Latest news with #NBC4Investigates
NBC News
01-08-2025
- NBC News
MLB pitcher's barking dog credited with a save at home and a thwarted break-in
It appears Yoshinobu Yamamoto's dog helped keep things safe at home when the Dodgers' pitcher was on a road trip. The dog's loud barking and a staff member who turned on lights likely helped thwart a burglary attempt early Wednesday morning at the Dodger phenom's Hollywood Hills home, law enforcement told NBC4 Investigates. Three people jumped over the back fence at about 5:30 a.m. and broke a rear glass door, but never entered the residence, authorities said. Nothing was taken from the property. Staff members were home at the time and turned on the lights. Coupled with aggressive barking from Yamamoto's dog, the would-be thieves turned tail, law enforcement told NBC4 Investigates on Thursday. Someone at the home called a private security member, who then called police. Video from NewsChopper4 showed the dog by the pool at the home later Wednesday morning. In an interview with Spectrum Sports, Yamamoto said he adopted the dog from an animal shelter. 'Since I was a kid, I always loved animals because my mom used to work at the veterinary clinic,' Yamamoto said through an interpreter in the interview earlier this year. 'Last year, while I was on the IL, my mom visited me in LA. She wanted to visit the animal shelter, so we went there and I fell in love with my dog. So, I adopted him.' A private security member was at the scene in an unmarked car. Authorities are attempting to determine how the intruders bypassed the officer. Police told NBC4 Investigates that anyone hiring private security should have them in a marked vehicle to provide a visual deterrent. No arrests were reported, but law enforcement sources said three people were seen on security camera video. Police, who are looking at security camera video, are attempting to determine whether the crime is connected to one of the many burglary crews operating in Los Angeles. The Dodgers were wrapping up a series Wednesday against the Reds in Cincinnati. The 26-year-old from Japan is 9-7 with a 2.63 ERA this season. He pitched seven innings Monday, giving up just four hits and striking out nine in the Dodgers' 5-2 win. The attempted burglary is the latest crime targeting the homes of professional athletes in Los Angeles and across the country. Dodgers, Rams and LAFC players have all been recent targets. Break-ins were reported at the homes of Dodgers infielders Max Muncy and Freddie Freeman in 2023. A burglary was reported at the Los Angeles home of LAFC striker Olivier Giroud in February. In December, the FBI issued a warning to pro sports leagues about athletes displaying valuables on social media. The best-practices memo, part of standard practice of communicating with businesses and companies about relevant crime trends, urged athletes to limit images of valuables on social media.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Wife of man detained by ICE in hallway of Franklin County traffic court says community is ‘very afraid'
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Surveillance video from the Franklin County Municipal Court shows a man being detained by ICE in a hallway after appearing in traffic court. The man, Leonardo Fausto, of Westerville, was in court on June 3 for operating a motor vehicle without a valid license — a misdemeanor charge that was dismissed. He pleaded guilty to driving 70 mph in a 45 mph zone and was fined $100 plus another $102 in costs for a total of $202, online records show. The case has been closed. Columbus social media influencer pleads guilty to $20 million Ponzi scheme Surveillance video from the hallway outside of the courtroom shows Fausto leaving when a man in a baseball cap and plainclothes stops him in the hallway. The man in the cap is seen talking to Fausto before he places him in handcuffs. Fausto is then escorted out of the courthouse. The video does not have audio. The case has caught the attention of community activists and state leaders. Fausto is in the country legally, but he is not a citizen. Right now, he's jailed in Butler County. NBC4 Investigates has spent the last week meticulously digging into what happened and how. We talked to the man's lawyer, his wife, and worked our sources to get the video and learn what ICE agents can and can't do when detaining someone. The Faustos came to central Ohio four years ago from Brazil, seeking asylum. Their case was denied, and their lawyer appealed. They are legally allowed to stay in the United States while they wait for their appeal to be decided. 'We could not identify them by ICE officers because they were not wearing a vest and they also did not have a badge,' said Fausto's wife, through a translator. She asked not to be identified by name. State, federal cannabis changes threaten Ohio festival's future ICE agents must identify themselves and show credentials before they make an arrest. They are allowed to be in plainclothes. Fausto's wife speaks Portuguese, and NBC4 spoke with her through a translator, as she shared the moment on June 3, when she found out her husband was detained. 