Scheme Victimized Hundreds of Thousands of People in United States and Abroad
Two Estonian nationals pleaded guilty yesterday for their operation of a massive, multi-faceted cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme that victimized hundreds of thousands of people from across the world, including in the United States. As part of the defendants’ guilty pleas, they agreed to forfeit assets valued over $400 million obtained during the conspiracy.
According to court documents, Sergei Potapenko and Ivan Turõgin, both 40, sold contracts to customers entitling them to a share of cryptocurrency mined by the defendants’ purported cryptocurrency mining service, HashFlare. Cryptocurrency mining is the process of using computers to generate cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, for profit.
Between 2015 and 2019, Hashflare’s sales totaled more than $577 million, but HashFlare did not possess the requisite computing capacity to perform the vast majority of the mining the defendants told HashFlare customers it performed. HashFlare’s web-based dashboard, which purported to show customers their mining profits, instead reflected falsified data. Potapenko and Turõgin used the proceeds of the fraud conspiracy to purchase real estate and luxury vehicles and maintained investment and cryptocurrency accounts. Potapenko and Turõgin have agreed to forfeit assets worth, as of the date of the plea, more than $400 million. The forfeited assets will be available for a remission process to compensate victims of the crime. Details about the remission process will be announced at a later date.
Potapenko and Turõgin each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. They are scheduled to be sentenced on May 8 and each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Justice Department thanks the Cybercrime Bureau of the Estonian Police and Border Guard for its support with this investigation. The Estonian Prosecutor General and Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs provided substantial assistance with the extradition. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided extensive assistance to the investigation and the extradition of the defendants.
Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller for the Western District of Washington, Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington of the FBI Seattle Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Seattle Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Adrienne E. Rosen and David Ginensky of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Friedman and Sok Jiang for the Western District of Washington are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jehiel Baer for the Western District of Washington is handling asset forfeiture aspects of the case.
Individuals who believe they may have been a victim in this case should visit www.fbi.gov/hashflare.
A spontaneous memorial of flowers in St Petersburg, Russia, on the day of Alexei Navalny’s death, February 16 2024.Aleksey Dushutin/Shutterstock
This is the best day of the past five months for me … This is my home … I am not afraid of anything and I urge you not to be afraid of anything either.
These were Alexei Navalny’s words after landing at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport on January 17 2021. Russia’s leading opposition figure had spent the past months recovering in Germany from an attempt on his life by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Minutes after making his comments, Navalny was detained at border control. And he would remain behind bars until his death on February 16 2024, in the remote “Polar Wolf” penal colony within the Arctic Circle.
“Why did he return to Russia?” That’s the question I’m asked about Navalny most frequently. Wasn’t it a mistake to return to certain imprisonment, when he could have maintained his opposition to Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, from abroad?
But Navalny’s decision to return didn’t surprise me. I’ve researched and written about him extensively, including co-authoring Navalny: Putin’s Nemesis, Russia’s Future?, the first English-language, book-length account of his life and political activities. Defying the Kremlin by returning was a signature move, reflecting both his obstinacy and bravery. He wanted to make sure his supporters and activists in Russia did not feel abandoned, risking their lives while he lived a cushy life in exile.
The Insights section is committed to high-quality longform journalism. Our editors work with academics from many different backgrounds who are tackling a wide range of societal and scientific challenges.
Besides, Navalny wasn’t returning to certain imprisonment. A close ally of his, Vladimir Ashurkov, told me in May 2022 that his “incarceration in Russia was not a certainty. It was a probability, a scenario – but it wasn’t like he was walking into a certain long-term prison term.”
Also, Navalny hadn’t chosen to leave Russia in the first place. He was unconscious when taken by plane from Omsk to Berlin for treatment following his poisoning with the nerve agent Novichok in August 2020. Navalny had been consistent in saying he was a Russian politician who needed to remain in Russia to be effective.
In a subsequent interview, conducted in a forest on the outskirts of the German capital as he slowly recovered, Navalny said: “In people’s minds, if you leave the country, that means you’ve surrendered.”
Video: ACF.
Outrage, detention and death
Two days after Navalny’s final return to Russia, the Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF) – the organisation he established in 2011 – published its biggest ever investigation. The YouTube video exploring “Putin’s palace” on the Black Sea coast achieved an extraordinary 100 million views within ten days. By the start of February 2021, polling suggested it had been watched by more than a quarter of all adults in Russia.
Outrage at Navalny’s detention, combined with this Putin investigation, got people on to the streets. On January 23 2021, 160,000 people turned out across Russia in events that did not have prior approval from the authorities. More than 40% of the participants said they were taking part in a protest for the first time.
But the Russian authorities were determined to also make it their last time. Law enforcement mounted an awesome display of strength, detaining protesters and sometimes beating them. The number of participants at protests on January 31 and February 2 declined sharply as a result.
Between Navalny’s return to Russia in January 2021 and his death in February 2024, aged 47, he faced criminal case after criminal case, adding years and years to his time in prison and increasing the severity of his detention. By the time of his death, he was in the harshest type of prison in the Russian penitentiary system – a “special regime” colony – and was frequently sent to a punishment cell.
The obvious intent was to demoralise Navalny, his team and supporters – making an example of him to spread fear among anyone else who might consider mounting a challenge to the Kremlin. But Navalny fought back, as described in his posthumously published memoir, Patriot. He made legal challenges against his jailers. He went on hunger strike. And he formed a union for his fellow prisoners.
He also used his court appearances to make clear his political views, including following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, declaring: “I am against this war. I consider it immoral, fratricidal, and criminal.”
Navalny’s final public appearance was via video link. He was in good spirits, with his trademark optimism and humour still on display. Tongue firmly in cheek, he asked the judge for financial help:
Your Honour, I will send you my personal account number so that you can use your huge salary as a federal judge to ‘warm up’ my personal account, because I am running out of money.
Navalny died the following day. According to the prison authorities, he collapsed after a short walk and lost consciousness. Although the Russian authorities claimed he had died of natural causes, documents published in September 2024 by The Insider – a Russia-focused, Latvia-based independent investigative website – suggest Navalny may have been poisoned.
A mourner adds her tribute to Alexei Navalny’s grave in Moscow after his burial on March 1 2024. Aleksey Dushutin/Shutterstock
Whether or not Putin directly ordered his death, Russia’s president bears responsibility – for leading a system that tried to assassinate Navalny in August 2020, and for allowing his imprisonment following Navalny’s return to Russia in conditions designed to crush him.
Commenting in March 2024, Putin stated that, just days before Navalny’s death, he had agreed for his most vocal opponent to be included in a prisoner swap – on condition the opposition figure never returned to Russia. “But, unfortunately,” Putin added, “what happened, happened.”
‘No one will forget’
Putin is afraid of Alexei, even after he killed him.
Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny’s wife, wrote these words on January 10 2025 after reading a curious letter. His mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, had written to Rosfinmonitoring – a Russian state body – with a request for her son’s name to be removed from their list of “extremists and terrorists” now he was no longer alive.
The official response was straight from Kafka. Navalny’s name could not be removed as it had been added following the initiation of a criminal case against him. Even though he was dead, Rosfinmonitoring had not been informed about a termination of the case “in accordance with the procedure established by law”, so his name would have to remain.
This appears to be yet another instance of the Russian state exercising cruelty behind the veil of bureaucratic legality – such as when the prison authorities initially refused to release Navalny’s body to his mother after his death.
“Putin is doing this to scare you,” Yulia continued. “He wants you to be afraid to even mention Alexei, and gradually to forget his name. But no one will forget.”
Alexei Navalny and his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, at a protest rally in Moscow, May 2012. Dmitry Laudin/Shutterstock
Today, Navalny’s family and team continue his work outside of Russia – and are fighting to keep his name alive back home. But the odds are against them. Polling suggests the share of Russians who say they know nothing about Navalny or his activities roughly doubled to 30% between his return in January 2021 and his death three years later.
Navalny fought against an autocratic system – and paid the price with his life. Given the very real fears Russians may have of voicing support for a man still labelled an extremist by the Putin regime, it’s not easy to assess what people there really think of him and his legacy. But we will also never know how popular Navalny would have been in the “normal” political system he fought for.
What made Navalny the force he was?
Navalny didn’t mean for the humble yellow rubber duck to become such a potent symbol of resistance.
In March 2017, the ACF published its latest investigation into elite corruption, this time focusing on then-prime minister (and former president), Dmitry Medvedev. Navalny’s team members had become masters of producing slick videos that enabled their message to reach a broad audience. A week after posting, the film had racked up over 7 million views on YouTube – an extraordinary number at that time.
The film included shocking details of Medvedev’s alleged avarice, including yachts and luxury properties. In the centre of a large pond in one of these properties was a duck house, footage of which was captured by the ACF using a drone.
