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Alex Murdaugh pleads not guilty – for now – to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:16 GMT

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Alex Murdaugh was arraigned Wednesday on federal money laundering and wire fraud charges for indictments saying he stole money from his clients, and although he pleaded not guilty for now, his lawyer said that might change soon.Murdaugh is already serving a life sentence in a South Carolina state prison for killing his wife and son, and the details of the 22 financial charges aren’t new. State prosecutors have indicted Murdaugh on similar charges, saying he diverted money meant for clients and a wrongful death settlement for his family’s longtime housekeeper who fell at Murdaugh’s home to his own bank accounts.Murdaugh’s lawyers said in a statement last week the former attorney has been cooperating with federal investigators, and they anticipated the latest charges would be “quickly resolved without a trial.”A federal guilty plea to the charges that all carry at least 20 years in prison would guarantee a long time in prison for Murdaug...

Former Connecticut lawmaker gets 27 months in prison for stealing over $1 million in coronavirus aid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:16 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A former Connecticut state representative was sentenced to 27 months in prison on Wednesday for stealing more than $1.2 million from the city of West Haven — most of it in federal coronavirus-related aid — and using a good chunk of it to fuel his gambling addiction.“I stole that money. That is on me,” Michael DiMassa said as he apologized during sentencing before Judge Omar Williams in federal court in Hartford. “It’s hard to find the word to express how I feel. I feel ashamed, embarrassed, mortified.”The 32-year-old West Haven Democrat pleaded guilty in November to three counts of wire fraud conspiracy, admitting he, his wife and others billed the city for services never rendered.DiMassa could have gotten more than four years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. But the judge gave him credit for fully accepting responsibility, cooperating with investigators and testifying against a co-defendant. DiMassa — in dark gray suit, maroon shirt and bl...

Evacuation order issued for N.W.T. community as wildfire nears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:16 GMT

SAMBAA K’E, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES — The Northwest Territories government says a community near the Alberta boundary is under an evacuation order due to a nearby wildfire. N.W.T. fire says the 980-square-kilometre fire is now about 30 kilometres from Sambaa K’e, previously known as Trout Lake. About 97 people live in the community in the territory’s Dehcho region.An evacuation centre is being set up in Fort Simpson.Approximately 490 square kilometres of the wildfire, which spans across the boundary with Alberta, are burning in the territory. The territory says two crews and two helicopters are working to protect the community from the fire including with sprinklers and by widening the fire break. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2023. The Canadian Press

Committee will oversee changes recommended by inquiry into N.S. shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:16 GMT

OTTAWA — Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino has appointed a retired appeals court justice to head a committee to oversee the changes recommended by the public inquiry into the April 2020 mass shootings in Nova Scotia. Linda Lee Oland will help the government to take a “hard look” at the 130 recommendations made by the Mass Casualty Commission, Mendicino said. “I’m going to keep a very open mind about what recommendations will be implemented,” he said. “I’m not striking out the possibility of excluding any of them, but I do think it is important to underline that we have already moved on a number of concrete recommendations.” The commission, which released its final report in March, found widespread failures in how the RCMP responded to the shootings and the way the force communicated with the public during and after the killings on April 18 and 19, 2020.A gunman dressed as an RCMP officer murdered 22 people, including a pregnant wo...

Man, 21, charged with murder in double homicide of Mississauga teens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:16 GMT

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have charged a 21-year-old man with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of two teenagers from Mississauga.Just before 3:00 a.m. on May 22, officers from the Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment responded to a residence on Mackay Street in Pembroke, Ont., where two male teenagers were discovered with critical injuries.OPP said the two victims were taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.The victims were identified as Noah Nathaniel Annis and Alando Omario Davidson, both 16, of Mississauga. A post-mortem determined they died from gunshot wounds, police noted.A third teenage victim, also 16 of Mississauga, was seriously injured. Investigators said the three victims were targeted.On Tuesday, police arrested 21-year-old Zacharie Robert Lamoureux of Ottawa. He’s facing two counts of first-degree murder and the attempt to commit murder using a firearm.OPP did not reveal whether the accused and the victims knew each other.An OPP spokesperson sai...

