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Athletic Director At School District In Hudson Valley Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen Athletic Director At School District In Hudson Valley Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen
Athletic Director At School District In Hudson Valley Accused Of 'Sextortion' Of Teen This story has been updated. An athletic director at a school district in Westchester County has been arrested and charged in connection with allegedly extorting a teenager to send sexually explicit images and videos. Thomas James Puccini, 28 years old and employed as the Interim Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics by the Eastchester Union Free School District, was arrested on Friday, Nov. 1. He was charged with felony grand larceny in the fourth degree and was arraigned in White Plains City Court by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Puccini has been pla…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
12-Year-Old Accused Of Making Threat To School In Region 12-Year-Old Accused Of Making Threat To School In Region
12-Year-Old Accused Of Making Threat To School In Region A 12-year-old student in the region was charged with making a terroristic threat at a junior/senior high school. The incident occurred in Sullivan County on Saturday, Oct. 19, in Fallsburg. According to Fallsburg Police Chief Brendan Pavese, the juvenile allegedly made the threats on Snapchat and included a picture of the Fallsburg Junior/Senior High School auditorium.  The threats, which mentioned shootings, came to the attention of police and school authorities via parents and students, both the police and school said. After receiving the information, the police department worked a…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Threat To School In Region Leads To Arrest Threat To School In Region Leads To Arrest
Threat To School In Region Leads To Arrest One person has been charged in connection with an alleged threat of a shooting at a school in the region after an online post was brought to the attention of police by the public.  The incident occurred in Sullivan County on Saturday, Sept. 21, in Fallsburg. According to the Fallsburg Police Department, an arrest was made concerning the threat on Snapchat. Dr. Ivan Katz, the superintendent of schools for the Fallsburg Central School District, said students, parents, and the public also alerted district officials to the threat. "These threats, which mention shooting, are circulating t…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
27-Year-Old Accused Of Having Sex With Teen He Met At Hudson Valley Park 27-Year-Old Accused Of Having Sex With Teen He Met At Hudson Valley Park
27-Year-Old Accused Of Having Sex With Teen He Met At Hudson Valley Park A 27-year-old Connecticut man is accused of carrying on a consensual sexual relationship with a 15-year-old in a neighboring county in New York, authorities announced.  Litchfield County resident Kevin Brathwaite, of Sharon, was arrested on Monday, Aug. 19, and charged with second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor, Connecticut State Police said.  The teen told police she met Brathwaite in Dutchess County at Thomas J. Boyce Park in Wingdale, where she was watching her friends play basketball. He offered to drive her home, but she declined. She was 13 years ol…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Update: More Details Emerge About Kidnapping Case Involving Missing 15-Year-Old CT Girl Update: More Details Emerge About Kidnapping Case Involving Missing 15-Year-Old CT Girl
Update: More Details Emerge About Kidnapping Case Involving Missing 15-Year-Old CT Girl Authorities have released more information about a case involving a missing 15-year-old Connecticut girl who was found in the Hudson Valley after allegedly being kidnapped by a 24-year-old man.  New Haven resident Marcos Alex Mendez-Torres was taken into custody by Connecticut State Police on Wednesday, June 26 after also being arrested in the Orange County town of Montgomery, New York on Sunday, June 23 in connection with a kidnapping case involving a missing 15-year-old Connecticut girl, State Police announced on Thursday, June 27.  Earlier Report - 24-…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Capital Region Child Predator Admits Blackmailing Kids Into Sending Nude Images Capital Region Child Predator Admits Blackmailing Kids Into Sending Nude Images
Capital Region Child Predator Admits Blackmailing Kids Into Sending Nude Images A convicted child sex abuser from the region will spend decades in federal prison after confessing that he blackmailed young kids into sending nude images. Rensselaer County resident Zachary Cota, age 31, of Castleton-on-Hudson, pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography in Albany federal court on Friday, May 10. According to prosecutors, Cota admitted to using SnapChat to get three children to send him nude photos. Two of the victims were 8 and 13 years old. Once the children provided the requested photos, he reportedly threatened to reveal what they had done in order to get more illic…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Drunken, Snapchatting Driver Sentenced For Fiery Crash That Killed NY College Student Drunken, Snapchatting Driver Sentenced For Fiery Crash That Killed NY College Student
Drunken, Snapchatting Driver Sentenced For Fiery Crash That Killed NY College Student An admitted drunk driver who caused a fiery crash on a New York highway, killing a beloved college student, is heading to prison. New Jersey resident Vasu Laroiya, age 24, of Iselin in Middlesex County, was sentenced to 8 ⅓ to 25 years behind bars in Albany County Court on Friday, Jan. 26, after pleading guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide in the death of Katie Fisher. Laroiya admitted that he was Snapchatting while driving drunk at 156 miles per hour on I-87 in Colonie when his Tesla struck Fisher’s Honda Civic on the night of May 28, 2022. Earlier Report: Drunken Driver G…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
Entrepreneur From Northern Westchester Earns Spot On Forbes' 30 Under 30 List Entrepreneur From Northern Westchester Earns Spot On Forbes' 30 Under 30 List
Entrepreneur From Northern Westchester Earns Spot On Forbes' 30 Under 30 List For Northern Westchester native Tom Weingarten, simply following his passion for sports and coaching and taking a chance ended up bringing him to a level of success that is now earning recognition from major national outlets. Weingarten, age 29, who serves as the chief growth officer for sports media company Overtime, was named on the 2024 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, which is released annually and features 600 successful young entrepreneurs, stars, and leaders who have already exhibited plenty of potential.  Since Weingarten joined Overtime in 2015 as a startup, it has grown to have …

