Police in Baltimore are investigating the homicide of 26-year-old tech CEO Pava LaPere, who was recently featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. An arrest warrant has been issued for 32-year-old Jason Billingsley on first-degree murder and additional charges. EcoMap Technologies, the company LaPere founded, released a statement expressing their shock and sadness. The community has been shaken by the news and is asking anyone with information to contact the police.
Posts published in “Crime”
A New York judge has ruled in favor of the state attorney general's $250 million lawsuit against former President Donald Trump and his company, finding that Trump committed repeated acts of fraud for years. Judge Arthur Engoron ordered the defendants' New York business certificates canceled and wrote that Trump's legal arguments defending the statements are based in "a fantasy world, not the real world." The civil trial is scheduled to begin on October 2, with the ruling likely to be a major factor in the proceedings.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) has called for Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) to resign following his indictment on bribery charges, which include taking $100,000 in gold bars and $480,000 in cash in exchange for official acts. The indictment also alleges Menendez held secret meetings with Egyptian military and intelligence officials, providing them with sensitive information and assistance. Other Democratic senators have joined Booker in calling for Menendez's resignation, though it remains to be seen if he will heed the call.
A Philadelphia Municipal Judge has dismissed all charges against former police officer Mark Dial in the shooting death of motorist Eddie Irizarry. Surveillance video and police body camera footage of the incident was played in court on Tuesday, leading to an emotional reaction from Irizarry's family. The ruling has sparked debate over the use of force by police officers and accountability, with Irizarry's family calling for an independent investigation.
Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey has been indicted on federal bribery charges, prompting fellow Senate Democrats to call for his resignation. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey expressed shock at the allegations and noted his close working relationship with Menendez. Menendez has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has said he will not step down, as a conviction could potentially shift the balance of power in the Senate.
Spanish prosecutors have charged pop star Shakira with failing to pay $7.1 million in taxes on her 2018 income, and she is due to be tried in Barcelona on Nov. 20 in a separate case for allegedly failing to pay $15.4 million in taxes. Shakira's lawyer has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that all taxes due in Spain have been paid and that she has always complied with her fiscal obligations. This is not the first time Shakira has been accused of tax evasion.
The Alabama Supreme Court is considering a request from the state attorney general to set an execution date for Kenneth Eugene Smith using a proposed new execution method of nitrogen hypoxia. Smith's lawyers have argued that this method is "experimental" and that the state has disclosed little information about how it would work, while the state has argued that it is a humane and painless way to carry out executions. If the court approves the request, Smith would become the first person in Alabama to be executed using the nitrogen hypoxia method, otherwise the state will have to find another way to carry out Smith's death sentence.
Hunter Biden has filed a lawsuit against Rudy Giuliani and Robert Costello, accusing them of illegally accessing, hacking, and manipulating stolen personal data. The lawsuit claims that the pair have caused "total annihilation" of Hunter Biden's digital privacy and used the stolen data to spread false and damaging information. Hunter Biden is seeking unspecified damages and an injunction to prevent further access and use of the stolen data.