged with four felonies following a violent domestic incident in the Town of Warren, Herkimer County.
Utica Woman Arrested for Grand Larceny After Stealing Wallet at McDonald’s
UTICA, N.Y. – A 37-year-old woman from Utica, Nicole Williamson, is facing grand larceny charges after a theft incident at a McDonald’s in South Utica.
Pryor Man Michael Johnson Arrested for Auto Larceny
PRYOR, OKLA (KTUL) — The Pryor Creek Police Department (PCPD) arrested Michael Johnson for larceny of an automobile following an investigation into a stolen vehicle report.
David Pasquariello and Aileen Johnson Arrested for Massive Theft Scheme
NORTH HAVEN, CT – David L. Pasquariello, 39, and Aileen Johnson, 40, were arrested by state police after returning to the same Home Depot they had previously targeted in a series of thefts. The two suspects were allegedly behind more than 200 thefts across New England, amounting to more than $365,000 in stolen goods.
Carlisle Police Arrest Kobe Sprecher on Multiple Theft Charges
CARLISLE, PA – On Tuesday afternoon, Carlisle Police arrested 26-year-old Kobe Sprecher following an investigation into a series of theft incidents. The arrest took place at approximately 3:30 PM in the 300 block of North College Street.
Santale Cephus Arrested for Marijuana Possession and Drug Distribution
TULSA, OKLA (KTUL) — On January 3, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) arrested Santale Lamont Cephus, 51, after discovering 12 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle during a traffic stop.
Christian and Kaleel Smith Plead Guilty to Drug Distribution Charges
MUSKOGEE, OK (KTUL) — Christian Deion Larance Smith, 27, and Kaleel Montrel Smith, 26, both from Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered guilty pleas to federal charges involving drug distribution. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced the plea deal, which included one count each of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.
Jonathan Melton and James Tindall Charged in Grenada Substation Theft
GRENADA, Miss. (WTVA) — Two men have been arrested after allegedly stealing items from an Entergy substation in Grenada County. The suspects were identified by the Grenada County Sheriff’s Office as Jonathan Melton and James Tindall.
Columbia Woman Brittany Butrum Arrested on Identity Theft Charge
RUSSELL COUNTY, KY — Brittany A. Butrum, 37, of Columbia, was arrested in Russell County on an identity theft charge. She faces one count of theft of identity of another without consent, in addition to a bench warrant.
Three Men Sentenced to Life for Violent Crime Spree in Newport News
NEWPORT NEWS, VA (WAVY) — Three men were sentenced to life in prison for their involvement in a series of brutal crimes in Newport News during 2017, including five murders, robberies, car thefts, and high-speed chases.
Steven Bryce Wheeler Sentenced to Life Without Parole for 2023 Murder of Wife
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MI (FOX 2) — Steven Bryce Wheeler, 31, of Clinton Township, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2023 murder of his wife. The tragic crime occurred on October 19, 2023, and Wheeler was convicted by a jury last month.
Two Men Arrested for Stealing Copper from Sarasota Home
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) — Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) deputies arrested two men Tuesday night for stealing copper piping and wires from a home under construction on Casey Key Road.
Major Drug Bust in Poinsett County Nets 21 Arrests in Methamphetamine Operation
TRUMANN, Ark. — In what is being called one of the largest drug busts in the history of northeastern Arkansas, federal authorities have indicted 21 individuals involved in a significant methamphetamine trafficking operation. The arrests, which took place on Tuesday, involved the FBI and local law enforcement in Trumann and Marked Tree, both located in Poinsett County.
Demittus Alfonzo Howard Arrested on Multiple Drug Charges
Sheffield, Ala. – On Wednesday, 32-year-old Demittus Alfonzo Howard was arrested by the Sheffield Police Department following a traffic stop that led to the discovery of illegal narcotics. Howard now faces numerous charges, including drug trafficking and possession of controlled substances.
Dalton Lindsey and Jami Singleton Arrested for Drug Trafficking
Taylorsville, N.C. – On Wednesday, Dalton Lindsey, 25, and Jami Singleton, 25, were arrested in Taylorsville after a police search uncovered a significant drug stash. Officers executed a search warrant at a residence, where they found 52 pounds of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a handgun, and cash.