Video: ACF.
Such luxuries jarred with many people’s view of Medvedev as being a bit different to Putin and his cronies. As Navalny wrote in his memoir, Medvedev had previously seemed “harmless and incongruous”. (At the time, Medvedev’s spokeswoman said it was “pointless” to comment on the ACF investigation, suggesting the report was a “propaganda attack from an opposition figure and a convict”.)
But people were angry, and the report triggered mass street protests across Russia. They carried yellow ducks and trainers, a second unintended symbol from the film given Medvedev’s penchant for them.
Another reason why so many people came out to protest on March 26 2017 was the organising work carried out by Navalny’s movement.
The previous December, Navalny had announced his intention to run in the 2018 presidential election. As part of the campaign, he and his team created a network of regional headquarters to bring together supporters and train activists across Russia. Although the authorities had rejected Navalny’s efforts to register an official political party, this regional network functioned in much the same way, gathering like-minded people in support of an electoral candidate. And this infrastructure helped get people out on the streets.
The Kremlin saw this as a clear threat. According to a December 2020 investigation by Bellingcat, CNN, Der Spiegel and The Insider, the FSB assassination squad implicated in the Novichok poisoning of Navalny had started trailing him in January 2017 – one month after he announced his run for the presidency.
At the protests against Medvedev, the authorities’ growing intolerance of Navalny was also on display – he was detained, fined and sentenced to 15 days’ imprisonment.
The Medvedev investigation was far from the beginning of Navalny’s story as a thorn in the Kremlin’s side. But this episode brings together all of the elements that made Navalny the force he was: anti-corruption activism, protest mobilisation, attempts to run as a “normal” politician in a system rigged against him, and savvy use of social media to raise his profile in all of these domains.
Courting controversy
In Patriot, Navalny writes that he always “felt sure a broad coalition was needed to fight Putin”. Yet over the years, his attempts to form that coalition led to some of the most controversial points of his political career.
In a 2007 video, Navalny referred to himself as a “certified nationalist”, advocating for the deportation of illegal immigrants, albeit without using violence and distancing himself from neo-Nazism. In the video, he says: “We have the right to be Russians in Russia, and we’ll defend that right.”
Although alienating some, Navalny was attempting to present a more acceptable face of nationalism, and he hoped to build a bridge between nationalists and liberals in taking on the Kremlin’s burgeoning authoritarianism.
But the prominence of nationalism in Navalny’s political identity varied markedly over time, probably reflecting his shifting estimations of which platform could attract the largest support within Russia. By the time of his thwarted run in the 2018 presidential election, nationalist talking points were all but absent from his rhetoric.
However, some of these former comments and positions continue to influence how people view him. For example, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, Navalny tried to take a pragmatic stance. While acknowledging Russia’s flouting of international law, he said that Crimea was “now part of the Russian Federation” and would “never become part of Ukraine in the foreseeable future”.
Many Ukrainians take this as clear evidence that Navalny was a Russian imperialist. Though he later revised his position, saying Crimea should be returned to Ukraine, some saw this as too little, too late. But others were willing to look past the more controversial parts of his biography, recognising that Navalny represented the most effective domestic challenge to Putin.
Another key attempt to build a broad political coalition was Navalny’s Smart Voting initiative. This was a tactical voting project in which Navalny’s team encouraged voters to back the individual thought best-placed to defeat the ruling United Russia candidate, regardless of the challenger’s ideological position.
The project wasn’t met with universal approval. Some opposition figures and voters baulked at, or flatly refused to consider, the idea of voting for people whose ideological positions they found repugnant – or whom they viewed as being “fake” opposition figures, entirely in bed with the authorities. (This makes clear that Navalny was never the leader of the political opposition in Russia; he was, rather, the leading figure of a fractious constellation of individuals and groups.)
But others relished the opportunity to make rigged elections work in their favour. And there is evidence that Smart Voting did sometimes work, including in the September 2020 regional and local elections, for which Navalny had been campaigning when he was poisoned with Novichok.
In an astonishing moment captured on film during his recovery in Germany, Navalny speaks to an alleged member of the FSB squad sent to kill him. Pretending to be the aide to a senior FSB official, Navalny finds out that the nerve agent had been placed in his underpants.
How do Russians feel about Navalny now?
It’s like a member of the family has died.
This is what one Russian friend told me after hearing of Navalny’s death a year ago. Soon afterwards, the Levada Center – an independent Russian polling organisation – conducted a nationally representative survey to gauge the public’s reaction to the news.
The poll found that Navalny’s death was the second-most mentioned event by Russian people that month, after the capture of the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka by Russian troops. But when asked how they felt about his death, 69% of respondents said they had “no particular feelings” either way – while only 17% said they felt “sympathy” or “pity”.
And that broadly fits with Navalny’s approval ratings in Russia. After his poisoning in 2020, 20% of Russians said they approved of his activities – but this was down to 11% by February 2024.
Video: BBC.
Of course, these numbers must be taken for what they are: polling in an authoritarian state regarding a figure vilified and imprisoned by the regime, during a time of war and amid draconian restrictions on free speech. To what extent the drop in support for Navalny was real, rather than reflecting the increased fear people had in voicing their approval for an anti-regime figure, is hard to say with certainty.
When asked why they liked Navalny, 31% of those who approved of his activities said he spoke “the truth”, “honestly” or “directly”. For those who did not approve of his activities, 22% said he was “paid by the west”, “represented” the west’s interests, that he was a “foreign agent”, a “traitor” or a “puppet”.
The Kremlin had long tried to discredit Navalny as a western-backed traitor. After Navalny’s 2020 poisoning, Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that “experts from the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency are working with him”. The Russian state claimed that, rather than a patriot exposing official malfeasance with a view to strengthening his country, Navalny was a CIA stooge intent on destroying Russia.
Peskov provided no evidence to back up this claim – and the official propaganda wasn’t believed by all. Thousands of Russians defied the authorities by coming out to pay their respects at Navalny’s funeral on March 1 2024. Many, if not all, knew this was a significant risk. Police employed video footage to track down members of the funeral crowd, including by using facial recognition technology.
The first person to be detained was a Muscovite the police claimed they heard shouting “Glory to the heroes!” – a traditional Ukrainian response to the declaration “Glory to Ukraine!”, but this time referencing Navalny. She spent a night in a police station before being fined for “displaying a banned symbol”.
Putin always avoided mentioning Navalny’s name in public while he was alive – instead referring to him as “this gentleman”, “the character you mentioned”, or the “Berlin patient”. (The only recorded instance of Putin using Navalny’s name in public when he was alive was in 2013.)
However, having been re-elected president in 2024 and with Navalny dead, Putin finally broke his long-held practice, saying: “As for Navalny, yes he passed away – this is always a sad event.” It was as if the death of his nemesis diminished the potency of his name – and the challenge that Navalny had long presented to Putin.
Nobody can become another Navalny
Someone else will rise up and take my place. I haven’t done anything unique or difficult. Anyone could do what I’ve done.
So wrote Navalny in the memoir published after his death. But that hasn’t happened: no Navalny 2.0 has yet emerged. And it’s no real surprise. The Kremlin has taken clear steps to ensure nobody can become another Navalny within Russia.
In 2021, the authorities made a clear decision to destroy Navalny’s organisations within Russia, including the ACF and his regional network. Without the organisational infrastructure and legal ability to function in Russia, no figure has been able to take his place directly.
More broadly, the fate of Navalny and his movement has had a chilling effect on the opposition landscape. So too have other steps taken by the authorities.
Russia has become markedly more repressive since the start of its war on Ukraine. The human rights NGO First Department looked into the number of cases relating to “treason”, “espionage” and “confidential cooperation with a foreign state” since Russia introduced the current version of its criminal code in 1997. Of the more than 1,000 cases, 792 – the vast majority – were initiated following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Russian law enforcement has also used nebulous anti-extremism and anti-terrorism legislation to crack down on dissenting voices. Three of Navalny’s lawyers were sentenced in January 2025 for participating in an “extremist organisation”, as the ACF was designated by a Moscow court in June 2021. The Russian legislature has also passed a barrage of legislation relating to so-called “foreign agents”, to tarnish the work of those the regime regards as foreign-backed “fifth columnists”.
Mass street protests are largely a thing of the past in Russia. Restrictions were placed on public gatherings during the COVID pandemic – but these rules were applied selectively, with opposition individuals and groups being targeted. And opportunities for collective action were further reduced following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Freedom of speech has also come under assault. Article 29, point five of the Russian constitution states: “Censorship shall be prohibited.” But in September 2024, Kremlin spokesperson Peskov said: “In the state of war that we are in, restrictions are justified, and censorship is justified.”
