Latest news with #prosecutors
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The moment star witness in Diddy trial fell for a classic defense team trap... but everyone missed it: revealed by prosecutor DAVID GELLMAN
Having spent eight years as a federal prosecutor, I can tell you the government typically doesn't take a case unless they're convinced the case is watertight. So, when the Feds threw the book at Sean ' Diddy ' Combs, accusing him of crimes that carry a life sentence, I assumed that they had the goods on him. After all, federal prosecutors have a 90 percent conviction rate.
Bloomberg
19 hours ago
- General
- Bloomberg
Bangladesh Charges Ex-PM Hasina With Crimes Against Humanity
Bangladeshi prosecutors officially charged former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two senior officials with crimes against humanity for their alleged roles in violent crackdowns during the 2024 student-led uprising. An investigation report found that Hasina 'directly ordered' state security forces, her political party and affiliated groups to conduct operations resulting in mass casualties. 'These killings were planned,' Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said in a televised hearing on Sunday, citing video evidence and encrypted communications between different agencies.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Fugitive on the run, wanted in massive WA drug trafficking ring
The Brief King County authorities are searching for Valentin Garcia Lazcano, a fugitive wanted for major drug trafficking. Lazcano's co-defendant, Miguel Hernandez Domingo, received a 20-month sentence for distributing lethal amounts of fentanyl. Prosecutors are pushing for tougher penalties, as current sentences are seen as insufficient given the scale of drug trafficking. KING COUNTY, Wash. - King County authorities are searching for a major drug trafficking fugitive, wanted for running a crew that sold millions worth of fentanyl, heroin, meth and cocaine. Valentin Garvia Lazcano has a felony arrest warrant for drug dealing, accused of selling narcotics across King and Pierce County and wiring the money back to Mexico. Deputies caught Lazcano red-handed hauling bags of drugs out of a storage unit, but two months after being arrested, he bailed out and is now on the run. Dig deeper Two of his co-defendants have both been convicted, including Miguel Hernandez Domingo, the man Lazcano was arrested with. Domingo has spent the last year in jail, and was recently sentenced after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute lethal amounts of fentanyl. However, the 20-month sentence that was handed down is seen by some as no more than a slap on the wrist, especially compared to the lives he put at risk. "Mr. Hernandez Domingo had enough fentanyl powder to be potentially lethal to more than 13.5 million people," said Senior Deputy Prosecutor Alex Muir. "The combined population of the Pacific Northwest is 14.2 million people." King County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Alex Muir described the amount of narcotics seized by detectives from the defendant's apartment, car and storage unit where he took selfies wearing a respirator. "It was approximately 108,204 fentanyl pills by weight, 59.87 pounds of fentanyl powder, 2.47 pounds of meth, 3.16 pounds of heroin, 1.79 pounds of cocaine. The street value is approximately $2.75 million," Muir said. Hernandez Domingo was tracked and observed selling the drugs in Des Moines, Seattle, Seatac, Federal Way, Fife and Tacoma. But because he had no criminal history and a zero offender score, Washington state law sets the standard sentencing to just 12 to 20 months. King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion wants longer sentences imposed, with at least five years in this case. "We are not talking about a kid who has a bag full of weed, what we are talking about is somebody who is moving enough fentanyl to at least theoretically kill all of King County. And for that, there should be an exceptional sentence because it's an exceptional amount of drugs," said Casey McNerthey with the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. To support their request for a longer sentence, King County detective Matt Jeffery described the significance of the drug bust. "To my knowledge, it is the largest seizure, the 60 pounds of fentanyl powder is the largest seizure of the King County Sheriff's Office," said Detective Matt Jeffery. So far this year in King County alone, more than 360 people have already died from a fentanyl overdose. "I would appreciate the consideration of the lives lost, families broken due to this fentanyl epidemic that currently we're experiencing," said Det. Jeffery. Hernandez Domingo's attorney pushed back, claiming his client played a limited role in the organization, and had already spent 368 days in jail. "He essentially had no gain in this operation other than $400 a week and he had to trade a year of his life for that," said Hernandez Domingo's attorney. Hernandez Domingo claimed he didn't know the consequences of his actions. "I want to apologize to the state of Washington, and I want to be given the opportunity for me to go on with my life to help my mother who is sick and my wife and my son," Domingo said. After listening to the arguments, Judge Nikole Hecklinger sided with the defense, saying the court had no information that Hernandez Domingo was a major player in the enterprise. "Having considered the purposes of the sentence