Former TV meteorologist battles AI sextortion scam
A Nashville mom and former TV meteorologist says she's the victim of an online sextortion scam. Bree Smith spoke to "CBS Mornings" about how she's fighting back after her image was doctored into explicit pictures and videos for money. It's a scam the FBI says targeted tens of thousands of Americans last year.
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Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Nassau Dems want FBI to dig into NUMC chairman's firing and shady document theft: ‘Smells like a cover-up'
Nassau Democrats are calling on the FBI to probe what they're claiming is a 'cover up' surrounding the sudden firing of the county's top hospital official after documents tied to a federal investigation were stolen from his home. In a new letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, Nassau Democrats are urging the agency to investigate Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman's unexpected ousting of Nassau University Medical Center chair Matthew Bruderman — who was booted from his post in April just hours after someone broke into his home and stole a batch of files. 'We're laying out and raising questions that no reasonable government would ignore,' Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton told reporters Monday at a press conference in Mineola. 'We want the truth, and we want it now,' she said, calling on the FBI to uncover whether Bruderman's dismissal was politically motivated. At the time of the firing — four hours after The Post broke the news of the burglary — Blakeman declined to explain his reasoning for removing Bruderman, but is now denying that the break-in had anything to do with it. 'Matt Bruderman did an outstanding job of reducing the hospital's deficit by $120 million and the County Executive replaced him with Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman,' Chris Boyle, a Blakeman spokesperson, told The Post, 'primarily because he felt that the leadership should shift from concentrating on financial issues to medical and patient care issues to which Dr. Gelman was eminently qualified.' County Legislator Seth Koslow, a former prosecutor who is challenging Blakeman in November, isn't buying his explanation — likening the county executive's actions to 'obstruction 101.' 'As a former prosecutor, something doesn't add up,' said Koslow, a Democrat. 'Whichever way you slice it, this smells like a cover-up and the public deserves an explanation.' Dems also said they submitted a Freedom of Information of Law request for the since-recovered documents stolen from Bruderman's Oyster Bay home — not knowing what they may reveal. Those documents are tied to an FBI investigation, according to Long Island pols, into allegations that state and local officials diverted more than $1 billion in federal hospital funds over decades as part of a scheme to financially cripple NUMC and pave the way for its closure. The FBI declined to confirm that investigation. Meanwhile, Nassau County police has since taken over the April burglary from Center Island PD but declined to comment since the case remains part of an ongoing investigation. Bruderman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. At the time of his firing, Bruderman told The Post he was used as a political pawn, alleging that Blakeman orchestrated a backroom deal, although he did not offer specifics. The FBI did not respond to The Post's request for comment.
2 hours ago
Spirit Airlines plane passenger calls in fake bomb threat after missing flight: Officials
A Michigan man has been arrested after missing his flight to Los Angeles and calling in a fake bomb threat after being made to book another flight, officials said. The incident took place last Thursday at approximately 6:25 a.m. at Detroit Metropolitan Airport when an individual, later identified as 23-year-old John Charles Robinson of Monore, Michigan, 'used a cell phone to call into Spirit Airlines and conveyed false information about a bomb threat to Flight 2145 departing from Detroit Metro bound for Los Angeles,' according to a statement from United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. from the Eastern District of Michigan United States Attorney's Office. 'During the call, Robinson stated in part, 'I was calling about 2145… because I have information about that flight,' and 'there's gonna be someone who's gonna try to blow up the airport,' and 'there's gonna be someone that's gonna try to blow up that flight, 2145,'' according to the affidavit. 'After giving a description of an individual, he then stated: 'they're going to be carrying a bomb through the TSA,' and 'they're still threatening to do it, they're still attempted to do it, they said it's not going to be able to be detected. Please don't let that flight board.'' The flight was immediately canceled, officials said and the flight's passengers and crew were deplaned for safety precautions. 'Bomb sniffing dogs and FBI agents were deployed to sweep the airplane, officials said. 'No bomb or explosives were found.' Federal agents investigating the bomb threat soon learned that Robinson was booked on Flight 2145 but missed the flight and was told at the gate that he needed to rebook. 