Latest news with #Heath
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Squatters took over this Georgia home after the owner died, family says — now they're throwing parties inside
A grieving Decatur family is furious at a group of strangers who showed up unannounced and took over their late father's home less than 48 hours after he died. 'It is a nightmare,' Lisa Heath, one of the siblings who now own the home, told 11 Alive News. Attempts to reclaim it have been met with threats, the family says. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) The half-million-dollar home, which the family says holds a lifetime of memories, is now the backdrop for flashy dance videos posted to social media. The alleged squatters have even invited more strangers to come by for pool parties. 'These videos and advertisements are so far-reaching that we received a call this morning from someone in Florida that said, 'Hey, seen your dad's property on the internet,'' Heath shared. Lisa and her siblings Kevin, Marcus and Marlene say they are enraged by the brazen move. But why has it been so hard to get their childhood home back? Once the strangers moved in, the siblings immediately called the police. But according to the incident report, the individuals inside the home provided what they claimed was a lease agreement. 'It pisses me off. Tremendously,' said Marlene Oliver-Bruce. When Kevin went to check on the property himself, he says, the situation escalated quickly. 'They started making threats against my life,' he said. 'One of them … came back with a rifle in the doorway… They made it known that I might not make it out of there.' One of the siblings, Marcus Oliver, says the entire ordeal feels surreal, especially as both a homeowner and an attorney. He says he's heard about cases like this but never thought it would happen to him. 'It's infuriating to see people in that home, destroying it, and partying and inviting other strangers into that home,' he said. Luckily for the family, Gov. Brian Kemp recently signed the Georgia Squatter Reform Act to vastly expedite the process of bringing alleged squatters to court. Squatting is now a criminal offense in the state, and offenders can be removed in days rather than months or years. Heath later received a voicemail from the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, letting them know the alleged squatters have three days to prove the legitimacy of the lease, with a court date on June 3. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it Homeowners and real estate investors face more challenges than rising interest rates and insurance premiums. Across the country, families are finding their homes taken over by unwanted occupiers using bogus leases or legal loopholes. In many jurisdictions, homeowners may need to spend weeks obtaining a court order to remove squatters through a civil case. From smart security to legal know-how, here's what you can do right now to protect your property and your peace of mind: Smart security is your first defense. Upgrade deadbolts, install security cameras and consider motion sensors or smart locks with mobile alerts. These can help keep squatters out and give you the ability to monitor your property. An empty home is a magnet for squatters. Keep your property looking occupied by taking care of the lawn regularly, having lights set on timers and asking if neighbors can park in your driveway. If you own multiple properties or live out of state, consider hiring a licensed property manager. They should take care of checking on the property regularly. Don't wait until it's happened to you. Learn your state's squatter laws and adverse possession statutes. In some areas, squatters can begin claiming legal rights after just 30 days of occupancy. Some cities allow you to register your vacant property with local law enforcement. This gives police the green light to check on it and step in faster if something seems off. If someone does move in, don't confront them alone. Call the police and consult a lawyer right away. The courts will ultimately decide, and the sooner you start, the sooner you reclaim your property. Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Malaysian Reserve
7 days ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Heath Riles BBQ Named Grand Champion at 2025 Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
Takes Top Honors in the Ribs Category for Third Time MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Heath Riles BBQ has claimed the pinnacle of competition barbecue, winning the 2025 Grand Champion title and first place in the Ribs category at the 47th annual Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest—the largest and most prestigious barbecue competition in the United States. Held annually at Liberty Park in Memphis, TN, the Memphis in May competition is widely regarded as the 'Super Bowl of Swine,' drawing elite teams from around the globe. The contest features top competitors in categories such as Whole Hog, Shoulder, and Ribs. Judged by certified experts in both blind and on-site rounds, the competition is as fierce as it is flavorful. Heath Riles BBQ's impressive performance—topping the Ribs division for the third time in four years and earning its first overall Grand Champion title at the event—cements Riles' reputation as one of the top names in competition barbecue. 