Police accept the findings by the Independent Police Conduct Authority in relation to a fatal crash which occurred following a Police pursuit near Ōtaki.
First and foremost, our thoughts and sympathies are with the people and families impacted by this crash.
On 26 April 2024, police briefly pursued a stolen vehicle on State Highway 1, south of Levin, after it was involved in an aggravated robbery in Ōtaki. Police abandoned the pursuit due to high speeds of the driver. They later found the vehicle driving north in the southbound lane of the expressway and it eventually crashed head on into another vehicle.
Tragically, the driver and one passenger of the stolen vehicle died, and another passenger suffered serious injuries. The four people in the other vehicle suffered serious to moderate injuries.
Relieving Central District Commander Inspector Ross Grantham says the IPCA found that overall Police managed this complex and dangerous fleeing driver incident appropriately in the circumstances:
“The outcome of this incident, which was the death of two young people and serious injuries to five members of the public is a tragedy and was completely avoidable.
Police use every serious incident as an opportunity to learn and we note the minor breaches of our police policy raised by the IPCA and have taken these onboard,” says Inspector Grantham.
The IPCA has recommended Police amend their Fleeing Driver Policy to specify that when a police vehicle is carrying crew members, those crew members are responsible for managing police communications during pursuits. Police are considering this recommendation.
Queenstown Police are seeking information from the public after a speeding motorcyclist failed to stop for Police.
At around 4:20am yesterday (Monday 14 April), a vehicle was seen by Police travelling at around two times the posted speed limit on Frankton Road, near Yewlett Crescent.
The bike was signalled to stop, however it failed to do so. Due to the speed, Police did not pursue. The last sighting of the bike was at about 4:25am as it travelled past the Z petrol station on Frankton Road, heading towards the Queenstown CBD.
This driving behaviour puts not only the bike riders at risk, but also other motorists. Police will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to this kind of behaviour and in all cases where possible, Police will make follow-up enquiries to ensure these dangerous road users are held accountable.
Police would like to hear from anyone who saw this bike travelling through Queenstown in the early hours of yesterday morning. The bike was a sports bike with two people on it.
We would also like to hear from anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage of the bike.
Please contact Police on 105, either over the phone or online, referencing file number 250414/1674.
Please attribute to Relieving Central District Commander Inspector Ross Grantham:
Police accepts the findings by the Independent Police Conduct Authority which investigated complaints against three officers involved in the investigation and trial regarding the murder of Palmiro MacDonald.
Mr MacDonald went missing in March 2016 and his remains were found several months later in Horowhenua. Police began a homicide investigation and three people were charged with his murder. However, charges against all parties were eventually dropped or dismissed in court.
We accept and agree with the findings by the IPCA that there were issues with disclosure of information but that these were not intentional or deliberate acts.
Since this incident, the Solicitor-General has issued guidelines for the use of inmate admissions evidence, and Police now require senior detective supervisors to review inmate admissions evidence against these guidelines in homicide investigations.
Police were also involved in the development of the High Court ‘Criminal Disclosure in High Court Trials’ practice note which was implemented in 2023. That practice note requires specific consideration of ‘inmate witnesses’ or ‘incentivised witnesses’ in terms of ensuring disclosure obligations are addressed.
Police are confident that these two significant changes to the process will avert as best as possible any future mistakes being made.
The IPCA recommended Police prescribe in policy that it be standard practice that all prison informant interviews being undertaken for the purpose of taking statements should be video or audio recorded.
Police do not agree with the recommendation, but will engage with the Authority in an effort to resolve the issue.
Emergency Services Games donates $10,000 to mental health charity
Tuesday, 15 April 2025 – 7:37 am.
Emergency services personnel who took part in the Australian Police and Emergency Services Games held in Tasmania last month have raised $10,000 for charity.Acting Deputy Commissioner Rob Blackwood said that in a sold out event, 500 participants attended to help raise funds for charity through the AP&ES Games ‘charity of choice’ fundraiser event.“We’re pleased to announce that thanks to the generosity shown by all who attended our fundraiser event that we can present Mitch McPherson founder of Speak Up, Stay ChatTY with a cheque for $10,000,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Blackwood said.“The Games create the opportunity for emergency service workers who share a common goal to build camaraderie and promote healthy living.“We know emergency service workers and volunteers often face particularly challenging and stressful situations and we recognise the importance of supporting our employees and volunteers to keep a healthy body and healthy mind as they continue to help the community.”“That’s why we’ve decided to donate the $10,000 to Speak Up, Stay ChatTY – an important charity aimed at promoting positive mental health and preventing suicide by normalising conversations about mental health and encouraging people to seek help when they need it.”The Games brought together not just police, fire, ambulance and SES, but also those emergency staff that work in defence, customs, corrections, royal lifesaving, environment and the coast guard to name just a few.“The 2025 Games was the largest multidiscipline sporting event to ever take place in Tasmania,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Blackwood said.“More than 2,000 competitors competed in over 50 individual sporting events and over 5,000 medals being presented to our competitors.” he said.“This year more than 200 volunteers also donated their time to make the games possible.“Supporting the mental and physical health of police officers, as well as other emergency services is extremely important, and we hope this donation will go some way in helping support other Tasmanians in need.”
Government introduced the attorney general statutes amendment act, 2025, to the legislative assembly on Monday, April 14, 2025.
If passed by the legislature, the amendments will affect the following provincial statutes:
Judicial Compensation Act:
Amendments to the Judicial Compensation Act will statutorily implement the 2022 Judicial Compensation Commission’s recommendation with respect to non-judicial pensionable-service provisions in the Judicial Compensation Act. This will ensure Provincial Court judges, who were public servants before being appointed to the bench, receive the same benefits for their non-judicial service as other Public Service Pension Plan members.
