Bristol, PA
Breaking News
Drug Dealer Ran 'Large-Scale Trafficking Org' Near Philly School: Feds Drug Dealer Ran 'Large-Scale Trafficking Org' Near Philly School: Feds
Drug Dealer Ran 'Large-Scale Trafficking Org' Near Philly School: Feds A city man was dealing drugs wholesale "in the immediate vicinity" of a Philadelphia middle school, a federal court found last week.  Phillip Gillard, 46, was convicted at trial on multiple drug trafficking and firearm offenses, said the US Attorney's Office.  A two-year investigation found the "Gillard drug trafficking organization" was supplying area dealers with wholesale quantities of methamphetamine, PCP, fentanyl, and other narcotics, according to the FBI.  Authorities believe Gillard and others maintained three properties in the city's Port Richmond section for d…

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by Mac Bullock
Lynn, MA
Breaking News
Man Accused Of Killing Wife Ana Walshe, Gets 3 Years For Art Fraud: Feds Man Accused Of Killing Wife Ana Walshe, Gets 3 Years For Art Fraud: Feds
Man Accused Of Killing Wife Ana Walshe, Gets 3 Years For Art Fraud: Feds A Lynn, Massachusetts, man who will soon stand trial for allegedly murdering his wife found himself in another courtroom Tuesday when he was sentenced to more than three years in prison for an elaborate art fraud scheme, authorities said.  Brian Walshe, 49, was given 37 months behind bars after he pleaded guilty to selling fake Andy Warhol paintings on eBay labeled as authentic, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  The fraud began in 2011 when a friend gave Walshe three Andy Warhol paintings to sell on his behalf. Walshe kept the paintings and the profits, prosecutors said.&nb…

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by Josh Lanier
Bristol, PA
Breaking News
Drug Trafficking Group With California Ties Operated In Southeast PA: Feds Drug Trafficking Group With California Ties Operated In Southeast PA: Feds
Drug Trafficking Group With California Ties Operated In Southeast PA: Feds Five members of an alleged trafficking group active in greater Philadelphia face federal charges, the US Attorney's Office announced this week.  Investigators say the group sent cocaine and methamphetamine to Pennsylvania through the mail for distribution in Reading, Quakertown, Bensalem, Plymouth Township, Coopersburg, and elsewhere. Authorities said they seized 40 firearms, over 100,000 rounds of ammunition, 60 pounds of meth, one kilogram of fentanyl, one kilogram of cocaine, 65 pounds of marijuana, 300 fentanyl pills, six pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, and $15,000 cash from the su…

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by Mac Bullock
Bethlehem, PA
Breaking News
PA Man Gets Prison Time For Concealing Dad's Death To Collect Social Security PA Man Gets Prison Time For Concealing Dad's Death To Collect Social Security
PA Man Gets Prison Time For Concealing Dad's Death To Collect Social Security A Monroe County man was sentenced to five years in federal prison this week for covering up his father's death and continuing to cash his checks, according to the US Attorney's Office.  Timothy Gritman, 56, of Brodheadsville, pleaded guilty to Social Security and wire fraud in a federal court exactly one year ago, Feb. 14, 2023, Daily Voice reported. This year on Valentine's Day, Gritman was sentenced to five years plus three more of supervised release, prosecutors said in a release.  Authorities have said Gritman's father Ralph was 79 and "in poor health" when he was l…

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by Mac Bullock
Drexel Hill-Upper Darby, PA
Breaking News
YouTube Drone Pilot Summoned To Federal Court For Reckless Flying In PA YouTube Drone Pilot Summoned To Federal Court For Reckless Flying In PA
YouTube Drone Pilot Summoned To Federal Court For Reckless Flying In PA A Philadelphia man is accused of breaking Federal Aviation Administration rules while flying his drone around the city, according to a release from the US Attorney's Office.  From December 2019 to the present, federal prosecutors claim Michael DiCiurcio flew his drones "unlawfully and unsafely" — including at night and dangerously close to buildings and landmarks like the William Penn statue.  DiCiurcio operates a YouTube channel called PhillyDroneLife, where he films and uploads "drone footage from sunrises to sunsets with the beautiful city skyline as the backdrop," according to his accou…