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by Ben Crnic
News
Condoms, Rope Found On NY Man Who Blackmailed Minors Into Sending Nudes, Feds Say Condoms, Rope Found On NY Man Who Blackmailed Minors Into Sending Nudes, Feds Say
Condoms, Rope Found On NY Man Who Blackmailed Minors Into Sending Nudes, Feds Say A New York man is in federal custody after allegedly blackmailing several underage girls into sending him sexually explicit images. Long Island resident Brandon Kern, age 29, of Bayport, was arraigned on multiple charges in Central Islip federal court on Wednesday, Nov. 22. An investigation found that between December 2020 and October 2021, he posed as a teenager on Snapchat in order to convince at least six underage girls to send him sexually explicit photos and videos. Some of the victims were as young as 12 years old, according to the FBI. When the girls attempted to block him, Kern al…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Teacher From Northern Westchester Caught With Child Porn, Trying To Hack Social Media: Feds Teacher From Northern Westchester Caught With Child Porn, Trying To Hack Social Media: Feds
Teacher From Northern Westchester Caught With Child Porn, Trying To Hack Social Media: Feds A 27-year-old teacher from Northern Westchester faces decades in prison after authorities discovered his possession of child pornography and an attempt to hack into a student's social media account, officials said. Yorktown resident and teacher Giuseppi Micciari, age 27, was arrested on child pornography charges and presented in White Plains federal court on Wednesday, Nov. 1, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced.  According to federal officials, Micciari's arrest followed a review of his cell phone conducted by authorities that revealed th…

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by Ben Crnic
News
‘Tear Him Girl’: Kidnapping, Torture Of Man Inside Capital Region Home Lands Trio In Prison ‘Tear Him Girl’: Kidnapping, Torture Of Man Inside Capital Region Home Lands Trio In Prison
‘Tear Him Girl’: Kidnapping, Torture Of Man Inside Capital Region Home Lands Trio In Prison Three New York men will spend years in prison for kidnapping a man and subjecting him to nearly 24 hours of torture during which they repeatedly beat the victim, stomped his head, and encouraged a dog to bite him. Long Island residents Dwayne Henderson, age 26, and Danny Harrell, age 21, both of Nassau County, were sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in Schenectady County Court on Monday, Aug. 14, following convictions for attempted murder and kidnapping. A third defendant, another Nassau County resident, Dieago Harrell, age 19, of Hempstead, was given 10 years behind bars after being c…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Hudson Valley Convicted Rapist Caught Blackmailing Teens For Sex Photos, US Attorney Says Hudson Valley Convicted Rapist Caught Blackmailing Teens For Sex Photos, US Attorney Says
Hudson Valley Convicted Rapist Caught Blackmailing Teens For Sex Photos, US Attorney Says A convicted rapist from the Hudson Valley on probation has been caught extorting teen girls online for sex photos and videos online. Orange County resident Cameron McEwen, age 21, of Middletown, was arrested on Tuesday, April 25 for targeting at least two girls online and forcing them to engage in sexually explicit activity or he would share their photos with others, said the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams. The criminal complaint charges that McEwen persuaded a 16-year-old girl (Victim 1) living in Alaska to engage in sexually explicit activity, take …

