Latest news with #AlleghenyCountyDistrictAttorney'sOffice
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
'ROT AND BURN': Man skips his sentencing for brutal murder of mother-of-four Uber driver
'ROT AND BURN': Man skips his sentencing for brutal murder of mother-of-four Uber driver Calvin Crew, left, was sentenced to life in prison for the killing of Christina Spicuzza, a Pittsburgh-area mother of four who was making a living as an Uber driver. (Credit: Handout) A Pennsylvania man convicted in February of the murder of a mother of four will spend the rest of his days behind bars. The sentencing of Calvin Crew, 26, was a formality inside a Pittsburgh courtroom on Monday as first-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence in the state. Crew did not attend his sentencing. Christina Spicuzza was 38 years old when she was shot dead on Feb. 10, 2022 while making a living as an Uber driver. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement According to dashcam footage obtained by police and released by the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, Spicuzza picked up Crew that evening after his girlfriend ordered a ride. In the video, what appeared to be a routine ride turned into a kidnapping when Crew took out a gun and pointed it at Spicuzza's head. 'Keep driving,' Crew told her. Spicuzza asked why he was doing this. 'I have four kids,' she said. She then asked him to stop but Crew ordered her to continue driving. 'Do what I say and everything will be OK,' Crew said before he pulled down the camera. Spicuzza was reported missing early the next day by her partner, Brandon Marto, after she didn't return home. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Her body was found a day later as well as her vehicle. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Cindy Spicuzza, the victim's mother, said Crew deserved the death penalty but her family asked for mercy and advocated for life in prison. 'You have a life to live,' she told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 'Christi does not.' Marto said his fiancee had been happy to spend time with her family and her Christian faith was important to her. 'She would want me to tell Calvin Crew he would be saved if he accepted Jesus Christ as his saviour,' he said. 'I want to tell him to rot and burn.' Crew was also convicted of kidnapping, robbery, carrying a firearm without a licence, inflicting serious bodily injury, theft of a motor vehicle, and tampering with evidence. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement At the sentencing hearing, Marto told Judge Edward J. Borkowski that the first years of his relationship with Spicuzza were rocky, but she showed him a way to a better life. 'When we first got together, I was half lost,' Marto told the judge. 'I was quite out of control, but she saw something in me.' Marto said he spent the next eight years being a better person than he was at the beginning of their relationship. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement 'I had a lifetime to make it right, and that was cut short,' he said. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala said in a statement that Spicuzza's death was a 'brutal senseless execution' following Crew's conviction in February. 'Sadly, this verdict cannot bring Christina back or change the tragedy her family has experienced with her loss, but we hope they are encouraged and find consolation in the justice served.'
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Yahoo
Morgantown man accused of attempting to take flashbang grenade through Pittsburgh airport security
Apr. 9—PITTSBURGH — A Morgantown man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of possession of an unregistered firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti announced Wednesday. The one-count Indictment named Zachary Vincent Velling, 26, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment and public information from the Allegheny County Police Department, on Nov. 12, Velling entered airport security at the Pittsburgh International Airport and placed his carry-on luggage through the X-ray machine. Representatives with the Transportation Security Administration noticed a suspicious object within Velling's luggage, which officers from the Allegheny County Police Department ultimately determined to be a MK24 MOD 0, 6 Bang /Flash diversionary hand grenade. The grenade is a firearm and destructive device under federal law that was not registered to Velling in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, a press release states. Velling was previously charged in relation to this incident in the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas with possession of an offensive weapon and criminal attempt. Those charges have been dismissed as a result of this federal Indictment. "Attempting to pass through airport security with any firearm or destructive device poses an unacceptable risk of harm to the innocent traveling public, " Rivetti said. "This danger is heightened when, as in this case, the destructive device is possessed illegally. We are steadfast in our commitment to work with our partners at the FBI, ATF, Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, and Transportation Security Administration to ensure safe air travel." The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250, 000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark V. Gurzo is prosecuting the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation ; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ; Allegheny County Police Department ; Allegheny County District Attorney's Office ; and Transportation Security Administration conducted the investigation leading to the indictment.
CBS News
19-03-2025
- CBS News
Former treasurer of local youth football association arrested and charged with stealing thousands of dollars
A former youth football association treasurer is now facing several charges after being arrested for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from the group. According to the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, 41-year-old Jaella Richard of Bridgeville was arrested and charged for stealing more than $60,000 from the South Fayette Youth Football Association. She is now facing charges including theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, misapplication of entrusted property, and dealing in the proceeds of illegal activity. Richard was the group's treasurer which granted her access to its checking account. The president then reported concerns to law enforcement when they found that their bank statements reflected a balance of under $750 when it should've been more than $60,000. An investigation found that Richard used the stolen funds through PayPal and Venmo accounts and many of the payments were transferred to a credit union associated with her. She used the money to pay for personal expenses including mortgage payments, food, entertainment, credit card payments, and utility bills. In total, Richard is accused of stealing $64,742.75.