'I got a call, it was about 12:30, and I got desperate,' Fausto's wife said. 'I was with the kids — with the three kids — and I didn't know where to start. It was just going through my head, what am I going to do? I am alone.' Fausto's lawyer, Walter Messenger, said ICE told him Fausto had missed an immigration hearing, which the lawyer said is not true. 'I've attended every hearing with him,' Messenger said. Fausto works in construction during the week. On weekends, he and his wife sell pizza. They're involved in church, and their youngest child is a U.S. citizen — born after they fled Brazil. 'We love this place, but since we don't have a citizenship, we don't have documents,' Fausto's wife said. 'We are just exposed to what is happening now.' They left Brazil after threats toward their family, and came to central Ohio seeking asylum, which is a form of protection that allows people to remain in a country instead of returning home, where they face harm. 'There is a provision in their order of supervision that they can't violate any ordinances, that's one way, you know, they are able to detain,' Messenger said. 'But in the past, this has never been a problem. ICE would not go to courthouses in Franklin County and pick up someone after they paid a speeding ticket unless there was another serious crime involved.' In this case, there is no other crime alleged. Fausto pleaded guilty to speeding and was picked up by ICE on his way down the hall to pay the fine. 'I explain to my oldest that we are in a country that it's not our country and they don't want us, but we have to do everything we can,' Fausto's wife said. 'We have to do what is right. I explain that his daddy is in prison, but that his daddy will be out soon. That we have to pray to God.' Fausto's lawyer is working to get him released from Butler County. The lawyer has to prove Fausto will attend all his court hearings and is not a danger to the community. 'That's going to be easy because he hasn't committed any crimes,' Messenger said. 'We also have to prove that he's going to show up to his court hearings. That's going to be easy because I've attended every hearing with him.' 'Our community is very afraid,' Fausto's wife said. 'People are afraid to leave their houses. People are afraid to go to work. People are very afraid to walk on the streets. We need to ask help to whoever we can help us. I need to ask help for whoever can help my husband.' NBC4 Investigates received a statement from a representative with Franklin County Municipal Court stating, 'The court's longstanding practice has been to allow law enforcement to operate in public areas outside the courtrooms.' In Common Pleas court, where usually more serious cases are heard, the court has issued two new rules, stating the court 'prohibits civil arrests without a judicial warrant within the courthouse grounds' and it 'prohibits arrests by judicial warrant within the Judges' courtrooms, except when enforcement agencies have requested and received written approval of a Judge.' Fausto's lawyer said a federal ICE agent detained Fausto. NBC4 reached out to the federal media contact for ICE and has not yet received a response. We also reached out to the offices of U.S. Senators Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted for comment but have not yet received a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Fire engine shortage felt nationwide, not just Columbus
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A potential safety issue here in Columbus is being mirrored across the United States. NBC4 Investigates first told you about the Columbus Fire Union raising the alarm on a fire truck shortage: an aging fleet and a need for more funding. Now, we've found that Columbus is one of many cities with this issue, and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) is asking the Department of Justice to step in. Central Ohio mover claims Texas company stiffed him for work IAFF is asking the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate fire and emergency vehicle manufacturers. NBC4 Investigates is told years-long wait times and increasing costs for fire trucks are hurting cities across the United States, including in Columbus, and the public is having to pay with their tax dollars and, potentially, with their safety. 'When we have equipment beyond its useful life, not only does that jeopardize our firefighters, EMTs and paramedics, it jeopardizes the people who we're trying to help in that moment where every second matters,' Columbus Fire Union President Steve Stein said. The IAFF said the issue was highlighted by the Palisades fire in California. 