Fourth of five robbery suspects sentenced in court
Issac Duckworth, 18, received a total sentence of 20 years Thursday in Elkhart County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to two counts of armed robbery. He was one of five people charged in connection with a scheme to lure two victims to a central Elkhart apartment where they stole their valuables at gunpoint.
Duckworth was arrested following the Sept. 13 incident along with Alora Layton, 18, Carrie Layton, 20, E'Marri Redmond, 19, and Kaleb Goodwin, 17. The two sisters and Redmond have entered admissions and received similar prison terms in recent weeks, while Goodwin is set for trial on May 19.
Duckworth's sentence includes consecutive 10-year prison terms, with a total of six years suspended to probation. He entered the plea on Feb. 20.
The five suspects were arrested after a man and a woman came to the Elkhart Police Department to report that they had just been robbed. They said they came to Carrie Layton's apartment on her invitation and were approached by armed men wearing masks.
The men opened the doors to their vehicle and one of them put a knife to the woman's knee before moving it up to her ribs. He also struck the woman three times with the extended magazine that was in his pistol, according to police.
The woman said the robbers took her knife and possibly something from the center console, while the man said they took a vape pen and a wallet that contained cash, a bank card and Social Security cards belonging to him and his son.
Police arrested the five suspects after viewing security footage from River Run Apartments and searching the residence where Carrie Layton and her mother live. Police questioned the five suspects and learned that they came up with the robbery plot together while sitting in Carrie Layton's bedroom.
Elkhart County Deputy Prosecutor Don Pitzer described the group as coming up with the scheme while getting high on marijuana.
'They decide to put guns to people's heads for 30 bucks and a couple vapes,' he said in court.
According to Duckworth's attorney, Warren Murphy, he only reluctantly went along with the robbery.
'He wishes he had never done this and had simply stayed in bed,' Murphy told the judge.
Duckworth said he cooperated because he didn't want to look weak.
'I apologize to the court and to the victim for this incident. It's nothing I could take back,' he said. 'I didn't want to look scared in front of other people. ... I wish I took another route.'
Judge Michael Christofeno said the victims were not only injured in the robbery but also experienced a fear that will probably linger. He characterized robbery as a very personal crime.
'The crime you chose to commit for your first adult offense is a whopper,' he said. 'I believe you're remorseful. The problem is, you can't undo this crime. I don't know if you and your codefendants realize it, but you can't undo this.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Business News
2 hours ago
- Time Business News
IRS expands public awareness on IP PIN renewals, Amicus issues calendarized tax-season identity plan
Vancouver, Canada — The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has expanded its nationwide campaign to encourage taxpayers to renew and use Identity Protection Personal Identification Numbers, known as IP PINs, as the 2026 filing approaches. The six-digit number, designed to prevent identity thieves from filing fraudulent returns, must be renewed annually and linked to a taxpayer's Social Security number before electronic filing. Amicus International Consulting has announced a new calendarized tax-season identity plan, designed to help families, small businesses, and independent professionals build fraud-prevention habits across the entire year. The IRS's focus on IP PIN renewals is a response to persistent tax-related identity theft. Each year, criminals exploit stolen Social Security numbers to file fraudulent returns early in the season, often before legitimate taxpayers file. Without IP PINs, many victims only discover fraud when their e-filed return is rejected or when they receive IRS notices of suspicious activity. The agency's latest outreach underscores the importance of renewing IP PINs on time and safeguarding them from misuse. Amicus emphasizes that while IP PINs are powerful tools, they are only effective when combined with organized documentation and proactive filing habits. The firm's calendarized plan breaks the year into manageable steps, ensuring taxpayers avoid missed renewals, filing delays, and preventable fraud. Why IP PINs are essential in today's environment An IP PIN is a six-digit number that adds a second layer of authentication to federal tax returns. Unlike a password that can be guessed or a Social Security number that can be stolen, an IP PIN changes annually and is tied directly to IRS systems. Fraudulent returns filed without the correct IP PIN are automatically rejected. This protects refunds, blocks improper credits, and reduces audit-triggering errors. The IRS initially offered IP PINs only to confirmed victims of identity theft. The program has since expanded, and all taxpayers may now opt in. Amicus recommends adoption for individuals in high-risk categories, including seniors, divorced spouses navigating joint returns, frequent movers, self-employed contractors, and military families. IRS's expanded awareness campaign The IRS's new awareness push is multifaceted. It includes direct mail notices reminding taxpayers of renewal deadlines, expanded digital education through partnerships with libraries and community centers, and targeted messaging to prior victims of fraud. The agency stresses that IP PINs are never issued via email, text, or unsolicited calls, a safeguard meant to reduce phishing. Taxpayers are urged to treat any such communications as scams. The campaign also highlights that failure to renew can disrupt filings. If a return is submitted without the correct IP PIN, the IRS will reject it. Taxpayers must then wait for re-issuance, delaying refunds and creating stress during peak filing season. The Amicus calendarized tax-season identity plan Amicus International Consulting has developed a comprehensive framework that integrates IP PIN renewals into a household or business's annual calendar. The plan aligns