Crime

Reuters reports: The former son-in-law of Paul Manafort, the one-time chairman of President Donald Trump’s campaign, has cut a plea deal with the Justice Department that requires him to cooperate with other criminal probes, two people with knowledge of the matter said. The guilty plea agreement, which is under seal and has not been previously reported, could add to the …

The Daily Beast reports: The Department of Justice on Thursday brought federal criminal charges against two Arizona men accused of using fake political groups to defraud thousands of unwitting donors out of millions of dollars. Such groups are generally referred to as “scam PACs.” And DOJ’s criminal prosecution represents a major legal escalation against the practice by which those PACs’ …

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports: White nationalist group leader Matthew Heimbach was led out of a Louisville courtroom in handcuffs Tuesday after a Louisville judge revoked his probation. Heimbach, leader of the Traditionalist Worker Party, was charged in 2016 with misdemeanor harassment after he repeatedly pushed a woman at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Louisville. He ultimately pleaded guilty to …

The Chicago Tribune reports: Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner on Monday proposed reinstating the death penalty in Illinois for mass killers and people who slay law enforcement officers as part of his rewrite of a gun control bill. The death penalty provision would create a new category of homicide called “death penalty murder,” which could apply to adults who kill police …

The Miami Herald reports: The four young men accused of attacking a gay couple on South Beach face stiffer penalties after prosecutors charged them Thursday under Florida’s hate-crime enhancement law. The group was charged with aggravated battery committed with prejudice, which means each could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the attack that took place during …

The Detroit News reports: A Port Huron pastor is facing federal charges amid allegations he enticed underage girls to engage in sex acts online. FBI agents learned about Jackie Douglas Woodburn’s virtual interactions while probing a chatroom-based website that attracts adult men who pose as youths “seeking to sexually exploit minor teenage and preteen girls.” Among the more than 50 …

The Philly Voice reports: A Catholic priest in the Diocese of Erie is charged with sexually assaulting two boys, including an altar boy whom the priest allegedly abused after Mass on Sundays and then made go to confession to describe the incidents, authorities said. Rev. David Poulson, 64, was arrested Tuesday morning and charged with indecent assault, endangering the welfare …

Deadline Hollywood reports: The Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees has voted to rescind two high-profile awards given to Bill Cosby following his conviction last month on three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Cosby received a Kennedy Center Honor in 1998 for lifetime achievement in the performing arts. In 2009, he was the 12th recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for …

Law & Crime reports: George Zimmerman, the notorious Floridian who first made headlines when he shot and killed Trayvon Martin in 2012, then acquitted a year later, is facing criminal charges once again. This time, Zimmerman has been charged by prosecutors in Seminole County on one count of aggravated stalking for allegedly sending threatening messages to a private investigator, according …

The Chicago Tribune reports: A man charged with threatening violence at gay bars in Lakeview was accidentally released from Cook County Jail this week and remains at large, officials said. Officials say an apparent communication breakdown between the state’s attorney’s office and the sheriff’s office led to the release of Shane Sleeper, 31, on Tuesday night. Sleeper was arrested in …

The CBC reports: This year’s Pride celebrations are going to pay tribute to some of the LGBT community’s harsh realities, including the eight people police believe are the victims of alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur. One of the most visible signs of mourning will be the sea of black that is expected to close the Pride Parade, which has always …

The Dallas News reports: Federal authorities have charged 57 members of several white supremacist prison gangs in a large North Texas drug trafficking and kidnapping conspiracy after an investigation by federal, state and local police agencies. Officials arrested 42 of the gang members last week across the North Texas area, U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox said Monday during a news …

The Sydney Morning Herald reports: George Pell will be the most senior Catholic leader to face a jury after being committed to stand trial on multiple historic sexual assault charges. In a decision that will ring loud through the Vatican and around the religious world, Australia’s most senior Catholic and the man who a year ago oversaw management of the …

The Associated Press reports: Two days after his conviction, Bill Cosby has already started life as an inmate — though his surroundings are far nicer than they likely will be in a few months. A judge says Cosby will be confined to the same suburban Philadelphia mansion where jurors concluded he drugged and molested a Temple University women’s basketball administrator, …

The Redlands Daily reports: A man began shouting about God and jumped from his theater seat at the end of “Avengers: Infinity War” Thursday night at the Harkins Mountain Grove 16 in Redlands – leading to erroneous reports about shots fired, police said. “As soon as the movie was over, this guy starts yelling, preaching and talking about repenting from …

ABC News reports: Three men who were tossed out of a Newport Beach restaurant claim they were victims of gay bashing. Cellphone video shows the end of the April 13 encounter when a man is seen physically grabbing and wrestling one of the alleged victims out the door of the bar and throwing him to the ground. “You’ve been warned,” …

Buzzfeed News reports: Bill Cosby was convicted Thursday of drugging and raping Andrea Constand at his Pennsylvania home in 2004, marking a new fall from grace for a comedian who built his reputation as America’s Dad. The jury for Cosby’s first rape trial was unable to reach a verdict last year, however, this time, the jury of seven men and …

Birmingham’s ABC affiliate reports: “Many more charges” are expected to be filed against Acton Bowen as soon as later this week according to Etowah County Deputy District Attorney Carol Griffith. Prosecutors told a judge more potential victims had been discovered in Orange Beach, Alabama and across state lines in Florida and Colorado. The FBI has now become involved into the …

ABC News reports: Nine people were killed and at least 16 others injured after a white van hit pedestrians in Toronto, Canada, today, police said. The driver is under arrest, Toronto police told ABC News. Witness Ali Shaker told CTV News he was driving in his car when he saw the Ryder van jump the sidewalk and people walking were …

The Toronto Sun reports: Numerous pedestrians have been struck by a white van on Yonge St. near Finch Ave., Toronto Police say. Police say eight to ten pedestrians have been hit. The van fled the scene. The extent of the injuries isn’t confirmed. A multi-casualty incident has been declared. Officials are asking people to avoid the area. Subway and bus …