'In the Palisades fire in L.A., the most expensive fire in the history of the country, we know that there were about 100 pieces of fire apparatus that were out of service,' IAFF General President Edward Kelly said. Plant at center of McArthur chemical leak was site of 2009 fatal explosion, faced previous fines In Columbus, the fire union said a funding shortfall has led to many trucks on the road being past their life expectancy and without any change, the issue is set to get worse. NBC4 Investigates has reported that the union said CFD has been under budget by $7 -$11 million for the past ten years and this has led to the division being very low on trucks. This shortage, combined with Columbus's growth, has increased call volume and put added strain on trucks already past their life cycles. 'I've been in the fire service as a whole just under 20 years, and, you know, I remember when I started, you could get a fully equipped engine for about $370,000. You can barely get an ambulance for that now,' Stein said. Now, the IAFF is hoping a request on the federal level might bring that change. 'Family-owned fire truck manufacturing companies throughout America were bought out by private equity groups trying to monopolize the industry, so now what we've seen happen is things like wait times for a truck to be delivered are now as long as four and a half years,' Kelly said. In a letter to the DOJ and FTC, the IAFF writes: 'We write to urge the antitrust division of the Department of Justice ('DOJ') and the Federal Trade Commission ('FTC') to investigate and take action against consolidation in fire and emergency vehicle manufacturers.' Charges filed in skimmer SNAP thefts The letter states that the consolidation trend of these companies that sell parts and trucks has led to skyrocketing prices over the last ten years and a backlog that means quadrupled wait times for cities to get the trucks they spend millions on. 'These apparatus manufacturers and their suppliers and some of these groups that are controlling that supply chain need to be held accountable,' Stein said. 'Not only are the firefighters being put in jeopardy because of these delays and costs, the taxpayers are footing the bill as well,' Kelly said. In the letter to the DOJ, the IAFF cites a range of cities that have felt the impact, from Evanston, Illinois, to Atlanta, Georgia. Read the full letter below. FINAL2025513LettertoFTCandDOJreFiretrucks_1431113177Download NBC4 reached out to the manufacturers listed in the letter but has not received a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Central Ohio mover claims Texas company stiffed him for work
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Some central Ohioans are raising the alarm about a Texas-based moving company, saying they didn't get paid for their work. Caddy Moving is based in Austin, Texas, but hires people all over the United States for moving jobs, including in Columbus. One man reached out to NBC4 Investigates after, he claims, the company did not pay him; NBC4 found dozens of complaints like his from central Ohio and beyond. The man who called NBC4 Investigates found a help-wanted ad on Craigslist looking to hire movers. He needed money for his kids. Multiple teenagers allegedly open fire at police officers near south Columbus park A long day of moving is hard enough, but what happened to this man, having to ask for his pay day after day, might be even harder. 'I don't think you should treat people that way,' Bruce Johnson, who did a job with Caddy Moving, said. Johnson got in touch with Caddy Moving. Texts show an understanding he was to be paid the day of the moving job, May 25, or at least within 24 hours. 'From my understanding that once the job was complete and they speak to the homeowners and then we'll be paid right after,' Johnson said. Final full moon of Spring, the 'Strawberry Moon,' glows over central Ohio Texts Johnson shared show he worked the job, moving someone into a home in Hilliard, but he did not get paid that day, like he was told. 'They keep saying we're going to pay you, and then I get a text at 1 in the morning saying, 'Hey, we sent you a pay,' then they didn't send the pay,' Johnson said. Then he got a text saying there was an issue with the payment system. 'Then I find their reviews,' Johnson said. NBC4 Investigates looked into Caddy Moving and found dozens of complaints just like Johnson's, across Google, the Better Business Bureau and Trust Pilot, a website that hosts reviews of businesses worldwide. Some read: 'Company is refusing to pay for labor,' 'This company does not pay what they're advertising on their website. After the work is complete and their customer is satisfied, they'll stop responding' and 'Promised that they'd pay me if I removed my Google review, and because I refused to remove it, they're still refusing to pay me.' Chemical leak at explosives manufacturing plant prompted evacuations in Vinton County 'I just felt bamboozled and just worried I wasn't going to get paid,' Johnson said. Caddy Moving responded to NBC4 Investigates on June 11. 'We had some issues with Venmo and PayPal recently,' Caddy Moving CEO Zach Richards said. 'We did have a couple of our systems actually get locked up on us and we worked through those with our guys. We actually launched a hotline for guys to reach out to.' Caddy Moving said that as a startup, it does not have everything figured out yet, but takes accountability for the payment issues. We asked about the reviews across the websites as well. 