identity protection with the rhythms of tax preparation, making fraud prevention a matter of habit rather than crisis management. January: Renewal and organization Taxpayers confirm IP PIN renewal status, update IRS addresses if they have moved, and store renewal letters in secure folders. Families are advised to create both physical and digital binders for all tax-related documents, including PIN notices, W-2s, 1099s, and receipts. February: Verification and preparation Credit reports should be checked for inconsistencies. Taxpayers must confirm that their renewed IP PIN has been correctly linked to their IRS record. Preparers, accountants, or tax software systems should be updated with the correct number. March: Fraud checks and monitoring Applicants log into IRS accounts to review transcripts and ensure no fraudulent activity has occurred. Families run credit monitoring scans or dark-web checks for leaked Social Security numbers. Any anomalies are addressed before filing. April: Filing early Taxpayers are advised to file as soon as all required forms are received. Filing early reduces the window for criminals to submit fraudulent returns. Families double-check that the return includes the IP PIN. May–July: Post-filing confirmation Refund status is tracked through Taxpayers log refund receipts and retain electronic acknowledgments. Monitoring continues for unusual IRS notices that could indicate attempted fraud. August–October: Reflection and review Households review what worked and what didn't. Families assess whether filing was smooth, refunds were timely, and fraud alerts were avoided. Processes are refined, and new habits are documented. November–December: Pre-season readiness Families prepare for the next cycle by confirming mailing addresses, scheduling renewal reminders, and refreshing their documentation binders. By December, taxpayers should be fully positioned for January renewals. Case study: family prevented refund theft A family in Ohio enrolled in the IP PIN program after experiencing refund theft in 2023. In 2024, criminals attempted to file using their Social Security numbers but were blocked. By adopting Amicus's calendarized framework, the family renewed their IP PINs in January, confirmed integration in February, and filed by mid-March. Their return processed smoothly, and the fraud attempt was rendered ineffective. Case study: independent contractor's recovery A freelance designer in Texas ignored her IP PIN renewal in 2024 and faced a rejected return. The oversight delayed her refund for six weeks. In 2025, she adopted Amicus's plan, placing her renewal on her January calendar and logging each IRS interaction. She filed by early March, avoided delays, and reported improved confidence in her tax season planning. Case study: small business partnership A family-owned business in California required all partners to adopt IP PINs after repeated phishing attempts. Amicus implemented a shared tax binder for the partnership, including IP PIN notices, renewal letters, and preparer confirmations. The firm renewed all PINs by January, logged confirmations, and filed early. No fraudulent attempts succeeded in 2025, protecting both refunds and business continuity. Accessibility and equity challenges Amicus warns that not all taxpayers benefit equally from digital tools. Seniors often struggle to access or store renewal letters securely. Rural families with unreliable mail delivery risk missing deadlines. Disabled individuals may require authorized representatives or caregivers to manage documentation. The Amicus plan addresses these challenges by recommending certified mail for critical communications, representative authorization letters, and physical documentation kits, thereby reducing reliance on digital portals. Fraud trends during tax season Fraudsters have become more sophisticated, using phishing emails disguised as IP PIN renewal notices or spoofed phone calls claiming to be from the IRS. Some attempts include fake 'PIN recovery portals' designed to harvest Social Security numbers. Amicus emphasizes that the IRS never issues or confirms IP PINs by email or phone. Taxpayers should only rely on official IRS correspondence or Criminals also increasingly target small businesses, filing fraudulent employment tax returns using stolen EINs. Amicus recommends that business owners treat EINs as carefully as Social Security numbers and consider parallel protective measures. Policy and systemic implications The expansion of IP PIN awareness reflects a larger trend of shifting fraud-prevention responsibilities to taxpayers. While the program is effective, it requires high levels of organization. Amicus argues that additional government support is needed, such as clearer caregiver designation systems, expanded outreach in vulnerable communities, and longer renewal windows for households facing logistical barriers. Other jurisdictions provide valid comparisons. Canada, for example, has emphasized multifactor authentication and account monitoring for tax filers, while the UK's HMRC has invested in call-back verification systems. These models suggest that stronger taxpayer support can accompany fraud prevention without reducing security. Amicus recommendations Treat IP PIN renewal as a fixed annual task, scheduled every January. Store IP PIN letters securely, both digitally and physically. File as early as possible to shorten the fraud window. Educate family members, particularly seniors, about phishing tactics. Authorize representatives in advance to handle renewals if the taxpayer becomes incapacitated. Track all IRS notices and responses in a structured log. Quotes from Amicus 'IP PINs are one of the most effective protections against refund theft, but only if taxpayers use and renew them consistently,' said an Amicus employee. 'Our calendarized plan turns renewal into a family habit, like renewing insurance or updating wills.' 'Fraudsters move fast at the start of every tax season. Filing early with the correct IP PIN is the best way to stay ahead,' another employee explained. Conclusion The IRS's expanded outreach on IP PIN renewals underscores the importance of disciplined, proactive identity management during tax season. Fraud prevention is no longer optional. Taxpayers who adopt Amicus International Consulting's calendarized identity plan can protect refunds, reduce stress, and avoid the pitfalls of last-minute scrambling. Tax identity protection is not only about technology, it is about routine. By integrating renewals into annual calendars, organizing documents, and filing early, families and businesses can stay secure in an environment of growing fraud threats. About Amicus International Consulting Amicus International Consulting guides lawful anonymity, identity protection, and compliance workflows. The firm develops structured checklists, documentation strategies, and calendarized plans that allow families and organizations to safeguard identities across multiple jurisdictions. Contact Information Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402 Email: info@ Website: TIME BUSINESS NEWS