Land Title Act:
Amendments to the Land Title Act will clarify the Land Title Office’s ability to transfer a deceased person’s land to a special administrator appointed by the court. Appointing administrators is a standard procedure that allows administrators to temporarily manage an estate, while there are ongoing legal proceedings about a will or other special circumstances. The amendment specifically addresses the transfer or sale of land, which may be desirable to preserve the value of an estate.
Libel and Slander Act:
Amendments to the Libel and Slander Act will update the description of the court document used to initiate a legal action for libel.
Members Remuneration and Pensions Act:
Amendments to the Members Remuneration and Pensions Act will implement the March 2025 decision of the legislative assembly management committee to forgo the statutorily authorized increase to members of the legislative assembly’s remuneration for 2025.
Police Act:
Amendments to the Police Act will allow the appointment of an acting chief civilian director of the Independent Investigations Office in the event that the director is unable to fulfil their role. Amendments will also authorize the appointment of a deputy chief civilian director of the Independent Investigations Office, to whom the chief civilian director could delegate their powers and duties. These amendments will allow the Independent Investigations Office to reduce operational risks and help ensure investigations into incidents involving police officers are conducted proficiently, without unnecessary delays and with the ability to adapt to unforeseen circumstances.
Small Claims Act:
Housekeeping amendments to the Small Claims Act will remove an outdated reference to a provision that was repealed in the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act. The provision concerned a previous process where a Civil Resolution Tribunal decision could be made void, and the claim could be disputed in the Provincial Court. Regular housekeeping amendments, such as this, provide clarity and make legislation easier to understand.
Wills, Estates and Succession Act:
Amendments to the Wills, Estates and Succession Act will add First Home Savings Accounts to the definition of a benefit plan. This will allow people to name beneficiaries for these accounts, helping in their life planning by ensuring surviving beneficiaries can access First Home Savings Accounts efficiently, in the same way they can access other registered savings plans, such as Tax Free Savings Accounts.
The amendments will allow the government to quickly add new plans without needing to amend the legislation.
Learn More:
For more information about B.C. legislation, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/Legislation
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DAVID EDDY, 59, of Manchester, New Hampshire, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 210 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for child exploitation offenses stemming from his sexual abuse of a young girl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in September 2022, Eddy sexually abused a minor girl, who was approximately five years old, and used his cell phone to take photographs of his sexual abuse. Analysis of Eddy’s phone revealed more than 150 child sexual abuse images and videos of the minor victim and other child victims of sexual abuse.
Eddy was arrested on related state charges on October 5, 2022. On September 25, 2024, he pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Eddy has been detained since his arrest. The state charges are pending.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Simsbury Police Department, with the assistance of the Manchester (N.H.) Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anastasia E. King and Nancy V. Gifford.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Big promises on housing were at the centre of both major parties’ announcements at the official federal election campaign launches on the weekend.
Among the highlights, Labor pledged to build 100,000 new homes and extend a government-guaranteed 5% deposit scheme to all first home buyers. The Coalition promised to make interest payments on the first A$650,000 of a mortgage tax-deductible for up to five years, for eligible first home buyers purchasing new builds.
Promising to help would-be homebuyers without access to the “bank of mum and dad”, the policy aims to make loans easier to get amid high interest rates and house prices. But it has also reignited debate over lending regulation.
What exactly does this buffer do, and what might we lose by lowering it?
Protecting banks and borrowers
Mortgage buffers are a risk management tool, regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA).
When banks assess a home loan, they don’t just check if you can repay it at today’s rate. They test whether you could still afford it if interest rates were higher.
Suppose a borrower in Sydney takes out a mortgage of $780,000 (around the average loan size). At a 6% interest rate, the monthly repayments over 30 years would be about $4,672.
Under the current serviceability buffer – three percentage points – banks assess whether this prospective borrower could still afford repayments if interest rates rose to 9%, which would increase their monthly repayments to around $6,270.
This buffer doesn’t increase the price the borrower actually pays. It simply ensures they have the capacity to service higher repayments if conditions worsen.
The last time mortgage rates were above 9% for an extended period (1996), Peter Dutton was in the Queensland Police Service, the Swans had lost the AFL Grand Final, and Oasis were about to cancel their Australian tour. Could history repeat itself?
APRA increased the serviceability buffer from 2.5% to 3% in late 2021. But at the time, Australia’s cash rate was very low, at just 0.1%. It’s now 4.1%.
Critics argue the buffer has become too restrictive now that rates are higher, locking out first home buyers and those without parental financial help.
The buffer can also act as a barrier to refinancing. Those who qualified for a loan when interest rates were low may no longer meet serviceability requirements under higher rates. Research suggests that removing refinancing barriers can reduce loan defaults and support household spending.
The risks
There are good reasons for the measures we have to protect borrowers from future shocks.
Reducing the buffer allows more borrowers to qualify for the same loan. But it also means there’s less built-in protection against future rate rises.
Research shows the risk of a borrower defaulting on their mortgage increases sharply when their loan-to-value ratio – the amount borrowed divided by the property’s purchase price – is above 75%, or where a borrower is spending two-thirds of their income on the mortgage.
But buffers also need to be set carefully, ensuring they don’t unnecessarily lock out creditworthy borrowers.
The mortgage serviceability buffer is designed to protect borrowers from sudden financial shocks. doublelee/Shutterstock
Help for first home buyers?
When considered together with the Coalition’s additional policies – to allow first home buyers to withdraw up to $50,000 from their superannuation for a home deposit and deduct mortgage payments from their taxable income – the implications become clearer.
Economic theory suggests that combined, such measures would move more borrowers closer to the margin of affordability.
Many would likely take on the maximum debt they could qualify for, leaving them highly exposed if economic or interest rate conditions deteriorate.
And the very borrowers likely to rely on superannuation withdrawals to fund their deposits are also those with limited savings and potentially high loan-to-value ratios. The borrowers most affected by the barrier are therefore among the most vulnerable to repayment stress.
What about house prices?
There’s the obvious question of what reducing the barriers to borrowing would do to house prices, without a corresponding increase in supply.
