Latest news with #AttorneyGeneral'sOffice
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Hot Springs locals react to human trafficking investigation at massage business
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – AI Massage in Hot Springs is under investigation by the Attorney General's Office for alleged prostitution and human trafficking. People who live and work in Hot Springs, like Hannah and Cole Carey, said they can't believe something like this was happening in their city. 'It's really just shocking to me that it's so close to home,' Hannah Carey said. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin announces organized retail crime bust & human trafficking investigation Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin said a May 22 raid on AI Massage on Central Avenue stemmed from information gathered during previous investigations into other massage parlors busted for illicit sexual activity. According to Griffin, three Chinese nationals were identified as victims and are now receiving support services. One woman told investigators she responded to an online job ad in China and did not know she would be doing sex work. 'It kind of hits you hard, just makes you feel bad for them, thinking about what else they went through,' Cole Carey said. Griffin said investigators uncovered evidence pointing to sexual activity. 'Illicit sexual activity, prostitution going on in these massage parlors. We not only talked to the victims to confirm it, there were about 100 condoms there, which normally would not be at a spa,' Griffin said, 'There was what we believe to be a home remedy used to treat sexually transmitted infections, also implying that sexual activity is going on.' Authorities also recovered $22,000 in American cash along with some foreign currency. Griffin said no arrests have been made yet because the individuals believed to be running the operation were not there during the raid. However, he said law enforcement is following every lead. 'I'm grateful to law enforcement who have been on top of this and trying to get to the bottom of it,' said Tina Haney, another Hot Springs local. 'It's disappointing to have this going on right under our noses and not even realize it.' Arkansas Attorney General announces grant to combat human trafficking in Arkansas The massage parlor under investigation is open today. KARK 4 News went there to ask for a comment, but the people there said their boss wasn't there and declined to comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
State employee charged with forging own medical marijuana card
A marijuana plant at the Dakota Herb grow operation near Tea, South Dakota. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) Another former South Dakota state employee has been charged with allegedly committing a crime related to their job — the sixth such case since last summer. Alexandra Feiner, 24, of Pierre, is charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor for allegedly forging and approving her own medical marijuana card recertification without a doctor's approval and avoiding the renewal fee. The standard fee is $75 annually. South Dakota voters legalized medical marijuana by citizen initiative in 2020. The program is overseen by the state Health Department. Cardholders must meet requirements certified by a medical provider, such as suffering a debilitating illness, before they can be issued a card. Former state employee sentenced in fake vehicle title case Governor signs order to create secure web portal for whistleblowers Former state employee pleads guilty to faking food-service inspections Full archive 'The defendant is charged with using her position of trust as a Department of Health employee for her own personal benefit,' said Attorney General Marty Jackley. 'This type of conduct reflects poorly on those state government employees who work hard for South Dakotans.' According to a news release Monday from the Attorney General's Office, Feiner's criminal activity occurred between March 2024 and March of this year. The Attorney General's Office was tipped off about the case by a Pierre resident and former state Department of Health employee, according to court documents. Feiner worked with medical cannabis cards in the state Department of Health and was able to create and issue them. She legally obtained a medical cannabis card in 2023 but allegedly reissued the card to herself in 2024 without a medical provider certification. Feiner turned over her card to law enforcement, according to court documents. She is no longer an employee of the state, according to Open SD, the state government financial transparency website, and her initial court appearance hasn't been scheduled. Feiner faces up to nine total years in prison if convicted of the three felony charges, including forgery; offering a false or forged instrument for filing, registering or recording; and possession of a forged instrument. She faces up to one year in county jail if convicted of the misdemeanor charge of falsification of public records by a public officer or employee. The Feiner case is among six criminal prosecutions Jackley has filed against former state employees since last year for allegations related to their work for state government. One former employee, Lonna Carroll, used her position at the Department of Social Services to steal nearly $1.8 million over the course of 13 years. A jury found Carroll guilty of grand theft, and she's scheduled to be sentenced in July. Other criminal allegations against former state employees included creating fake vehicle titles to avoid excise taxes, falsifying food service inspections, and the personal use of foster family food vouchers. In response to the run of prosecutions, Jackley supported a package of four bills passed during the recent legislative session that will expand the investigatory authority of the state auditor; strengthen the Board of Internal Controls; institute mandatory reporting requirements for state employees and penalties for failing to report; and establish protections for whistleblowers. Gov. Larry Rhoden signed an executive order in April mandating the creation of a 'secure standard reporting mechanism' for employees. The portal will deliver whistleblower reports of malfeasance to the state's auditor and attorney general. Lawmakers also passed legislation this year strengthening the ability of the Legislature's Government Operations and Audit Committee to conduct investigations and issue orders known as subpoenas requiring people to testify or supply information. Last year, then-Gov. Kristi Noem added an extra internal control officer position to the executive branch and ordered state employees to undergo annual training aimed at preventing criminal activity. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Afridi leaves for Hajj: Justice Muneeb sworn in as acting CJP