'This win is a dream come true,' said Heath Riles, award-winning pitmaster, founder of Heath Riles BBQ, and a veteran of the competition barbecue circuit. 'Memphis in May is the toughest, most respected competition in the country. Taking home first in Ribs and being named Grand Champion is a huge honor and a testament to our team's dedication, passion, and hard work.' Known for his bold flavors, meticulously developed rubs and sauces, and consistent competition success, Riles has built a national following among backyard grillers, competition teams, and professional chefs alike. This win marks a career-defining moment and underscores the quality and expertise behind the entire Heath Riles BBQ product line. For more information about Heath Riles BBQ—including award-winning products, recipes, and upcoming events—visit About Heath Riles BBQ Heath Riles BBQ is the creation of award-winning pitmaster Heath Riles, a competition barbecue veteran with more than 80 championship titles and multiple perfect scores to his name. What began in Ashland, Mississippi, at age 18 has evolved into a nationally recognized brand trusted by backyard cooks and professionals alike. Heath has been honored by the Memphis BBQ Network, Kansas City BBQ Society, and Steak Cookoff Association for his expertise across a range of cooking styles. In addition to his championship pedigree, Heath is the founder of a best-selling line of BBQ rubs, seasonings, sauces, glazes, marinades, and injections that deliver competition-level flavor in every bite.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Heath Riles BBQ Named Grand Champion at 2025 Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
Takes Top Honors in the Ribs Category for Third Time MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Heath Riles BBQ has claimed the pinnacle of competition barbecue, winning the 2025 Grand Champion title and first place in the Ribs category at the 47th annual Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest—the largest and most prestigious barbecue competition in the United States. Held annually at Liberty Park in Memphis, TN, the Memphis in May competition is widely regarded as the "Super Bowl of Swine," drawing elite teams from around the globe. The contest features top competitors in categories such as Whole Hog, Shoulder, and Ribs. Judged by certified experts in both blind and on-site rounds, the competition is as fierce as it is flavorful. Heath Riles BBQ's impressive performance—topping the Ribs division for the third time in four years and earning its first overall Grand Champion title at the event—cements Riles' reputation as one of the top names in competition barbecue. "This win is a dream come true," said Heath Riles, award-winning pitmaster, founder of Heath Riles BBQ, and a veteran of the competition barbecue circuit. "Memphis in May is the toughest, most respected competition in the country. Taking home first in Ribs and being named Grand Champion is a huge honor and a testament to our team's dedication, passion, and hard work." Known for his bold flavors, meticulously developed rubs and sauces, and consistent competition success, Riles has built a national following among backyard grillers, competition teams, and professional chefs alike. This win marks a career-defining moment and underscores the quality and expertise behind the entire Heath Riles BBQ product line. For more information about Heath Riles BBQ—including award-winning products, recipes, and upcoming events—visit About Heath Riles BBQ Heath Riles BBQ is the creation of award-winning pitmaster Heath Riles, a competition barbecue veteran with more than 80 championship titles and multiple perfect scores to his name. What began in Ashland, Mississippi, at age 18 has evolved into a nationally recognized brand trusted by backyard cooks and professionals alike. Heath has been honored by the Memphis BBQ Network, Kansas City BBQ Society, and Steak Cookoff Association for his expertise across a range of cooking styles. In addition to his championship pedigree, Heath is the founder of a best-selling line of BBQ rubs, seasonings, sauces, glazes, marinades, and injections that deliver competition-level flavor in every bite. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Heath Riles BBQ Inicia sesión para acceder a tu portafolio
The Age
24-05-2025
- The Age
‘The wealth is digital, the violence is analog': How the crypto rich got caught up in a new crime wave