Research has shown stricter borrower-level constraints are effective in slowing house price growth, especially during periods of rapid credit expansion.
These policies are most effective when targeted toward high-risk borrower groups such as first home buyers or those with high loan-to-valuation ratios.
Some economists argue buffers need not be static. Instead, they could be tightened during booms to prevent the housing market overheating, and eased during tougher times to avoid cutting off credit unnecessarily.
So, should we lower the buffer?
Serviceability buffers aren’t just bureaucratic hurdles. They are an unseen brake on unsustainable borrowing and a cushion against future shocks.
Borrower constraints don’t only reduce default risk – research shows they also redistribute credit more efficiently, shifting it away from overheated urban markets and toward lower-risk borrowers.
The first cut to the cash rate in nearly five years has eased Australian mortgage stress risk in the short term. With renewed borrowing appetite, the role of buffers becomes even more critical.
Removing them may help more people into homes in the short run, but it comes at the risk of greater pain later.
Andrew Grant has previously received funding from the Australian Institute of Credit Management and illion (Experian).
Issued for MYLOR near Aldgate in the Mount Lofty Ranges.
The CFS is responding to a grass fire near Mylor in the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia.
30 CFS volunteers on 7 trucks, supported by SA Police, are on scene and have contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to a nearby property.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined and Fire Investigators will attend the scene later today.
Emergency services may be working on and around roads in the area, and motorists are advised to stay away. If you need to travel on roads in the area, please take care and drive to the local conditions.
BOSTON – A North Andover, Mass. man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for possessing over 30 firearms and explosives as a convicted felon.
Daniel Medina, 65, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 63 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In December 2024, Medina pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a machine gun, unlawful possession of explosive materials and felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Sentencing is scheduled for April 3, 2025. In October 2024, Medina was charged by criminal complaint.
On July 1, 2024, law enforcement was dispatched to the area of Medina’s North Andover residence after receiving a report of an explosion. Upon arrival, damage to two vehicles was observed as well as a piece of mail addressed to Medina beneath the damaged rear passenger door of one vehicle. The damage to the vehicles and materials left behind were consistent with common items used in manufacturing homemade explosive devices, specifically ball bearings or shrapnel. Witnesses observed Medina running from the damaged vehicles toward his residence following the explosion.
During a search of Medina’s residence, the following items were seized: more than 32 firearms, including 12 rifles, 15 pistols, three shotguns and two antique firearms; 9,000 rounds of various calibers of modern ammunition manufactured outside of Massachusetts; 75 magazines for various caliber firearms; various firearm parts; a Glock switch device; books pertaining to the building of firearms and manufacturing of explosives and drugs; shrapnel accessories such as BB’s and ball bearings; multiple firework containers; and various containers of powders produced and shipped in interstate commerce.
Potassium chlorate and aluminum powder – the same flash powder found in the suspected explosive material used in the explosion – were found in the containers.
Medina is prohibited from possessing firearms, ammunition and explosive material due to a 2002 state conviction of assault and battery in Lawrence District Court, for which he was sentenced to two and a half years in jail.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the North Andover Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
JUSTIN CABRERA, also known as “J.U.,” 26, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 204 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for offenses stemming from his participation in the 960 gang, a violent Waterbury street gang.
Today’s announcement was made by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Maureen T. Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District; Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address drug trafficking and related violence in Waterbury, the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury Police have been investigating multiple Waterbury-based groups, including the 960 gang. On September 14, 2021, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 36-count indictment charging Cabrera and 15 other alleged 960 gang members with racketeering, narcotics trafficking, firearm possession, murder, attempted murder and assault, and obstruction of justice offenses.
On October 31, 2017, four 960 members used a stolen car to carry out a drive-by shooting of members of ATM, a rival gang, at the corner of Bank Street and Porter Street in Waterbury. An ATM member was shot and wounded in the attack. Cabrera drove a second vehicle, or “trail car,” used in the shooting, conducted surveillance of ATM members prior to the shooting, and picked up the shooters after the event.
Cabrera has been detained since September 16, 2021. On September 16, 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and one count of carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, Waterbury Police Department, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the Southington Police Department, Watertown Police Department, New Milford Police Department, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, and the DEA Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone, John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Natasha M. Freismuth, and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildesen, Jr. and Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Arroyo, who were cross-designated as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in this matter.
This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs.
PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr. sentenced Brandon Tyler Buchanan to 30 years in prison for second degree murder, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Buchanan, 33, an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term and to pay $888,500 in restitution to the victim’s estate.
Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Carla Neadeau of the Cherokee Indian Police Department (CIPD) join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court records and court proceedings, on November 11, 2022, CIPD officers responded to a 911 call following reports of a shooting. When the officers arrived, Buchanan admitted to shooting someone. CIPD officers discovered the body of the victim, Kobe Toineeta, a short distance away behind a row of trees, who had sustained five gunshot wounds. Court documents show that a Smith & Wesson, Model M&P, .9mm handgun was later found in Buchanan’s apartment. Laboratory testing confirmed that it was the firearm Buchanan used to shoot and kill the victim.
On May 31, 2024, Buchanan pleaded guilty to second degree murder and remains in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI and the Cherokee Indian Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Scott of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
TULSA, Okla. – A man serving twenty years in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for several prior drug offenses was sentenced today for federal Drug Conspiracy charges, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Shane Eugene Miller, 39, to 252 months followed by five years of supervised release.
“Miller ran an extensive drug conspiracy from prison with the aid of contraband cell phones and other co-conspirators,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “The use of a contraband cellphone by prisoners cannot be tolerated. The actions of Miller threatened our communities with dangerous narcotics. My office, in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, will continue to prosecute individuals who deal drugs, whether they are in prison or out.”
“This investigation demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to ensuring those who pollute our communities with dangerous drugs are brought to justice,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “We will continue to work side by side with our law enforcement partners to dismantle criminal enterprises, regardless of where they operate.”
