Delivery driver held without bail in connection with Wilbraham assault
WILBRAHAM, Mass. (WWLP) – A man from Springfield who is accused of sexual assault while making food deliveries has been denied bail.
Wilbraham police were called on Sunday, Feb. 9th for a report from a resident saying they were a victim of a sexual assault that had just occurred in their home. The victim told police they ordered an item to be delivered and that the person who delivered it sexually assaulted them.
Massachusetts pizza chain owner charged with defrauding SBA
On Feb. 20th, police arrested Roiber Andres Rodriguez-Melendez who was charged with rape. A dangerousness hearing was held this week that determined he remains in custody with the right to bail. He is due back in court on March 18th.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Two men arrested during street-level enforcement operations in Greenfield
GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Two men were arrested in Greenfield during street-level enforcement operations conducted by members of the Northwestern District Attorney's Anti-Crime Task Force. In a news release sent to 22News from the Northwestern District Attorney's Office, detectives from state police and Greenfield police with the Northwestern District Attorney's Anti-Crime Task Force made two drug and weapons-related arrests. Holyoke man charged with attempted murder and multiple gun offenses This past Wednesday, officers conducted a traffic stop on Bernardston Road in Greenfield at approximately 10:30 p.m. Ashfield resident, 34-year-old Christopher Gonyea, was arrested and charged with the following: Possession of a Class A substance (Heroin/Fentanyl) Possession of a Class B substance (cocaine) Possession of a Class E substance A traffic stop was conducted on Wells Street in Greenfield on June 3 at around 8:30 p.m. An officer observed drug paraphernalia in a car and, following an investigation, loaded handgun equipped with a high-capacity magazine as well as additional ammunition and approximately 79 grams of cocaine. The Keene, New Hampshire resident, 22-year-old Thomas Evans, was arrested and charged with the following: Carrying a firearm without a license Possession of a large capacity firearm Possession of a large capacity feeding device Possession of ammunition Trafficking in cocaine WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
USAID Official, Three Executives Plead Guilty In $550M Bribery Scheme
A USAID contracting officer and three corporate executives have pleaded guilty to orchestrating a decade-long bribery scheme that secured over $550 million in federal contracts, the Justice Department announced on Thursday. Two companies involved, Apprio, Inc., and PM Consulting Group LLC (doing business as Vistant), admitted criminal liability and entered deferred prosecution agreements. Roderick Watson, 57, of Woodstock, Maryland, a former USAID contracting officer, admitted to accepting bribes to manipulate contract awards. Walter Barnes, 46, of Potomac, Maryland, owner and president of Vistant, and Darryl Britt, 64, of Myakka City, Florida, owner and president of Apprio, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery. Britt also pleaded guilty to securities fraud. Paul Young, 62, of Columbia, Maryland, president of a subcontractor to both companies, pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy. Starting in 2013, Watson allegedly accepted bribes from Britt to steer USAID contracts to Apprio, a certified small business under the SBA 8(a) program, which aids disadvantaged firms with exclusive contracting opportunities. After Apprio graduated from the program in 2018, the scheme shifted, with Vistant becoming the prime contractor and Apprio a subcontractor on contracts Watson influenced through 2022. Britt and Barnes funneled bribes to Watson, often through Young, including cash, laptops, NBA suite tickets, a country club wedding, mortgage down payments, phones, and jobs for Watson's relatives. These were disguised via false payroll entries, shell companies, and fake invoices. Watson allegedly received over $1 million in bribes, using his position to recommend Apprio and Vistant for non-competitive awards, leak sensitive bidding information, provide favorable evaluations, and approve contract decisions. 'The defendants sought to enrich themselves at the expense of American taxpayers through bribery and fraud,' said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. 'Their scheme violated the public trust by corrupting the federal government's procurement process.' In 2022, Barnes and Watson defrauded a small business investment company (SBIC) by securing a $14 million loan for Vistant, allowing Barnes a $10 million dividend. At Barnes' request, Watson endorsed Vistant's performance to the SBIC, omitting the bribery scheme and inducing the loan agreement. In 2023, Britt misled a private equity firm, also an SBIC, into purchasing a 20% stake in Apprio's parent company for $4 million and extending a $4 million loan, concealing his bribes to Watson. Apprio and Vistant admitted to bribery and securities fraud, agreeing to three-year deferred prosecution agreements. Both companies must cooperate with the Justice Department, implement compliance programs, and report on remediation efforts. The Justice Department determined that Apprio will pay a $500,000 civil settlement and Vistant $100,000 due to their inability to afford higher penalties without threatening their viability. 'Watson exploited his position at USAID to line his pockets with bribes in exchange for more than $550 million in contracts,' said IRS-Criminal Investigations Chief Guy Ficco. 'IRS-CI works to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure government funds are awarded based on merit — not corruption.' Watson faces up to 15 years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on October 6. Barnes, Britt, and Young each face up to five years, with sentencing dates set for October 14, July 28, and September 3, respectively. 'Public trust is a hallmark of our nation's values, so corruption within a federal government agency is intolerable,' said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
Holyoke man charged with attempted murder and multiple gun offenses
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – A suspect has been arrested in connection with a shooting in Holyoke last month. In a news release from Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan, officers were called at around 6:15 p.m. on May 26 for a report of a shooting victim in the area of Race and Dwight Streets. When officers arrived, they found an adult man suffering from a gunshot. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive. Suspect wanted in connection with armed robbery arrested following Springfield police chase Police say that the shooting happened a few minutes beforehand in the area of West and Mosher Streets. A description of the suspect and their vehicle was obtained. The vehicle was found on Clemente Street at around 6:45 p.m. An arrest warrant was issued for the suspect, 33-year-old Victor Manuel-Pirela of Holyoke. On Wednesday at around 1 p.m., officers located Manuel-Pirela inside an apartment on Spring Street in Springfield. He was arrested and charged with the following: Arrest Warrant Firearm-Armed Assault to Murder Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon Discharging a Firearm within 500 Feet of a Building Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card Arrest Warrant Forge/Misuse RMV Document False Application for a Motor Vehicle License Identity Fraud WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