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
New Survey Reveals Gen Z’s Favorite Restaurant New Survey Reveals Gen Z’s Favorite Restaurant
New Survey Reveals Gen Z’s Favorite Restaurant When it comes to satisfying those hunger pangs, it turns out nothing does it for Zoomers quite like the delectably irresistible taste of America’s favorite chicken shack. A new survey by investment firm Piper Sandler found that Generation Z’s favorite restaurant is Chick-fil-A. Of those polled, 18 percent picked the Atlanta-based chicken chain as their favorite place to eat, followed by Starbucks (17 percent) and Chipotle (13 percent). The restaurant category was just one of several that was gauged as part of Piper Sandler’s 44th semi-annual “Taking Stock With Teens” survey, which includ…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
'Dangerous Predator': Long Island Man Who Made Sexually Explicit Videos Of 9-Year-Old Sentenced 'Dangerous Predator': Long Island Man Who Made Sexually Explicit Videos Of 9-Year-Old Sentenced
'Dangerous Predator': Long Island Man Who Made Sexually Explicit Videos Of 9-Year-Old Sentenced A New York man who filmed himself sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl and sent child pornography to minors is heading to prison, thanks in part to the bravery of a Connecticut teenager. Manuel Geovanny Torres Rivas, age 27, of Hempstead on Long Island, was sentenced to 25 years behind bars Friday, Oct. 14, in federal court in Central Islip. The sentence followed his January 2022 guilty plea to sexual exploitation of a child. Federal investigators began looking into Torres Rivas after a 13-year-old Connecticut girl told her school that a user on the social networking app Snapchat had sent h…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Raping 14-Year-Old He Met On Snapchat Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Raping 14-Year-Old He Met On Snapchat
Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Raping 14-Year-Old He Met On Snapchat A Hudson Valley man has been arrested after allegedly meeting a 14-year-old girl online and having sex with her on multiple occasions. Orange County resident Marco J. Rivera, age 22, of Washingtonville, was arrested by the Ulster County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, Sept. 21 for the incidents which took place in July 2020. According to the Sheriff's Office, in June detectives received information from the Village of Walden Police Department about an incident involving a 20-year-old male who had sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old female in July 2020.  Through investigation, it was …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Man Accused Of Trying To Rape Hudson Valley Middle School Student Man Accused Of Trying To Rape Hudson Valley Middle School Student
Man Accused Of Trying To Rape Hudson Valley Middle School Student A man has been charged with allegedly traveling to attempt to rape a Hudson Valley 13-year-old girl at an area hotel. Thomas Rivera, age 32, of Lauderhill, Florida, was arrested on Tuesday, June 7, for communicating online with the girl and persuading her to meet him in Dutchess county to engage in sex, said Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. According to the allegations in the complaint filed on Friday, June 3, in White Plains federal court in April the town of Poughkeepsie Police department received a report from the town of Hyde Park Police regarding …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
Hudson Valley Man Admits To Killing Bat Inside Cave Hudson Valley Man Admits To Killing Bat Inside Cave
Hudson Valley Man Admits To Killing Bat Inside Cave A Hudson Valley man has admitted to animal cruelty charges for killing a bat in a Putnam County cave, SPCA officials announced. Putnam County SPCA Chief Ken Ross said that Caleb Shuk, age 20, of Philipstown, has pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty following an incident in May last year that led to his arrest. Shuk was arrested on May 4, 2021, and charged with torturing a bat resting against a rock wall in the Sunken Mines Caves location in Putnam County. Ross said that Shuk used a large rock to crush the bat repeatedly - all while shouting curses about COVID-19 and laughing - cau…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
11-Year-Old In Hudson Valley Accused Of Making Snapchat Threat Targeting School 11-Year-Old In Hudson Valley Accused Of Making Snapchat Threat Targeting School
11-Year-Old In Hudson Valley Accused Of Making Snapchat Threat Targeting School An 11-year-old girl has been identified as the social media user who made a threat on Snapchat targeting a Hudson Valley school district, officials announced. In Dutchess County, the Poughkeepsie City School District announced that a minor has been identified as the person responsible for making a threat through the social media platform on Tuesday, March 22. A spokesperson for the district said that the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department was notified by the FBI at approximately 2:50 a.m. on Tuesday morning about a threat of a shooting that was flagged by Snapchat stemming from the city…