Legislation passed very soon after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine made it illegal to comment on the Russian military’s activities truthfully – and even to call the war a war.
YouTube – the platform so central to Navalny’s ability to spread his message – has been targeted. Without banning it outright – perhaps afraid of the public backlash this might cause – the Russian state media regulator, Roskomnadzor, has slowed down internet traffic to the site within Russia. The result has been a move of users to other websites supporting video content, including VKontakte – a Russian social media platform.
In short, conditions in Russia are very different now compared to when Navalny first emerged. The relative freedom of the 2000s and 2010s gave him the space to challenge the corruption and authoritarianism of an evolving system headed by Putin. But this space has shrunk over time, to the point where no room remains for a figure like him within Russia.
In 2019, Navalny told Ivan Zhdanov, who is now director of the ACF: “We changed the regime, but not in the way we wanted.” So, did Navalny and his team push the Kremlin to become more authoritarian – making it not only intolerant of him but also any possible successor?
There may be some truth in this. And yet, the drastic steps taken by the regime following the start of the war on Ukraine suggest there were other, even more significant factors that have laid bare the violent nature of Putin’s personal autocracy – and the president’s disdain for dissenters.
Plenty for Russians to be angry about
How can we win the war when dedushka [grandpa] is a moron?
In June 2023, Evgeny Prigozhin – a long-time associate of Putin and head of the private military Wagner Group – staged an armed rebellion, marching his forces on the Russian capital. This was not a full-blown political movement against Putin. But the target of Prigozhin’s invective against Russia’s military leadership had become increasingly blurry, testing the taboo of direct criticism of the president – who is sometimes referred to, disparagingly, as “grandpa” in Russia.
And Prigozhin paid the price. In August 2023, he was killed when the private jet he was flying in crashed after an explosion on board. Afterwards, Putin referred to Prigozhin as a “talented person” who “made serious mistakes in life”.
In the west, opposition to the Kremlin is often associated with more liberal figures like Navalny. Yet the most consequential domestic challenge to Putin’s rule came from a very different part of the ideological spectrum – a figure in Prigozhin leading a segment of Russian society that wanted the Kremlin to prosecute its war on Ukraine even more aggressively.
Video: BBC.
Today, there is plenty for Russians to be angry about, and Putin knows it. He recently acknowledged an “overheating of the economy”. This has resulted in high inflation, in part due to all the resources being channelled into supporting the war effort. Such cost-of-living concerns weigh more heavily than the war on the minds of most Russians.
A favourite talking point of the Kremlin is how Putin imposed order in Russia following the “wild 1990s” – characterised by economic turbulence and symbolised by then-president Boris Yeltsin’s public drunkenness. Many Russians attribute the stability and rise in living standards they experienced in the 2000s with Putin’s rule – and thank him for it by providing support for his continued leadership.
The current economic problems are an acute worry for the Kremlin because they jeopardise this basic social contract struck with the Russian people. In fact, one way the Kremlin tried to discredit Navalny was by comparing him with Yeltsin, suggesting he posed the same threats as a failed reformer. In his memoir, Navalny concedes that “few things get under my skin more”.
Although originally a fan of Yeltsin, Navalny became an ardent critic. His argument was that Yeltsin and those around him squandered the opportunity to make Russia a “normal” European country.
Navalny also wanted Russians to feel entitled to more. Rather than be content with their relative living standards compared with the early post-Soviet period, he encouraged them to imagine the level of wealth citizens could enjoy based on Russia’s extraordinary resources – but with the rule of law, less corruption, and real democratic processes.
‘Think of other possible Russias’
When looking at forms of criticism and dissent in Russia today, we need to distinguish between anti-war, anti-government, and anti-Putin activities.
Despite the risk of harsh consequences, there are daily forms of anti-war resistance, including arson attacks on military enlistment offices. Some are orchestrated from Ukraine, with Russians blackmailed into acting. But other cases are likely to be forms of domestic resistance.
Criticism of the government is still sometimes possible, largely because Russia has a “dual executive” system, consisting of a prime minister and presidency. This allows the much more powerful presidency to deflect blame to the government when things go wrong.
There are nominal opposition parties in Russia – sometimes referred to as the “systemic opposition”, because they are loyal to the Kremlin and therefore tolerated by the system. Within the State Duma, these parties often criticise particular government ministries for apparent failings. But they rarely, if ever, now dare criticise Putin directly.
Nothing anywhere close to the challenge presented by Navalny appears on the horizon in Russia – at either end of the political spectrum. But the presence of clear popular grievances, and the existence of organisations (albeit not Navalny’s) that could channel this anger should the Kremlin’s grip loosen, mean we cannot write off all opposition in Russia.
Navalny’s wife, Yulia, has vowed to continue her husband’s work. And his team in exile maintain focus on elite corruption in Russia, now from their base in Vilnius, Lithuania. The ACF’s most recent investigation is on Igor Sechin, CEO of the oil company Rosneft.
But some have argued this work is no longer as relevant as it was. Sam Greene, professor in Russian politics at King’s College London, captured this doubt in a recent Substack post:
[T]here is a palpable sense that these sorts of investigations may not be relevant to as many people as they used to be, given everything that has transpired since the mid-2010s, when they were the bread and butter of the Anti-Corruption Foundation. Some … have gone as far as to suggest that they have become effectively meaningless … and thus that Team Navalny should move on.
Navalny’s team are understandably irritated by suggestions they’re no longer as effective as they once were. But it’s important to note that this criticism has often been sharpest within Russia’s liberal opposition. The ACF has been rocked, for example, by recent accusations from Maxim Katz, one such liberal opposition figure, that the organisation helped “launder the reputations” of two former bank owners. In their response, posted on YouTube, the ACF referred to Katz’s accusations as “lies” – but this continued squabbling has left some Russians feeling “disillusioned and unrepresented”.
So, what will Navalny’s long-term legacy be? Patriot includes a revealing section on Mikhail Gorbachev – the last leader of the Soviet Union, whom Navalny describes as “unpopular in Russia, and also in our family”. He continues:
Usually, when you tell foreigners this, they are very surprised, because Gorbachev is thought of as the person who gave Eastern Europe back its freedom and thanks to whom Germany was reunited. Of course, that is true … but within Russia and the USSR he was not particularly liked.
At the moment, there is a similar split in perceptions of Navalny. Internationally, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, awarded the Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament, and a documentary about him won an Oscar.
But there are also those outside of Russia who remain critical: “Navalny’s life has brought no benefit to the Ukrainian victory; instead, he has caused considerable harm,” wrote one Ukrainian academic. “He fuelled the illusion in the west that democracy in Russia is possible.”
Trailer for the Oscar-winning documentary Navalny.
Inside Russia, according to Levada Center polling shortly after his death, 53% of Russians thought Navalny played “no special role” in the history of the country, while 19% said he played a “rather negative” role. Revealingly, when commenting on Navalny’s death, one man in Moscow told RFE/RL’s Russian Service: “I think that everyone who is against Russia is guilty, even if they are right.”
But, for a small minority in Russia, Navalny will go down as a messiah-like figure who miraculously cheated death in 2020, then made the ultimate sacrifice in his battle of good and evil with the Kremlin. This view may have been reinforced by Navalny’s increasing openness about his Christian faith.
Ultimately, Navalny’s long-term status in Russia will depend on the nature of the political system after Putin has gone. Since it seems likely that authoritarianism will outlast Putin, a more favourable official story about Navalny is unlikely to emerge any time soon. However, how any post-Putin regime tries to make sense of Navalny’s legacy will tell us a lot about that regime.
While he was alive, Navalny stood for the freer Russia in which he had emerged as a leading opposition figure – and also what he called the “Beautiful Russia of the Future”. Perhaps, after his death, his lasting legacy in Russia remains the ability for some to think – if only in private – of other possible Russias.
To hear about new Insights articles, join the hundreds of thousands of people who value The Conversation’s evidence-based news. Subscribe to our newsletter.
Ben Noble has previously received funding from the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust. He is an Associate Fellow of Chatham House.
More than 26 years after the murder of David John Robinson, Tasman Police have reopened the investigation into his death, with enquiries under way in the small West Coast town of Kakapotahi.
A homicide investigation was launched on 28 December 1998, after the body of the then-25-year-old David was located on a remote West Coast beach near Ross.
Detective Inspector Geoff Baber of the Tasman District Police says David was killed approximately 10 days before the discovery of his body.
The initial Police investigation located several of David’s possessions scattered across the beach, indicating he had likely been staying in the area before he died.
After extensive enquiries at the time of his death – including interviewing a number of people within the community and conducting searches of nearby beach, bush and river areas – the investigation was scaled back.
