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Politics
Trump Proclaims ‘Liberation Day,’ Reveals Array Of Planned Actions In Inaugural Address Trump Proclaims ‘Liberation Day,’ Reveals Array Of Planned Actions In Inaugural Address
Trump Proclaims ‘Liberation Day,’ Reveals Array Of Planned Actions In Inaugural Address Donald Trump proclaimed “liberation day” in his inaugural address after being sworn in to a second non-consecutive presidential term in the Capitol Rotunda just after noontime on Monday, Jan. 20. Click here for a new, updated story - Trump Ends All Jan. 6 Cases With Pardons, Commutations, Dismissals, Signs Flurry Of Executive Orders  "America will soon be greater, stronger, and far more exceptional than ever before," said Trump, who at age 78, became the oldest person to ever start a presidential term. In the half-hour long speech, he vowed that “the golden age of America begins rig…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
American Express To Pay $230M For Misleading Small Business Customers American Express To Pay $230M For Misleading Small Business Customers
American Express To Pay $230M For Misleading Small Business Customers American Express said it will pay $230 million to resolve federal investigations into deceptive sales tactics and recordkeeping violations involving small business credit card and wire transfer products. The credit card company agreed to pay a $108.7 million civil penalty, the Department of Justice said in a news release on Thursday, Jan. 16. The settlement resolved claims against American Express of deceptive marketing and "dummy" account information. American Express was accused of engaging in unlawful sales tactics and falsifying records between 2014 and 2021. "When financial companies …

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by Chris Spiker
News
Maryland Man Who Withheld Drugs From 'Dopesick' Women Forced Into Prostitution Gets Prison Time Maryland Man Who Withheld Drugs From 'Dopesick' Women Forced Into Prostitution Gets Prison Time
Maryland Man Who Withheld Drugs From 'Dopesick' Women Forced Into Prostitution Gets Prison Time A 36-year-old Maryland man who used women's' drug dependency to compel them to participate in commercial sex work for him up and down the East Coast will spend nearly two decades in prison, federal authorities announced. William O’Neil Murray III pleaded guilty in August 2024 to sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion over the course of several months in several states. On Monday, Jan. 13, Murray was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison and also ordered to pay his victims nearly $95,000 in restitution. “This sentencing is a powerful reminder that the FBI Richmond team will tir…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
US Attorney Matthew Graves To Step Down Days Before Trump Inauguration In DC US Attorney Matthew Graves To Step Down Days Before Trump Inauguration In DC
US Attorney Matthew Graves To Step Down Days Before Trump Inauguration In DC Matthew Graves is stepping down as US Attorney for DC, his office confirmed, announcing that his resignation will be official as of Thursday, Jan. 16, four days before the presidential inauguration.  Graves has been in the role of DC's top prosecutor for more than three years following his confirmation by the Senate on Oct. 28, 2021, days before he was sworn in on Nov. 5, 2021.  “Serving as the US Attorney for the District of Columbia has been the honor of a lifetime,” Graves said, thanking Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, President Biden, and Attorney General Merrick Garland …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Long Island Man Charged In Montgomery County's First $2.3M Gold Bar Scam, Police Say Long Island Man Charged In Montgomery County's First $2.3M Gold Bar Scam, Police Say
Long Island Man Charged In Montgomery County's First $2.3M Gold Bar Scam, Police Say A Long Island man is accused of orchestrating a $2.3 million gold bar scam that targeted an elderly Montgomery County mother and her daughter, police say.  Montgomery County police have charged 26-year-old Yash Shah of Baldwin, New York, in a government-imposter scam that defrauded an 88-year-old woman and her 61-year-old daughter out of millions worth of gold bars. Authorities said this is the first reported scam of its kind in the county. According to the Montgomery County Department of Police, the scheme began in February 2023, when the victims were contacted by someone claiming to…