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Who is Tina Peters? Trump calls for release of ex-clerk guilty of election data scheme
President Donald Trump is calling for the release of a former Republican county clerk imprisoned for allowing someone to access data from a secure voting system in attempts to prove baseless 2020 election denial conspiracies. Tina Peters, a former clerk and recorder in Colorado who denies that President Joe Biden won the 2020 election over Donald Trump, was sentenced to nine years in prison in October 2024 on seven charges involving tampering with Mesa County's election machines. The charges include attempting to influence a public servant, conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation and first-degree official misconduct. Trump said in a post on social media Aug. 21 that Peters is an 'old woman' and 'very sick,' and should be freed from prison, threatening 'very harsh measures' if she is not released, and repeated baseless claims that the 2020 election was rigged. 'FREE TINA PETERS, a brave and innocent Patriot who has been tortured by Crooked Colorado politicians, including the big Mail-In Ballot supporting the governor of the State,' Trump said in the social media post. 'Let Tina Peters out of jail, RIGHT NOW. She did nothing wrong, except catching the Democrats cheat in the Election.' It's the second time the president has taken to social media in the past several months to call for Peters' release, who has become a public figure among election deniers. She was the first election official to be charged with a security breach following the 2020 presidential election related to unfounded conspiracy theories. Peters was convicted in a Colorado state court, beyond the reach of the president's executive clemency powers. Who is Tina Peters? Peters was county clerk and recorder of Mesa County in western Colorado from 2018 to 2023. Peters was running for Colorado secretary of state at the time of the indictment, and attracted significant attention over the case. Her campaign website now calls her a 'political prisoner' and 'whistleblower' who has been 'silenced for standing for truth.' A March 2022 indictment alleged Peters and deputy clerk Belinda Knisley conspired to turn off security cameras in the room where the county's voting machines were stored and improperly granted access to an outside activist by stealing someone else's identity. They then refused to turn over documentation and records to state elections officials investigating the possible breach, prosecutors said, which occurred during what was supposed to be a secure 'trusted build' software update by state officials. The indictment states Peters and Knisley pretended to hire an IT consultant, used his name and Social Security number to pass a background check and acquire a security clearance and access badge. That badge allowed former surfer Conan Hayes, who was acquainted with election-denier and MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, to enter the secure room where the machines were stored and take images of the voting machines and associated data. Investigators were alerted when these images and data were posted online, which exposed the machines to hackers. The county's machines had to be replaced, and Peters claimed that she did not know the information was being made public. One year before her indictment, Peters appeared in South Dakota at Lindell's 'election security symposium,' where files from the Mesa County election system were displayed onscreen, the Detroit Free-Press, part of the USA TODAY Network previously reported. During her October 2024 sentencing, Judge Matthew Barrett called Peters one of the most defiant defendants he has ever seen. 'You are no hero. You abused your position – and you're a charlatan who used, and is still using your prior position, to peddle a snake oil that's been proven to be junk time and time again,' Barrett said. 'Your lies are well-documented and these convictions are serious. I'm convinced you'd do it all over again if you could.' Peters is appealing her conviction. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her atkapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bradford County man charged with stealing $350,000 in Social Security and veteran benefits
A Bradford County man faces decades in prison after federal authorities accused him of fraudulently collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars in Social Security and veteran benefits. Between April 2005 and March 2022, Richard Burke, 75, of Milan, withdrew benefits payments from his deceased mother's bank account, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Burke was charged with wire fraud resulting from the alleged actions. The total amount stolen from the SSA and VA was more than $350,600, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. This case was investigated by the U.S. Social Security Administration and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger is prosecuting the case. Public safety Elmira woman, 3 others face federal charges after Homeland Security, police investigations If Burke is found guilty, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison, along with fines. A sentence for this offense may also include a period of supervised release following imprisonment. Follow Jeff Murray on X (Twitter) @SGJeffMurray. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Bradford County man faces charge of stealing Social Security benefits Solve the daily Crossword
