Latest news with #Morelli
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
'Beyond disturbing': 11 more people indicted in 'animal crush videos' case
Eleven people from across the country who officials say paid a Cincinnati man to create videos showing monkeys being tortured and mutilated have been indicted on federal charges. The network of people were involved in online groups "dedicated to monkey torture and mutilation," officials said. The 11 defendants are from places including Arizona, North Carolina, Connecticut and western Kentucky. They are accused of conspiring with 28-year-old Nicholas Tyler Dryden, of English Woods, to create and distribute what are known as "animal crush videos." Dryden was arrested in June 2024 and pleaded guilty earlier this year in federal court in Cincinnati to conspiracy to create and distribute animal crush videos. He is being held at the Butler County Jail as he awaits sentencing. An indictment that was unsealed Friday, May 16, in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati, says the 11 defendants paid Dryden, who then paid a teen in Indonesia to commit requested acts on camera. The videos showed monkeys "having their genitals burned and cut with scissors as well as being sodomized with a wooden skewer and a spoon," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release. In 2023, messages on WhatsApp to someone in Indonesia, according to court documents, Dryden suggested choking a monkey "to almost dead" and stretching the monkey's arms and legs "with a ratchet until it is broken." In January, a New Jersey man, Giancarlo Morelli, pleaded guilty in the case. According to prosecutors, Morelli admitted conspiring with others to create and distribute the videos showing "acts of sadistic violence" against baby and adult monkeys. Court documents detail multiple Telegram messages from April 2023 between Dryden and Morelli about a video. In one, Dryden says: "He beats it to death and cuts it..." Morelli responds: "yes finally!" In a statement, FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola said: "The acts of torture and abuse of young monkeys alleged in this case are beyond disturbing." If convicted, the 11 charged in the new indictment face up to five years in prison. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Feds charge 11 more people in 'animal crush videos' case
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Luzerne County Election Board approves two drop boxes and pilot program
Apr. 17—Luzerne County will again provide two mail ballot drop boxes for the May 20 primary election inside county-owned buildings in Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre, a county election board majority decided Wednesday. The box in the Penn Place Building lobby in Wilkes-Barre will have a camera and other added security features because the board also agreed Wednesday to participate in a pilot program. This box from Runbeck Election Services photographs both the face of the person at the box and each side of the envelope inserted. It also has multiple points of internal fire suppression in the event an explosive material is somehow inserted through the opening. The slot itself is fitted to the width of a mail ballot envelope, which prevents the insertion of more than one at a time. The standard mailbox-style drop box used in past elections will be set up inside the Broad Street Exchange Building in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Video surveillance cameras in each building must record footage of the drop boxes throughout their use. The election board had agreed last October to provide two drop boxes at the same locations for the November 2024 general election, concluding two additional boxes hosted by outside entities could not be deployed because they cannot be anchored to the floor or a wall. However, assistant Solicitor Gene Molino said there was no formal board vote to provide only two boxes at that time, which is why official confirmation was necessary Wednesday. Both actions were approved by four election board members: Chairwoman Christine Boyle, Rick Morelli, Albert Schlosser and Daniel Schramm. Board Vice Chairwoman Alyssa Fusaro voted no on both. Fusaro, a Republican, listed a series of reasons she won't support any drop boxes Wednesday. The boxes are not mandated through legislation to comply with statewide election uniformity requirements, she said, adding she believes most voters want the boxes eliminated. Morelli, the other Republican board member, said there were board discussions about adding a fifth drop box early last year, and the county is now down to two, which he described as a "very good compromise." He also said both political parties should rethink their strategies if they believe two drop boxes will cause them to win or lose. Regarding the pilot program decision, Fusaro said the election bureau did not inform the board it would be applying to participate, causing the board to be "slapped with it after the fact." Fusaro also questioned the cost and predicted there will be issues with ballots jamming. Schlosser, a Democrat, said he believes the new drop box will help with election integrity and is worth trying, especially for residents who do not want to vote at polling places or rely on the postal system. Schramm, a Democrat, said the enhanced drop box photographs those depositing ballots and links those photos to specific ballots, which is a "step forward." Morelli said he is pleased the county was selected to participate in the pilot and believes the expense is worthwhile to address security concerns that have been raised by drop box critics. Boyle, a Democrat, agreed with Fusaro that she felt "caught off guard" when the pilot program was announced but said the board later had an opportunity to examine the drop box at a public demonstration. She said the new box is a "potential better way forward" as stated by Schlosser, Schramm and Morelli. County Election Director Emily Cook said the bureau has prepared a video on the new box that will be posted on the election page at Approximately 50,000 county voters have requested mail ballots this year. Cook said she is aiming to start mailing them this week. Other businesses In other business Wednesday, the board voted to: —Designate Boyle to serve with Fusaro on a the bipartisan board that spot-checks drop box surveillance footage — a practice initiated in 2023. —Approve Cook, Election Deputy Director Steve Hahn and election Poll Worker Coordinator Amanda Latoski as the canvassing board members for the primary election. Fusaro voted against the appointments. Authorized by the board last month, the staff canvassing board will handle post-election processing of flagged mail and provisional ballots during the public adjudication process to reduce the workload of the volunteer election board. Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NETSOL Technologies names new VP of AI
