Latest news with #RICOAct
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
YSL defendant Christian Eppinger sentenced to decades in prison
The Brief Christian Eppinger, the last defendant in the high-profile YSL RICO case, entered a non-negotiated guilty plea Monday, receiving a 75-year sentence with 40 years to serve in prison, ending the first major YSL trial. Eppinger faced serious charges, including the 2022 shooting of an Atlanta police officer and gang-related crimes, and previously rejected a plea offer that would have sentenced him to life in prison. The YSL trial, Georgia's longest-running criminal trial, ignited debate over the use of rap lyrics as evidence and the application of the state's RICO law, concluding with a mix of acquittals, plea deals, and convictions. FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - The last defendant in the massive YSL RICO case, Christian Eppinger, appeared in a Fulton County courtroom on Monday morning to enter a non-negotiated plea. Until his appearance, it was unknown if he would enter a plea or if jury selection would begin today. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker, who took over the YSL trial from the original judge, sentenced Eppinger, who was facing multiple charges, to 75 years with 45 years to serve in prison, followed by probation. Some sentences will run concurrently, but others are required by law to be served consecutively. What we know Over the past two weeks, two of the final three defendants in the sprawling case accepted plea agreements, leaving Eppinger, 25, as the last man standing out of the original 28 defendants charged under Georgia's racketeering statute. His case has drawn significant attention, not only for its ties to the YSL investigation but also because of the serious violent charges he faces. Eppinger is accused of shooting Atlanta Police Officer David Rodgers six times in 2022 as Rodgers, a veteran member of the department's gang unit, attempted to serve an arrest warrant. One of the bullets struck Rodgers in the back of the head. Eppinger also faces accusations of stabbing another inmate while in custody at the Fulton County Jail in 2023. Earlier this year, Eppinger rejected a plea deal that would have sentenced him to life in prison. If convicted at trial, he faces the possibility of two life sentences plus an additional 100 years. MOST RECENT STORIES YSL trial to end without any murder convictions after defendant takes plea deal YSL defendant Damekion Garlington sentenced after murder charge dropped Atlanta rapper Yak Gotti heads home from Fulton County Jail Judge rules Young Thug's social media post doesn't violate probation Young Thug could lose his probation deal | Here's what we know Criminal Charges Eppinger faced long list of charges, including: Violation of Georgia's RICO Act Armed robbery First-degree hijacking of a motor vehicle Two counts of attempted murder Multiple counts of possession of a firearm by a first offender probationer Participation in criminal street gang activity Conspiracy to commit a crime What Happened Monday During sentencing, Judge Whitaker pointed to strong evidence against Eppinger, including his own statements and video footage. The judge highlighted that Eppinger instructed a robbery victim to remove earrings during the crime and noted the seriousness of his actions, particularly the attempted murder of a police officer. In that incident, Eppinger was caught on video firing six shots at close range at an officer and later laughing about it. The court emphasized Eppinger's long history of criminal behavior and his violation of probation terms, noting that he was not supposed to possess a firearm when the shooting occurred. His actions, described as showing a lack of remorse and a continued criminal lifestyle, influenced the sentence. The plea deal means Eppinger will avoid trial, wrapping up one of the most high-profile cases linked to the larger YSL indictment. Additionally, his new sentence will run concurrently (at the same time) with the prison time he is already serving from previous convictions, meaning that he is not expected to serve additional time in prison because of these charges. The backstory The YSL trial has gone down as the longest-running criminal trial in Georgia's history. Jury selection alone took 10 months. The trial lasted nearly two years and featured testimony from around 200 witnesses. It was plagued by disruptions, including witness intimidation, arrests of both jurors and attorneys, the replacement of the original judge, and even a stabbing incident involving a defendant in custody. On Oct. 31, 2024, Young Thug pleaded guilty to gang and drug charges. He was sentenced to time served, 15 years of probation, and ordered to stay out of metro Atlanta for a decade (some of those conditions have since been modified). In December, Yak Gotti and Shannon Stillwell faced a jury verdict. Gotti was acquitted of all charges. Stillwell was convicted only of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He received a 10-year sentence, but with credit for time served. He is serving the remainder on probation. RELATED: YSL RICO Trial: Verdicts reached for Deamonte Kendrick (Yak Gotti), Shannon Stillwell Big picture view The YSL case sparked widespread debate over Georgia's use of the RICO law and the role of rap lyrics and social media in criminal investigations. Prosecutors presented music videos and lyrics as evidence of gang affiliation, while defense attorneys pushed back, arguing that artistic expression was being unfairly criminalized. Though prosecutors secured several convictions and plea deals, the mixed outcomes left questions about the strength of their broader narrative—that YSL was more than just a music label.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Temple man gets two life sentences in federal case