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by Zak Failla
News
Two Schools In Hudson Valley Go Remote After Social Media Threats Two Schools In Hudson Valley Go Remote After Social Media Threats
Two Schools In Hudson Valley Go Remote After Social Media Threats Two schools in the Hudson Valley have moved to remote learning following a social media threat. Both Poughkeepsie Middle School and Poughkeepsie High School will be operating on a remote learning schedule on Monday, March 21, due to the social media threat made against both schools, according to a message on the district's website.  Students and staff are expected to engage in remote learning using the one-hour delay schedule, the district said. "Parents should check their child's social media accounts and share any concerning material with law enforcement," the district added. No o…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
12-Year-Old Student In Area Charged With Making Terrorist Threat, Police Say 12-Year-Old Student In Area Charged With Making Terrorist Threat, Police Say
12-Year-Old Student In Area Charged With Making Terrorist Threat, Police Say A 12-year-old Hudson Valley boy has been charged with making a terroristic threat after making an online threat. The incident began in Dutchess County around 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 24, when Poughkeepsie Middle School became aware of a message on Snapchat in which a person threatened to bring a gun to school. According to Detective Lt. Matt Clark, of the Poughkeepsie Police, the school was quickly able to identify the student responsible for the post. The student, a 12-year-old male, was brought to the City of Poughkeepsie Police Juvenile Division, Clark said. The student and…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
Threats Targeting Hudson Valley Schools Deemed Not Credible, Buildings To Reopen Threats Targeting Hudson Valley Schools Deemed Not Credible, Buildings To Reopen
Threats Targeting Hudson Valley Schools Deemed Not Credible, Buildings To Reopen Social media threats that forced a Hudson Valley middle school and high school to close for two days were deemed not credible and the buildings are scheduled to reopen with new security measures put in place, officials announced. In Dutchess County, the Poughkeepsie City School District canceled classes at the two buildings on Tuesday, Feb. 22, and Wednesday, Feb. 23 due to a social media threat that was made on Snapchat. Original story - Social Media Threat Leads To Closure Of School Districts In Hudson Valley In the afternoon on Feb. 23, a spokesperson for the district announced tha…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Threat Leads To Second Closure Of Hudson Valley Schools Threat Leads To Second Closure Of Hudson Valley Schools
Threat Leads To Second Closure Of Hudson Valley Schools Classes have been canceled for the second straight day in a Hudson Valley school district that was targeted by threats made on social media. In Dutchess County, Poughkeepsie City Schools Superintendent Eric Jay Rosser announced that the high school and middle school would be closed on Wednesday, Feb. 23 for the second straight day after a threat was made on Snapchat. On Tuesday, Feb. 22, both the Poughkeepsie City and Wappingers Central school districts were forced to close some buildings due to threats made toward them. Earlier story - Social Media Threat Leads To Closure Of School Dist…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Charli D'Amelio, Age 17, Of Fairfield County Is Outearning Top CEOs By Millions Charli D'Amelio, Age 17, Of Fairfield County Is Outearning Top CEOs By Millions
Charli D'Amelio, Age 17, Of Fairfield County Is Outearning Top CEOs By Millions A teen social media star from Connecticut is outearning some of the most successful CEOs in the US by millions of dollars, according to new reports by Forbes and the Wall Street Journal. With 133 million TikToker followers, 17-year-old Fairfield County resident Charli D'Amelio, of Norwalk, who started posting to TikTok in 2019 -- has the video-sharing app's largest following, Forbes says. Last year, she brought in $17.5 million. The median pay for chief executives of S&P 500 companies in 2020 was $13.4 million, the WSJ reports. Darren Woods was the highest-earning CEO of 2020, brin…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
'Specific Threat' Leads To Shift To Remote Learning At School District In Westchester 'Specific Threat' Leads To Shift To Remote Learning At School District In Westchester
'Specific Threat' Leads To Shift To Remote Learning At School District In Westchester A threat described by district officials as being "specific" has prompted a  school district in Westchester to switch to remote learning on Friday, Dec. 17. "This morning, we learned about a specific threat made on Snapchat against the high school," Pelham Public Schools Acting Superintendent of Schools Dennis R. Lauro said in an email to the school community. "Out of an abundance of caution, all of our schools will shift to a full virtual day, today, Friday, Dec. 17." Westchester County Police Department issued an alert on Thursday, Dec. 16 after getting a tip from its School Resource…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Northern Westchester HS Goes Remote Amid 'Concerns' Following Threat Northern Westchester HS Goes Remote Amid 'Concerns' Following Threat
Northern Westchester HS Goes Remote Amid 'Concerns' Following Threat An area high school went remote after a social media post considered a threat toward the building left some district officials with lingering concerns. In Northern Westchester, Bedford Central Schools Superintendent Joel Adelberg said that administrators were alerted to “a disturbing post” on Snapchat that was shared among the Fox Lane High School community and was being considered as a perceived threat on Sunday, Dec. 12. Earlier story - Fox Lane HS Student Makes Threatening Social Media Post Ultimately police were called to the school to investigate, and the threat was deemed to be not c…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
High School Student In Northern Westchester Makes Threatening Social Media Post High School Student In Northern Westchester Makes Threatening Social Media Post
High School Student In Northern Westchester Makes Threatening Social Media Post A social media post considered a threat toward a Northern Westchester high school that went viral online led to an extensive police presence and investigation in and outside the building. In Bedford, Schools Superintendent Joel Adelberg said that administrators were alerted to “a disturbing post” on Snapchat that was shared amongst the Fox Lane High School community and was being considered as a perceived threat on Sunday, Dec. 12. Upon notification of the threat, Adelberg said that the school district contacted its School Resource Officer, the Bedford Police, and the Westchester County Po…