NETSOL Technologies, a company specialising in business services and asset finance solutions, has named Dario Morelli as its new vice president overseeing AI. Based in the UK, Morelli will lead NETSOL's Transcend AI Labs, an innovation hub focused on AI-powered automation, consulting, and product development. In a statement announcing the launch of Transcend AI Labs, NETSOL said that the initiative aims to equip automotive and equipment OEMs, dealerships, and financiers with cutting-edge AI solutions. The goal is to drive greater efficiency and strengthen their competitive edge in the market. Morelli has more than 15 years of experience in data, analytics, and AI across various sectors, including fintech, insurance, and entertainment. NETSOL Technologies co-founder and president Naeem Ghauri said: 'We are thrilled to welcome Dario to our team. His deep expertise in AI and fintech alongside his proven track record of success make him the ideal leader for our AI division. 'His leadership will play a pivotal role in advancing our AI-first strategy, further solidifying our position as an innovator in the industry and guiding us through the next phase of growth and innovation.' Morelli said: 'Joining NETSOL and leading Transcend AI Labs during such an innovative time is an incredible opportunity to shape the future of AI in the asset finance and financial services industry. 'Delivering cutting-edge AI-powered solutions and services that not only enhance the company's internal operations but also provide significant value to clients across the globe will be truly inspiring.' He most recently served as head of advanced analytics and AI for Admiral Group's international markets. His work focused on enhancing risk assessment and optimising operational efficiency, covering Italy, France, Spain, and the US. Before joining Admiral Group, Morelli was head of data analytics at the European open banking platform TrueLayer. At TrueLayer, he built the company's first data team, providing key insights that shaped its payments strategy and automated compliance processes, according to NETSOL. "NETSOL Technologies names new VP of AI " was originally created and published by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Axios
25-03-2025
- Business
- Axios
Exclusive: Silna Health gets $27M for insurance automation
Revenue automation company Silna Health raised $27 million in seed and Series A funding, CEO Jeffrey Morelli tells Axios exclusively. Why it matters: Revenue cycle management is a top priority for health care providers and investors alike. The big picture: Silna's fundraise is at least the seventh major health care revenue automation deal since last summer. Follow the money: The fundraise — comprising a $22 million Series A and a $5 million seed — was co-led by Accel and Bain Capital Ventures. Other investors included the co-founders of Ramp, Opendoor, Truework, and Eight Sleep. Seed funds powered investments in R&D and engineering, while Series A capital will fuel additional hires in engineering, go-to-market, and operations as Silna augments automation capabilities. "We have pretty ambitious hiring plans this year that would allow our runway to be over four years," Morelli says. How it works: New York-based Silna automates prior authorization, benefit checks and insurance eligibility verification to curb administrative workload. The company has about 80 customers across three main verticals, per Morelli: venture-backed health care companies, MSOs, and providers. Silna's first customers were in the physical therapy and autism therapy sectors, and the company is now expanding into home and hospice care, cardiac rehabilitation, and psychiatry. By the numbers: Across less intensive insurance workflows, Silna's automation rate is 90%, per Morelli. For more intensive prior authorization work, the company has humans review information after its tools do a first pass-through. "Our goal throughout 2025 is to get the automation above 75% on all business lines," he added. What they're saying:"Where I think RCM 2.0 is going to happen in the next decade is there's going to be just as much focus on the upfront insurance workflows as these downstream ones where traditional RCM lies," Morelli tells Axios. Reality check: While AI-driven automation can improve efficiency, insurance companies still hold the keys to approvals. Silna Health's success will depend on how well it navigates payor relationships and regulatory hurdles. State of play: Health care providers have a plethora of venture-backed and legacy options when it comes to revenue cycle automation tools. Recent deals include: In February, medical claims automation startup Camber collected a $30 million Series B led by Andreessen Horowitz. Last year, health care revenue cycle automation companies Adonis, Sift Healthcare, and CodaMetrix all raised Series B rounds. Prior authorization automation companies Humata, Cohere, and Anterior last year raised $25 million, $50 million, and $20 million, respectively. Fun fact: Morelli and his co-founders came up with the name for Silna when one co-founder, Pavel Asparouhov, was traveling home to Bulgaria. In Bulgarian, "силна" (transliterated as "silna") is the feminine form of the adjective "силен" ("silen"), meaning "strong." The bottom line: Growing staff shortages and rising administrative costs make automation all the more alluring for health care providers.
CBC
25-03-2025
- CBC
Sentencing hearing for disgraced Cree medicine man shows 'breathtaking impact' of sexual assaults
Warning: this story discusses sexual assault. A Saskatoon prosecutor says that Cecil Wolfe's sexual assaults over nine years had a "breathtaking impact" on his victims and community. "He breached a significant position of trust," prosecutor Lana Morelli said Tuesday at Court of King's Bench. "The victims' own trauma was compounded by the sexual assaults by a trusted healer." The 63-year-old pleaded guilty before Justice John Morrall in February to a dozen sexual assaults. Wolfe returned to court this week to hear from his victims and the submissions from Morelli, co-chair Maria Shupenia and defence lawyer Harvey Neufeld. Both the defence and Crown say Wolfe will face time in a federal penitentiary. The defence is asking for a sentence in the four to five year range. The Crown is arguing for 10 years and nine months. Morelli said the case presents unique challenges in terms of finding comparable cases as a reference for sentencing. Medical cases typically lack a spiritual component, while religious abuses lack the medical element. "A medicine man is a symbol of culture, tradition, spirituality — and the healing as a doctor," she said. The defence filed seven letters of support for Wolfe, but Morelli said one of the notes had a troubling aspect. It appears that Wolfe continued to treat at least one woman since his charges, "and this appears in violation of his release conditions." She said the Crown is agreeing that so-called Gladue factors do play into the sentencing submissions — "he had a life shaped by colonialism" — but that his culture had not been stripped away. Further, even though he only went to Grade 3 in his education, "he has 63 years of life experience," Morelli said. "Lack of education does not mean he should not appreciate that his actions are wrong."