Miller conspired with others to operate a drug conspiracy while in custody at the Department of Corrections. Court documents show that Miller used contraband cellphones to communicate about the drug distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Miller further directed others to negotiate with buyers and collect payments.
Brenda Raelene Blakeley, 65, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced in March 2025 for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Judge Hill ordered Blakeley to 235 months imprisonment, followed by five years supervised release. Blakely was stopped by law enforcement in 2023. Officers found methamphetamine concealed in the vehicle.
Cierra Michelle Warner, 32, of Ponca City, was sentenced in March 2025 for Use of a Communication Facility in Committing, Causing, and facilitating the Commission of a Drug Trafficking Felony. Judge Hill ordered Warner to 24 months imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release. Warner helped communicate with co-conspirators to coordinate the distribution of fentanyl.
Johnathan Allen Perryman, 43, pleaded guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl and is awaiting sentencing.
Miller will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The FBI, the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Bailey, Attila Bogdan, and Joel-lyn McCormick prosecuted the case.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
ASHLAND, Ky. – A Rock Island, Tenn., man, Mark Dillon Mason, 32, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning on Monday to 324 months in prison for production of child pornography.
According to his plea agreement, Mason traveled to Morehead, Ky., on three occasions in2022 and engaged in sexual intercourse with a minor victim during each visit. Mason used his cellphone and the victim’s cellphone to record the sexually explicit conduct.
Under federal law, Mason must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years.
Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Chief Derrick Blevins, Morehead Police Department; and Sheriff Mike Coyle, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by HSI, Morehead Police Department, and Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
PROVIDENCE – A Massachusetts man described in court documents as being a “kilo weight dealer” of cocaine has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Juan Betancourt Sosa, 29, pleaded guilty on October 16, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 70 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of federal supervised release.
At the time of his guilty plea, Betancourt admitted that he was a source of supply of cocaine to a person who was providing kilograms of cocaine to a Rhode Island-based conspiracy that trafficked crack cocaine and fentanyl.
According to information presented to the court, Betancourt supplied at least six kilograms of cocaine to a person who then delivered the drugs to the leader of the conspiracy. At the time of his arrest, two kilos of cocaine were found inside the trunk of a car in which Betancourt was traveling.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey A. Erickson .
The matter was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, DEA, and Providence Police Department, with the assistance of the United States Postal Inspection Service and East Providence Police Department.
WORCESTER – A Worcester man has been charged in federal court in Worcester for drug offenses involving methamphetamine and materials for pressing illicit pills.
Tong Tran, 34, was charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Tran made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston this afternoon before Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy.
According to the charging documents, on or about Sept. 19, 2024, Tran was allegedly identified shipping a package at a Worcester Post Office. A search of the package allegedly revealed it to contain approximately 2.4 kilograms of orange pills concealed within packaging for a children’s toy. It is alleged that a partial fingerprint on the wrapping materials inside the children’s toy box belongs to Tran. The pills field tested positive for methamphetamine. On April 14, 2025, a search was conducted at Tran’s residence where a pill press, binding agent and additional equipment used to manufacture pills, including pill dyes were located. The search also resulted in the seizure of 3.3 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately $8,000 in cash.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division; and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Auburn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A man has been arrested for obstructing fishery officers in the lawful execution of their duties, as well as assaulting a peace officer.
Late on April 11, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) was attempting to conduct an inspection on the Tangier River in Tangier when a man attempted to take elver fishing nets held by fishery officers. A struggle ensued, when the man resisted arrest. He suffered minor injuries.
DFO transported the man to the Musquodoboit Harbour RCMP detachment, where he was transferred into the custody of RCMP officers and assessed by EHS.
The 46-year-old man from Millbrook was later released. He will appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court on May 21, at 9:30 a.m., to face charges of Assaulting a Peace Officer and Obstructing a Peace Officer.
Federal charges have been filed againstJamison Wagner, 40, an Albuquerque resident, in connection with recent arson attacks targeting the Tesla Albuquerque Showroom and the Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM) headquarters. Investigators linked Wagner to both incidents through surveillance footage and scene evidence.
“Let this be the final lesson to those taking part in this ongoing wave of political violence,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will arrest you, we will prosecute you, and we will not negotiate. Crimes have consequences.”
“Hurling firebombs is not political protest,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “It is a dangerous felony that we will prosecute to the maximum extent. The impressive work by law enforcement in New Mexico sends a clear message to perpetrators of all of the shameful attacks on Tesla facilities and political establishments: we are coming for you, you can’t hide, and you will do serious jail time to pay for your crimes.”
“This arrest is part of the FBI’s aggressive efforts to investigate and hold accountable those who have targeted Tesla facilities in various states across the country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Thank you to our agents and support teams in Albuquerque who did an outstanding job executing the mission. Under Attorney General Bondi’s leadership, we will continue to locate and arrest those responsible for these acts of domestic terrorism, and the FBI will work with partners at the Department of Justice to ensure such lawbreakers face justice.”
“A key suspect is now in custody thanks to the exceptional work of ATF’s Special Agents, certified fire investigators, and forensic specialists,” said Deputy Director Robert Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “This arrest marks a critical step toward justice in the firebombing that targeted a Tesla dealership and the New Mexico Republican Party Headquarters. Our teams worked around the clock—collecting, analyzing, and connecting forensic evidence across both scenes. With the support of our local partners, the FBI, and the rapid work of ATF’s forensic lab, we were able to link the crimes, identify those responsible, and take swift action to protect the public. This is what ATF does best: we follow the evidence, we find the truth, and we bring offenders to justice.”
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of Feb. 9, 2025, the Tesla Albuquerque Showroom was targeted in an arson attack. Two Tesla vehicles were involved in the fire, one of which was significantly damaged.
An intact glass container containing an improvised napalm material was found in the second vehicle. Investigators noted a hand-written capital “I” or “H” letter on the top of the green metal lid.