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by Zak Failla
News
Authorities ID Juvenile Accused Of Making Threat To High School In Northern Westchester Authorities ID Juvenile Accused Of Making Threat To High School In Northern Westchester
Authorities ID Juvenile Accused Of Making Threat To High School In Northern Westchester Police have identified the person responsible for making a threat on social media against a high school in Northern Westchester. The Ossining Police Department reported on Saturday, Nov. 13, that detectives with assistance from outside agencies have closed their investigation into the threat that was made against Ossining High School and its students on Thursday, Nov. 11. Earlier report - Police Investigate Social Media Threat To Ossining High School CASE CLOSED! It’s nice when we can share good news. In this case, we can now talk about yesterday’s threat and... Posted by Ossining P…

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by Nicole Valinote
Schools
Social Media Threat Leads To Early Dismissal Of School In Hudson Valley Social Media Threat Leads To Early Dismissal Of School In Hudson Valley
Social Media Threat Leads To Early Dismissal Of School In Hudson Valley Students at a Hudson Valley high school were dismissed early after a threat was made on social media. In Dutchess County, John Jay High School in Hopewell Junction was dismissed at approximately 11 a.m., on Wednesday, Nov. 3, Principal David Kedzielawa said in a message released to parents in the district. According to Kedzielawa, the threat was made on Snapchat “threatening the school community.” Kedzielawa said that the district has contacted law enforcement and is working inc coordination with the Office of the Superintendent, East Fishkill Police, and State Police. “Please understand…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Some School Districts In Hudson Valley Increase Security After Apparent National Threat Some School Districts In Hudson Valley Increase Security After Apparent National Threat
Some School Districts In Hudson Valley Increase Security After Apparent National Threat Alarms were sounding among some school districts in New York amid threats being made on social media as part of what is seemingly a national scheme. On Sunday, Oct. 24, in the Hudson Valley, the Village of Walden Police Department in Orange County received a complaint in reference to a social media post that went viral on Snapchat. “I had to make a new account so they don’t trace me,” the threat posted by “Alex Anderson” reads. “But me and a couple of my friends have been bullied for so long and we can’t deal with it anymore. “We plan on shooting up Central High School around 10 to 11 Am …

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Pelosi Laptop Thief's Dad Busted On Child Porn Charges In Undercover Sting Pelosi Laptop Thief's Dad Busted On Child Porn Charges In Undercover Sting
Pelosi Laptop Thief's Dad Busted On Child Porn Charges In Undercover Sting The father of a Pennsylvania woman who stole Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's laptop was busted on child porn charges after asking an undercover detective posing as a teenage girl online to film herself using the bathroom, news reports say. Rickey Williams, 55, -- a security guard from Dauphin County -- was communicating with the detective under the belief he was a girl on the Snapchat app, Fox43 says citing the criminal complaint. During the course of this alleged communication, Williams, of Steelton, requested a video of the girl using the bathroom, Local21news reports. …

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by Jillian Pikora
News
FBI Asks For Help Identifying Possible Victims Of Westchester Man Facing Child Porn Charge FBI Asks For Help Identifying Possible Victims Of Westchester Man Facing Child Porn Charge
FBI Asks For Help Identifying Possible Victims Of Westchester Man Facing Child Porn Charge Authorities are asking for help in identifying possible victims from throughout the country in a sextortion investigation involving a New York man from Westchester County.  The FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and Port Chester Police Department issued the joint advisory on Friday, Feb. 5. Investigators arrested Jose Zafra on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, and charged him with the production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), or what is commonly known as child pornography. Based on the criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of New York, investigators allege Zafra …

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by Joe Lombardi