ISLAMABAD: Justice Muneeb Akhtar was sworn in as the acting chief justice of Pakistan on Friday, following the departure of CJP Yahya Afridi for the annual Hajj pilgrimage Friday. The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Supreme Court in Islamabad, where Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel administered the oath to Justice Akhtar. The event was attended by Supreme Court judges, senior lawyers, and officials from the Attorney General's Office. Justice Muneeb Akhtar, currently third in seniority among Supreme Court judges, will serve as the acting chief justice until June 6. Following this, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah is scheduled to assume the role of acting chief justice from June 6 to 10, during the continued absence of the chief justice. According to sources, CJP Yahya Afridi left for Hajj early Friday morning and is expected to return to Pakistan on June 10, which falls on the fourth day of Eid ul Azha. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Moncks Corner couple charged with stealing over $20K from vulnerable adult
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCBD) – A Moncks Corner couple has been charged with stealing more than $20,000 from a vulnerable adult, according to the South Carolina Attorney General's Office. Larry Darnell Broadnax Jr., 42, and Charmaine D. Broadnax, 44, were arrested by the AG's Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit. According to information provided by the AG's office, their arrests stem from a multi-department investigation which revealed that between June 30, 2022, and June 27, 2024, the Broadnaxs' made unlawful, unauthorized, or improper use of funds and assets of a vulnerable adult. Larry Broadnax, who was acting as the victim's power of attorney and entrusted with their funds and assets, allegedly misappropriated over $10,000 from the victim's bank account through Cash App transfers and checks, depositing the funds into his own account for personal use. He is charged with exploitation of a vulnerable adult and breach of trust with fraudulent intent, valued $10,000 or more. Charmaine Broadnax is accused of linking the victim's bank account to her personal Cash App account and withdrawing over $10,000 for her own personal use. She is charged with exploitation of a vulnerable adult and obtaining a signature or property under false pretenses. Both were booked into the Al Cannon Detention Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Confirmation hearings next week for WMass AG's regional chief nominated for judgeship
SPRINGFIELD — There will be two public confirmation hearings next week for the regional chief of the Western Massachusetts division of the Attorney General's Office who was nominated recently for judgeship. Attorney Amy Karangekis, who has served as the regional chief since 2018, was nominated by Gov. Maura Healey for a judgeship on the Massachusetts Superior Court bench earlier this month. On June 2 and 4, there will be public confirmation hearings for Karangekis, the next step of the judicial process before a judge is appointed. The hearings will be chaired by Tara Jacobs, the District 8 representative for the Governor's Council, the body responsible for confirming nominated judges. Jacobs is the council's only member from Western Massachusetts. If confirmed, Karangekis would be the fifth person from Western Massachusetts nominated by the Healey administration to Superior Court. Judges Tracy E. Duncan, Deepika Shukla, Jeffrey Trapani and Charles Groce III were all previously nominated and appointed. Throughout her tenure with the AG's office, Karangekis has overseen staff and attorneys in the criminal and civil divisions, according to a statement. She also has prosecuted human trafficking cases, organized crime, gaming enforcement, and enterprise and major crimes. Last year, Karangekis represented the commonwealth in a case against two massage parlors in Springfield that were involved in a prostitution and money-laundering operation. She was also named as a defendant in a wrongful termination lawsuit against the AG's office. The plaintiff in that case, Bart Q. Hollander, alleged members of the AG's office discriminated against him because of his age. A request to the AG's office to interview Karangekis about her nomination went unanswered. Prior to becoming the regional chief, Karangekis was the deputy regional chief and the managing attorney for the Springfield office, a role she'd had for three years, between 2015 and 2018. She was hired to be an assistant attorney general in 2008. Before joining the Attorney General's Office, Karangekis was a contract attorney for law firms in Massachusetts and Maine. She was also an adjunct professor at the New England School of Law. Karangekis was nominated alongside Judge Asha White, who has served as the first justice of the Woburn District Court since last July. Shots-fired call leads to 2 arrests in Holyoke Muppet-based dollmaker in Wilbraham helps PBS with $10K fundraising effort After four decades, Cornucopia prepares to leave Northampton E-bike rider killed in collision in Springfield Read the original article on MassLive.