It began like a scene from a Hollywood heist. Dressed in painters' overalls and high-vis vests, a group of men slipped into the stairwell of an apartment building in the Old Town of Estonia's capital, Tallinn. Their target was Australian tech billionaire Tim Heath, a pioneer of crypto-based online gambling and founder of the Yolo Group. But this wasn't a robbery – the men were there to take Heath. According to Estonian prosecutors, the gang had stalked Heath for months, even planting a GPS tracker on his car. When they struck on July 29 last year – just days before the grand opening of Heath's luxury casino complex – he fought back. Shaken but defiant, the strong-framed Heath escaped. The assailants fled, abandoning a getaway van later traced via a Bolt rental account. His case is far from an anomaly – it's part of a growing pattern of violent crime targeting crypto's elite. Across Europe and beyond, crypto-related kidnappings are on the rise. The incidents are co-ordinated, brutal and laser-focused on extracting digital wealth that is easy to move and potentially difficult to trace. This month in Paris, three masked men ambushed the daughter of Pierre Noizat, chief executive of French exchange Paymium, in broad daylight. The attackers tried to shove her into a van but fled after a struggle. Though she escaped, the message was chillingly clear: prominent crypto families are now public targets. Just weeks earlier, a 60-year-old crypto marketing firm owner was kidnapped by armed men in Paris. They cut off one of his fingers and demanded up to €6 million in ransom. He was rescued in a police raid south of the city. In January, Ledger co-founder David Balland and his wife were abducted from their Paris home. Criminals mutilated Balland's hand to force access to his wallets. They demanded €10 million. The couple was rescued after a multi-agency operation involving 200 officers. These cases share a chilling pattern. 'These digital bearer assets are very, very easy to steal and transport – and very difficult to get back,' said Jameson Lopp, co-founder and chief security officer of digital asset custody firm Casa. 'The risk-reward is very different. You're not robbing a bank or an armoured truck. You're hitting soft targets with potentially massive payoffs.' And most crypto holders, Lopp said, are far from protected. 'It's like these people are being their own banks, but they don't have bank-level security.' Lopp keeps a public database of violent attacks against crypto holders, and he suspects only a fraction ever get reported. 'Maybe a quarter. Maybe a third. Definitely not the majority,' he said. The issue isn't isolated to France. There have been several in Sydney and Melbourne, including the 2023 kidnapping and torture of a man in a south-west Sydney home, where police say his teeth were removed. In Melbourne in the same year, a former childcare worker and TikTok star also lured a Saudi Arabian prince into a Bitcoin-ransom kidnapping. In November last year, three teenagers in Las Vegas abducted a man after a crypto event, took him in to the surrounding desert and drained $US6.2 million from his wallets. In one of last year's most complex cases, teenage hackers who stole $US356.5 million in Bitcoin from a Washington state victim turned on one of their own. They kidnapped the teen's parents in Connecticut, but were caught after an off-duty FBI agent witnessed the abduction. Criminals are also thinking globally. 'There was one gang that hit half a dozen targets up and down the US East Coast,' Lopp said. 'And I've seen patterns of Chinese organised crime hitting Chinese citizens abroad, or Russians targeting Russians in South-East Asia.' The logic is simple and disturbing: 'If we actually commit the crime outside of the country and then run back, we don't have to worry about law enforcement,' Lopp said. Despite the growing severity, the response from authorities remains limited. 'No law enforcement agency actually has the resources to protect people in real time,' Lopp said bluntly. 'Law enforcement is reactive – it's not built for prevention.' In France, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau is promising new protections for crypto professionals, including fast-track access to emergency services, in-home safety checks and specialised training for officers. 'These repeated kidnappings must be countered with specific tools,' he said. But crypto leaders like Noizat are sceptical, calling the government's moves little more than 'a communications operation'. What's at stake is more than just digital coins. 'Millions of dollars are being secured by just one piece of information – that's extremely risky,' Lopp said. Once stolen, crypto can vanish instantly. 'Bitcoin is like Teflon – it's slippery. Once it's gone, you can't grab it again.' 'It's like these people are being their own banks, but they don't have bank-level security.' Jameson Lopp, co-founder of digital asset custody firm Casa Casa, Lopp's firm, helps clients protect assets using geographically distributed keys and multi-signature storage. 'Some of our clients literally have to get on planes to different countries just to sign off on a transaction,' he said. But while security technology evolves, attackers are getting smarter. 'A lot of these attackers still don't know how to launder the proceeds,' Lopp said. 'But that will change.' But crypto expert Carol Alexander, a professor at the University of Sussex, said the kidnappers aren't very clever. 'It used to be the dark web and the Silk Road – and Bitcoin was used for money laundering,' Alexander said. 