Ohio Republican J.R. Majewski abandons 2nd congressional bid, citing mother’s health

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:16 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A Donald Trump-backed Ohio Republican whose military record was called into question during his unsuccessful 2022 congressional campaign says he is abandoning plans to run again next year.J.R. Majewski tweeted Tuesday that he is bowing out of his latest effort to win the GOP nomination and take on Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur due to his mother’s health.“Last cycle, I lost my father before the primary election and I can’t risk not giving my full attention to my family,” he said on Twitter. “But don’t fret, I love this country too much to stay idle.”He had planned to focus his campaign on working-class citizens and “putting America first.”Majewski, of Port Clinton on Lake Erie, first drew public attention for drawing a sprawling banner supporting Trump across his lawn, and the former president went on to promote Majewski’s political future at a rally in southwest Ohio in November. The former nuclear power industry worker was the surprise wi...

Waukegan man trying to stop fight outside bowling alley shot, killed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:16 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — A Waukegan man trying to stop a fight outside of a bowling alley early Monday was shot and killed.Just before 1:10 a.m., police responded to Vista East Hospital on the report of a gunshot victim.Shortly after arriving to the hospital, the 21-year-old victim, later identified as Mieshon Harvey, of Waukegan, was pronounced dead.Officers were able to determine the shooting happened in the parking lot of Bowlero, located in the 600 block of Lakehurst Road.Witnesses told police two females were fighting in the lot when Harvey stepped in to try to stop it. Police said Harvey and Josiah Mars, 24, of Zion, then got into an altercation. At some point, Mars allegedly obtained a handgun from Derrick Wells, 32, of Zion, and shot Harvey in the chest.Mars and Wells allegedly fled the scene but were later apprehended by Waukegan police. Waukegan High School volleyball coach shot and killed while driving Mars was charged with three counts of murder. Wells was also charged with th...

Prison time for boater who ran illegal charter operations on Chicago waterways

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:16 GMT

CHICAGO — A boat owner has been sentenced to a year in federal prison for illegally running charter operations on Chicago waterways, which include the Chicago River, Lake Michigan and "the Playpen."Christopher Mike Garbowski admitted to using a 40-foot powerboat known as “Sea Hawk” and “Anchorman” from 2017 to 2019 for personal profit, as he charged money to charter the boat to groups of passengers. Traffic troubles lead to hundreds of fans missing majority of concert in Tinley Park Garbowski lacked the proper boating credentials, and the U.S. Coast Guard had not inspected and certified his vessel, however. The Coast Guard notified Garbowski about the federal regulations on multiple occasions. In one instance, prosecutors alleged that Garbowski called a potential customer by phone and asked that she lie to Coast Guard personnel by pretending they were friends with him.According to prosecutors, Garbowski both verbally and in writing, denied to Coast Guard officials that he was oper...

Oswego man accused of leading police on 110-mph chase in stolen jaguar

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:16 GMT

DUPAGE COUNTY, Il. -- An Oswego man was arrested after leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle on Monday.According to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, an officer with the Oak Brook Police Department located a 2019 Jaguar SUV that was reported stolen stopped near the intersection of I-83 and 22nd Street just before 6:30 p.m. on Monday. Traffic troubles lead to hundreds of fans missing majority of concert in Tinley Park The officer approached the vehicle on foot and deployed a stop stick at which time the Jaguar allegedly fled westbound on 22nd Street. The officer returned to his vehicle and began a pursuit.The officer reportedly continued to pursue the Jaguar, which had lost a tire, onto I-88 westbound. The driver of the stolen Jaguar allegedly reached speeds of approximately 110 mph on I-88 before coming to a stop at I-88 and Winfield Road where he was taken into custody.The driver of the stolen Jaguar was later identified as Craig Singleton, 43, of Os...

Actor Gary Sinise and Lt. Dan Band to play in Highland Park for July 4 ceremony

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:16 GMT

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — Illinois native and actor Gary Sinise will bring his "Lt. Dan Band" to this year's Highland Park July 4 remembrance ceremony.   The 'Forrest Gump' and 'CSI:NY' actor graduated from Highland Park High School in 1974. Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering told the Chicago Tribune that Sinise visited shortly after last year's mass shooting.  More Coverage: Highland Park Parade Shooting The remembrance ceremony will begin at 10 a.m., followed by a community walk along the traditional parade route and a picnic before the concert later in the evening.The 68-year-old from Blue Island also founded the Gary Sinise Foundation, which serves to honor the nation's defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need.