'As far as the Trustpilot, Yelp, we were not signed up on any of those platforms we don't monitor them so as you could imagine, those that have negative feedback to share they are going to go to those platforms, but we did not sign up on those platform,' Richards said. 'We don't have everything figured out. Of course. But no, we fully take accountability for having delays on payments.' Richards said those with complaints can reach out to him at zach@ or by calling the help line at 888-788-8542. More than 400,000 Ohioans see driver's license suspensions lifted under new law Caddy Moving is based out of Texas and NBC4 Investigates found the attorney general there has also received complaints. Johnson reached out to them and to NBC4 Investigates and finally, two and a half weeks after the job, he was paid the money he was owed, but said he knows others are still waiting. 'I just want to be done with them,' Johnson said. 'I hope they get it together and stop treating people like that.' Other reviews and those we have heard from are customers saying the company canceled last minute or movers stretched the time of the move and they had to pay more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Charges filed in skimmer SNAP thefts
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Hundreds of Ohioans are one step closer to justice; the Ohio Investigative Unit has indicted three people accused of using credit card skimmers to steal more than half a million dollars from some of our most vulnerable neighbors and, ultimately, taxpayers. NBC4 Investigates has been reporting on stolen SNAP benefits, which used to be known as food stamps. The suspects are accused of stealing more than half a million dollars of Ohio SNAP funds, but that's just in Ohio. Investigators tracked these three individuals across the United States, where they are accused of using skimmers to steal funds from SNAP recipients and from every taxpayer. Unsolved Ohio: Who killed Amy Jo Nelson? Family wants answers in 2017 homicide 'It was embarrassing, disappointing, I did not understand what was going on at first,' Shadawna Collier, who had her SNAP benefits stolen, said. NBC4 Investigates asked a social worker who helped raise the alarm about this development after nearly a year of investigation by the Ohio Investigative Unit into the use of card skimmers, which resulted in the theft of at least $600,000 in SNAP benefits across Ohio. 'I love it,' licensed social worker Lakisa Dukes said. 'I love it because I felt like so many people had been affected by this and no one was listening.' Dukes heard from many clients who were targets of SNAP fraud. 'This is literally families who, that is all they have for food,' Dukes said. After faculty overwhelmingly voted to unionize, Ohio University is suing them again NBC4 Investigates found that in Ohio last year, nearly 27,000 people reported their SNAP benefits stolen: almost $14 million of taxpayer money, gone. The suspects arrested now are allegedly responsible for part of that amount. 'It's relieving,' Collier said. 'I know a lot of people rely on the food stamps.' 'Our suspects in this case victimize some of the poorest people that we have, you know, across the country, because they use SNAP benefits from all over the country,' Ohio Investigative Unit Agent in Charge Sam Love said. Investigators tracked the suspects across the United States and found dozens of fraudulent cards filled with stolen funds. 'They're very transient, they travel all over,' Love said. 'They went all over the country.' Ohio House Minority Leader stepping down from leadership position A release from OIU said: 'A search warrant executed on their vehicle led to the seizure of more than $62,600 in cash, several gold coins, various pieces of gold jewelry, four cell phones, suspected cloned credit cards, and records.' When investigators arrested the suspects, they allegedly found machines used to copy stolen card information and skimmers. 'The ones they are putting on now are pretty small,' Love said. 'They can slip right onto the terminal and it takes a good bit of effort for us to pull them off.' The thefts are being reported across the United States. Most states, including Ohio, use SNAP cards that swipe, making them easy targets. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says adding a chip feature to the SNAP cards could stop about 85% of the thefts. Woman charged in the murder of 8-year-old Columbus boy found in attic reaches plea agreement 'We know there's more going on,' Love said. 'So the work continues, but it's just, you know, on to the next case.' Some states have moved to add chip technology to SNAP cards. Ohio has tried, but the bill in the statehouse has not moved forward. The last time we told you about this issue was because the federal government had stopped reimbursing people whose benefits were stolen. Investigators share that this was an added push for them to get these indictments against the suspects, and the investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
