Latest news with #CashApp
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Documents: DC educator paid minors on CashApp, received explicit images
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Officials said that a D.C. school employee is facing charges for child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The FBI Washington Field Office's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is investigating 56-year-old Devonne Keith Brown, who was arrested on Monday, June 2. The affidavit said Brown was working for IDEA Public Charter School and affiliated with a track club called 'Project Impact Sports.' Virginia high school teacher arrested, accused of receiving inappropriate photos, grooming minors According to court documents, the investigation started in November of 2024 when a CashApp account was reported for grooming minors and purchasing CSAM. CashApp found three possible minors' accounts and the adult's account. Documents said that there was activity that implied that the adult — later identified as Brown — was grooming minors. The investigation was assigned in January of 2025. Investigators reported that there were 36 CashApp transactions with one of the victims between Feb. 18, 2024, and Sept. 22, 2024. When officials went to speak to the victim, she said that she had been talking to a person named 'Joseph.' She later revealed that he was an adult man she met at a Giant grocery store near her home in Prince George's County. She told investigators that she had messaged the man via Instagram and iMessage. She said that she had sent him nude photos during these conversations and that he also sent an explicit photograph to her. Black bear spotted in Bethesda area days after it was captured, relocated from Langley Park In May of 2025, investigators got a search warrant for Brown's email and found nearly 30 emails between him and two different email accounts believed to belong to the minor victim. These emails included explicit photos and videos. 'Those who prey on minors to solicit the production of CSAM are morally reprehensible and will be held accountable for their heinous crimes,' Steven Jensen, assistant director in charge of the FBI Washington Field Office, said in a release. 'The FBI remains committed to protecting our children and ridding our communities of this grievous scourge.' The FBI asks that anyone with any information about Brown or his involvement in the solicitation of CSAM send their contact information to DBVictims@ or fill out a form online. You can also make an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or going online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Block, Inc. (XYZ): A Bull Case Theory
We came across a bullish thesis on Block, Inc. (XYZ) on Daniel Romero's Substack. In this article, we will summarize the bulls' thesis on XYZ. Block, Inc. (XYZ)'s share was trading at $58.74 as of 23rd May. XYZ's trailing and forward P/E were 14.26 and 16 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. Block Inc. is undergoing a pivotal transformation, evolving from a high-growth fintech into a vertically integrated ecosystem that bridges commerce, banking, consumer finance, and emerging technologies. At the heart of this shift are Cash App and Square—dominant platforms in their respective markets—now reinforced by a regulated bank, Square Financial Services, enabling more profitable in-house lending. Cash App serves over 57 million monthly users and has become a central financial tool for younger demographics, particularly with the integration of Afterpay. Meanwhile, Square is pushing deeper into business services, recently launching over 100 new features, including the Square Handheld POS, demonstrating a renewed focus on quality and innovation. Financially, Block is stabilizing, showing 9% YoY revenue growth (ex-Bitcoin), 28% adjusted operating income growth, and improving margins, signaling it is moving from a startup mindset to operating as a scaled platform. The most underappreciated asset may be Tidal, which under Jack Dorsey's vision could evolve into a 'Square for musicians,' integrating payments, royalties, and AI-powered tools for creators. Block's AI push is accelerating, with deployment of NVIDIA's new GB200 systems powering tools across its ecosystem—ranging from AI-assisted website builders and communications to the potential for AI-driven music innovation. Despite recent earnings-driven stock volatility, Block's ambitions to merge its products into a seamless, high-performance ecosystem—spanning business, consumer, Bitcoin, and AI—make its $36B valuation appear reasonable. If executed well, Block could emerge as a misunderstood giant, delivering durable long-term value by unifying commerce and finance with proprietary infrastructure and cutting-edge technology. Previously, we have covered Block, Inc. (XYZ) in March 2025, wherein we summarized a bullish thesis by Long-Term Pick on Substack. The author highlighted Block's strong 2024 growth in profit and cash flow, driven by Square and Cash App, with expectations for continued expansion and margin improvement in 2025. Since our last coverage, the stock is down 6% as of 27th May. Block, Inc. (XYZ) is not on our list of the 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 76 hedge fund portfolios held XYZ at the end of the first quarter which was 81 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of XYZ as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than XYZ but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock. Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Police warn illicit drugs are labeled with emojis on social media. Here's a breakdown of those drug emojis
Law enforcement officials warn that social media sites are increasingly being used as storefronts for illicit drug sales, and emojis — those cute tiny symbols and characters — are being used as codes names for drugs that are available for purchase. An investigation into a case in Lompoc prompted authorities to break down the meaning of the emojis to help the public decode the illicit transactions. The drug case involved several students from Cabrillo High School in Lompoc, in the northeastern Santa Barbara County, who fell ill after ingesting edible cannabis products in February, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, which issued a warning about online drug sales this week. The sheriff's office did not specify how many students were involved in the incident or what kind of cannabis products the students ate. Detectives from the sheriff's Cannabis Compliance Team and the school's resource deputy launched an investigation into the incident and determined that a 15-year-old student was provided edible cannabis products by an adult, Flor Yudith Zamora, 21, of Lompoc. The 15-year-old brought the cannabis products to the high school where the teen shared it with other students. Upon further investigation, detectives found that Zamora was using an Instagram account called ' to sell cannabis products, psilocybin (also known as 'shrooms'), nicotine products, codeine (an opiate) and alcohol to underaged children, according to authorities. In payments transactions and messages about the products, detectives found that emojis were used to identify the drugs that were being sold. The emojis were used in the discussions about payments sent to Zamora using Zelle and Cash App, services that allow peer-to-peer payments. In 2021, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration had investigated more than 80 cases involving drug trafficking on internet apps, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube. Available drugs were advertised on these apps in stories that disappeared within 24 hours and in posts that were removed after a certain amount of time, according to the federal agency. In a published report, the agency found that once contact was made by commenting on a post or directly messaging the social media account, the conversation was then moved to encrypted messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram. Once a deal was made, drug sellers requested payment using peer-to-peer transaction services such as Venmo, Zelle, Cash App and Remitly. Officials from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office are asking parents to review their children's social media accounts for suspicious activity or unfamiliar contacts. 