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Tag: Convicted

  • Ex-Navy SEAL convicted in San Diego ‘No Kings’ protest attack plot

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    Protesters take part in the downtown San Diego “No Kings” march on June 14, 2025. (Photo by Adrian Childress/Times of San Diego)

    A former U.S. Navy SEAL who prosecutors say intended to travel to San Diego to launch fireworks at law enforcement officers during “No Kings Day” protests last summer was convicted by a federal jury in New Mexico.

    Gregory Vandenberg purchased six mortar fireworks and 72 M-150 firecrackers with the intent of throwing them at officers during the protests scheduled for June 14, 2025, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Mexico.

    Prosecutors say Vandenberg was traveling from El Paso to San Diego, but stopped at a New Mexico travel center on June 12 to purchase the fireworks.

    While at the center, Vandenberg “asked detailed questions about the amount of gunpowder in the fireworks, their explosive impact, and their ability to harm others,” according to prosecutors, who said Vandenberg also encouraged a store clerk to join him so they could throw the fireworks at law enforcement officials together in California.

    “Vandenberg emphasized that he was not interested in the color or display of the fireworks — only in their ability to cause explosions and harm law enforcement,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

    Travel center employees contacted police and provided Vandenberg’s license plate number. He was arrested in Tucson, Arizona the following morning.

    Prosecutors allege that a search of his vehicle turned up the fireworks and clothing that displayed “antisemitic, anti-Israel, and extremist symbols — including a t-shirt with an image of the Al-Qaeda flag and a t-shirt calling for the destruction of Judea.”

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office also alleged that “violent and extremist content” was discovered following a search of his phone, in which he expressed his ire toward the U.S. government.

    Vandenberg was found guilty Friday of transportation of explosives with intent to kill, injure or intimidate and attempted transportation of prohibited fireworks into California.

    He faces up to 10 years in prison.


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  • Man convicted of vehicular homicide after driving nearly 100 mph before fatal Aurora crash

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    CENTENNIAL, Colo. — Arapahoe County jurors convicted a 31-year-old man of vehicular homicide and reckless driving for a 2024 Aurora crash that killed a 71-year-old woman and severely injured her husband, the district attorney for the 18th Judicial District announced Tuesday.

    Taylor Marcus Douglas is facing a maximum six years in prison when he is sentenced on January 16.

    The crash occurred around 3:30 p.m. on April 15, 2024, at the intersection of S. Chambers Road and E. Center Avenue. Investigators found, using data from Douglas’ vehicle, that he was driving nearly 100 mph in a 40 mph zone before t boning the couple’s SUV as they left a dialysis center.

    Douglas, driving a Nissan Altima, initially told police he was going only 55 mph and was unable to stop in time. However, witnesses reported the Altima was weaving through traffic moments before impact.

    “This tragedy was entirely preventable,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Eckhardt said in a press release. “Mr. Douglas chose to drive at nearly 100 miles per hour on a busy Aurora roadway, and that reckless decision cost an innocent woman her life and left her husband with devastating injuries. Our community deserves accountability, and this verdict reflects the jury’s careful consideration of the evidence and the harm caused.”

    Padden also voiced support for harsher penalties in vehicular homicide cases.

    “Every victim and every grieving family deserves a justice system that treats vehicular homicide cases with the gravity it warrants,” Padden said in the release. “My office continues to have productive conversations with legislators to pursue reforms that hold offenders fully accountable for these preventable tragedies.”

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  • Stepson convicted of murder in death of man stabbed, cut more than 100 times

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    The downtown San Diego Superior Court and satellite courts will have new download charges starting Jan. 1, 2021. (File photo by Chris Stone/Times of San Diego)

    A jury has convicted a man of first-degree murder after he fatally stabbed his stepfather at their Rancho Bernardo home.

    Pablo Johnson, 26, was found guilty on Tuesday of killing Michael Johnson, 61, at their Caminito Campana home on the evening of Jan. 28, 2024.

    According to trial testimony, the victim sustained over 100 stab wounds and cuts, mostly to his head, face and neck.

    A woman walking her dog just before 6 p.m. saw a bloody Michael Johnson draped over the railing of the home’s patio and called 911. Officers arrived a short time later and arrested Pablo Johnson, while Michael Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.

    Deputy District Attorney Cassidy McWilliams told jurors that the relationship between the defendant and victim had grown contentious over what she said was the defendant’s unwillingness to work or take care of chores around the residence.

    Jurors were shown text messages between the pair that displayed escalating arguments over household chores and living expenses, which culminated in a physical altercation one day before the killing.