“The investigation has been periodically reviewed and police continue to make additional enquiries over the years.
“I want David’s family and the community to know we will not give up – Police are determined to find out what happened in this small rural community, shortly before Christmas over 26 years ago.”
Police have been canvasing the Kakapotahi area this week and enquiries will continue in the coming days and weeks.
“David would have been 51 now, and while his murder was nearly three decades ago his family continue to grieve.
“We know people may not have wanted to previously tell us what they saw or heard, but the passing of time may have changed things for them, and they may see things differently now with regards to David and what happened to him.
“If you do know something, we encourage you to come forward and speak to us – it is not too late to provide David’s family with answers.”
If you have information that could help Police’s investigation, please email us via the Cold Case form on the New Zealand Police website, or call 105 and reference the case number 231129/2221.
A man has admitted numerous offences after officers linked him to a series of sexual assaults on teenage girls near Clapham Common.
John Nyhan, 22 (09.02.03), of Ingrave Street, Wandsworth, pleaded guilty at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 13 February to three separate incidents of sexual assault and one count of harassment.
Detective Inspector Aaron Moon, whose team led the investigation, said: “Nyhan remains in custody following his guilty plea and will find out the details of his sentence in due course.
“We know that his offending has caused a lot of concern locally and I hope that his conviction will allay some of those fears. It’s possible that Nyhan may have committed further offences that have not yet been reported to police and I would encourage anyone who is yet to speak with us to please come forward.”
Detectives linked three sexual assaults committed between Wednesday, 8 January and Tuesday, 4 February in the Clapham Common area.
As a result of enquiries, Nyhan was identified and arrested on Tuesday, 11 February. He was charged two days later.
He will be sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on a date yet to be confirmed.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
FORT WAYNE – Yesterday, Jonathon Buck Eason, 37 years old, of Fort Wayne Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly Brady after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Eason was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on October 22, 2022, Fort Wayne police officers responded to a 911 call for assistance. Upon arrival, they spoke to an individual who reported being battered and threatened with a firearm by Easton. When Officers located Easton at his residence, they recovered a firearm from his pocket. Based on a prior felony conviction, Easton was prohibited from possessing the firearm.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
This case was also 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.
Headline: Justice Department Announces Successful Conclusion of Agreement with Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office to Ensure Constitutional Policing
The Justice Department announced on Monday the successful conclusion of the United States’ agreement with the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) in Louisiana to end its pattern or practice of conducting arrests in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. After a thorough investigation, the United States found reasonable cause to believe that EPSO had unconstitutionally arrested and held people in jail without obtaining a warrant and without probable cause to believe the detained persons had committed a crime.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
FRESNO, Calif. — Dario Mata-Manzo, 33, a Mexican national residing in Fresno, was sentenced today to eight years and eight months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, in June 2022, Mata-Manzo negotiated the sale of crystal methamphetamine for $1,200 per pound and subsequently delivered 8 pounds of the drug to undercover officers in Fresno. Court documents indicate that Mata-Manzo was connected to an interstate poly-drug trafficking organization.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and the High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT), a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative (HIDTA), which consists of personnel from the California Department of Justice, Fresno Police Department, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Madera County Sheriff’s Office, Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, Kings County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar 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, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
CHICAGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico on a drug conspiracy charge for allegedly manufacturing and distributing fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs and importing them into the United States.
According to an indictment returned Monday in the Northern District of Illinois, CEFERINO ESPINOZA ANGULO, 43, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Mexico, employed dozens of gunmen in Mexico to protect and support the leadership of the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, including Ivan Guzman-Salazar, Jesus Alfredo Guzman-Salazar, Ovidio Guzman-Lopez, and Joaquin Guzman-Lopez, collectively known as “the Chapitos.” The indictment alleges that Espinoza Angulo worked with others to obtain fentanyl precursor chemicals and to manufacture fentanyl for importation into the United States. Espinoza Angulo allegedly worked with others to transport the fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and ecstasy toward the U.S. border for importation into the country. The indictment accuses Espinoza Angulo of illegally using a machine gun in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime.
The Chapitos are the sons of Joaquin Guzman Loera, also known as “El Chapo,” who led the Sinaloa Cartel before being convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn, N.Y., and sentenced to life in prison. The Chapitos allegedly assumed their father’s role as leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel. The Chapitos have been charged with drug trafficking in other U.S. indictments.
The indictment against Espinoza Angulo charges him with drug conspiracy and a firearm offense, which are punishable by a maximum sentence of life in federal prison and a minimum of 30 years. Espinoza Angulo is believed to be residing in Mexico. A U.S. warrant has been issued for his arrest.
The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Antoinette T. Bacon, Supervisory Official of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Tara K. McGrath, United States Attorney for the Southern District of California, and Chad Yarbrough, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations Field Offices in Arizona and Spokane, Wash.; DEA Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit; FBI Field Offices in Washington, San Diego, and Los Angeles; and the Portland, Ore. Police Bureau, Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit, HIDTA Interdiction Taskforce. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle J. Parthum and Andrew C. Erskine of the Northern District of Illinois, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sutton of the Southern District of California, and Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division’s Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Section at the Justice Department.
The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies.
“Our nation’s fentanyl crisis has devastated individuals and families in northern Illinois and throughout the country,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Pasqual. “Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to disrupt the production and trafficking of fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics before they can reach more victims.”
“As alleged, the defendant conspired to traffic dangerous drugs, including fentanyl, into the United States — and employed dozens of gunmen to protect his drug trafficking operation and the leadership of the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel,” said Supervisory Official Bacon. “Stopping Mexican cartels from poisoning our communities with fentanyl and other narcotics is a top priority of this Administration. Today’s indictment demonstrates that the Criminal Division is relentless in its pursuit of the drug traffickers who profit at the expense of the American people.”
“From San Diego to Chicago to D.C., we are united to bring down the traffickers pushing these poisons into American communities,” said U.S. Attorney McGrath. “We are attacking at every level — from street dealers to cartel leaders.”
“This indictment reinforces the FBI’s unwavering commitment to hold accountable those who endanger our communities and traffic violence and drugs across our borders,” said Assistant Director Yarbrough. “Let this serve as a clear message: if you engage in cartel activity, we will pursue you and bring you to justice. Together with our law enforcement partners at every level, we remain fully committed to protecting the American people and stopping the flow of these dangerous drugs into our nation.”
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
BOSTON – A Boston woman was sentenced in federal court in Boston for a scheme to fraudulently obtain pandemic-related relief funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Jameela Gross, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to time served (one day) to be followed by three years of supervised release. Gross has also been ordered to pay $18,750 in restitution. In September 2024, Gross pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Gross was arrested in February 2024 along with over 40 Heath Street Gang members/associates, who were charged with racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, firearms charges and financial frauds, including COVID-related fraud.
Among other relief programs, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act created the PPP, a temporary loan program directed at small businesses. PPP loans were processed and funded by participating lenders and guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. If the small business used the loan funds for permissible expenses, the loan could be forgiven.
In April 2021, Gross submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application on behalf of her purported photography business. The application contained multiple false statements, including false representations regarding the fictitious business’s income in 2020 and the purpose of the loan. Gross also submitted false tax records in support of her loan application. Based on the fraudulent application, Gross received approximately $18,750.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Hoefle and Lucy Sun of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
As part of National Apprenticeship Week 2025, the Apprenticeship Team at Coventry City Council hosted more than 25 employers for a School Apprenticeship Show.
The event held this week at Coventry Rugby Club brought together over 300 students.
Severn Trent, Coventry University, BUUK infrastructure, Land Rover and West Midlands Police were just a few of the organisations promoting the wealth of apprenticeship opportunities available.
The show provided an invaluable platform for young people to explore career pathways, engage with employers, and gain insights into how apprenticeships can be a direct route into skilled employment.
Employers from sectors such as construction, healthcare, digital, engineering, and the public sector were on hand to share information, answer questions, and inspire the next generation of apprentices.
Cllr Richard Brown, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources at the Council, said: “I’m really pleased that our own apprenticeship team is helping to bring together so many great organisations and so many young people.
“Events like this are such a great way to highlight the different career options that apprenticeships can be the springboard to.”
Zak Bhana, Apprenticeship and Career Pathways Advisor, at Coventry City Council, said: “The event was a real success. It was great to see so many Coventry-based employers getting involved and informing students about the different apprenticeship career pathways they have available.
“Apprenticeships provide fantastic opportunities for young people to earn while they learn, and this event highlighted just how many options there are locally.”
The Apprenticeship Show aligns with the Council’s commitment to supporting young people into meaningful careers and ensuring local businesses can connect with the talent they need.