'But nowadays, the FBI and the Department of Justice ... the forensic software you can use to trace them is so good, the kidnappers would likely be very quickly found out.' Despite the sophistication of the digital tools available to law enforcement, Alexander points out that the crypto space is still an appealing target for criminals. Loading 'Very few crypto owners have the level of physical security that traditional billionaires might have. These people are flashing their wealth online and making themselves visible, but they aren't aware of how much they're at risk,' she said. For now, most victims survive. But the violence is real, and rising. Lopp himself became a target in 2017 after a swatting and extortion attempt led to armed officers raiding his home. 'That's when I started paying attention,' he said. What's clear is that the frontier ethos of crypto – self-custody, decentralisation, anonymity – is also its greatest vulnerability. And as more wealth moves off the grid, criminals are adapting faster than law enforcement. 'The social pressure is just now starting to bubble up,' Lopp said. 'But we're years behind. And these attackers? They're already here.' Henry Rivers, a cybersecurity investor, said criminals are exploiting the decentralised nature of crypto to target high-profile executives. 'Their wealth is visible but largely untraceable, which makes them ideal targets,' Rivers said. 'The industry needs robust solutions to protect both its digital and physical assets. This is no longer just about securing wallets – it's about securing lives.' Loading In response to these growing threats, some crypto firms are reassessing public exposure. Travel warnings are now issued, and executives are advised to adopt extreme discretion in their personal and professional lives. In Tallinn, the investigation into Heath's attackers continues. Heath, 46, who has not spoken about his order and declined to comment for this story, has since left Estonia and is now suing his attackers for more than €3.2 million in damages to help pay for his full-time security. Two men – both Azerbaijani nationals – will face court next month for trial. Another two remain at large. For the cryptocurrency industry, the growing threat of real-world violence is now a harsh reality, one that could redefine the very nature of digital wealth and its security. 'The wealth is digital,' said a Paris police investigator this month. 'But the violence is very much analog.'
Sydney Morning Herald
24-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘The wealth is digital, the violence is analog': How the crypto rich got caught up in a new crime wave
It began like a scene from a Hollywood heist. Dressed in painters' overalls and high-vis vests, a group of men slipped into the stairwell of an apartment building in the Old Town of Estonia's capital, Tallinn. Their target was Australian tech billionaire Tim Heath, a pioneer of crypto-based online gambling and founder of the Yolo Group. But this wasn't a robbery – the men were there to take Heath. According to Estonian prosecutors, the gang had stalked Heath for months, even planting a GPS tracker on his car. When they struck on July 29 last year – just days before the grand opening of Heath's luxury casino complex – he fought back. Shaken but defiant, the strong-framed Heath escaped. The assailants fled, abandoning a getaway van later traced via a Bolt rental account. His case is far from an anomaly – it's part of a growing pattern of violent crime targeting crypto's elite. Across Europe and beyond, crypto-related kidnappings are on the rise. The incidents are co-ordinated, brutal and laser-focused on extracting digital wealth that is easy to move and potentially difficult to trace. This month in Paris, three masked men ambushed the daughter of Pierre Noizat, chief executive of French exchange Paymium, in broad daylight. The attackers tried to shove her into a van but fled after a struggle. Though she escaped, the message was chillingly clear: prominent crypto families are now public targets. Just weeks earlier, a 60-year-old crypto marketing firm owner was kidnapped by armed men in Paris. They cut off one of his fingers and demanded up to €6 million in ransom. He was rescued in a police raid south of the city. In January, Ledger co-founder David Balland and his wife were abducted from their Paris home. Criminals mutilated Balland's hand to force access to his wallets. They demanded €10 million. The couple was rescued after a multi-agency operation involving 200 officers. These cases share a chilling pattern. 'These digital bearer assets are very, very easy to steal and transport – and very difficult to get back,' said Jameson Lopp, co-founder and chief security officer of digital asset custody firm Casa. 'The risk-reward is very different. You're not robbing a bank or an armoured truck. You're hitting soft targets with potentially massive payoffs.' And most crypto holders, Lopp said, are far from protected. 'It's like these people are being their own banks, but they don't have bank-level security.' Lopp keeps a public database of violent attacks against crypto holders, and he suspects only a fraction ever get reported. 