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by Zak Failla
News
Federal Indictment Of Maryland Sheriff 'Dismissed With Prejudice' By Judge Federal Indictment Of Maryland Sheriff 'Dismissed With Prejudice' By Judge
Federal Indictment Of Maryland Sheriff 'Dismissed With Prejudice' By Judge Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins had some strong words after the federal charges against him were dropped, claiming that it was a politically-motivated move that had a major impact on his friends and family. On Tuesday, charges against the sheriff in a federal gun case were dismissed with prejudice after 597 days in what the sheriff called a "malicious" attack on him and his character. "With almost 35 years in law enforcement, I've always believed in the justice system," Jenkins said. "I've never seen anything like this in my life."  Sheriff Chuck Jenkins to address media fo…

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by Zak Failla
News
FBI Thwarts Iran-Linked Plan To Assassinate Donald Trump, DOJ Says FBI Thwarts Iran-Linked Plan To Assassinate Donald Trump, DOJ Says
FBI Thwarts Iran-Linked Plan To Assassinate Donald Trump, DOJ Says An Iranian operative and two associates living in America have been charged in a murder-for-hire plot targeting United States citizens, including President-elect Donald Trump. Federal authorities have charged Farhad Shakeri, an alleged operative of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), along with two New York City associates in a plot to assassinate a US citizen critical of the Iranian government.  The case highlights the continued threat posed by Iran’s attempts to silence dissidents and even target top US. officials. According to the Department of Justice criminal complai…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
DOJ Reaches $100M Settlement With Owners, Managers Of Vessel That Destroyed Key Bridge DOJ Reaches $100M Settlement With Owners, Managers Of Vessel That Destroyed Key Bridge
DOJ Reaches $100M Settlement With Owners, Managers Of Vessel That Destroyed Key Bridge The owners and managers of the ship that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge earlier this year in Baltimore have reached a settlement exceeding $100 million to offset the government's costs, federal authorities announced late on Thursday. Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, which owned and operated the DALI vessel that struck the bridge earlier this year, has agreed to pay a $101,980,000 settlement to resolve a civil claim filed earlier this year. The crash dismantled the bridge, and caused chaos for the Port of Baltimore and left several workers dea…

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by Zak Failla
News
Gold Bar Scammer Admits To $230K Scheme Targeting Elderly Man In Montgomery County: Prosecutors Gold Bar Scammer Admits To $230K Scheme Targeting Elderly Man In Montgomery County: Prosecutors
Gold Bar Scammer Admits To $230K Scheme Targeting Elderly Man In Montgomery County: Prosecutors The Maryland scammer believed to be a part of an international organized crime ring targeting elderly residents will face decades in prison, according to the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office. Ravinklejeet Mathon pleaded guilty this week and will face 40 years behind bars after scheming to steal three one-kilo gold bars with an estimated value of nearly $230,000 from an elderly man in Silver Spring. "The scam is believed to be part of an international organized crime ring," prosecutors said. "Similar Gold Bar Scams have been reported here in Montgomery County and across the United…

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by Zak Failla
News
Maryland Dad Who Killed Mother, Grandmother In Front Of Infant Learns His Fate Maryland Dad Who Killed Mother, Grandmother In Front Of Infant Learns His Fate
Maryland Dad Who Killed Mother, Grandmother In Front Of Infant Learns His Fate The Maryland man who set an apartment on fire with an infant inside and killed his child's mother and grandmother in Southeast DC more than three years ago may spend the rest of his life in prison. Clinton resident Keenan Turner, 35, was sentenced to 68 years in prison in connection to the April 2021 murders of Wanda and Ebony Wright, the shooting of a third victim, and the attempted murder of an infant when he set the fire, federal authorities announced. Prosecutors say that Turner's intention in committing the offenses was "solely to avoid paying child support."  They had been pushi…

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by Zak Failla
News
Honduran National Convicted Of Assaulting Maryland Resident Back In Custody: ICE Honduran National Convicted Of Assaulting Maryland Resident Back In Custody: ICE
Honduran National Convicted Of Assaulting Maryland Resident Back In Custody: ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Baltimore apprehended a 26-year-old Honduran national in Charles County after he was convicted of assaulting his victim in Maryland, authorities announced. Evin Obdulio Ponce-Guillen was taken into custody in Waldorf late last month after police learned that he made his way into the country illegally following an arrest in September 2023, when he was charged with second-degree assault. Ponce-Guillen was arrested on Sept. 5, 2023, and convicted on the charge on Friday, April 5, when he was sentenced to five years in prison. The court then suspended t…