    McWilliams said the defendant attacked his stepfather on Jan. 28 and stabbed him with enough force to break the knife into multiple pieces.

    Deputy Public Defender Leanne Skirzynski said what occurred that evening was more akin to a mutual fight, which she said was sparked by the victim. She told jurors Michael Johnson had been consistently abusive to her client and had physically assaulted him on numerous prior occasions.

    She said that yet another argument between the pair on Jan. 28 resulted in Michael Johnson charging at her client in the home’s kitchen, prompting Pablo Johnson to grab the first thing he could to defend himself, which was a knife.

    Both men armed themselves with knives and during the ensuing melee, Skirzynski said, her client was “flailing” his knife, rather than targeting any particular place on his stepfather’s body. Another knife found near Michael’s body bore none of her client’s DNA, she said.

    The prosecutor said that while Michael Johnson had multiple stab wounds and other injuries, Pablo Johnson had virtually no wounds to his body, other than a pair of small cuts to his hands, which she said were likely accidental self-inflicted wounds sustained during the fatal attack.


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  • Oh My! Four Convicted As 2 Men Remain At Large After Allegedly Stealing $760K From Over 600 Churches Nationwide

    Oh My! Four Convicted As 2 Men Remain At Large After Allegedly Stealing $760K From Over 600 Churches Nationwide

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    Three Florida men and one woman have been convicted after allegedly stealing over $760,000 from over 600 churches nationwide. Two additional male suspects in the alleged scheme reportedly remain at large.

    RELATED: Florida Man Arrested After Allegedly Dangling & Dropping 4-Year-Old From Resort Balcony

    Who Are The Suspects Who Allegedly Stole From The Churches?

    According to Fox 35 Orlando and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, 45-year-old Catalin Trandafir, 35-year-old Simona Trandafir, 32-year-old Panait Dumitru, and 33-year-old Ionut Raducan were recently convicted.

    The outlet does not note their charges. However, WINK News reports that their co-conspirators, Viorel, 37, and Marius Dumitru, 30, face charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering and grand theft. Additionally, Viorel and Marius Dumitru face charges of “unlawful possession of personal identification and money laundering.”

    WINK News adds that the men absconded ahead of their trial and subsequent convictions.

    What Did The Suspects Do In “Operation Thou Shalt Not Steal”?

    According to Fox 35 Orlando, the investigation into the group — titled “Operation Thou Shalt Not Steal” — began in 2020. At the time, it was reportedly discovered that money had been stolen from at least 24 churches near the Cape Coral area.

    The suspects were initially taken into custody in 2021.

    The outlet reports that investigators learned that the group allegedly stole donation checks from church mailboxes. Additionally, it was discovered that they would “hit as many as” 85 churches a day. From there, the individuals would use “multiple aliases” to allegedly “deposit the stolen checks into several bank accounts.”

    When the funds were posted, the group would immediately withdraw the money. The outlet adds that they reportedly sent the funds to Romania.

    Fox 35 Orlando reports that the group’s alleged scheme amassed over $760,000, and they reportedly stole from over 680 churches nationwide.

    2 Men Remain At Large: What’s Next In Finding Them?

    According to the outlet, anyone with information on Viorel and Marius Dumitru’s whereabouts is urged to call the FDLE at 239-278-7170. The agency reports that the duo was last known to be in the Orlando area.

    Scroll below to see their photos.

    RELATED: Say What?! 13-Year-Old Florida Boy Is Arrested & Charged After Allegedly Attempting To Kidnap Two Women

    What Do You Think Roomies?

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    Jadriena Solomon

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  • Roma man stashes $33M in marijuana, escapes drug house – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Roma man stashes $33M in marijuana, escapes drug house – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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    ROMA, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Roma man pleaded guilty to possessing over 5,000 pounds of marijuana in a drug house, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.

    Adan Ontiveros Jr., 34, is accused of drug trafficking after trying to escape a drug house in Roma.

    In a press release from the Southern District of Texas U.S. Attorney’s Office, the suspected drug house was monitored by authorities for suspicious activity.

    On July 16, 2020, authorities observed Ontiveros attempting to escape the drug house through an attic vent.

    Police quickly arrested Ontiveros and conducted a search inside the drug house. Authorities found 5,460 pounds of marijuana valued at more than $33 million.

    Ontiveros admitted he was aware there was marijuana in the stash house, the press release said. He is being charged with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute [5,460 pounds of marijuana].

    Original Author Link click here to read complete story..

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