Author: Breaking Local News Report

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Steven Gonzalez, also known by multiple aliases including Steven Hernandez and Stevie, 48, of Buffalo, NY, has pleaded guilty to charges of sex trafficking by coercion. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr., and carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, with the potential for a life sentence, along with a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel L. Violanti and Caitlin M. Higgins reported that from 2012 to March 2015, Gonzalez exploited a minor, referred to as A.N., by providing cocaine in exchange for sex, leveraging A.N.’s cocaine addiction to coerce…

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — Devon Frith, a 25-year-old resident of New Orleans, was sentenced today to a total of 101 months in prison for carjacking and related firearm offenses. U.S. District Judge Lance M. Africk issued the sentence following Frith’s earlier guilty plea to charges of carjacking and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The incident, which took place on April 10, 2023, involved Frith carjacking a vehicle in the Central City area of New Orleans. During the crime, Frith, masked and gloved, brandished a loaded Glock Model 26 handgun equipped with an extended magazine…

TOMS RIVER, NJ (OP-ED) – A wave of excitement is sweeping through Toms River as the town transforms into a burgeoning entertainment and outdoor dining hub, leaving behind its decades-old reputation as a sleepy bedroom community with a relatively mundane downtown district. Long-time residents recall a childhood filled with trips to the mall, beach outings, and neighborhood bike rides, but as they reached adulthood, entertainment options were sparse, limited mostly to house parties and bars. The other option for young adults and adults was to seek entertainment elsewhere because it didn’t exist within Toms River. Today, under the leadership of…

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Jevon Flynn, a 30-year-old resident of Niagara Falls, has pleaded guilty to charges of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo, as announced by U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who managed the case, detailed that on March 26, 2024, a search warrant led to Flynn’s arrest. The operation took place at a residence in Niagara Falls, where Flynn was found in a bedroom. Upon searching, authorities found a backpack and a pair of pants in a clothing hamper near Flynn, containing…

RICHMOND, VA. — Adam Lamar Harrell, a 41-year-old Midlothian resident, entered a guilty plea yesterday for his involvement in a fraudulent scheme that led to the misappropriation of millions from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). Harrell faced charges including mail fraud, federal program theft, and tax evasion. Court documents indicate that Harrell, who began his employment at VDH on August 10, 2013, and later became the Associate Director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) on September 10, 2019, exploited his position to embezzle funds. As the Associate Director, Harrell was responsible for overseeing Virginia’s emergency response programs…

MILLVILLE, NJ – The Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office announced that a Fugitive Safe Surrender event will take place on September 9, from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM, at the First United Methodist Church located at 201 N. Second Street in Millville. This initiative is designed for individuals with non-violent municipal warrants seeking to resolve these issues without the fear of incarceration. This event offers a chance for individuals from Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem, Atlantic, and Cape May Counties to have their municipal bench warrants recalled on-site. The program is geared towards reducing the stress of unresolved warrants and promoting community reintegration.…

FRESNO, CALIF. — Joseph Roy Vigneault, a 21-year-old from Lake Isabella, was sentenced to 17 months in prison today for distributing explosives without a license, as announced by U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. Court documents revealed that in May 2023, Vigneault, along with Michael Roy Anglin, 22, from Wofford Heights, unlawfully sold approximately 350 pounds of Hydromite 880 explosives. These explosives, significantly more potent than dynamite, were delivered to a non-licensed individual. The sale included six full boxes and one partial box, all clearly marked as explosives. It was determined that the Hydromite 880 had been stolen from Austin Powder…

FRESNO, CALIF. – Today, Christos Mavrokelos, 37, received an 18-month prison sentence from U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer for his role in a debit card fraud scheme involving skimming devices. In addition to his prison term, Mavrokelos was ordered to pay $75,000 in restitution, according to U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. Court records reveal that between July 2021 and November 2023, Mavrokelos engaged in fraudulent activities across Fresno and Madera Counties. He used counterfeit debit cards, loaded with stolen victim account information, to make unauthorized cash withdrawals. The stolen information was obtained through skimming devices illicitly installed on bank…

TRENTON, NJ — U.S. Senator Bob Menendez announced he will resign from his Senate seat effective August 20, following his recent conviction on federal bribery charges. In a letter to Governor Phil Murphy, Menendez expressed his intention to appeal the verdict but chose to resign to avoid burdening the Senate with a protracted process. Menendez highlighted the period until his resignation as a crucial time for his staff to secure new employment and handle pending constituent files. He also mentioned the need for an orderly transition to choose an interim replacement and for him to conclude his Senate affairs. This…

Toms River, NJ — A 16-year-old girl who was undergoing a gender transition from Palm Bay, Florida has been arrested and charged with the first-degree pre-meditated murder of her mother and her mother’s boyfriend, following a distressing series of events that ended fatally. Shortly after midnight on July 7, the teen dialed 911, claiming an intruder had broken into her home through a back sliding door. However, when police arrived at the scene, they found 42-year-old Kelley McCollum and her boyfriend, 22-year-old Matthew Szejnrok, deceased. Szejnrok also exhibited multiple stab wounds, according to the police affidavit. Szejnrok was born in…