Waco, Tx (FOX 44) – A Temple man has been sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in federal court in a racketeering case. Demonta Daniels, also known as 'Tado' or 'Tato' was the final defendant in the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization or RICO Act case. In addition, Daniels also received two 20-year concurrent sentences. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the 26-year-old Daniels conspired with Atorius Marquis Williams aka Lil Man, 28, and Trashawn Lamar Alexander aka Mad Max, 30, to commit four murders, multiple violent assaults, extortion, drug trafficking and armed robberies in furtherance of the criminal enterprise. Specifically, the indictment alleges four overt acts to include murder—one committed by Williams on Sept. 30, 2017, in Belton; the second, committed by Williams and Alexander on Dec. 10, 2017, in Temple; the third, committed by Williams and Daniels on Jan. 16, 2018, in Temple; and the fourth, committed by Williams, Daniels and Alexander on Jan. 31, 2018, in Temple. Additionally, prosecutors said the defendants conspired to affect commerce by robbery, committing acts of physical violence and threatening to commit acts of physical violence to steal controlled substances and proceeds from persons engaged in illegal drug distribution. Daniels, Williams and Alexander were also convicted of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, namely robbery. A federal jury found all three men guilty in a February 2024 trial. In September, Williams and Alexander were sentenced to life in federal prison for three counts and a concurrent 20 years in prison for three additional counts. 'The multiple life sentences Daniels will serve, locked away in federal prison, reflects the egregiousness of this defendant's conduct and how important it is to keep violent criminals like Daniels and his co-conspirators off the streets,' said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. 'I extend my deepest respect and gratitude to the AUSAs who prosecuted this case and our law enforcement partners at the local, state and federal levels, who committed countless hours and incredible skill to this investigation, leading to a successful trial verdict and multiple justified sentences.' Daniels is the tenth and final defendant in this case to be sentenced. Additionally, Dominic Johnson was sentenced in January 2023 to 70 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; Desmond Wilkerson was sentenced in September 2023 to 71 months in prison for racketeering conspiracy; James Roy Whitfield Jr was sentenced on Feb. 13 to 102 months in prison for one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of aiding and abetting; Jason Mayse was sentenced on Feb. 13 to 40 months for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana; Jyaraciel Whitfield was sentenced in September 2023 to 144 months in prison for one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of aiding and abetting; Christopher Meyers was sentenced in August 2022 to 144 months in prison for racketeering conspiracy; and Reginald Williams was sentenced in September 2023 to 96 months in prison for one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of aiding and abetting. The FBI, Temple Police Department, Belton Police Department, Bell County Organized Crime Unit, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Cameron Police Department, and Hearne Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Killeen Police Department and Bell County Sheriff's Department. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford Suit Claims Lemon Law Lawyers Bilked Them Out of $100M
For many buyers, the concept of the Lemon Law is a good one: when a consumer purchases a product that repeatedly fails to meet generally expected quality standards, they are provided with a legal remedy to pursue a refund. And while many automakers find themselves involved in Lemon Law cases, this next instance is a bit unique. For Ford Motor Company, instead of facing off in lawsuits over defective products, it is filing a suit against a group of Lemon Law attorneys alleging widespread fraud. Most Read on IEN: Ford Worker Accused of Stealing Millions in Parts The Cybertruck's Staggering Depreciation Shoemaker Looks to Outsmart Tariffs Podcast: Cybertruck's Wild Depreciation; Faraday's 2 Cars; BioLab Won't Rebuild Companies who are found in breach of Lemon Law are often on the hook for the legal fees of the customer, which means there are certain law firms that specialize in – and seek out – these specific types of consumer protection cases. In Ford's instance, the automaker claims that a group of nine attorneys have been presenting them with inflated bills for Lemon Law-pursuing customers, to the tune of millions of dollars. In fact, Ford's claims go even further. A report in Carscoops says Ford has accused the law firms in question of working in tandem, which they say is tantamount to fraud in violation of the RICO Act – a federal law that targets corruption. Ford's suit outlines a 'magical mystery tour of fictitious billings' including a breakdown of nonsensical hourly charges. For example, Ford says one single attorney in the case billed Ford more than 20 hours in a day on 66 occasions. 34 of these incidents were reportedly bills above 24 hours in a day and one cites a 57-and-a-half-hour workday. Ford also says one attorney billed them for traveling to two different trials held on the same day. The problem was, they were held 380 miles apart. Carscoops points to Ford's lawsuit, which suggests that half of all the legal fee applications the automaker received were suspect. The company is not only seeking $300 million in damages, but it's warning other automakers that they might be affected too. For their part, the attorneys are emphatically denying the accusations. Knight Law Group called Ford's legal action 'nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to silence firms who would dare hold them responsible and seek justice for consumers.' Click here to subscribe to our daily newsletter featuring breaking manufacturing industry news.