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by Zak Failla
News
Maryland Suing Ship Owners, Managers Over Key Bridge Collapse In Baltimore: AG Maryland Suing Ship Owners, Managers Over Key Bridge Collapse In Baltimore: AG
Maryland Suing Ship Owners, Managers Over Key Bridge Collapse In Baltimore: AG The Maryland Attorney General's Office has filed a lawsuit seeking damages from the owners and operators of the DALI cargo ship that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge earlier this year in Baltimore. On Tuesday, AG Anthony Brown announced that his agency has filed a lawsuit targeting the owners – Grace Ocean Private Limited –and managers – Synergy Marine Pte Ltd. – of the M/V DALI for causing the March collision that dismantled the bridge and caused chaos for the Port of Baltimore. Brown said that since the fatal collapse - which claimed the lives of six people - has impacted Maryl…

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by Zak Failla
News
Maryland Man Withheld Drugs From 'Dopesick' Women Forced To Become Sex Workers: Feds Maryland Man Withheld Drugs From 'Dopesick' Women Forced To Become Sex Workers: Feds
Maryland Man Withheld Drugs From 'Dopesick' Women Forced To Become Sex Workers: Feds A 36-year-old Maryland man who used women's' drug dependency to compel them to participate in commercial sex work for him up and down the East Coast is facing prison time, federal authorities announced. William O’Neil Murray III pleaded guilty on Monday, Aug. 12 to sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion over the course of several months in several states. At least three women were involved. According to court documents, between December 2021 and July 2022, Murray was involved in the multi-state sex trafficking operation, using women he would coerce by using their drug dependency…

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by Zak Failla
News
Maryland Man Murdered Ex-Girlfriend, Grandmother Of Child He Attempted To Kill In DC: Feds Maryland Man Murdered Ex-Girlfriend, Grandmother Of Child He Attempted To Kill In DC: Feds
Maryland Man Murdered Ex-Girlfriend, Grandmother Of Child He Attempted To Kill In DC: Feds A Maryland man who was found complicit in the deaths of two people in Southeast DC in April 2021 is facing a lifetime behind bars, federal authorities announced. On Friday, a DC Superior Court jury returned a guilty verdict against Clinton resident Keanan Turner, 34, in connection to the murders of Wanda and Ebony Wright in the 2300 block of Good Hope Court SE three years ago. Metropolitan Police Department Prosecutors say that Ebony Wright was in a relationship with Turner when she became pregnant.  Turner asked her to terminate the pregnancy, and when she declined, he st…

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by Zak Failla
News
'Grievous Felon:' Illegal Migrant With Lengthy Rap Sheet Arrested In Maryland: ICE 'Grievous Felon:' Illegal Migrant With Lengthy Rap Sheet Arrested In Maryland: ICE
'Grievous Felon:' Illegal Migrant With Lengthy Rap Sheet Arrested In Maryland: ICE A 25-year-old national of Chad has been arrested for his role in an alleged murder and weapons offenses throughout Maryland after being released, federal authorities announced. US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says that Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers took Hisseine Gombo-Tchouli into custody near his Silver Spring home after being convicted of accessory after the fact of first-degree murder and was later released. According to investigators, Gombo-Tchouli legally entered the country in September 2005 at Dulles International Airport in Virginia; howev…

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by Zak Failla
News
Former DC Corrections Officer Gets Prison Time For Assaulting Handcuffed Inmate, Feds Say Former DC Corrections Officer Gets Prison Time For Assaulting Handcuffed Inmate, Feds Say
Former DC Corrections Officer Gets Prison Time For Assaulting Handcuffed Inmate, Feds Say A former District of Columbia Department of Corrections officer who assaulted a handcuffed inmate will be spending time on the other side of the bars after admitting to using unreasonable force  Marcus Bias, 28, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law after being charged late last year for an alleged incident more than three years ago. On Friday, the DOJ announced that he has been sentenced to 42 months in prison. “Like any other law enforcement officer, the defendant had a duty to protect the constitutional rights of anyone who w…

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by Zak Failla