Tarpon Springs Scam: Laurentz Simprevil & Steve Castamby Arrested
Two men are facing criminal charges after being caught in the middle of a $5,000 scam in Tarpon Springs, Florida, as local deputies swiftly intervened.
Etienne Jackson Arrested in Long Island Scam Attempt
A 39-year-old man was arrested on Saturday after attempting to scam an elderly woman on Long Island, according to the Nassau County Police Department.
Kevin Austin Arrested in $10,000 Scam Attempt in Osage Beach
A man from Idaho was arrested after trying to scam a victim out of $10,000 in Osage Beach, Missouri, according to online court documents.
Columbia Man Michael Shields Arrested for Sexual Misconduct
A Columbia man, Michael Shields, 45, was arrested on Monday after being accused of two separate instances of sexual misconduct, according to the Columbia Police Department (CPD).
Auxvasse Man Gilbert Arcala Arrested for Drug Possession
An Auxvasse man, Gilbert Arcala, was arrested in Miller County on Friday after a traffic stop led to the discovery of drugs and firearms in his vehicle.
Joseph Sanberg Arrested for Alleged $145M Investor Fraud at Aspiration
Joseph Sanberg, the multimillionaire California Democrat activist and co-founder of Aspiration, was arrested on Monday on charges related to a scheme to defraud investors of at least $145 million. Sanberg, 45, of Orange, California, faces federal charges after allegedly conspiring with board member Ibrahim AlHusseini to falsify financial documents and defraud two investor funds
Fulton Man Michael Storm Mullett Sentenced to 21 Years for Fraud
Michael Storm Mullett, a Fulton man, was sentenced to 21 years in prison after pleading guilty to a series of fraudulent activities that defrauded customers, family members, and associates.
Jefferson City Man Brandon Higgins Charged with Robbery at Gunpoint
A Jefferson City man, Brandon Higgins, 19, was charged with multiple crimes after allegedly robbing a man at gunpoint on December 28. The robbery occurred in the 800 block of Ohio Street and was reported to the Jefferson City Police Department at approximately 4:03 p.m.
Columbia Man Travis Dennis Charged with Drug Trafficking and Gun Possession
Travis Dewayne Dennis, 41, of Columbia, was arrested Wednesday after a narcotics investigation led officers to his home on Shamrock Drive. Dennis was accused of selling drugs, including crack cocaine, and faces several charges, including drug trafficking and firearm possession.
Two Men Arrested in Havana, Illinois for ATM Theft Scheme
Marol Aguiar Rodriguez, 20, and Leandro Magdiel Bordones Villegas, 26, were arrested in Havana, Illinois after being accused of a series of ATM thefts across the state. The two men face multiple charges, including burglary, criminal damage to property, and theft.
Two Arrested in DeSoto County for $2 Million Cargo Theft Scheme
Macon Herron, of Southaven, MS, and Manuel Donis, also of Southaven, were arrested in DeSoto County, Mississippi, after being accused of stealing over $2 million worth of merchandise from cargo containers. The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) conducted the investigation, which involved assistance from the Union Pacific Railroad Police and a SWAT team.
Yordis Guzman Arrested for Stealing from Car in Hanover Township
A 26-year-old man, Yordis Guzman, was arrested in Hanover Township, Luzerne County, after he was allegedly caught stealing items from a car parked at Thrive Market.
Three Arrested After Stolen Property Found in Beaufort County Home
CRAVEN COUNTY, N.C. — Three people were arrested after a raid of a home in Beaufort County uncovered stolen property linked to multiple break-ins in Craven County.
Hellertown Men Charged in $3,000 Theft from Home Depot
Easton, PA — Two Hellertown men are facing serious charges after allegedly stealing nearly $3,000 worth of merchandise from a local Home Depot store.
Charles Guthier Sentenced to 11-24 Years for Child Pornography
Bucks County, PA — Charles William Guthier, a 56-year-old man from Quakertown, has been sentenced to 11 to 24 years in state prison after pleading guilty to charges related to the dissemination of child sexual abuse material.
Former Greenville Car Dealer Willard Sutton Pleads Guilty to $8M Ponzi Scheme
Wilmington, N.C. — Willard Sutton, 64, of Winterville, North Carolina, has pled guilty to running a Ponzi scheme that defrauded more than 60 investors of over $8 million. Sutton, a former car dealer at Greenville Auto World, was convicted of one count of mail fraud and now faces significant penalties, including up to 20 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Additionally, Sutton will be required to pay restitution to the victims of his fraudulent scheme.
Four Men Arrested in Beaufort County Drug and Gun Bust
Beaufort County, N.C. — Four men were arrested following a search at a home on Old Saw Mill Road near Blounts Creek, as part of a month-long investigation into the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Beaufort County.
Columbia Men Arrested for Robbery in Jefferson City Drug Deal
Jefferson City, Mo. — Two men from Columbia are being held in the Cole County Jail, accused of attacking a man during a drug deal at a Jefferson City grocery store parking lot.
Jalen Baker Arrested After Crashing Stolen Car in Chattanooga
Chattanooga, Tenn. — A man was arrested Sunday night after crashing a stolen vehicle during a police pursuit.
Four Arrested in Deadly Kim Tin Jewelry Store Robbery in Sacramento
Sacramento, Calif. — Four individuals, including three brothers, were arrested in connection with a violent robbery at the Kim Tin Jewelry Store in South Sacramento that resulted in the death of the store’s owner.