Chicago Man Sentenced for Nationwide Wire Fraud Scheme
Boston, Mass. – Terrence Bender, a 32-year-old Chicago man, was sentenced Thursday to three years of probation and ordered to pay $103,000 in restitution and forfeiture for his role in a nationwide wire fraud conspiracy. The scheme targeted businesses and individuals across the United States, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Maryland Man Sentenced to 11 Years for $7.6 Million SBA Fraud
A Maryland man was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for orchestrating a scheme that defrauded the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) of more than $7.6 million, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Ex-Detective Ramirez Ivy Sentenced to 18 Months for SBA Loan Fraud
A former police detective from Columbus, Ramirez Ivy, was sentenced to 18 months in prison Thursday for fraudulently obtaining a $200,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) from the Small Business Administration (SBA). The sentencing, reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi, comes after Ivy conspired with Lakeith Faulkner, Norman Beckwood, and others to submit falsified loan applications.
Portland Man Sentenced for Stealing $426K Using Stolen Identity
PORTLAND, Ore. – Clinton Wells, a 36-year-old Portland man, was sentenced on Thursday to three years in federal prison after using stolen identity and financial information to steal more than $426,000 from a vulnerable victim. Wells was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $426,481.14 in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Riverside County Man Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud Involving $1.2M
A Riverside County man has agreed to plead guilty to filing false income tax returns after selling memorabilia signed by Marvel Comics publisher Stan Lee and failing to report more than $1.2 million in sales proceeds. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced Thursday that Mac Martin Anderson, 59, of Corona, has admitted to two counts of willfully subscribing to a false tax return, a felony carrying a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each charge.
Oklahoma Man Terry Ross Killion Sentenced for Social Security Fraud
On January 31, 2025, Oklahoma resident Terry Ross Killion was sentenced to two years in federal prison for committing aggravated identity theft. Killion, 43, fraudulently used the personal information of his deceased friend, Kelly Davis, to collect Social Security benefits meant for Davis. Killion opened multiple accounts in Davis’s name and falsely posed as him in communications with the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Nathaniel Hopkins Jr. Sentenced for Theft of Social Security Funds
On February 18, 2025, Nathaniel Hopkins Jr., 48, of Louisiana, was sentenced to three years of probation for theft of government funds after pleading guilty to fraudulently receiving Social Security benefits. Court documents revealed that from April 2014 to January 2024, Hopkins continued to collect his deceased wife’s Social Security benefits, totaling approximately $144,176.43. He also unlawfully accessed $3,200 in COVID-19 stimulus funds from her bank account.
Tezzaree Champion Pleads Guilty to $6M Fraud Scheme
On Thursday, Tezzaree El-Amin Champion, 28, a Minneapolis nonprofit executive, pleaded guilty to orchestrating a $6 million fraud scheme. Champion, who ran Futuristic Management LLC and his nonprofit Encouraging Leaders, assisted clients in submitting fraudulent small business relief and loan applications, including Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. He falsified financial documents and inflated income and expenses, securing over $2.1 million in fraudulent loans.
Community Health Care Solutions Settles $4.6M Medicaid Fraud Case
Community Health Care Solutions, LLC, and the estate of its late owner, Yolanda Burnom, have agreed to pay $4.6 million to settle allegations of defrauding Medicaid. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the scheme involved offering financial incentives to Medicaid recipients in exchange for their patient information, which was then used to bill for non-existent crisis intervention services.
Shelbra Long Pleads Guilty to $466K Education Fraud Schemec
Shelbra Long, 58, of Edinburg, Texas, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud, following her involvement in a decade-long scheme to fraudulently obtain financial aid from the Department of Education. Long, alongside co-conspirators, submitted fraudulent applications to online colleges using stolen identities and false information.
Two Men Arrested in $10 Million Money Laundering Scheme
Two men have been arrested in connection with an elaborate money laundering scheme that defrauded over 100 victims of at least $10 million, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Kansas City Officer Aaron McKie Guilty of Fraud, Misused $200K
Aaron Wayne McKie, a former Kansas City police officer, was convicted on February 20, 2025, for defrauding an anti-crime charity, Mid-America Crime Free Inc. (MACF), of over $200,000 in donations. McKie, 47, was found guilty on nine counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.
Dusty Faile and Two Women Arrested in Lancaster, SC Drug Bust
Three individuals were arrested on drug-related charges in Lancaster, South Carolina, after a search warrant was executed at a home on Catoe Road, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.
Skylar Wilson and Christian Dos Santos Arrested After Stolen Car Chase
Mooresville, N.C. — Two individuals were arrested after leading Mooresville Police on a pursuit in a stolen vehicle on I-77 on the morning of September 15. Police were initially alerted to the vehicle, which was reported stolen, as it traveled on Highway 150. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the suspects fled, prompting a chase that continued onto I-77.
Candice Wright Arrested in Drug Trafficking Bust in Newton, NC
A Lenoir woman, Candice Wright, was arrested by the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office on January 23rd, facing several drug trafficking charges. Deputies stopped a vehicle on I-40, where they suspected the driver to be involved in drug-related activities.
