On Saturday, Texas will hold historic impeachment proceedings against Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is accused of bribery, unfitness for office, and abuse of public trust. The House has introduced 20 articles of impeachment against Paxton, who has been Texas’ top lawyer for three terms and is one of the GOP’s most prominent legal combatants. If the House votes in favor of impeachment, Paxton will be suspended as the state’s top law enforcement officer pending the outcome of a trial in the Texas Senate.
Posts published in “Crime”
Randy Lankford, owner of Lankford Funeral Home and Family Center in Jeffersonville, IN, pleaded guilty to 43 counts of felony theft. He was sentenced to 12 years, four of which will be spent in prison and eight in home incarceration, and must pay restitution to 53 families totaling $46,000. The investigation began after the county health department received a complaint about a foul odor coming from the building, and the Jeffersonville Police Department, Clark County Prosecutor's Office, and the Indiana Attorney General's Office worked together to investigate the case.
Anthony Rauda has been convicted of second-degree murder and other crimes in connection with the 2018 shooting death of Tristan Beaudette in Malibu Creek State Park. He was also found guilty of three counts of attempted murder and five counts of burglary. Rauda faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 28. The conviction brings some closure to Beaudette's family, who have been searching for answers since his death.
JPMorgan Chase, the nation's largest bank, has accused the wife of the former governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands of aiding Jeffrey Epstein in his alleged criminal activity. The court filing alleges that Cecile de Jongh was Epstein's "primary conduit for spreading money and influence" and helped him dodge sex offender monitoring laws, coordinate visas, employment, and travel for his victims. The lawsuit is ongoing, and JPMorgan Chase has not yet commented on the allegations.
The FBI has released documents detailing a potential threat to Queen Elizabeth II during her 1983 visit to the United States, which reveal that an unidentified San Francisco police officer received a tip about the plot to assassinate the Queen. The documents span over 100 pages and outline a serious threat made ahead of the Queen's visit, as well as safety concerns that came up in other visits the Queen made to the U.S. The documents do not reveal any further details about the potential threat, but do show that the FBI was aware of the potential threat and was taking steps to ensure the Queen's safety.
Special Counsel Jack Smith is nearing the end of his investigation into former President Donald Trump's refusal to return classified documents related to his time spent at Mar-a-Lago. This follows a legal battle from two decades ago, when the EPA brought a civil lawsuit against Michigan resident John Rapanos for filling in three wetlands on his property without federal Clean Water Act permits. Sources close to the matter have indicated that possible criminal charges could be announced in the days or weeks following Memorial Day.
A California man, Manuel Castro, won the record-breaking $2 billion Powerball lottery jackpot last year, but is now being sued by another man, Jose Rivera, who claims the ticket was stolen from him. The suit names The California State Lottery Commission, the state of California and a man named Urachi F. as defendants, and is expected to be heard in court in the coming weeks. The outcome of the case is uncertain, but is sure to be closely watched by lottery players across the country.
Military Veteran Jessica Watkins Sentenced to 8½ Years in Prison for Storming U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6
Military Veteran Jessica Watkins Sentenced to 8½ Years in Prison for Storming U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6
Jessica Watkins, a military veteran who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, was sentenced to 8½ years in federal prison after delivering an emotional apology in court. Judge Amit Mehta accepted Watkins' apology and her attorney argued that she should receive a lesser sentence due to her lack of criminal history and military service. Watkins expressed remorse for her actions and her attorney said they hope she can now move forward with her life.