Latest news with #HennepinCountyAttorney
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Mahdi Ali's family ups pressure for exoneration in 2010 Seward Market killings
The Brief Mahdi Ali is serving three consecutive 30 year sentences for the triple murder from early 2010. An accomplice told FOX 9's Tom Lyden in 2021 that he lied in Ali's trial so that he would take the fall, changing his story to say Ali wasn't there. A coalition to free Ali from prison delivered a resolution from the Minneapolis Federation of Educators to the Hennepin County Attorney, which has begun a review of the case. MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Just after a group of activists gathered outside the Hennepin County government center to demand Mahdi Ali's release, Ali himself called in from Oak Park Heights prison. He again maintained his innocence as this coalition works to get his case reviewed and Ali exonerated. "Please join me," he said. "Join my team, fight for justice, fight for exoneration." What we know The coalition began a concerted effort to free Ali a few months ago. A couple weeks ago, they got the Hennepin County Attorney's Conviction Integrity Unit to agree to take a look. "They tell us it might take a while and that's fine," said Michelle Gross, a police-brutality activist who's taken an active role in fighting for Ali's release. "We're patient people, but we're not going to tolerate him remaining in prison forever and ever and ever." They gathered Tuesday to present Hennepin County Attorney with another document: A resolution passed by the Minneapolis Federation of Educators also asking Ali's case be reviewed. Several members of the coalition are teachers who knew Ali. One is the union president. The backstory In early 2010, two men entered the Seward Market in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis. Security footage shows them robbing the store. One of the men shot both of the clerks working there, as well as a customer who walked in the front door. It all happened in one minute. Mahdi Ali was quickly identified as a suspect and interviewed by detectives. He admitted being with two men who were also considered suspects, but insisted he wasn't there. But one of the other men said Ali was the one who fired the fatal shots and testified to that at Ali's trial. In 2021, in an interview with FOX 9 investigator Tom Lyden, that accomplice said he lied, that Ali wasn't there, that they made him the scapegoat. That man, convicted in the robbery, has since been let out of prison. "His accusation that Mahdi was with him, he has recanted," said Marcia Howard, the MFE president. "He has said that Mahdi was not with him." The coalition activists are trying to find that man to get him to say the same thing on the record to those reviewing Ali's conviction. So far, no luck. What's next Gross acknowledges that reviewing the case is complicated, but hopes continued pressure can speed things along. Adding to the pressure is Marvina Haynes, whose brother was exonerated last year after nearly 20 years in prison for murder after it was determined the eyewitness testimony was faulty. "And we want Madhi Ali released immediately," said Haynes. "Mahdi is innocent." Mahdi Ali was a teenager when convicted. He's now 30 years old. He'll be 107 when his sentence is served.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Lakeville man sentenced in first wage theft criminal conviction in state
A Lakeville man was sentenced Friday in connection with the first wage theft criminal conviction in state history. Frederick Leon Newell, 59, was sentenced Friday on one count of wage theft and one count of theft by swindle, following the enactment of the 2019 law. Following state sentencing guidelines, Newell was given stays of imposition of sentence on both counts and a probationary period of three years. In addition, he will be required to complete 200 hours of community service work. He was also ordered to pay more than $42,000 in restitution and may not bid on or participate in new public contracts. 'This wage-theft conviction is the first of its kind in Minnesota. It is an important step forward in our efforts to protect workers,' Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. 'This type of behavior will not be tolerated. Mr. Newell was entrusted with public funds to pay his staff for their labor on a public works project. Instead, he siphoned their money for himself.' According to the criminal complaint, Newell committed wage theft by failing to pay employees at his company at the rate of pay required by law. Newell owned Integrated Painting Solutions in Apple Valley, according to the criminal complaint. Newell's company secured a bid to do work on the Redwell apartment complex at 1020 N. Third St. in Minneapolis. He hired seven people to paint and do cleaning. All that work was subject to wage requirements under city ordinance and state and federal law. His trial ran from Jan. 16 to Jan. 22, and the court delivered the verdict on April 9. In total, five employees of Mr. Newell's company were underpaid by a total of at least $37,001.44 between June 8, 2020, and Dec. 4, 2020, for painting and cleaning labor. On the theft by swindle charge, Mr. Newell continued to accept payments from a general contractor over the course of a project despite knowing that his company was in financial distress, was not paying prevailing wage and was concealing hours worked by employees. St. Paul fire inspector charged in assault of 13-year-old on way to school Police: Gunshots followed Burnsville High School graduation ceremony, but no injuries Brooklyn Center attorney suspended by Minnesota Supreme Court Apple Valley woman latest to be charged in Feeding Our Future fraud U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer charged with possessing child porn
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Lakeville man sentenced in first wage theft criminal conviction in state
A Lakeville man was sentenced Friday in connection with the first wage theft criminal conviction in state history. Frederick Leon Newell, 59, was sentenced Friday on one count of wage theft and one count of theft by swindle, following the enactment of the 2019 law. Following state sentencing guidelines, Newell was given stays of imposition of sentence on both counts and a probationary period of three years. In addition, he will be required to complete 200 hours of community service work. He was also ordered to pay more than $42,000 in restitution and may not bid on or participate in new public contracts. 'This wage-theft conviction is the first of its kind in Minnesota. It is an important step forward in our efforts to protect workers,' Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. 'This type of behavior will not be tolerated. Mr. Newell was entrusted with public funds to pay his staff for their labor on a public works project. Instead, he siphoned their money for himself.' According to the criminal complaint, Newell committed wage theft by failing to pay employees at his company at the rate of pay required by law. Newell owned Integrated Painting Solutions in Apple Valley, according to the criminal complaint. Newell's company secured a bid to do work on the Redwell apartment complex at 1020 N. Third St. in Minneapolis. He hired seven people to paint and do cleaning. All that work was subject to wage requirements under city ordinance and state and federal law. His trial ran from Jan. 16 to Jan. 22, and the court delivered the verdict on April 9. In total, five employees of Mr. Newell's company were underpaid by a total of at least $37,001.44 between June 8, 2020, and Dec. 4, 2020, for painting and cleaning labor. On the theft by swindle charge, Mr. Newell continued to accept payments from a general contractor over the course of a project despite knowing that his company was in financial distress, was not paying prevailing wage and was concealing hours worked by employees. St. Paul fire inspector charged in assault of 13-year-old on way to school Police: Gunshots followed Burnsville High School graduation ceremony, but no injuries Brooklyn Center attorney suspended by Minnesota Supreme Court Apple Valley woman latest to be charged in Feeding Our Future fraud U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer charged with possessing child porn
