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Hudson Valley's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Now Facing Sex Trafficking, Racketeering Charges: Feds
Following several lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and other abuses, successful hip-hop producer and New York native Sean "Diddy" Combs now faces federal sex trafficking charges, officials announced.
Combs, a 54-year-old New York City native who grew up in Westchester County in Mount Vernon, was arrested on Tuesday morning, Sept. 17 on a three-count indictment, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
According to federal officials, beginning as far back as 2008, Combs ran a criminal enterprise that involved sex trafficking, forced…
Woman Admits Setting Fire To Dutchess County Home With Daughter, Grandchildren Inside, DA Says
A woman has pleaded guilty to attempted arson in connection with intentionally setting fire to a Hudson Valley home with her and her grandchildren inside.
Niagara County resident Itita Washington-Thompson, age 48, of Niagara, made the plea on Monday, Sept. 16, said Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi.
Parisi said: "This case is a chilling example of how a domestic incident or dispute can escalate to dangerous extremes."
The incident occurred on Friday, May 24, at Hammersley Avenue in Poughkeepsie.
According to officials and court documents, Washington-Thompson…
Owner Set Fire To Butcher Shop In Capital Region For Insurance Payout, Police Say
Sympathizers donated thousands after his popular butcher shop went up in flames, but it turns out the owner himself was to blame, police said.
Washington County resident Cody Shields, age 33, of Argyle, was arrested on suspicion of arson Wednesday, July 24, in connection with a fire that destroyed his Albany County business, The Big Body Butcher Shop in Colonie.
The Central Avenue business was gutted when flames broke out in the early hours of Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
Earlier Report: 'I'm Devastated': Community Rallying For Colonie Butcher Shop Destroyed By Fire
Shields called 911 …
Hudson Valley Man Indicted On Murder, Concealment Of Corpse Charges, DA Says
A Hudson Valley man has been indicted with the murder of another man whom he shot to death and then drove the victim to another location and set the car on fire.
Related story: Years-Long Investigation Leads To Murder Charge For Stony Point Man
Rockland County resident Robert Rodriguez, age 36, of Stony Point, was arraigned on Tuesday, Feb. 27 following an indictment by a grand jury.
According to Scott Waters of the Rockland County District Attorney's Office, on the evening of Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, Rodriguez shot the victim, Ronald Mann on the property at Rodriguez’s home located at 41…
Arsonist Sets Fire To Capital Region Business, Home, Police Say
A man is facing charges in connection with intentional fires that were set at a home and business in the region.
Michael Kabler, age 49, who is homeless, was arrested Saturday, Oct. 7, after multiple agencies responded to a residential fire at the Sunset Trailer Park in Colonie, located on Central Avenue, at around 6 a.m.
According to Colonie Police, investigators determined that Kabler was responsible for the fire and had been squatting in the trailer.
No other homes were damaged and nobody else was injured.
He is also believed to be responsible for a fire that broke out in a camping tr…
Arson Spree: Suspect Nabbed In Series Of Fires In Region, Including One That Damaged Church
Police have arrested a suspect in a series of arson fires that were set in the region, including one that heavily damaged a church.
In Albany County, police and fire crews in Colonie were called at around 12:30 a.m. Monday, June 5, with reports of a brush fire in the traffic roundabout at Albany Shaker and Maxwell roads.
The fire left minor damage to a grassy area, according to the Colonie Police Department.
Officers later located the suspect, 25-year-old Mark Marcus, of Albany, not far from the scene.
According to investigators, Marcus intentionally started the fire, as well as several …
Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Burning Down Home Of Ex-Girlfriend, 2 Kids
A man has been sentenced to prison for arson after burning down the home of his ex-girlfriend and two young daughters in the region.
Ulster County resident Timothy Benzenhoefer, age 44, of the hamlet of Malden-on-Hudson, was sentenced on Friday, May 19 to 5 to 15 years in state prison for arson which he committed as part of his ongoing domestic abuse, said the Ulster County District Attorney Office.
The fire took place on Wednesday, June 25, 2022, a few days after calling off his engagement to the victim, Benzenhoefer completely burned to the ground the home where the v…
Hudson Valley Man Charged With Burning Car, Filing Fraudulent Claim, Police Say
A Hudson Valley man has been charged with arson after allegedly having his car burned and then filing a fraudulent claim.
Ulster County resident William Duryea, age 27, of Saugerties, was arrested on Monday, March 27 by state police, said Trooper Steven Nevel.
On Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, Duryea went to work at 10 p.m. at the Ulster Service Area on I-87. Around 11:20 p.m. he received a call from Kingston Police telling him that his vehicle was found on fire in Hasbrouck Park, Nevel said.
Nevel said Duryea told police that he left his keys in the car when he went to work, and someone must h…
Hudson Valley Restaurateur Sentenced For Burning Down Eatery, Endangering Others
A former Hudson Valley restaurateur has been sentenced to prison for intentionally burning down his restaurant and endangering the lives of his wife and first responders.
Orange County resident Zef Gjurashaj, age 60, of Newburgh, was sentenced Wednesday, March 1.
Gjurashaj, who was convicted by a jury in September 2022, was sentenced to 22 years to life in prison for burning down Andiamo’s Restaurant, which was located at 5025 Route 9W, in the Town of Newburgh in 2017, the Orange County DA's Office said.
Prior to the trial, Gjurashaj’s co-defendant and the wife of his nephew…
Northern Westchester Man Charged With Killing Stepfather, Lighting Relative's Home On Fire: DA
A man from Northern Westchester is charged with fatally stabbing his stepfather before lighting a relative's home on fire.
On Wednesday, Sept. 14, around 12:30 a.m., 30-year-old Shane Gilleo of Peekskill is accused of stabbing 48-year-old Edward Reeves numerous times with a knife at a residence in Peekskill on North James Street, according to a release by Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah on Thursday, Nov. 10.
Reeves was taken to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, where he later died, Rocah said.
Later that day, around 11:20 a.m., Gilleo is charge…