A huge thank you to all the employers, students, and schools who took part in making this event such a success. If you’d like to find out more about apprenticeships in Coventry, please visit our Apprenticeships Hub or contact the team at coventry.gov.uk/apprenticeships
On February 6, 2025 at approximately 11:35 p.m., Humboldt RCMP received a report of an assault in a business parking lot in Humboldt, SK.
Officers responded along with local EMS. Investigation determined an adult male, who was armed with a machete, approached two other males in the parking lot. The two groups were not known to each other. During their interaction, one of the adult males was injured. The injured adult male was transported to hospital with injuries described as serious in nature. We do not have an update on his condition.
As a result of investigation, on February 7, officers located the adult male suspect in a parked vehicle on a rural property near Humboldt, SK. Officers approached the vehicle and determined the adult male was armed with a hatchet. The male threatened self-harm, also threatening police. Officers deployed a conducted energy device and the male was arrested. The male was taken to hospital with what were described as non-life threatening injuries.
48-year-old Dominic O’Rourke from Humboldt, SK is charged with:
one count, assault with a weapon, Section 267(a), Criminal Code;
one count, assault on peace officer with a weapon, Section 270.01(1)(a), Criminal Code; and
one count, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, Section 88(1), Criminal Code.
Dominic O’Rourke is scheduled to appear in court in Humboldt on March 3, 2025.
A London court has found Sam Kerr not guilty of the racially aggravated harassment of Metropolitan Police officer Stephen Lovell.
As captain of the Australian women’s national soccer team, Kerr was widely condemned when news broke she had used a “racial slur” against an officer during an altercation.
The high-profile incident sparked debate across the globe.
Initially, former Australian soccer player Craig Foster criticised Kerr’s behaviour before retracting it and publicly apologising to her.
Meanwhile, politicians and academics argued her comments did not amount to racism given the power dynamics at play: not only is Kerr of Indian descent, but official inquiries have found the Metropolitan Police to be institutionally racist.
Kerr has maintained she and her partner – United States’ women’s national team player Kristie Mewis – believed they were being kidnapped by a cab driver.
He refused to let them out of the cab after Kerr vomited, taking them to Twickenham police station instead of their destination.
There, Mewis broke the cab window in an attempt to get out of the vehicle.
At the station, Kerr reportedly appealed to officers to “understand the emergency that both of us felt”, referencing the 2021 abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a Metropolitan Police officer.
However, Kerr soon faced an allegation of racism after becoming distressed and antagonistic towards the officers.
Believing they were siding with the cab driver after forming negative preconceptions because of her skin colour, she repeated “you guys are stupid and white, you guys are fucking stupid and white”.
What are the legal ramifications in the UK?
Kerr pleaded not guilty to the offence of intentionally causing harassment, alarm, or distress to another by using threatening, abusive, or insulting words under Section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986, and to the racial aggravation of the offence per the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
She faced a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine.
Kerr accepted she used the words “fucking stupid and white”. But it still had to be proven she intended and caused harassment, alarm, or distress to Lovell and that the offence was racially motivated.
Initially, the Crown Prosecution Service concluded there was not enough evidence to charge Kerr.
But after receiving a request from the Metropolitan Police to review the case, and a new statement from Lovell about Kerr’s words making him feel “belittled” and “upset”, they authorised police to charge the athlete.
A jury found her not guilty after a seven-day trial.
Broadly speaking, public order offences criminalise words and behaviour that might breach the peace. Police have significant discretion to use these offences as tools to regulate people’s uses of public space.
In Australia and the UK, police have been shown to use these powers in discriminatory ways.
Kerr has conceded her behaviour was regrettable but the charge against her is difficult to align with the purpose of public order legislation.
What does it mean for Kerr’s soccer career?
It is unclear what this verdict means for Kerr’s career.
Her English club, Chelsea, is anticipating she will return from a long-term knee injury soon.
It is possible the club was kept in the loop about Kerr’s altercation with police from the beginning, as she reportedly threatened to involve its lawyers in the body-cam footage shown at trial.
The club is yet to make a statement about the trial or verdict.
Football Australia is in a different position though, having been blindsided by the news Kerr had been charged by police.
The fact Kerr is the captain of the Matildas, and the sport’s highest-profile marketing asset, adds layers of complexity to Football Australia’s decision-making.
CEO of Football Australia James Johnson declined to weigh in on Kerr’s captaincy until her trial concluded.
It is possible the governing body will impose a sanction, with Kerr falling afoul of clause 2.14 of their national code of conduct and ethics after being charged with a criminal offence.
Kerr could return to the pitch later this month, but has been left out of the Matildas squad for the SheBelieves Cup in the US because of her fitness.
With the AFC Women’s Asian Cup on the horizon, interim Matildas head coach Tom Sermanni no doubt hopes her recovery stays on track.
Meanwhile, Kerr is yet to play under Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor. She could prove crucial as the club chases an elusive UEFA Women’s Champions League title, but faces competition for her spot.
Megan McElhone 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.
FORT WAYNE – Yesterday, Hamed A. Martin, 42 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly Brady after pleading guilty to distributing methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Martin was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in July 2022, Martin distributed methamphetamine on several occasions. A search warrant executed at his residence in August 2022, resulted in the recovery of a firearm along with evidence of drug distribution.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Fort Wayne Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which includes the FBI, the Indiana State Police, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, and the Fort Wayne Police Department. Also assisting in the investigation were the Drug Enforcement Administration and the DEA’s North Central Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case was also 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.
A coalition of local authorities, police and partner organisations have worked together for over a year to significantly reduce violent crime, robbery and burglary in the Finsbury Park area.
Love Finsbury Park was launched on 6 December 2023 as a partnership between the Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police, three local authorities and other organisations determined to work together and make the area safer.
In the project’s first year, violent crime, robbery and burglary have significantly reduced in the Finsbury Park area, including: Business Burglary – reduction of 27% Residential Burglary – reduction of 24% Personal Robbery – reduction of 21% Violent Crime with Injury – reduction of 14%
During the year, officers from the Met and British Transport Police made over 600 arrests as the number of police patrols in the area was significantly increased.
Police officers have seized a significant number of weapons, stolen phones and drugs, as well as locating individuals in the area who were wanted on warrant for previous offences.
Inspector Ross Hickman, one of the senior officers policing Finsbury Park, explained: “A policing framework called ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ is being used to deliver positive outcomes as part of Love Finsbury Park. The ‘Clear’ phase involves targeted arrests and crime disruption through partnership working. Accordingly, much of the Met’s focus has been on identifying and arresting those involved in organised crime, the vast majority relating to the supply of drugs.
“Since December 2023, a total of 17 search warrants were executed at addresses in the Finsbury Park area in intelligence-led operations targeting organised crime. Further operations are being planned as we continue to work at pace in the ‘Clear’ phase of this ‘Clear Hold Build’ framework.
“I am looking forward to moving on with the project, and into the next phases. ‘Hold’ means stabilising the area to stop offenders moving in to fill the void. The ‘Build’ phase is focused on community-driven action to address the causes of criminality and prevent it from happening again.
“Our work with partners, including the London Boroughs of Hackney, Haringey and Islington, will become increasingly crucial. Joint action – like our recent success in securing funding to improve lighting under the bridge on Stroud Green Road – is central to the success of Love Finsbury Park.”
Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney, said: “We’re already seeing positive results. Love Finsbury Park is building long-term improvements to community safety by driving out crime and tackling the issues that make residents feel unsafe.
“Alongside the police interventions, we’ve been working with residents, local councillors, businesses and partners to understand and address these local concerns. During this first phase, we have increased our enforcement patrols and CCTV surveillance, and created campaigns calling out street-based harassment like catcalling. We’ll continue building on our progress as we move into the next phases focused on preventative actions.”
Cllr Angelo Weekes, Executive Member for Community Safety at Islington Council said: “Islington has supported the police’s targeted operations and arrests as we take action to protect our residents and ensure their safety. We meet weekly with the police, sharing intelligence and CCTV footage and work together to engage with businesses, colleges and places of worship in Finsbury Park.
“We commission a patrol service to detect, deter and disrupt anti-social behaviour in Finsbury Park station, Blackstock Road and certain estates. We know there is more work to be done and look forward to continuing to work together to make Finsbury Park safer and more welcoming for everyone.”
Haringey Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Ajda Ovat, commented: “It’s fantastic to see the success that the ‘Clear, Hold, Build’ project is having in tackling serious and organised crime in the Finsbury Park area.
“As the scheme progresses and moves from stage to stage, it remains fundamentally important that community groups, residents and stakeholders continue to engage with our police partners and council staff from Haringey, Hackney and Islington as part of a tri-borough approach.
“That way, we can continue to create a far safer Finsbury Park for residents and visitors to experience and enjoy.”
