High-Ranking MS-13 Leader Arraigned On Terrorism Charges In NY After FBI's 'Most Wanted' Arrest High-Ranking MS-13 Leader Arraigned On Terrorism Charges In NY After FBI's 'Most Wanted' Arrest
High-Ranking MS-13 Leader Arraigned On Terrorism Charges In NY After FBI's 'Most Wanted' Arrest A top leader of the notorious MS-13 gang, who was recently added to the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list, has been arraigned in federal court in New York. Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, 47, was taken into custody in San Diego, California, on Tuesday, March 18, after Mexican authorities located him in Veracruz and expelled him from the country, the US Attorney’s Office said. He had been a fugitive for nearly three years. Roman-Bardales, a founding member of MS-13’s leadership structure known as Ranfla en las Calles, was arraigned in the Eastern District of New York on Wednesday, March 1…
'Callous Predator' Who Sextorted 13-Year-Old Girl Sentenced To Life In Prison 'Callous Predator' Who Sextorted 13-Year-Old Girl Sentenced To Life In Prison
'Callous Predator' Who Sextorted 13-Year-Old Girl Sentenced To Life In Prison A convicted child predator from New York was sentenced to life in prison for posing as a teenager in order to sexually extort a 13-year-old New Jersey girl. Zachary Williams, 37, of New York City, learned his fate in Camden federal court on Tuesday, March 18, following convictions for interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and related charges. After a nearly two-week trial, jurors concluded that Williams met the 13-year-old victim on Snapchat and pretended to be 17 years old. In reality, he was 33 at the time. Williams asked the girl to send him nude photos of …
NY Museum Heist Crew  Sentenced  In Decades-Long Crime: Feds NY Museum Heist Crew  Sentenced  In Decades-Long Crime: Feds
NY Museum Heist Crew Sentenced In Decades-Long Crime: Feds It took them 20 years to steal it all—but just four weeks for a jury to take it back. Now, multiple members of the Pennsylvania-based museum heist crew are heading to prison. Thomas Trotta, 49, of Dunmore, was sentenced on Friday, March 14 to serve 96 months in prison, followed by supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,759,073 in restitution for his role in the massive multi-state theft operation targeting fine art, sports memorabilia, and historic artifacts worth over $4 million the FBI announced on Tuesday, March 18. Trotta and his co-conspirators carried out a string of museum heists …
Online Scammers Using This Method To Steal Personal Info, FBI Says Online Scammers Using This Method To Steal Personal Info, FBI Says
Online Scammers Using This Method To Steal Personal Info, FBI Says The FBI has issued a warning about cybercriminals exploiting victims to distribute malware and steal personal information. ​ Fraudulent free online file converter tools offer services like converting or merging files—such as transforming a .doc file to a .pdf or combining multiple images into a single document. While they perform the advertised tasks, they may also install hidden malware on users' computers.  This malware can grant criminals access to sensitive data, including Social Security numbers, banking details, cryptocurrency information, email addresses, and passwords.  …
Beware Of New Data Stealing Scheme, Feds Warn Beware Of New Data Stealing Scheme, Feds Warn
Beware Of New Data Stealing Scheme, Feds Warn A dangerous ransomware program has taken data from hundreds of victims hostage—and more could be at risk, according to a warning from multiple federal agencies. Medusa, a ransomware-as-a-service variant, has been used in attacks on critical infrastructure sectors, impacting more than 300 known victims, according to a joint cybersecurity advisory from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the FBI, and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC). The ransomware, which first emerged in 2021, uses common attack methods such as phishing emails and exp…
NY Scores High For Supporting Immigrants But Economic Gaps Persist, New Study Says NY Scores High For Supporting Immigrants But Economic Gaps Persist, New Study Says
NY Scores High For Supporting Immigrants But Economic Gaps Persist, New Study Says A new study says some mid-Atlantic states are among the nation's leaders for having the best conditions for immigrants. Virginia ranked No. 1 as the most welcoming state for immigrants, while Arizona was named the worst, according to the study from SmileHub. The report evaluated states on 17 key factors, including the share of immigrants, job opportunities, and legal protections. The study was released as concerns rise over the Trump administration's crackdown on undocumented migrants, which is also increasing fears among immigrants legally in the US. "Over 51 million immigrants live …
FBI, Homeland Security Join 'High-Level' Probe Into Missing Student In Dominican Republic FBI, Homeland Security Join 'High-Level' Probe Into Missing Student In Dominican Republic