Axios
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
RICO case against "Stop Cop City" activists back in court
The sweeping racketeering case against activists opposed to Atlanta's public safety training center returns to the courtroom after months of slow-moving progress. Driving the news: At 9:30am, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kevin Farmer will conduct his first hearing in the trial of defendants accused of violating Georgia's RICO Act, among other charges. Activists are urging supporters to attend a rally outside the courthouse during and after the hearing to "show the state, the judge, and the ATL61 that there are eyes on this case and we support them." Catch up quick: In September 2023, a Fulton grand jury indicted 61 people on various charges, including domestic terrorism, vandalism and racketeering. One year later, the state dropped money laundering charges against three residents who operate the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, a charity that pays bail and provides legal defense to protesters. Zoom in: Supporters of the ATL61 argue the state's case was designed to halt the movement and muzzle supporters who wanted Atlanta to cancel work on the 85-acre, $118 million police and firefighting academy. Context: Experts believe the trial is the largest racketeering case against protestors in U.S. history, the Associated Press reports. Defendants were supposed to go to trial last year but the case dragged on due to procedural questions and logistical complexities. This delay has also put the defendants' lives in limbo, according to the AP.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Time of India
How Walmart and Target may have worked together to bust a $100,000 AirPods theft ring
Two women from New York, US, have been sentenced to 10 years in prison for operating a multistate retail theft ring involving over $100,000 worth of goods, including Apple AirPods , from Walmart and Target stores. Prosecutors in Cherokee County initially considered charges in May 2024 when Walmart Global Investigations met with their Gang and Organized Crime Unit to discuss a "large theft ring involving both Walmart and Target." The two retail giants collaborated to investigate the thefts by sharing information with each other before contacting law enforcement agencies, according to prosecutors. From June 2022 through August 2024, the women stole nearly $141,000 worth of merchandise in 187 incidents across 21 states, including Georgia. The women, Ebony Fallon Washington (aka Stephanie Harris), 43, and Melissa Holland (aka Keisha Wilson), 46, pleaded guilty to three counts of violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, the Cherokee County District Attorney's Office said to USA Today. How these women used to steal AirPods from Walmart and Target store Their scheme involved buying Apple AirPods with cash and using tools to remove the genuine products from their packaging. They would then replace the AirPods with cheaper items and reseal the boxes to appear unopened. The fraudulent items were then returned for full cash refunds. In some cases, the refunded cash was used to purchase more AirPods, continuing the cycle. The authentic Apple products were kept and resold for profit, according to prosecutors. The suspects were arrested in September 2024 in Coweta County. During a search of their rental car, officers found hotel receipts for locations near the targeted stores and tools for opening AirPods packaging. Prosecutors noted that five cellphones seized from the defendants contained additional evidence. Each woman received a 10-year prison sentence, followed by 10 years of probation, and was ordered to pay $134,951.86 in restitution—the remaining balance after recovered items were deducted from the total theft value. A Walmart spokesperson told USA Today on May 9 that the company is deferring further comment to law enforcement, and Target had not responded to requests for comment. 'Organised retail crime is a growing problem not only in our community, but nationwide,' DA Susan Treadaway said in a statement (as seen by USA Today). The DA also noted that these two women were 'clearly involved in an organised scheme' that impacted stores 'throughout the country.' Meanwhile, Rachel Murphy, Assistant District Attorney of the Gang and Organized Crime Unit said: 'These defendants operated in a coordinated effort with a specific plan in place. Although only two stores in Cherokee County were directly affected, Georgia's RICO Act enabled us to prosecute this broader criminal enterprise.'