The first police operation tackling organised crime took place on the very first day of the project, in December 2023. 70 officers executed three search warrants on shops on Blackstock Road which were believed to be linked to criminal activity in which seven people were arrested.
A recent co-ordinated police operation took place on 12 December 2024, and led to the recovery of 112,000 tablets of Pregabalin (a Class C drug), dozens of wraps of cocaine, £3,000 in cash and several Rolex watches. One man was arrested at an address in Sotheby Road and, acting quickly on evidence recovered there, a subsequent seven males were arrested nearby.
Love Finsbury Park is a true partnership involving the community at every stage. Anyone with information about those involved in the supply of drugs, burglary or robbery in the Finsbury Park area is urged to speak with local officers, call police on 101, message @MetCC or share what you know anonymously with Crimestoppers.
British Transport Police Chief Inspector Cheryl Ling, who oversees Finsbury Park, said: “I’m extremely pleased with what we’ve been able to achieve so far with the significant reduction in violent crime, but there is still plenty of work to do to keep those numbers down.
“We will continue to work closely with the Metropolitan Police and our other policing and local partners to deter crime, and we are determined to make our communities and the railway network safer for everyone.”
Inspector Hickman concluded: “My colleagues are focused on continuing to deliver results. I am pleased to see these much improved crime statistics, but I want to hear local people saying that they actually feel safer. That’s a real incentive for us to come to work every day to protect the public, deter or arrest those who want to profit from criminal activity and build on this successful first year.”
Police announced today that they will implement special traffic arrangements in view of the 2025 Shenzhen-Hong Kong marathon and the 15th National Games athletics (marathon) test event to be held in the two cities on February 23.
Clearance services at Shenzhen Bay Port will be suspended until about 11am on that day.
Moreover, temporary control measures will be implemented at Shenzhen Bay Bridge, Kong Sham Western Highway and Ha Tsuen Interchange from 2am to about 11am. These will be closed to all traffic from eastbound and westbound Yuen Long Highway, and Ha Tsuen Road.
During the suspension of clearance services, cross-boundary goods vehicles and private cars holding valid permits for Shenzhen Bay Port may divert to Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port, Man Kam To Port and Heung Yuen Wai Port.
After Shenzhen Bay Port’s clearance services have resumed, traffic arrangements will be implemented by phases, depending on actual conditions, Police added.
Kate Hoit, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Secretary of Communications at the California Department of Veterans Affairs. Hoit has been the PACT Act Enterprise Program Management Office Communications and Outreach Lead at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs since 2023. She was a Communications Lead in the Veteran Experience Office, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from 2021 to 2023. Hoit was the California State Director at the Vet Voice Foundation from 2018 to 2021. She was the Military Marketing Manager at National University from 2017 to 2018. Hoit was the Director of Content and Communications at Got Your 6 from 2014 to 2017. She was a Public Affairs Specialist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from 2011 to 2014. Hoit served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 2001 to 2009. She is a Pat Tillman Scholar and a member of the Truman National Security Project. She earned her Master of the Arts Degree in Non-Fiction Writing from Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor of the Arts in Journalism from the University at Albany, State University of New York. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $154,860. Hoit is a Democrat.
Shaun Spillane, of Gold River, has been appointed Chief Deputy Inspector General at the Office of the Inspector General, where he has been Chief Counsel since 2023, and was Attorney IV from 2013 to 2023. Spillane was Labor Relations Counsel II at the California Department of Human Resources from 2009 to 2013. He was a Graduate Student Assistant in the Office of the Inspector General from 2007 to 2009. Spillane earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $201,972. Spillane is registered without party preference.
Michael “Mike” Detoy, of Hermosa Beach, has been appointed to the California Public Employees’ Retirement System Board of Administration. Detoy has been Councilmember and Mayor of the City of Hermosa Beach since 2019. He has been Fire Captain for the City of Riverside since 2011. Detoy is President of the Riverside City Firefighters Association. He earned a Master of Public Administration degree from California Baptist University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Santa Clara University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Detoy is a Democrat.
Christopher Gonder, of Brawley, has been appointed to the Commission on Correctional Peace Officer Standards and Training. Gonder has been a Correctional Officer at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation since 2016. He is the Vice President of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, Calipatria Chapter and President of the Chicano Correctional Workers Association, Calipatria Chapter. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Gonder is registered without party preference.
Hellen Hong, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the Civil Rights Council, where she has served since 2021. Hong has been Chief Executive Officer at CalBar Connect since 2020. She was the Director at the Office of Access and Inclusion at the State Bar of California from 2019 to 2020. Hong held multiple executive positions at First Place for Youth from 2014 to 2019. She was the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice from 2007 to 2014. Hong was a Public Interest Attorney from 2004 to 2007. She was Assistant Director of State Government Relations at the University of California from 2002 to 2004. Hong earned her Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Hong is a Democrat
Hugh Crooks, of Los Angeles, has been reappointed to the California Veterans Board, where he has served since 2017. Crooks was a Human Resources Operations Manager at the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk from 2000 to 2005. Crooks was Head of Administrative and Facility Services at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History from 1991 to 2000. He was Safety Police Chief III for the Protective Services Division at the Los Angeles County Safety Police from 1969 to 1991. Crooks was a Rifleman in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969. He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 9th Infantry Division Society, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Advisory Group. Crooks was a National Executive Committeeman and Chief Financial Officer of the American Legion, Department of California. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Crooks is a Democrat.
Press Releases, Recent News
Recent news
Feb 11, 2025
News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Karen Morrison, of Sacramento, has been appointed Director at the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Morrison has held multiple positions at the Department of Pesticide…
Feb 11, 2025
News What you need to know: Across all of state government, highly-specialized personnel and response equipment are on the ground working to protect communities statewide from storm impacts. Los Angeles, California – With another significant winter storm system…
Feb 11, 2025
News What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order today ordering the state to ensure that childcare providers impacted by the recent wildfires in Los Angeles are aware of their potential eligibility for Disaster Unemployment Assistance and…
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Special traffic arrangements for 15th National Games athletics (marathon) test event Special traffic arrangements for 15th National Games athletics (marathon) test event ************************************************************************************
Police will implement special traffic arrangements to facilitate the 2025 Shenzhen-Hong Kong marathon and the 15th National Games athletics (marathon) test event to be held on February 23 (Sunday).Shenzhen Bay Port—————– To ensure the smooth running of the race, clearance services at Shenzhen Bay Port will be suspended, and temporary control measures will be implemented at Shenzhen Bay Bridge, Kong Sham Western Highway and Ha Tsuen Interchange from 2am to about 11am. These will be closed to all traffic from eastbound and westbound Yuen Long Highway, and Ha Tsuen Road. During the suspension of clearance services, cross-boundary goods vehicles and private cars holding valid permits for the Shenzhen Bay Port may divert to Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port, Man Kam To Port and Heung Yuen Wai Port as instructed. Traffic is expected to be relatively busy for roads leading to Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port and Lok Ma Chau Station (Futian Port), including San Tin Interchange, San Sam Road and Lok Ma Chau Road. Clearance services at Shenzhen Bay Port are anticipated to resume at around 11am, at which time traffic is expected to be relatively busy. Travellers and drivers planning to use the port on that day are advised to plan their journeys ahead and reserve sufficient commuting time. Shenzhen Bay Boundary Control Point———————————- After the clearance services at Shenzhen Bay Port resume normal, the following arrangements will be implemented by phases depending on traffic conditions: Phase I All vehicles will use the existing driving routes to enter the boundary control point. Phase II – The traffic arrangements for goods vehicles remain unchanged. They will continue to enter the holding area awaiting clearance through the goods vehicle lanes;- Public transport vehicles, including cross-boundary buses, franchised buses, green minibuses and taxis will continue to enter the boundary control point through the passenger vehicle lanes; and- Cross-boundary private cars must keep left on the Shenzhen Bay Bridge and then enter the designated waiting area through the goods vehicle lanes. Private cars will queue up and await further instructions to proceed to the clearance area for departure procedures. Lok Ma Chau Boundary Control Point———————————- Depending on traffic conditions, the following arrangements will be implemented by phases: Phase I All vehicles will use the existing driving routes to enter the boundary control point. Phase II – The traffic arrangements for cross-boundary private cars and goods vehicles remain unchanged. They will enter the boundary control point through the passenger vehicle lanes via San Tin Interchange or the goods vehicle lanes respectively;- Public transport vehicles including cross-boundary buses, green minibuses and taxis will use the goods vehicle lanes on eastbound San Tin Highway or westbound Fanling Highway to enter the goods vehicle holding area via San Sham Road;- Lok Ma Chau – Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle buses will enter Castle Peak Road after leaving Lok Ma Chau Public Transport Interchange, and will be instructed to turn right to the goods vehicle lanes of San Sham Road to enter the goods vehicle holding area; and- Vehicles in the goods vehicle holding area will be instructed to proceed to their respective drop-off areas. Phase III – In addition to the traffic arrangements implemented in Phase II, cross-boundary private cars will be instructed to enter the designated waiting area; and- Vehicles in the designated waiting area will be instructed to proceed to the clearance area for departure procedures. Motorists are advised to avoid driving to above areas during the specified hours. Road users are advised to exercise patience and drive with care, and follow the instructions of the Police on site.