'Talk to them about the dangers of illegal drug activity and the risks of engaging with unknown individuals online,' the sheriff's office said in a statement. Anyone with information that could be helpful in this case is encouraged to contact the sheriff's Cannabis Compliance Team at (805) 681-4150 or by email at cannabistips@ Anonymous tips can be made by calling the office's tip line at (805) 681-4171 or online at
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.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Culture Meets Court: Playa Society, Cash App, and Atlanta Dream Launch One-Of-A-Kind Design
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 22: A general view of the court at State Farm Arena prior to the game ... More between the Atlanta Dream and the Indiana Fever on May 22, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Playa Society, a basketball streetwear apparel brand, Cash App, and the Atlanta Dream teamed up on May 22 in the team's home opener against the Indiana Fever with a custom court design, a one of its kind collaboration joining basketball, finance, and fashion to 17,044 fans. The court at State Farm Arena was emblazoned with one of Playa Society's designs 'Pay Some Respect to Women's Sports" indicating the monumental crossover and popularity of the brand within the women's basketball community. During the game, the court design accompanying t-shirt sold out before tip-off and is still sold out on Playa Society's website. The "Pay Some Respect to Women's Sports" associating t-shirt with the Atlanta Dream court ... More collaboration sold out in arena and online on May 22, 2025. The floor collaboration is one of many in the last year couple years that has elevated Playa Society to new heights including working with Cash App, Door Dash, and the WNBA. Playa Society also appeared as a pop-up store with NCAA Women's March Madness beginning with the 2023 Dallas Final Four, and most recently in Tampa for the 2025 Final Four. Playa Society also joined forces with Door Dash and 2025 WNBA overall first round pick to the Dallas Wings, Paige Bueckers. Bueckers was recently named the Creative Director for Door Dash for the 2025 WNBA season and created a t-shirt promoting the past, present and future of the WNBA with Playa Society. The t-shirt donned with the phrase 'Buckets Don't Lie', a nod to Bueckers nickname, sold out within minutes and is still sold out on the Playa Society website. For CEO, founder, and lead designer Esther Wallace the surge of interest in Playa Society has been years in the making. Wallace established Playa Society in 2018 after acknowledging a gap in designs specific for women athletes and women's sports communities. She said, 'When I first started I had the idea and the vision. I knew I wanted to solve for the problem, or fill the gap, essentially, of the missing brand for women in sports, for female athletes, and for the community.' Wallace first began the company with the infamous female athlete t-shirt, it was a proof of concept about the purchasing power of the women sports community. She explained, 'That first t-shirt was proof of concept for me. It was proof of concept for the market as well, because this did not exist. The female athlete t-shirt was the first viral women's sports t-shirt on the market. It was the first t-shirt that a number of athletes were wearing across multiple sports, fitness, and all those things. And in over three years, we sold about 20,000 to 30,000 female athlete t-shirts, hoodies, socks, etc.' Esther Wallace, founder of the apparel company Playa Society, launched the company in 2018 with the ... More female athlete t-shirt and made it her full-time job two years later. From the first t-shirt, Playa Society's growth and development was accelerated by the support from WNBA players themselves who appreciated and began wearing the brand, which led to designing t-shirts for the players. Wallace expounded, 'When I all I had was a female athlete t-shirt, and Candace Parker was on my website buying t-shirts, or Sylvia Fowles, of course, I was going to make them the first players that I put on a t-shirt, because I appreciated their support so much. And now it's a lot of simply keeping up with the demand of the community.' As Wallace described, now her clothing designs reflect meeting the demands of the women's sport and basketball community, as well as drawing and creating clothing that features collegiate and professional women figures that are excelling at their craft (i.e., designing a t-shirt for South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark, 2024 WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson, etc.). Esther Wallace working on designs for her line Playa Society. This includes an exclusive partnership with the WNBA that came early in the company's infancy, 'I was able to have a conversation with the WNBA about what licensing would look like, and that's something that I had dreamed of. So I thought that was going to be something that was five years down the road, not really year three expecting to sit down and have that conversation. And when I did, they came back and they said, 'Yeah, let's do it.' And so it was almost this fast track, and all of a sudden I had to react to the demand, because I didn't necessarily plan to have the WNBA license so early with with such limited experience and limited resources, but I think much like sports, right when you're kind of in the fourth quarter, the demand is there, the pressure is there, you got to show up and show out. And so I think that's really how I've been navigating ever since launching the female t-shirt.' Wallace feels the storytelling and authenticity of the brand and the designs is what has drawn people in. Additionally, Wallace's former playing and coaching experience has allowed her to know her clientele. She elaborated, 'I think I always have to think that it's the product, it's the storytelling, it's the design. And I think the icing on on the cake is that I have a connection. I've seen the game from so many different angles, and I feel like that really plays into the product that I put out.' For fans of the brand they can expect to see Playa Society at the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend with some exclusive drops that Wallace is keeping close to the vest, 'I definitely can't say just yet, but I think it should be out there soon. I think All-Star is going to be a big moment for us. It usually is, and so we're really looking forward to hopefully something really dope at All-Star.' Follow me on X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
