Latest news with #KXXV
Int'l Business Times
4 days ago
- Int'l Business Times
Ex-Social Security Employee Stole Dead Men's Information to Help Women Receive Millions in Fraudulent Benefits: US Attorney
A former Social Security Administration supervisor has pleaded guilty to stealing the identities of dead men to help women fraudulently collect over $3.3 million in government benefits, federal prosecutors announced this week. David Lam, 45, of Pearland, Texas, previously worked as an operations supervisor and claims specialist at the SSA's Houston office. While in that role, he exploited his access to sensitive records to steal the personal information of recently deceased men, KXXV reported. The fraud, which spanned several years, involved creating fake survivor benefit claims with no real basis. According to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei and court documents obtained by the outlet, Lam worked with multiple women, often mothers, who falsely claimed that the deceased men were fathers or stepfathers of their children. Lam filed applications using the stolen names, birth dates and Social Security numbers to make it appear the families were entitled to survivor benefits. In return, the women sent Lam a portion of the benefits through apps like Zelle and CashApp. None of the children listed were actually related to the deceased men. Lam pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and aggravated identity theft. He admitted responsibility for $3,346,280 in fraudulent payouts and has agreed to pay full restitution. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy charge, plus a mandatory two years for the identity theft count. His sentencing is scheduled for September 12. Originally published on Lawyer Herald
Miami Herald
14-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Driver was intoxicated in crash that killed Texas fire captain, cops say
A father celebrating the birth of his fifth child was going to pick up his four other children when he was fatally struck after he left the hospital, according to city officials in Killeen, Texas. The father of five was also a local fire captain, and his death has left a Texas community reeling, city officials said. Now, the man accused of rear-ending Killeen Fire Captain Marvin Taylor III's car on May 11 has been arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle, the city of Austin announced in a news release. Rodney Bremby, 34, was booked into Travis County Jail on May 11, according to jail records. Taylor's casket, covered with an American flag, was taken through reverent procession in Bell County on May 13 from Temple to the funeral home in Copperas Cove, KXXV reported. Firefighters lined the streets to pay their respects as the vehicle with the fire captain's body passed, according to the outlet. 'I am personally honored to have spent the last 10 months with him assigned to the training division and seeing his face just about every other day up and down the hallways here. He is sorely missed,' Killeen Fire Chief James Kubinski said in a video shared by the city. The captain known for his dedication and leadership had been with the fire department since 2014, the city said. 'Please bear with us as we process our grief and go through the process of providing him the final honors that he deserves,' the chief said. Killeen is about a 155-mile drive southwest from Dallas.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Yahoo
Neighbor's Doorbell Camera Captures Lightning Striking House 6 Times: 'Sounds Like a Bomb'
A Texas home was struck by lightning six times over the weekend — and it was caught on a neighbor's doorbell camera. The Bell County Fire Marshal's Office said in a Facebook post that authorities responded to the home that burst into flames on the 5300 block of Cicero Drive in Belton, Texas, at 5:15 a.m. local time on Saturday, March 15. "The homeowners were able to get out safely after hearing a possible Lighting Strike hit the roof of the home and then saw flames in the attic space," the fire marshal's office added. Eventually, the fire was brought under control and the home was saved but did have fire and water damage, though no other structures were damaged. Related: Scientists Find Body While Testing Water from 'Murky' North Carolina River, Authorities Say "The home was hit by a negative energy lightning strike, not once, but six times in the same event," the department said. "That lightning event was determined to be the cause of the fire." (PEOPLE has reached out to the fire marshal's office for more information on Thursday, March 20.) Loranette and Terry Baker were asleep when they were jolted awake by the deafening noise, CBS affiliate KWTX reported. Just seconds afterward, Laurenette ran to her front lawn. "To me, it sounded like a bomb," Loranette said. Speaking with ABC affiliate KXXV, She went on to say she "thought something exploded over my house." Related: Woman Gets a Full-Body MRI Scan Out of Curiosity. Turns Out She Was a Ticking Time Bomb (Exclusive) After the couple checked their doorbell camera, Laurenette said the footage answered a lot of questions. Meanwhile, it's not the first time lightning struck a home in the neighborhood. KWTX reported that a house on Fenton Lane was damaged after being hit by a bolt in 2022. Laurenette told KXXV that she was ultimately "thankful" for the outcome of this terrifying situation. 'We are grateful on this street for sure,' she said. Read the original article on People