Graffiti was spray-painted in red and black paint on the building and six other vehicles, including “Die Elon,” “Tesla Nazi Inc,” and “Die Tesla Nazi,” along with swastika symbols.
Surveillance video captured the suspect on scene, and he was observed as a tall, light-skinned individual, possibly over 6 feet tall, wearing black clothing and a mask, and carrying a white box.
The following month, in the early morning hours of March 30, 2025, a second arson attack occurred, this time at the Republican Party New Mexico (RPNM) office. The fire significantly damaged the front door and entry area. At the scene, investigators collected shattered glass and metal lids from what appeared to be two to three separate glass containers. Two of the lids bore a handwritten capital “I” or “H,” similar in appearance to the letter found on the lid of the glass container at the Tesla scene.
Graffiti with the phrase “ICE=KKK” was found on the south wall of the building.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from nearby businesses and identified a white sedan parking on the north side of the RPNM office building before the fire. A single individual exited the vehicle, approached the RPNM headquarters, and a flash of light was recorded. The individual then returned to the vehicle and drove away. The vehicle was captured on nearby surveillance as it left the RPNM scene. After review of the available surveillance, law enforcement preliminarily identified the suspect vehicle as in what appeared to be a white Hyundai Accent between the years 2012 and 2015.
Investigators determined that both arsons involved the use of homemade incendiary devices utilizing glass containers and flammable liquids. The resulting investigation connected Wagner as a significant person of interest for both crime scenes. Among other links, Wagner’s physical description matches that of the suspect in the available surveillance footage and investigators determined that Wagner owns a white 2015 Hyundai Accent.
On April 12, 2025, agents from the FBI and ATF executed a search warrant at Wagner’sresidence in Albuquerque without incident. Inside, investigators uncovered substantial evidence linking him to both arson attacks including:
A white cardboard box containing eight assembled suspected incendiary devices.
Blue Styrofoam egg cartons consistent with the polystyrene material found in the improvised napalm used in the Tesla fire.
Materials for manufacturing additional incendiary devices and ignitable liquids consistent with the gasoline used at both fire scenes.
A jar with a green gingham-style lid similar to one found at the RPNM fire scene, along with several jars marked with handwritten capital letters “I” or “H,” similar to markings seen on lids recovered from both arson sites.
Black and red spray paint matching the graffiti used at both crime scenes.
A stencil bearing the phrase “ICE=KKK,” consistent with graffiti found at the RPNM fire scene.
Wagner’s white Hyundai Accent was found in his garage during the search. Investigators noted modifications consistent with efforts to avoid identification during the commission of the crimes.
“The charges today demonstrate that there is no place in our society for politically or ideologically motivated acts of violence and extremism,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin for the District of New Mexico. “We are grateful for the tireless and exceptional work of our law enforcement partners to identify the alleged perpetrator of these unacceptable criminal acts and commit to prosecuting this case to the fullest extent of the law.”
Wagner is charged with two counts of malicious damage or destruction of property by fire or explosives and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing which has not been set. If convicted of the current charges, Wagner faces between five and 20 years in prison for each count.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI Albuquerque Field Office are jointly investigating the case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and the New Mexico Department of Justice.
Numerous additional agencies responded to the arson scenes or otherwise provided valuable assistance, including the Santa Ana Pueblo Police Department, the Sandoval County Fire Department, the New Mexico State Fire Marshals Office, Albuquerque Fire Rescue, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Elena Stiteler and Nicholas Mote for the District of New Mexico and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
PROVIDENCE – A joint federal, state, and local law enforcement drug trafficking investigation has resulted in the seizure of two kilos of cocaine and the arrest and detention of a Providence man, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Eluid Rosa-Escudero, 35, is detained in federal custody charged by way of a criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
It is alleged in charging documents that a three-month, multi-agency investigation into Rosa-Escudero’s drug trafficking activities culminated on April 10, 2025, with the execution of a court-authorized search of his Providence residence and the seizure of two kilograms of cocaine, $10,000 in cash, and other items associated with the trafficking of narcotics.
As reflected in court documents, law enforcement surveilled the retrieval of a package delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to the front porch of a Providence residence. The package was retrieved by a person who arrived by car and allegedly then drove to a nearby gas station where he met with Rosa-Escudero, who was in a separate vehicle parked at a gas pump. As the two vehicles pulled away, the defendant was followed by a law enforcement surveillance team to his residence. East Providence Police effected an investigative stop of the car driven by the person who allegedly retrieved the package from the porch of the residence, who they then identified as being 15 years old.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine D. Lowell, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise M. Barton.
The matter is being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service Contraband Interdiction and Investigations Task Force, with the assistance of the Providence Police Department, the Pawtucket Police Department, and the Rhode Island State Police.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
In recent days, two men who conspired to distribute controlled substances pled guilty in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Isaiah Pirtle, also known as “Pudge,” age 33, from Cedar Rapids was convicted today of one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Daxxton Cook, age 36, from Cedar Rapids was convicted on April 10, 2025, of one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.
In a plea agreement, Cook admitted that he agreed with other people to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. On February 7, 2024, in Cedar Rapids, Cook sold someone 16 fentanyl pills. On February 8, 2024, in Cedar Rapids, Cook sold someone 1.93 grams of cocaine and 5.37 grams of fentanyl and fluorofentanyl. On May 28, 2024, in Cedar Rapids, Cook sold someone 12.55 grams of cocaine and 20.75 grams of fentanyl. Cook was previously convicted of a felony drug offense.
In a plea agreement, Pirtle admitted that he agreed with other people to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, as well as a detectable amount of cocaine.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated as part of the Northern Iowa Heroin Initiative and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Pirtle and Cook remain in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Pirtle faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $5,000,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment. Cook faces a possible maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment, a $2,000,000 fine, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
EMSD wins Prize of Republic and Canton of Geneva for first time at invention exhibition The Director of the Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Poon Kwok-ying, said today (April 14), “The Two-phase Immersion Cooling System for High Performance Computer Workstation, the winning project of the prize of the Republic and Canton of Geneva, was developed in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Department (CAD), and has been successfully implemented in the CAD’s workstation within the Control Tower Simulator. Additionally, three other projects were developed in cooperation with the Development Bureau, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), and the CAD respectively.”