Damien McDaniel Charged with 14 Murders in Alabama, Including Firefighter and UPS Worker
Birmingham, Ala. — Damien Laron McDaniel, 22, has been charged in connection with 14 murders across Alabama, including the deaths of firefighter Jordan Melton, 21-year-old Mia Nickson, and UPS employee Anthony Love, Jr.
Vincenzo Minutolo Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Receiving Over $230,000 in COVID-19 Relief Funds
Shelton, Conn. — Vincenzo Minutolo, 38, of Shelton, has pleaded guilty to charges related to his fraudulent receipt of COVID-19 relief funds, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced today.
Michael Slocumb Sentenced to 14 Years for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Offenses
Bellingham, WA — Michael Slocumb, 46, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for his role in a large drug distribution ring operating in the Puget Sound region. Slocumb’s criminal activities spanned Washington and Arizona, involving the trafficking of methamphetamine, fentanyl-laced pills, and heroin, as well as firearms offenses.
Jeannetta Blackmon Sentenced to 30 Months for Defrauding COVID Relief Funds
Charlotte, NC — Jeannetta Blackmon, also known as Jeannetta Regan, 50, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining over $1.5 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina.
Youngstown Brothers Sentenced for Drug Trafficking, Firearm Possession, and Distribution of Narcotics
Pittsburgh, PA — On February 26, Ruben Noel Sanchez, 29, and his brother Rubel Sanchez, 22, both of Youngstown, Ohio, were sentenced in federal court for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania confirmed.
South Texas Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Smuggling Dozens of Undocumented Immigrants
Brownsville, TX — Joe Adam Escobedo, 31, a South Texas man, has been sentenced to 69 months in federal prison after smuggling multiple groups of undocumented immigrants into the United States on two separate occasions. The sentencing was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas on Monday.
Three Brothers Sentenced for $2.8 Million Fraud Scheme
Three brothers from Charleston, South Carolina, have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a large-scale wire fraud conspiracy involving Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Emergency Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina announced.
Four Men Face Charges in Massive Human Smuggling Ring
Four men are facing federal charges for their roles in one of the largest human smuggling rings in the United States, accused of smuggling approximately 20,000 people from Guatemala into the country between 2019 and 2024. The U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Joseph T. McNally, revealed the details during a news conference on Monday.
Salvadoran National Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.
A Salvadoran national, César Eliseo Sorto-Amaya, 28, who was previously convicted of double homicide in El Salvador and sentenced to 50 years in prison, has been charged with illegally reentering the United States, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced on February 28. Sorto-Amaya’s arrest marks another chapter in his criminal history that spans across borders.
Jessie Wooden Faces Life Sentence After Smuggling Meth into Prison
A 36-year-old Miami man, currently incarcerated in Sumter County, is facing a potential life sentence after his visitors were caught smuggling methamphetamine into a federal prison. Jessie Wooden has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, Roger B. Handberg, confirmed on February 3, 2025.
Timoteo Son-Gonzalez Charged with Alien Smuggling and Re-Entry
Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announced the return of an indictment charging 40-year-old Timoteo Son-Gonzalez, a Guatemalan national, with unlawful transportation of an illegal alien for financial gain and illegal re-entry after being deported. If convicted on all charges, Son-Gonzalez faces a maximum penalty of 12 years in federal prison.
Lakeland Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Fentanyl and Meth Distribution
Jermaine Jerome Campbell, a 35-year-old man from Lakeland, Florida, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his involvement in distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine. The sentence was handed down by District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Two Teenagers Arrested in Deadly Frostproof Drug Deal Shooting
Two teenage suspects, 16-year-old Charles Andrew Jackson III and 15-year-old Tyjhae Allen, have been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of a 22-year-old man in Frostproof, Florida. The tragic incident occurred on Sunday evening, as part of a drug deal that escalated into violence.
Bradenton Man Sentenced to 7.5 Years for Drug and Firearm Offenses
Terry Lavon McDonald Jr., 32, from Bradenton, has been sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in federal prison for a series of offenses, including possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. McDonald, who pleaded guilty to the charges on November 22, 2024, was also ordered to forfeit a Smith & Wesson firearm and ammunition used during the commission of the crime.
Juan Arturo Martinez Pleads Guilty to Passport Fraud Charges
Juan Arturo Martinez, 62, a Mexican national, has pleaded guilty to charges of using a passport obtained through false statements and passport fraud. Martinez now faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for each count. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.
Joseph Neal Sanberg Arrested for Defrauding Investors of $145 Million
Joseph Neal Sanberg, 45, of Orange, California, was arrested on Monday following a federal criminal complaint accusing him of conspiring to defraud two investor funds out of at least $145 million. Sanberg, the co-founder and largest shareholder of Aspiration Partners Inc., allegedly used falsified financial documents to secure fraudulent loans.
Naheed Mangi Convicted for Altering Breast Cancer Study Data
Naheed Mangi, 66, a former Stanford University employee, has been convicted of accessing a clinical research database and altering patient records after her authorization was revoked. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California announced Mangi’s conviction on Monday, highlighting her involvement in tampering with a breast cancer study’s database.
Maryland Woman Sentenced to 15 Years for Sex Trafficking
BALTIMORE – On February 26, 2025, Kenika Danielle Leach, 33, of Baltimore, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for her involvement in a multi-agency investigation into sex trafficking, drug distribution, and exploitation. The sentencing follows a two-year investigation led by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Unit, with significant contributions from local and federal law enforcement agencies.
Shelia Robinson Charged in Domestic Murder of Antonio Dillard
TEMPLE HILLS, Md. – The Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) has charged 59-year-old Shelia Robinson with the murder of her 67-year-old boyfriend, Antonio Dillard, in a domestic-related incident that occurred on February 19, 2025.