Ends/Thursday, February 13, 2025Issued at HKT 18:19
Police have charged a man after three girls were allegedly sexually assaulted near Clapham Common.
John Nyhan, 22 (09.02.03), of Ingrave Street, Wandsworth, was charged in the early hours of Thursday, 13 February with three counts of sexual assault, and one count of harassment.
The charges relate to three separate incidents of sexual assault that happened on Wednesday, 8 January in Stormont Road, Clapham against a 14-year-old girl; Thursday, 23 January close to Frankfort House, Clapham Common against a 15-year-old girl; and Tuesday, 4 February in Sugden Road, Clapham against a 14-year-old girl.
Nyham is also charged with harassment of a 13-year-old girl following an incident in Stormont Road, Clapham on Thursday, 23 January.
A man was arrested on Tuesday, 11 February and charged as above.
Nyhan will appear at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 13 February.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
In its first year, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) apprenticeship programme has reached the 100-apprentice milestone.
Chief Constable Simon Chesterman meeting AFOs.
Announced last year during National Apprenticeship Week, the Level Four Non-Home Office Police Officer Apprenticeship (NHOPOA) trains recruits to the National Police Firearms Training Curriculum and takes place across our delivery centres in Oxfordshire and Cumbria.
The first 19 weeks of the course is a residential Initial Foundation Programme which includes our highly regarded firearms training, and for the remaining 20 months of the course recruits are posted as Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) at nominated Operational Policing Units (OPUs) to complete a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate their policing ability. After passing an End Point Assessment, the apprentices are confirmed in rank.
The celebrations continue this week as the CNC can announce that it recently passed its first Ofsted inspection, receiving praise for its training, practices, and positive recommendations for the future. This achievement demonstrates the force’s commitment to the learning and development of our people.
Chief Superintendent, Sheree Owen, Head of Training, reflects positively on the recent Ofsted inspection: “I am delighted with the outcome of the recent no-notice monitoring visit by Ofsted, the final grading for this will be published by Ofsted in the next two months.
“The feedback from inspectors was very positive, and highlighted the huge effort put into delivering this from many across the CNC, those within the training division, from policing skills instructors and NFIs, the Professional Development Units and tutor constables to the HQ staff who supported the project, the planners, finance team and operational support colleagues.
“We look forward to our full inspection in the next eighteen months.”
Inspector Stuart Rodgers, Apprenticeship Manager, also said: “My thanks to the apprentices for their hard work and commitment to learning new knowledge and skills, everyone at our training venues and to all those tutors who volunteer their time and effort to ensure our new people settle in well and complete their work to a high standard.”
Stoke-on-Trent today (Thursday 13 February) launches a major government-backed community campaign aimed at bringing together all communities as “One Stoke-on-Trent”.
The year-long campaign unites leaders from the city council, police, fire services, NHS, schools and colleges, local football teams, the media, and faith and voluntary sectors.
It is backed by £600,000 of funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Community Recovery Fund.
Some £240,000 of that money will be made available through a community grant scheme to amplify initiatives that promote cohesion and bring people together. Three categories of grant will be on offer: small (£500-£1,000), medium (£1,000-£5,000) and large (£5,000-£10,000).
Separately, the campaign will include a major engagement and “listening” exercise, working with residents and business to explore crucial questions about the city’s collective identity and what more needs to be done to make Stoke-on-Trent a place where everyone feels welcome, and can thrive.
Key messages from the campaign will be promoted by partners, making clear that Stoke-on-Trent is committed to being a welcoming city, which believes in fair opportunity for everyone and sees diversity as a strength.
The grants will be administered by the Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire, supported by VAST – a charity dedicated to helping to improve the quality of life for local communities – which will provide dedicated support to grassroot groups looking to apply for funding and deliver projects.
One Stoke-on-Trent has been developed on the back of public disorder in August 2024, which saw hundreds of protestors and counter-protesters descend on Hanley city centre. The incident was one of several national protests which took place last summer following the devastating murder of three young girls in Southport.
Councillor Jane Ashworth, the leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We have made it clear that everybody in Stoke-on-Trent has a right to feel and be safe – and that prejudice and discrimination are not welcome here, but we know that more needs to be done to understand the individual challenges facing our local communities.
“This will mean confronting some uncomfortable realities, engaging in difficult but necessary conversations and managing misinformation that can so easily spread hate and division.
“As we mark our city’s Centenary, we also need to recognise the contributions our diverse communities are making to our city and celebrate our unique history, heritage and individual character of each of our six towns.
“Our goal is to foster a greater sense of pride, trust and belonging among all residents regardless of their origin, background, race or religion.”
Fahmida Rehman, CEO of Stepping Stones Community Organisation, said: “The clear message emerging from this partnership is one of inclusivity and respect.
“Stoke-on-Trent is a city where everyone, regardless of their background, deserves to feel safe, valued, and heard.
“The multi-agency approach – bringing together council leaders, local services and community organisations like ours – signals a commitment to real, sustainable change.
“This is about more than just addressing the immediate concerns; it is about fostering long-term resilience, ensuring that prejudice and discrimination have no place in our city, and nurturing a future where all communities can thrive equally.”
Superintendent Dave Wain, of Staffordshire Police, said: “We know our communities in Stoke-on-Trent want to see more visible policing and for us to take robust action to address the issues that matter to them.
“We recognise that policing is only part of the solution and that is why we’re looking forward to working with our partners to tackle key community priorities.”
Matt Hancock, Chief Executive at Port Vale, said: “As a football club at the very heart of a diverse community within Stoke-on-Trent, we are fully supportive of the One Stoke-on-Trent initiative and committed to continuing to bring people together.
“We want our city to be a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, and are proud to be working collaboratively to deliver this strong message.”
Leanne Macpherson, Head of Programmes at the Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire, said: “We are pleased to be able to work with so many partners across the city to launch the grants scheme to support our local communities.
“It will empower organisations to deliver impactful projects, to build social trust, and strengthen community resilience and cohesion. By supporting grassroots initiatives, we can create more connected, inclusive and resilient communities.”
A trader in Stoke-on-Trent has been sentenced following a crackdown on illegal tobacco.
The operation was thanks to partnership working between Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Trading Standards team and Staffordshire Police.
Ismail Mohammed, who ran ‘Waterloo Stores’ at 80 Waterloo Road, Burslem, received a nine-month suspended sentence, 100 hours of unpaid work, and had his tobacco and cash seized.
The sentencing took place on Wednesday, 6 February 2025, at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, following Mr. Mohammed’s conviction on 8 July 2024. He pleaded guilty to the possession of criminal property (£6,310 in cash) and to entering into an arrangement to acquire, use, or control criminal property – in this case counterfeit and non-duty-paid tobacco.
It follows a successful investigation which began in 2019, into illegal tobacco sales at the shop, leading to a raid on residential properties in Hanley.
Officers seized 1,390 packs of illegal cigarettes and £17,000 in cash. Undercover test purchases also confirmed illegal tobacco sales at the Waterloo Road store.
Councillor Amjid Wazir OBE, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability at Stoke-on-Trent City Council said: “This case is another great example of partnership work making Stoke-on-Trent a safer place. The work carried out by our Trading Standards team sends a clear message—illegal tobacco sales will not be tolerated. Those involved in the storage, distribution, or sale of illicit tobacco will face serious consequences.
“The trade in illegal tobacco harms legitimate businesses, provides a cheap source of cigarettes for children and young people, and undermines efforts to reduce smoking rates. Illegal tobacco sales are also often linked to wider criminal activity.
“Our message is clear, those engaging in crime will be held accountable. We are committed to making Stoke-on-Trent a greener, fairer, cleaner, and safer city for all.”
Inspector Victoria Ison, from the Stoke North local policing team, said: “We are pleased to support the local authority and Trading Standards in their work to disrupt the sale of illegal tobacco and cigarettes.
“These items not only risk public health, but also have a significant impact on legitimate sellers and local businesses who are operating within the law.
“We hope the outcome reassures the community we are committed to working with partners to tackle this issue and associated criminality.”
Mr. Mohammed had previously been prosecuted for selling counterfeit cigarettes at another Stoke-on-Trent shop, where he was fined.