'Maybe a quarter. Maybe a third. Definitely not the majority,' he said. The issue isn't isolated to France. There have been several in Sydney and Melbourne, including the 2023 kidnapping and torture of a man in a south-west Sydney home, where police say his teeth were removed. In Melbourne in the same year, a former childcare worker and TikTok star also lured a Saudi Arabian prince into a Bitcoin-ransom kidnapping. In November last year, three teenagers in Las Vegas abducted a man after a crypto event, took him in to the surrounding desert and drained $US6.2 million from his wallets. In one of last year's most complex cases, teenage hackers who stole $US356.5 million in Bitcoin from a Washington state victim turned on one of their own. They kidnapped the teen's parents in Connecticut, but were caught after an off-duty FBI agent witnessed the abduction. Criminals are also thinking globally. 'There was one gang that hit half a dozen targets up and down the US East Coast,' Lopp said. 'And I've seen patterns of Chinese organised crime hitting Chinese citizens abroad, or Russians targeting Russians in South-East Asia.' The logic is simple and disturbing: 'If we actually commit the crime outside of the country and then run back, we don't have to worry about law enforcement,' Lopp said. Despite the growing severity, the response from authorities remains limited. 'No law enforcement agency actually has the resources to protect people in real time,' Lopp said bluntly. 'Law enforcement is reactive – it's not built for prevention.' In France, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau is promising new protections for crypto professionals, including fast-track access to emergency services, in-home safety checks and specialised training for officers. 'These repeated kidnappings must be countered with specific tools,' he said. But crypto leaders like Noizat are sceptical, calling the government's moves little more than 'a communications operation'. What's at stake is more than just digital coins. 'Millions of dollars are being secured by just one piece of information – that's extremely risky,' Lopp said. Once stolen, crypto can vanish instantly. 'Bitcoin is like Teflon – it's slippery. Once it's gone, you can't grab it again.' 'It's like these people are being their own banks, but they don't have bank-level security.' Jameson Lopp, co-founder of digital asset custody firm Casa Casa, Lopp's firm, helps clients protect assets using geographically distributed keys and multi-signature storage. 'Some of our clients literally have to get on planes to different countries just to sign off on a transaction,' he said. But while security technology evolves, attackers are getting smarter. 'A lot of these attackers still don't know how to launder the proceeds,' Lopp said. 'But that will change.' But crypto expert Carol Alexander, a professor at the University of Sussex, said the kidnappers aren't very clever. 'It used to be the dark web and the Silk Road – and Bitcoin was used for money laundering,' Alexander said. 'But nowadays, the FBI and the Department of Justice ... the forensic software you can use to trace them is so good, the kidnappers would likely be very quickly found out.' Despite the sophistication of the digital tools available to law enforcement, Alexander points out that the crypto space is still an appealing target for criminals. Loading 'Very few crypto owners have the level of physical security that traditional billionaires might have. These people are flashing their wealth online and making themselves visible, but they aren't aware of how much they're at risk,' she said. For now, most victims survive. But the violence is real, and rising. Lopp himself became a target in 2017 after a swatting and extortion attempt led to armed officers raiding his home. 'That's when I started paying attention,' he said. What's clear is that the frontier ethos of crypto – self-custody, decentralisation, anonymity – is also its greatest vulnerability. And as more wealth moves off the grid, criminals are adapting faster than law enforcement. 'The social pressure is just now starting to bubble up,' Lopp said. 'But we're years behind. And these attackers? They're already here.' Henry Rivers, a cybersecurity investor, said criminals are exploiting the decentralised nature of crypto to target high-profile executives. 'Their wealth is visible but largely untraceable, which makes them ideal targets,' Rivers said. 'The industry needs robust solutions to protect both its digital and physical assets. This is no longer just about securing wallets – it's about securing lives.' Loading In response to these growing threats, some crypto firms are reassessing public exposure. Travel warnings are now issued, and executives are advised to adopt extreme discretion in their personal and professional lives. In Tallinn, the investigation into Heath's attackers continues. Heath, 46, who has not spoken about his order and declined to comment for this story, has since left Estonia and is now suing his attackers for more than €3.2 million in damages to help pay for his full-time security. Two men – both Azerbaijani nationals – will face court next month for trial. Another two remain at large. For the cryptocurrency industry, the growing threat of real-world violence is now a harsh reality, one that could redefine the very nature of digital wealth and its security. 'The wealth is digital,' said a Paris police investigator this month. 'But the violence is very much analog.'