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by Mac Bullock
Albany, NY
Breaking News
Naughty Nurse Practitioner In Capital Region Helped Friend Get Controlled Drugs, Feds Say Naughty Nurse Practitioner In Capital Region Helped Friend Get Controlled Drugs, Feds Say
Naughty Nurse Practitioner In Capital Region Helped Friend Get Controlled Drugs, Feds Say A nurse practitioner from the region is facing federal charges for allegedly helping a friend acquire controlled drugs. Albany County resident Christopher Viagrande, age 41, of Latham, is accused of distributing controlled substances outside the course of professional practice and with no legitimate medical purpose, according to a complaint filed in Albany federal court on Tuesday, Feb. 6. Prosecutors said Viagrande, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, prescribed amphetamine to someone who was never his patient on 40 occasions between May 2021 and December 2023. Amphetamines are stimulants t…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lower Merion-Narberth, PA
Breaking News
Philadelphia Knifepoint Kidnapper Could Face Life In Prison: Feds Philadelphia Knifepoint Kidnapper Could Face Life In Prison: Feds
Philadelphia Knifepoint Kidnapper Could Face Life In Prison: Feds A North Carolina man who pleaded guilty to one attempted abduction and one kidnapping in Philadelphia will learn his sentence this week, federal officials say.  Jacob Alex Montague has a court hearing scheduled for Friday, Feb. 16 at 1:30 p.m., according to the US Attorney's Office.  Investigators have said Montague tried kidnapping a 28-year-old woman at knifepoint near the intersection of 20th and Spruce Streets late on Nov. 1, 2020.  He tried again the next day, parking his car near the corner of 24th and Spruce Streets and abducting a 26-year-old woman after threate…

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by Mac Bullock
Paterson, NJ
Breaking News
Paterson Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Using Excessive Force Twice: Prosecutors Paterson Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Using Excessive Force Twice: Prosecutors
Paterson Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Using Excessive Force Twice: Prosecutors A 32-year-old Wayne resident and Paterson police officer pleaded guilty on Thursday, Feb. 8 to using excessive force during two separate arrests in late 2020, the US Attorney's Office announced. On Nov. 26, 2020, Kevin Patino responded to a call for backup from a police officer attempting to disperse a crowd on Main Street in Paterson, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said. Patino got into an altercation with a person getting into verbal exchange with the officer, pushing them into the street, Sellinger said. Patino then threw them to the ground and proceeded to repeatedly strike them, Selling…

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by Sam Barron
Bristol, PA
Breaking News
Bucks County Man Sentenced For Trafficking Meth In York County: USDOJ Bucks County Man Sentenced For Trafficking Meth In York County: USDOJ
Bucks County Man Sentenced For Trafficking Meth In York County: Usdoj A Warminster man was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison for selling methamphetamine in York County, according to the US Attorney's Office.  Matthew Moss, 37, previously pleaded guilty to possessing more than 270 grams of meth for distribution, said prosecutors in a release.  Investigators said they went undercover and purchased 140 grams from Moss in York County in November 2021. He fled when they tried to arrest him and led authorities on a vehicle and foot chase, officials said.  When captured, Moss had an additional 133 grams of 96-percent-pure meth in his …

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by Mac Bullock
Reading, PA
Breaking News
Reading Man Who Shot FBI Agents Convicted: USDOJ Reading Man Who Shot FBI Agents Convicted: USDOJ
Reading Man Who Shot FBI Agents Convicted: Usdoj Rafael Vega-Rodriguez "sealed his own fate" when he opened fire on three FBI agents in Reading four years ago, says the US Attorney's Office.  The 41-year-old was convicted Friday, Feb. 2 for three counts of attempted murder of a federal law enforcement officer and related offenses, federal prosecutors wrote in a release.  Authorities said Vega-Rodriguez was wanted for a state parole violation when the trio of FBI agents spotted him on West Greenwich Street on March 1, 2020.  When the agents tried to stop him, authorities said Vega-Rodriguez drew a handgun from his…

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by Mac Bullock
Brentwood, NY
Breaking News
MS-13 Member Gets Decades For 'Barbaric' Machete Killings Of Long Island Men, Other Crimes MS-13 Member Gets Decades For 'Barbaric' Machete Killings Of Long Island Men, Other Crimes
MS-13 Member Gets Decades For 'Barbaric' Machete Killings Of Long Island Men, Other Crimes A member of the notorious MS-13 gang will spend decades in prison for his role in brutally killing two Long Island men and other crimes. Jonathan Hernandez, age 26, of Brentwood, was sentenced to over 43 years in prison in Central Islip federal court on Wednesday, Jan. 31. It followed his guilty plea to racketeering charges in May 2022 stemming from his participation in the January 2016 murder of Michael Johnson and the killing of Oscar Acosta three months later. According to prosecutors, Hernandez is a member of the Sailors clique of MS-13 and wanted to increase his status in the gang. …

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by Michael Mashburn
Lower Merion-Narberth, PA
Breaking News
Woman Exposed Herself On Philly-Bound Flight, Federal Prosecutors Claim Woman Exposed Herself On Philly-Bound Flight, Federal Prosecutors Claim
Woman Exposed Herself On Philly-Bound Flight, Federal Prosecutors Claim A passenger on a Frontier Airlines flight bound for Philadelphia International Airport threatened to kill passengers and assaulted a flight attendant before pulling her pants down in the aisle, according to the US Attorney's Office.  Dolce Huertas, 60, of Philadelphia, is charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants, simple assault, and indecent exposure, prosecutors said in a release.  During a flight from Orlando on Nov. 20, authorities said Huertas was served two alcoholic drinks. She rose from her seat to use the bathroom during the plane's descent into P…

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by Mac Bullock