Latest news with #KevinThomas
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local woman, 2 others plead guilty to cross-state drug trafficking ring participation
A local Pennsylvania woman and two others from Ohio and New Jersey pleaded guilty in federal court for their alleged connection to a cross-state drug trafficking ring. A U.S. Attorney's Office spokesperson says Melissa Frain, 36, of Indiana, entered a guilty plea on May 30 to charges of violating federal narcotics laws. Also pleading were Robert Hurst, 46, of North Royalton, Ohio, and Kevin Thomas, 48, of Newark, N.J. Officials say the three are among 27 people charged in March 2023 for their alleged participation in a cross-state narcotics conspiracy involving large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, crack and heroin. Between about September 2021 and January 2022, Frain is said to have conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute quantities of mixtures of cocaine, fentanyl and crack. The defendants will be sentenced on Sept. 17. They could face up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million or both. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ernie Johnson holds back tears as he announces death of 'Inside the NBA' crew member
Just a few weeks before they go off the Turner airwaves, the 'Inside the NBA ' team is in mourning after the loss of a crewmember that worked behind the scenes. Kevin Thomas, who worked as a stagehand on the popular basketball show, recently passed away. As a number of those who work on the show stood behind the desk, Johnson broke the news to the public. 'You're looking at our Inside the NBA crew, it's as close as you can possibly get to a family in the workplace,' the 68-year-old Johnson began. 'And our family is hurting tonight, because we lost a brother of ours this week. 'Kevin Thomas was one of the stagehands here in Studio J, been here for 30 years. And he was one great teammate. The Inside the NBA family mourns the passing of Kevin Thomas, an incredible and loved member of our team. Our hearts go out to his family and friends. — NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 9, 2025 'You may not have known him, but you'd seen him. He was a part of a lot of the skits we cooked up.' While Johnson continued, images of Thomas taking part in the show's hilarious sketches played behind him - drawing chuckles from the crew and some of Johnson's co-hosts. 'The dude had a joyous sense of humor and a kindness about him that simply drew you in,' Johnson said, over an image of Thomas pretending to grind off Shaquille O'Neal's toenails. 'Whenever we needed something, 'You know what, that's calling for Kevin.' ' The former NBA stars also chimed in with their tributes to their late co-worker, whose cause of death was not immediately known. 'Inside' analyst Charles Barkley offered some of his thought on Thomas as well. 'Death is so sudden,' Barkley said. 'You are with somebody one day and then you get the call the next day that they're gone. 'We were all in shock when we got the message the other day. Man, what a fun dude. I admired him, I respected him. He did anything that we asked him to do. 'The world is a sadder place without Kevin not here, he was just a really good dude and we're going to miss him.' O'Neal talked about the moment when he first heard the news of Thomas' passing: 'When they told me the other day, I heard it but I didn't want to hear it I said, 'Who?' They said, 'Kevin.' My Kevin?' Johnson closed the somber segment by further honoring the beloved member of the show. 'He was one of those guys who came to work with a smile on his face,' Johnson said, and his voice broke as he tapped his pen on the desk in sad frustration. 'He was 70,' Johnson said, and added that he is survived by his wife, son and four grandchildren. 'We pray in this time that is unspeakably difficult they can somehow find comfort and peace knowing how that husband, that father, that grandfather was loved and respected. The studio will never be the same.'
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Inside the NBA' mourns unexpected death of crew member: 'We were all in shock'
The "Inside the NBA" crew concluded its pregame show Thursday with a somber tone, mourning the unexpected death of stage hand Kevin Thomas. He was 70 years old. With many crew members behind them, hosts Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal all spoke glowingly of Thomas' character and impact on the show, which is headed to ESPN next year. The Inside the NBA family mourns the passing of Kevin Thomas, an incredible and loved member of our hearts go out to his family and friends. — NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 9, 2025 "Inside the NBA" is beloved for both its straight-talk analysis and humor, and it was made very clear Thomas was a key contributor to the latter, with a reel playing his on-screen appearances in a number of skits. Barkley's reflection on the loss of Thomas: "Death is so sudden. Like you're with somebody one day, then you get the call the next day that they're gone and you're like, 'What?' We were all in shock when we got the message the other day. Man, what a fun dude. I admired him, I respected him. He did anything we asked him to do. "We've always said, the people behind us do all the heavy lifting on the show. But, man, the world is a sadder place because Kevin's not here. He was just a really good dude, and we're going to miss him." Johnson fought tears at the conclusion of the segment, calling the moment "unspeakably difficult" and saying the studio will never be the same. Thomas is reportedly survived by his wife, son and four grandchildren.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Inside the NBA' mourns unexpected death of crew member: 'We were all in shock'
The "Inside the NBA" crew concluded its pregame show on Thursday with a somber tone, mourning the unexpected death of stage hand Kevin Thomas. He was 70 years old. With many crew members behind them, hosts Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal all spoke glowingly of Thomas' character and impact on the show, which is headed to ESPN next year. "Inside the NBA" is beloved for both its straight-talk analysis and humor, and it was made very clear Thomas was a key contributor to the latter, with a reel playing showing his on-screen appearances in a number of skits. Advertisement Barkley's reflection on the loss of Thomas: "Death is so sudden. Like you're with somebody one day, then you get the call the next day that they're gone and you're like, 'What?' We were all in shock when we got the message the other day. Man, what a fun dude. I admired him, I respected him. He did anything we asked him to do. "We've always said, the people behind us do all the heavy lifting on the show. But man, the world is a sadder place because Kevin's not here. He was just a really good dude and we're going to miss him." Johnson fought tears at the conclusion of the segment, calling the moment "unspeakably difficult" and saying the studio will never be the same. Thomas is reportedly survived by his wife, son and four grandchildren.