The EU and Algeria regularly engage in migration dialogue in the framework of the Association Agreement[1] (2005). Algeria is also involved in the Rabat Process[2], a regional platform for migration governance.
The EU does not provide any financial support to the Algerian government, including for the building of ‘fortifications’ along Algeria’s borders.
Algeria benefits from two EU-funded migration programmes under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument — Global Europe[3]:
Between 2023-2024, the Migration, Protection, Return and Reintegration Program[4] (EUR 85.6 million) implemented by the International Organisation for migration (IOM) supported 8 540 assisted voluntary returns of migrants from Algeria to their countries of origin, provided protection and direct assistance to 784 beneficiaries, and supported the reintegration of around 90 returnees from Algeria.
The Regional Police Cooperation programme[5] (EUR 5 million, run by the International Criminal Police Organisation), focuses on building the technical capacity of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute criminal networks engaging in migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings. Both programmes operate across North Africa.
The Regional Development Protection Programme supports the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) to provide protection and assistance to asylum seekers and refugees in Algeria.
EU humanitarian aid provided to UNHCR focuses on providing potable water to refugees near Tindouf. IOM and UNHCR cooperate with the Algerian Red Crescent, which, does not receive EU funding.
[4] Adopted in 2021 https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/download/a60afbe4-31cd-4ded-bdb8-0a92b552fb4b_en?filename=C_2021_9615_F1_ANNEX_EN_V2_P1_1639232.PDF, and topped up in 2023 https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/download/ff5ece36-1ef3-4cfe-a40b-1648431c90a6_en?filename=C%282023%294402_AD%202023.PDF, with an additional top-up foreseen under the 2024 budget https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/download/ab2f12b1-06cf-40a3-bc56-73c76a54bf1c_en?filename=C_2024_7998_F1_ANNEX_EN_V2_P1_3737157.PDF
[5] Adopted in 2022 https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/download/08f7ebe5-4466-479a-9cbf-fbf5292cfa7f_en?filename=C_2022_6933_F1_ANNEX_EN_V1_P1_2132129.PDF
Meteghan RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance in relation to a theft of lobsters that occurred in Mavillette.
On April 13, police responded to a report of a break and enter at a commercial building on Peter Dugas Rd. Officers learned that sometime between 5:00 p.m. on April 12 and 8:30 a.m. on April 13, someone damaged a garage door, accessed the building, and stole two crates of live lobsters.
The value of the lobsters is over $2000.
Investigators believe that a small dark coloured truck or SUV with a broken rear window may have been used in the offence.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Meteghan RCMP at 902-645-2326, or local police. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.
Portland, ME – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in Maine, announce the arrests of multiple wanted persons on Friday, April 11th, 2025, in Biddeford, Maine. Tyler Langille, 20, was arrested on a State of Maine warrant for possession of a stolen firearm, assault, and drug possession.
After receiving investigative leads from the Biddeford Police Department, the USMS Maine Violent Offender Task Force (MVOTF) was able to determine Tyler Langille was living at a residence in Biddeford, Maine. In coordination with the Biddeford Police Department, U.S. Marshals Task Force members made entry into the residence and located Langille inside the Biddeford apartment. Also discovered inside the residence and subsequently arrested were Taylor Simoneau, 30, of Biddeford who was wanted for drug trafficking and Shaun Langille, 46, of Biddeford who was wanted for possession of a stolen firearm. All state arrest warrants originated out of York County, Maine.
Significant Assistance was provided by the Biddeford, Maine Police Department. All three subjects were arrested without incident and are currently held pending their initial appearances in state court.
The USMS, Maine Violent Offender Task Force is comprised of members of the U.S. Marshals Service, Maine Department of Corrections, Biddeford Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Maine National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, and the Coast Guard Investigative Service.
If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of any state or federal fugitive please contact the United States Marshals Service, MED.TIPLINE@usdoj.gov.
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Marwan Taweeleh of Shakopee, Minnesota, has been charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor as a registered sex offender, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick.
According to court documents, on March 18, 2025, Marwan Adel Taweeleh, 31, attempted to entice a minor under the age of 18 years old to engage in sexually explicit conduct.
The indictment charges Taweeleh with one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and one count of offense by a registered sex offender. Taweeleh was previously convicted of Solicitation of a Child to Engage in Sexual Conduct and is required by law to register as a sex offender. Taweeleh made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty on April 11, 2025, and will remain in custody pending further court proceedings.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of sexual predators—particularly the prosecution of repeat sex offenders like Taweeleh,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “I am grateful to the Bloomington Police Department, to Homeland Security Investigations, and to all law enforcement officers who use undercover operations to identify and arrest child sex predators to prevent them from abusing real children.”
“Those who prey on children will find no refuge from justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “These predators pose a serious threat to the safety of our communities. The FBI will continue to prioritize these investigations and support our partners in pursuing offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bloomington Police Department and the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca E. Kline is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced in federal court in Boston for illegally selling a dozen machinegun conversion devices.
Elijah Navarro, 26, was sentenced on April 10th by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. . In December 2023, Navarro pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in the business as a manufacturer or dealer in firearms and two counts of the transfer or possession of a machinegun. Navarro was arrested and charged along with co-defendant Michael Wilkerson in February 2023.
In January 2023, Navarro agreed to sell 12 machinegun conversion devices to an individual in exchange for $1,700. Following a series of communications, Navarro met the individual twice at a pre-arranged location. On Jan. 19, 2023, Navarro sold the first two machinegun conversion devices for $400 and later, on Jan. 25, 2023, Navarro sold the remaining 10 devices for an additional $1,300 out of Wilkerson’s residence.
