Crime

Politico reports: A federal judge has denied a Jan. 6 felony defendant’s request for permission to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration, despite a personal invitation from members of the Utah congressional delegation. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth said Russell Taylor’s “unusually grave” conduct at the Capitol — which included recruiting “fighters” to descend on the Capitol, wearing armor, carrying weapons and …

Duluth’s Fox affiliate reports: While the criminal cases against former Duluth Vineyard youth pastor Jackson Gatlin were prevented by a plea deal, new lawsuits aim to discover how sexual abuse within the church went overlooked for so long. On Nov. 6, Jackson Gatlin pled guilty to five counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct with a child. Gatlin received a 13-year sentence …

New York City’s ABC affiliate reports: Disgraced former Rep. George Santos asked a judge on Friday to delay his sentencing in his federal fraud case. Santos is currently scheduled to be sentenced on February 7 on Long Island following his summertime guilty plea to federal fraud, campaign finance and embezzlement charges. His attorneys asked the judge to postpone six months, …

The Associated Press reports: A highly decorated Army soldier who died in an explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck at the Trump hotel in Las Vegas left a note saying it was stunt to serve as “wakeup call” for the country’s ills, investigators said Friday. Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old Green Beret from Colorado Springs, Colorado, also wrote in the note that …

CBS News reports: In the four years since the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, federal investigators have amassed troves of evidence leading to the arrests of more than 1,500 defendants. Still, one key aspect of an event tied to that day remains a mystery: the identity of the person who planted two pipe bombs on Capitol Hill the night …

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports: Shortly before midnight on New Year’s Eve, Angel Nunes decided it was time to visit his partner, Chris Dillon, who was alone at his Fort Lauderdale home. Nunes, 50, made it through the door just in time for the two men to enjoy a celebratory embrace on the pool deck behind Dillon’s home in a …

The Associated Press reports: The person inside the Tesla Cybertruck that burst into flames outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel suffered a gunshot to the head before the explosion, officials said Thursday. Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a news conference that a handgun was found at the feet of the man who’s been identified as Matthew Livelsberger. …

The Washington Post reports: The FBI said Thursday that it believes no one else was involved in the New Orleans attack, after previously saying investigators were looking into the possibility that others were involved. “We do not assess at this point that anyone else is involved in this attack,” FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia said during a news conference. …

The Associated Press confirms earlier social media posts: The person who authorities believe died in the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck packed with firework mortars and camp fuel canisters outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel was an active-duty U.S. Army soldier, three U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. Two law enforcement officials identified the man inside the …

Colorado Springs’ NBC affiliate reports: Sources confirmed to News5 Wednesday evening the driver of the Cybertruck in the Las Vegas explosion lived in Colorado Springs. According to senior law enforcement sources, 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger was the driver and had several Colorado Springs addresses associated to him. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is at a townhouse complex, according to the …

The Associated Press reports: Firework mortars and camp fuel canisters were found stuffed into the back of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel early Wednesday, killing a suspect inside the vehicle and sparking an intense investigation into possible terrorism. Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said authorities know who rented the truck with the Turo …

CNN reports: In a series of videos, the suspect in the deadly New Year’s attack in New Orleans discussed planning to kill his family and having dreams that helped inspire him to join ISIS, according to multiple officials briefed on the investigation. Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the 42-year-old man who police suspect drove a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers on …

CNN reports: At least 15 people have died in the attack in New Orleans, according to an official statement from New Orleans Coroner Dr. Dwight McKenna. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that unfolded in the French Quarter. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected,” McKenna’s statement read. “As of now, …

The Associated Press reports: The FBI is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism and said it does not believe the driver acted alone. An Islamic State group flag was found on the vehicle’s trailer hitch, the FBI said. Guns and pipe bombs were also found in the vehicle, according to a Louisiana State Police intelligence bulletin obtained by …

CNN reports: The suspect in Wednesday’s deadly New Orleans crowd attack had an ISIS flag at the time of the incident, two law enforcement sources tell CNN. One of the sources also said multiple suspected explosive devices were found in an ice chest in the pickup truck used in the attack. The FBI, which is leading the investigation, has said …

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports: Dozens of people were evacuated from the St. Roch area Wednesday morning after a fire broke out an Airbnb that investigators believe is connected to a deadly New Year’s Day attack on Bourbon Street. Law enforcement officials and bomb squad detectives were called to 1329 Mandeville Street after firefighters doused flames that broke out at …

The New York Times reports: A Virginia man was arrested this month with what federal prosecutors described in court papers on Monday as the largest cache of “finished explosive devices” ever found in the F.B.I.’s history. The man, Brad Spafford, was taken into custody at a farm outside Norfolk on Dec. 17 on the basis of a single-count criminal complaint …

The Associated Press reports: The adult son of North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer [photo] was sentenced to serve 28 years in prison Monday in connection with a wild chase in which he fled from a hospital and drove into a deputy’s vehicle, killing the deputy. Ian Cramer, 43, pleaded guilty in September to all of the charges against him, including …

Indianapolis’s CW affiliate reports: A Jan. 6 riot defendant from Indiana who escaped his prison sentence is applying for refugee status in Canada. Antony Vo in November told I-Team 8 he still believes President-elect Donald Trump will deliver pardons to all Jan. 6 riot defendants once he’s back in the Oval Office on Jan. 20. But, for now, Vo is …

New Orleans’ NBC affiliate reports: A former New Orleans priest who pleaded guilty to rape and kidnapping has died at 93, according to his attorney, Bobby Hjortsberg. Lawrence Hecker was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday, Dec. 18, after pleading guilty to aggravated kidnapping, aggravated crime against nature, first-degree rape, and theft. He died at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center on …