format, the sentencing materials, the harm that this does to the community and Mr. Hernandez's role and the info that has been provided, the court will sentence Mr. Hernandez to 20 months, which is the high end of the presumptive standard range," said Judge Nikole Hecklinger. What's next Prosecutors say they are undeterred and will continue to ask for exceptional sentences, saying 12 to 20 months sends the wrong message and change is needed by the Washington state legislature to toughen penalties for fentanyl. "What drug traffickers will do is put up somebody who has no history, who can get 12 to 20 months and not get an exceptional sentence and move enough fentanyl to at least theoretically kill all of King County. And we don't want that moving into our county," McNerthey said. Additionally, Detective Jeffery has another case with a suspect caught with 63 pounds of fentanyl, described as a bulk supplier to drug couriers in Seattle. The suspect, 35-year-old Jose Perez-Baldovino, is set to be arraigned next month. Meanwhile, if you have information on the whereabouts of 38-year-old Valentin Garcia Lazcano, Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound will pay you a cash reward of up to $1,000. You can leave an anonymous tip through the P3Tips app, or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). The Source Information in this story came from the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, the King County Sheriff's Office, King County Superior Court and FOX 13 Seattle reporting. Ex-Seattle police Chief Adrian Diaz files lawsuit, claims wrongful termination Crews battle Second Creek Fire near Leavenworth, WA 2 injured in separate Seattle shootings Teen, child killed in Lacey, WA mobile home fire Crews investigate explosion at Woodinville, WA hardware store College Inn Pub announces closure after 50 years in Seattle Dave's Hot Chicken to open 4 new locations in Seattle area. Here's where To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
DOD employee tried to leak classified information, prosecutors say
A computer scientist at the Defense Intelligence Agency who monitored insider threats became one himself, prosecutors alleged, attempting to trade classified information for citizenship in a friendly country because of disagreements with the Trump administration. Nathan Vilas Laatsch, 28, was arrested Thursday and charged with gathering defense information to aid a foreign government, an Espionage Act offense. He did not successfully establish contact with the nation, which is not identified in case filings, but court documents say he offered in an email to provide classified records.
ABC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
UK comedian and actor Russell Brand pleads not guilty to rape and sex assault charges
British actor-comedian Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty in a London court to charges of rape and sexual assault involving four women more than two decades ago. Brand, once one of Britain's most high-profile broadcasters and the former husband of US pop singer Katy Perry, appeared at Southwark Crown Court and denied all five criminal charges on Friday, local time. He has consistently denied having non-consensual sex since allegations were first aired two years ago. British prosecutors announced in April that Brand had been charged with two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault against four women between 1999 and 2005. Prosecutors said the alleged offences took place in the English seaside town of Bournemouth and London. Brand did not speak to reporters as he arrived at court wearing dark sunglasses, a suit jacket, a black collared shirt open below his chest and black jeans. The 49-year-old is accused of raping a woman at a hotel room in Bournemouth when she attended a 1999 Labour Party conference and met him at an event where he was performing. The woman alleged that Brand stripped while she was in the bathroom and when she returned to the room he pushed her on the bed, removed her underwear and raped her. A second woman said Brand allegedly grabbed her forearm and attempted to drag her into a men's toilet at a television station in London in 2001. The third accuser was a television employee who met Brand at a birthday party in a bar in 2004, where he allegedly grabbed her breasts before pulling her into a toilet and forcing her to perform oral sex. The final accuser worked at a radio station and met Brand while he was working on a spin-off of the 'Big Brother' reality television program between 2004 and 2005. She said Brand allegedly grabbed her by the face with both hands, pushed her against a wall and kissed her before groping her breasts and buttocks. The accusers have not been identified. The UK actor, who previously gave his address as being in England but also lives in the US, is due to stand trial in June 2026. Brand was granted conditional bail earlier in May, and currently lives in Florida but is obliged to attend all future court appearances. He had been interviewed by police about the allegations. In a video posted on X in April after he was charged, Brand said he welcomed the opportunity to prove his innocence. Known for his unbridled and risque stand-up routines, Brand hosted shows on radio and television and wrote memoirs charting his battles with drugs and alcohol. In recent years, Brand has largely disappeared from mainstream media but has built up a large following online with videos mixing wellness and conspiracy theories. AP/Reuters