During a search of Navarro’s residence in February 2023, numerous rounds of ammunition were seized. Simultaneously, during a search Wilkerson’s residence, two 3-D printers, 3-D printing material, machinegun conversion devices, a ballistic vest as well as firearms, ammunition and magazines were seized.
Neither Navarro nor Wilkerson possess licenses to import, manufacture, deal or possess firearms.
In April 2024, Wilkerson was sentenced to 20 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael A. Cox made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
BOSTON – A U.K. man was sentenced in federal court in Boston for making false statements in an immigration matter.
Duncan Hollands, a/k/a Duncan Herd, 58, a citizen of the United Kingdom residing in Cambridge, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to time served (one day) and two years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to removal proceedings as a result of the conviction. In January 2025, Hollands pleaded guilty to one count of false swearing in an immigration matter. In August 2024, Hollands was charged by criminal complaint.
In May 2021, Hollands applied for lawful permanent residence status (more commonly known as a Green Card) and attended an interview for the application. The application form requires applicants to answer various background questions, such as prior names or aliases and any criminal history, so that immigration authorities can determine whether the applicant is eligible for the sought status. On his application and during his interview in February 2022, Hollands falsely reported that he had never used another name and denied having any history with the criminal justice system. However, Hollands did in fact have a prior name, Duncan Herd, under which he was previously convicted and sentenced to over three years in prison for obtaining property by deception along with other charges. Hollands also had other interactions with the criminal justice systems in the United Kingdom and France.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Matthew O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; the Cambridge and Woburn, Mass. Police Departments; and U.K. law enforcement authorities. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Federal charges have been filed againstJamison Wagner, 40, an Albuquerque resident, in connection with recent arson attacks targeting the Tesla Albuquerque Showroom and the Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM) headquarters. Investigators linked Wagner to both incidents through surveillance footage and scene evidence.
“Let this be the final lesson to those taking part in this ongoing wave of political violence,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will arrest you, we will prosecute you, and we will not negotiate. Crimes have consequences.”
“Hurling firebombs is not political protest,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “It is a dangerous felony that we will prosecute to the maximum extent. The impressive work by law enforcement in New Mexico sends a clear message to perpetrators of all of the shameful attacks on Tesla facilities and political establishments: we are coming for you, you can’t hide, and you will do serious jail time to pay for your crimes.”
“This arrest is part of the FBI’s aggressive efforts to investigate and hold accountable those who have targeted Tesla facilities in various states across the country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Thank you to our agents and support teams in Albuquerque who did an outstanding job executing the mission. Under Attorney General Bondi’s leadership, we will continue to locate and arrest those responsible for these acts of domestic terrorism, and the FBI will work with partners at the Department of Justice to ensure such lawbreakers face justice.”
“A key suspect is now in custody thanks to the exceptional work of ATF’s Special Agents, certified fire investigators, and forensic specialists,” said Deputy Director Robert Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “This arrest marks a critical step toward justice in the firebombing that targeted a Tesla dealership and the New Mexico Republican Party Headquarters. Our teams worked around the clock—collecting, analyzing, and connecting forensic evidence across both scenes. With the support of our local partners, the FBI, and the rapid work of ATF’s forensic lab, we were able to link the crimes, identify those responsible, and take swift action to protect the public. This is what ATF does best: we follow the evidence, we find the truth, and we bring offenders to justice.”
According to court documents, in the early morning hours of Feb. 9, 2025, the Tesla Albuquerque Showroom was targeted in an arson attack. Two Tesla vehicles were involved in the fire, one of which was significantly damaged.
An intact glass container containing an improvised napalm material was found in the second vehicle. Investigators noted a hand-written capital “I” or “H” letter on the top of the green metal lid.
Graffiti was spray-painted in red and black paint on the building and six other vehicles, including “Die Elon,” “Tesla Nazi Inc,” and “Die Tesla Nazi,” along with swastika symbols.
Surveillance video captured the suspect on scene, and he was observed as a tall, light-skinned individual, possibly over 6 feet tall, wearing black clothing and a mask, and carrying a white box.
The following month, in the early morning hours of March 30, 2025, a second arson attack occurred, this time at the Republican Party New Mexico (RPNM) office. The fire significantly damaged the front door and entry area. At the scene, investigators collected shattered glass and metal lids from what appeared to be two to three separate glass containers. Two of the lids bore a handwritten capital “I” or “H,” similar in appearance to the letter found on the lid of the glass container at the Tesla scene.
Graffiti with the phrase “ICE=KKK” was found on the south wall of the building.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from nearby businesses and identified a white sedan parking on the north side of the RPNM office building before the fire. A single individual exited the vehicle, approached the RPNM headquarters, and a flash of light was recorded. The individual then returned to the vehicle and drove away. The vehicle was captured on nearby surveillance as it left the RPNM scene. After review of the available surveillance, law enforcement preliminarily identified the suspect vehicle as in what appeared to be a white Hyundai Accent between the years 2012 and 2015.
Investigators determined that both arsons involved the use of homemade incendiary devices utilizing glass containers and flammable liquids. The resulting investigation connected Wagner as a significant person of interest for both crime scenes. Among other links, Wagner’s physical description matches that of the suspect in the available surveillance footage and investigators determined that Wagner owns a white 2015 Hyundai Accent.
On April 12, 2025, agents from the FBI and ATF executed a search warrant at Wagner’sresidence in Albuquerque without incident. Inside, investigators uncovered substantial evidence linking him to both arson attacks including:
A white cardboard box containing eight assembled suspected incendiary devices.
Blue Styrofoam egg cartons consistent with the polystyrene material found in the improvised napalm used in the Tesla fire.
Materials for manufacturing additional incendiary devices and ignitable liquids consistent with the gasoline used at both fire scenes.
A jar with a green gingham-style lid similar to one found at the RPNM fire scene, along with several jars marked with handwritten capital letters “I” or “H,” similar to markings seen on lids recovered from both arson sites.