FBI, Homeland Security Join 'High-Level' Probe Into Missing Student In Dominican Republic The search for missing Virginia college student Sudiksha Konanki has escalated into a major international investigation, with the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) now assisting Dominican authorities, officials announced. The Dominican Republic Attorney General’s Office confirmed that it has assembled a high-level joint task force to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student from Chantilly who vanished in Punta Cana last week. Authorities say they are exploring all possibilities. "The prosecuting authority is conducting extens…
International Search Intensifies For Missing American College Student In Dominican Republic International Search Intensifies For Missing American College Student In Dominican Republic
International Search Intensifies For Missing American College Student In Dominican Republic The search for a missing Virginia college student who vanished while on vacation in the Dominican Republic is intensifying as officials establish a high-level commission to oversee the case, authorities announced. The Dominican Republic National Police, in coordination with the Attorney General’s Office, FBI, and the US Embassy Liaison, has expanded their investigation into the disappearance of 20-year-old Sudiksha Konanki, a University of Pittsburgh student from Chantilly who went missing on Thursday, March 6 while on a trip with friends in Punta Cana. Officials confirmed that Konanki, a c…
Sexual Abuse: NY Pastor Admits 'Sweet Spot' For Molesting Children Was Between 11 And 15 Sexual Abuse: NY Pastor Admits 'Sweet Spot' For Molesting Children Was Between 11 And 15
Sexual Abuse: NY Pastor Admits 'Sweet Spot' For Molesting Children Was Between 11 And 15 A New York pastor formally confessed to sexually abusing numerous children, some as young as infants. Long Island resident Jose Saez Jr., 29, of Brentwood, pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child in Central Islip federal court on Tuesday, March 11, following an investigation by the Justice Department’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative. UPDATE: Jose Saez, Jr. has been convicted and sentenced. Click here to read our updated report.  Saez, a father of three and former pastor at Brentwood’s Iglesia Cristiana Alumbrando El Camino Church, admitted to using an encrypted messaging…
Missing American Sudiksha Konanki Vanishes During Beach Walk In DR Missing American Sudiksha Konanki Vanishes During Beach Walk In DR
Missing American Sudiksha Konanki Vanishes During Beach Walk In DR The search is on for a University of Pittsburgh student from Virginia who vanished while on vacation in the Dominican Republic. An "exhaustive" international search involving the US and Dominican Republic officials has been launched for Chantilly native Sudiksha Konanki, 20, who has not been heard from since last week. Konanki was reported missing on Thursday, March 6, while vacationing with five friends at a resort in Punta Cana, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. Konanki, a citizen of India and permanent US resident, has not been seen since around 4:15 a.m. that …
Ex-Olympian Accused Of Ordering Murders Added To FBI's Most Wanted List Ex-Olympian Accused Of Ordering Murders Added To FBI's Most Wanted List
Ex-Olympian Accused Of Ordering Murders Added To FBI's Most Wanted List In a stunning fall from grace, a former once celebrated for his prowess on the slopes, now finds himself at the center of a chilling manhunt. Accused of orchestrating a deadly drug trafficking operation that spans continents, Ryan Wedding, age 43, has been placed on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list, joining the ranks of the most notorious criminals in America.
 Once an icon of athleticism, Wedding now faces serious allegations, including multiple murders linked to his alleged drug empire.  As authorities intensify their search, a $10 million reward has been offered for informat…
Cocaine Trafficker's Son Who Beat Teen For Mother's Trial Testimony Gets Federal Prison Time Cocaine Trafficker's Son Who Beat Teen For Mother's Trial Testimony Gets Federal Prison Time
Cocaine Trafficker's Son Who Beat Teen For Mother's Trial Testimony Gets Federal Prison Time A New York man will spend over a year behind bars for violently attacking a 15-year-old boy in retaliation for the boy’s mother testifying in a federal drug case. Patrick Civitello, 19, of Schenectady, was sentenced to 18 months in prison in Albany federal court on Tuesday, March 4, after admitting he punched and kicked the teen in a restaurant parking lot in Glenville in May 2024. The boy’s mother had testified against Civitello’s father, Jeffrey Civitello Sr., and brother, Jeffrey Civitello Jr., in a federal drug case. The father and son were convicted of drug trafficking charges in April…