'FBI agents subsequently arrested Robinson when he returned to the airport to depart on another flight bound for Los Angeles,' officials said. After taking Robinson into custody, authorities played back the phone call that was made for him. "Robinson listened to the above-mentioned recording and confirmed he was the one that made the recorded phone call to Spirit Airlines," officials said. "Robinson also stated that the phone number that called the bomb threat in to Spirit Airlines was his phone number (and had been for approximately 6 years), that the target cellular device was his device, and he gave written consent for a search of his device." Robinson was subsequently charged with two charges. The first being use of a cellphone to threaten/maliciously convey false information concerning an attempt or alleged attempt to damage/destroy an airplane by means of an explosive and the second being false information and hoaxes. 'No American wants to hear the words 'bomb' and 'airplane' in the same sentence. Making this kind of threat undermines our collective sense of security and wastes valuable law enforcement resources,' said U.S. Attorney Gorgon. 'Anyone who threatens to bomb an aircraft and endanger public safety will be swiftly investigated and brought to justice,' said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. 'The alleged bomb threat prompted a coordinated response by our FBI Detroit Joint Terrorism Task Force, in partnership with the Wayne County Airport Authority Police Department and the U.S. Federal Air Marshal Service, leading to the arrest of John Robinson as he attempted to board another flight at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. We remain committed to protecting the public and confronting those who seek to spread fear in our communities.' Robinson appeared in federal court in Detroit on Friday afternoon and was released on a $10,00 bond, according to court documents. His next court appearance will be June 27 for a preliminary examination.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
DOJ identifies suspect accused of assaulting federal officer, as Trump vows tough response
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Monday that the suspect accused of assaulting a federal officer during the anti-ICE demonstrations in Los Angeles has been identified. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli identified Elpidio Reyna as the suspect who was captured on video allegedly throwing rocks at federal officers in Paramount, California. The FBI initially asked for the public's help by offering a $50,000 cash reward for information leading to the man's arrest. He was accused of injuring a federal officer after throwing rocks at law enforcement vehicles, according to the FBI. Bondi was a guest on "Hannity" Monday night, when she broke the news to host Sean Hannity. Fbi Searching For Suspect Who Allegedly Assaulted Federal Officer During Anti-ice Riots In Los Angeles "The FBI has identified him," Bondi said. "That guy has just been identified, and they are doing a search warrant on his house, as we speak. And he has been identified…his name is [Reyna]. He is going to be on the Most Wanted list. Read On The Fox News App "He has been identified by the great police work by the FBI," she continued. "So, you can run, you can't hide. We are coming after you federally. If you assault a police officer, if you rob a store, if you loot, if you spit on police officers, we're coming after you." Bondi told Hannity that federal authorities have the ability to go after looters and those throwing Molotov cocktails and committing other crimes under the Hobbs Act. Those who loot a business in California, Bondi said, will face a maximum of 20 years in prison. Those who spit on federal law enforcement officers will also serve time. Patel Promises Fbi Coming For Anyone Assaulting Cops As Los Angeles Erupts Over Ice Raids "As President Trump said: 'You spit, we hit,'" Bondi said. "Get ready. If you spit on a federal law enforcement officer, we are going to charge you with a crime federally. You are looking at up to five years maximum in prison." On Saturday at about 3:30 p.m., the now-identified suspect allegedly threw rocks at law enforcement vehicles on Alondra Blvd. in Paramount, California, resulting in injury to a federal officer and damage to government vehicles. Federal Officials Slam Democrats For 'Dangerous' Rhetoric As Ice Agents Face Violent Mobs In La, Nyc The FBI said in a wanted poster that the suspect is considered armed and dangerous. FBI Director Kash Patel warned Saturday night, "if you assault a law enforcement officer, you're going to jail—period." "It doesn't matter where you came from, how you got here, or what cause you claim to represent," Patel told Fox News Digital. "If local jurisdictions won't stand behind the men and women who wear the badge, the FBI will." Patel also issued similar warnings on social media. "Doesn't matter where you came from, how you got here, or what movement speaks to you. If the local police force won't back our men and women on the thin blue line, we @FBI will," Patel wrote Saturday night on X. Fox News Digital's Landon Mion contributed to this article source: DOJ identifies suspect accused of assaulting federal officer, as Trump vows tough response