Black and red spray paint matching the graffiti used at both crime scenes.
A stencil bearing the phrase “ICE=KKK,” consistent with graffiti found at the RPNM fire scene.
Wagner’s white Hyundai Accent was found in his garage during the search. Investigators noted modifications consistent with efforts to avoid identification during the commission of the crimes.
“The charges today demonstrate that there is no place in our society for politically or ideologically motivated acts of violence and extremism,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin for the District of New Mexico. “We are grateful for the tireless and exceptional work of our law enforcement partners to identify the alleged perpetrator of these unacceptable criminal acts and commit to prosecuting this case to the fullest extent of the law.”
Wagner is charged with two counts of malicious damage or destruction of property by fire or explosives and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing which has not been set. If convicted of the current charges, Wagner faces between five and 20 years in prison for each count.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI Albuquerque Field Office are jointly investigating the case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and the New Mexico Department of Justice.
Numerous additional agencies responded to the arson scenes or otherwise provided valuable assistance, including the Santa Ana Pueblo Police Department, the Sandoval County Fire Department, the New Mexico State Fire Marshals Office, Albuquerque Fire Rescue, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Elena Stiteler and Nicholas Mote for the District of New Mexico and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Bay St. George RCMP arrested 36-year-old Randolph Perrier for unlawful confinement, assault and other offences on April 13, 2025.
Shortly before 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, Bay St. George RCMP received a report of a residential disturbance at a home in Stephenville. A man was being held against his will by another man who was in possession of a weapon. Police attended the home where Perrier was arrested without further incident.
Perrier attended court on Sunday and was remanded into custody. He is charged with the following criminal offences:
Assault with a weapon
Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
Forcible confinement
Fail to comply with release order
He is due to appear in court today. The investigation is ongoing.
Shapiro Administration Reaches Major Milestone in Construction of New Pennsylvania State Police Academy
The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and Department of General Services (DGS) celebrated a milestone in the modernization of PSP’s 65-year-old training facilities. A “topping out” ceremony marked the placement of the final steel beam atop the structural frame of the Marquee Building, the centerpiece of the new Pennsylvania State Police Academy. Construction so far is on time and on budget.
“Every step of this project brings us closer to providing our cadets with a world-class training facility that meets all their needs for success,” said PSP Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris. “The Pennsylvania State Police Academy is the nation’s best police academy, producing our country’s finest law enforcement officers. These new facilities ensure we continue to attract recruits of the highest caliber and prepare them for 21st-century policing in the best possible environment.”
List of Speakers: Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris Brian Law, Wilson construction Carrie Moore, Partner, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
In today’s hyperconnected world, where much of our social and professional lives plays out online, the digital realm should feel safe and respectful. But for many, particularly women, young boys and marginalised groups, that’s far from reality. Cyber-sexual harassment is a growing and deeply harmful issue that demands greater awareness and action.
Cyber-sexual harassment describes a wide range of unwanted or abusive sexual behaviour online. Gender harassment includes offensive messages, images, or memes targeting someone’s gender, often without direct sexual content – but still deeply degrading. Unwanted sexual attention online can take the form of unsolicited sexting or cyberflashing – sending sexually explicit images to another person without their consent.
Sexual coercion is using threats, blackmail or emotional manipulation to force someone into sharing intimate content or engaging in sexual behaviour online. A growing concern is sextortion – where victims are blackmailed with private images, often under, sometimes unbearable, pressure.
According to UK police data, an average of 117 sextortion cases involving children were reported monthly between January and May 2024. The Internet Watch Foundation even found children as young as 11 being targeted.
Terrible toll
Cyber-sexual harassment isn’t just invasive – it’s damaging. Our study builds on clinical psychologist Marvin Iroegbu’s doctoral research on the relationship between cyber-sexual harassment and psychological difficulties in women. We found that women who experienced online sexual harassment reported significantly poorer mental health than those who hadn’t. Anxiety, depression, trauma and poor body image were all more likely. Our research suggests that this may stem from increased self-objectification and a heightened focus on physical appearance due to being targeted.
Government research shows that women experience online abuse more frequently – and more severely – than men. Unwanted images, comments and messages are just the beginning. And the impact starts young. Studies highlight the psychological toll on both children and adults, noting that unexpected, anonymous and rapid abuse can leave victims feeling fearful, powerless, deeply ashamed and with low self-esteem.
Our research also found that younger women and those with large social media followings are more frequently targeted for cyber-sexual harassment. This may be due to greater online visibility or time spent on platforms. Our study also found that women in newer or no romantic relationships reported higher levels of harassment.
There’s also a clear link between online and offline abuse. Victims of cyber-sexual harassment were more likely to report in-person harassment too. According to the European Institute for Gender Equality, online abuse often mirrors and extends to real-world gender-based violence.
Research into how cyber-sexual harassment affects these groups is still lacking, however. Many national cybercrime studies fail to include data on race, gender identity, or sexual orientation – making it harder to advocate for targeted support.
While the Online Safety Bill now allows for prosecution of offences such as cyberflashing – with recent convictions in some cases leading to prison sentences for the offender – many victims still don’t report abuse. Barriers include frustrating reporting systems, victim-blaming, and the perception among victims that their complaints won’t be taken seriously.
New legislation should be assessed to see whether it sufficiently supports victims, encourages reporting, leads to convictions and deters perpetrators.
Many charities and organisations now provide support for online abuse victims – but more needs to be done. Mental health professionals are encouraged to consider online experiences as part of their patient assessments. Meanwhile, research like ours explores how different types of cyber-sexual harassment – such as the frequency or content of explicit messages – affect people differently.
One thing is clear: cyber-sexual harassment is intrusive, traumatic and rooted in a lack of respect for consent. Cyberflashing and other forms of online sexual abuse are not harmless jokes. They’re violations. And no one should have to deal with them in silence.
Freya O’Brien does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.