Anyone concerned about illegal tobacco, underage sales, or restricted products such as knives and vapes can report them through the Trading Standards hotline at 01782 238444 or visit www.stoke.gov.uk/tradingstandards
The family of an innocent man who was fatally shot outside a birthday party have appealed for the public’s help to get justice.
Hanif Redwood, a 32-year-old father of two, was attacked in Linton Road, Barking in the early hours of Sunday, 13 October.
He had been attending a party at the Factory 15 venue and was stood outside when, at around 04:33hrs, he was fatally shot by the gunman. He died at the scene.
Four months on from his murder, Hanif’s family and the officers leading the investigation are appealing for any information that could lead to the arrest, charge and prosecution of those responsible.
In an appeal for information, Hanif’s family said: “Hanif was a bright spark whose light has been dimmed far too soon. He was an innocent, hardworking and loving father of two, and it is heartbreaking to think that he has been taken away from us.
“As his family, we are imploring anyone with information to make their voices heard, and to help us get justice for our beloved Hanif.
“To those who may know or may have seen or heard what took place on that horrific night, any information you have will be of great value to us to help the authorities apprehend those that carried out such a dreadful act.”
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, who is leading the investigation, said: “Hanif was an innocent man. His death has devastated his family and friends, as well as many in the local community.
“We have continued to support Hanif’s family and update them at every point possible. While we have made significant progress with our enquiries, we are yet to secure a conviction and get the justice that they deserve.
“I’m appealing for anyone who has any information to come forward. Were you out in Barking on that Saturday night? Perhaps you had also been at the birthday party at Factory 15 or at another event nearby? Did you see or hear the shooting or anything else that struck you as being unusual?
“Someone must have seen or heard something, or must know why this shooting took place. No piece of information is too small. It could be the crucial clue that leads us to identify Hanif’s murderer.”
Anyone with information is urged to call 101 or message @MetCC on X, giving the reference 1295/13OCT. Information, including photos or videos, can also be easily uploaded to our dedicated appeal page.
To provide information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. They are an independent charity, separate from the police. They won’t ask for your name and can’t trace your call.
Two men who were arrested on suspicion of murder, were subsequently released on bail. A further 7 people have since been arrested in connection with the murder and either released on bail or released pending further investigation.
Attribute to Manawatu Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham:
Police have taken a suspect into custody after a firearm was presented at a member of the public and a Police officer in Palmerston North on Tuesday night.
The suspect, a youth, was located at a Dublin Street address in Whanganui about 8.10pm today. Specialist Police teams deployed immediately, and the suspect was taken into custody without issue about 8.20pm.
We understand the real concern Tuesday night’s incident created in the community, and getting the alleged offender off the street has been a priority for staff in the Central Police District.
Police staff, both frontline and behind the scenes, have done outstanding work to get this arrest and I hope the community can sleep a little easier tonight.
Due to the suspect’s age, we are limited in what details we can provide, but charges are being considered.
Attributable to Inspector Brad Allen, Wellington District Road Policing Manager:
Police can confirm one person has died after a collision between a shared cycle and a car in Martinborough this morning.
The collision happened on Puruatanga Road, between Regent Street and Todds Road, about 10.45am.
The deceased was critically injured but died at the scene before they could be airlifted to hospital. Three other people, also on the bike, suffered serious injuries.
Police’s thoughts, Aroha, and condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the deceased.
The Serious Crash Unit are conducting a scene examination and enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
One person has died after a water related incident at Whangapoua Beach this afternoon.
Emergency services were called to the beach about 1pm after the person was recovered from the water. First aid was provided, however, sadly they were not able to be revived.
A teenager has been arrested following investigations into incidents at Mitcham this morning.
An incident occurred about 1.15am on Thursday 13 February when a man walking along Wattlebury Road, near Barrans Reserve, Lower Mitcham was allegedly threatened by a teenager on a bike.
A short time later, about 2.30am, a man was sitting in his car parked at the Mitcham Shopping Centre when he was allegedly approached by a male who threatened him.
In both instances, the suspect was believed to be armed, possibly with an axe.
A 16-year-old boy from Kingswood has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault. He was bailed to appear in the Adelaide Youth Court on 2 April.
Investigations are continuing.
Anyone with any information that may assist the investigation can contact Crime Stoppers at www.crimestopperssa.com.au or on 1800 333 000.
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Niesha Goodwin, age 37, of Albany, pled guilty today to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft charges for fraudulently obtaining pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits in the names of other people. Goodwin also pled guilty to firearm and drug distribution charges for a firearm and cocaine base recovered during a search of her residence.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG); Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Goodwin admitted that from about July 2020 through March 2021, she fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits worth more than $150,000 by submitting applications for benefits in the names of five other people, including by using stolen personal identifying information. Goodwin agreed to pay $151,783 in restitution to the New York State Department of Labor.
Goodwin also admitted to possessing a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol and cocaine base (a/k/a crack cocaine) with the intent to distribute in November 2022. As a result of her prior conviction for robbery, Goodwin could not lawfully possess the pistol. Goodwin has agreed to forfeit the firearm and to abandon seven rounds of ammunition that were found in the firearm.
Goodwin faces at least 2 years in prison, a fine of up to $1.75 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years when she is sentenced on June 12, 2025 by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.
The case was investigated by USDOL-OIG, USPIS, and HSI, with assistance from the Albany Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew M. Paulbeck, Joseph S. Hartunian, and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case.
In line with our commitment to accountability, Tasmania Police has today published its annual report on complaints against police.The Professional Standards Complaints and Outcomes 2024 report details the type of complaint, findings and outcomes of Level 2 and 3 complaints made against police in 2024.In 2024, a total of 194 complaints from members of the public were received, a decrease from 325 in 2023.A total of 166 internally raised matters were received in 2024, compared with 94 in 2023.“Tasmania Police already reports annually through the Report on Government Services in terms of complaints against police. Last week we saw Productivity Commission data that reported Tasmania Police to be the most likely to be regarded as professional, to treat people fairly and equally, and be honest, than any other jurisdiction,” Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Higgins said.“Looking at the Professional Standards figures for 2024, I recognise from the thousands of interactions that we have with the community each year, the figure of 194 complaints is comparatively low. But it is vital that all complaints are appropriately responded to, investigated, action taken if required and that we publicly report on these important matters.“The Tasmanian community has high expectations of its policing service, and we are entrusted with significant powers to perform our duties to keep people safe.“When a complaint is made, either by a member of the community or raised internally by another police officer, the community must have confidence that these matters are investigated appropriately and outcomes are publicly available,” said Deputy Commissioner Higgins.“The number of internally raised matters reflects the importance of holding ourselves and our colleagues accountable for behaving in line with our values – Accountability, Integrity, Respect and Support. We’ll continue to build this culture amongst all officers, just as we will continue to welcome feedback from the community we serve.“The Tasmania Police Professional Standards Command investigates internal and external complaints of criminal conduct and breaches of the Code of Conduct, with independent oversight of investigations by the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Integrity Commission and the Ombudsman as appropriate, in addition to reporting to the Office of the Independent Regulator.“Tasmania Police strives for excellence in serving the community. Ongoing reflection and improvement and is important, and in many cases, the response to a complaint or feedback will include an opportunity for professional development or learning through verbal guidance to staff.”Members of the community can provide feedback or compliments on Tasmania Police’s performance at any time via the Tasmania Police website. Go to https://www.police.tas.gov.au/about-us/compliments-and-complaints/The Professional Standards report is available here: https://www.police.tas.gov.au/information-disclosure/
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Benz Coleman, age 34, of Colonie, New York, was sentenced today to 90 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Coleman admitted that on January 31, 2024, he possessed over 3,000 fentanyl pills and over 13 grams of cocaine, all with the intent to distribute the drugs. Coleman further admitted that between November 1, 2023 and January 31, 2024, he sold over 2,400 fentanyl pills.
Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn also imposed a 5-year term of supervised release to begin after Coleman is released from prison.
DEA and the Colonie Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss prosecuted the case.
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Omar Alaidrus, age 24, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to 12 months in prison following his guilty pleas to distributing controlled substances and food stamp fraud.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of the Inspector General Northeast Region (USDA-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office; and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James.
Alaidrus admitted that on multiple occasions, he exchanged fentanyl for food stamps in the Schenectady deli his family owned and operated. Alaidrus also unlawfully provided cash in exchange for food stamps, and redeemed food stamps for other prohibited items such as Xanax, alcohol, and tobacco. Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn also ordered Alaidrus to pay $316,975 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Food and Nutrition Service and imposed a 3-year-term of supervised release.
USDA-OIG, HSI, New York State Police, and the Schenectady Sheriff and Police investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted.
