Crime

Gainesville’s PBS affiliate reports: The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Wednesday that Harding is accused of making fraudulent applications to the disaster-loan program. The release said Harding “made false representations in supporting loan documentation, in the names of dormant business entities, submitted to the SBA.” Harding was indicted by a grand jury on two counts each of wire fraud, money laundering …

Raleigh’s NBC affiliate reports: On Thursday, investigators issued multiple search warrants related to attacks on the power grid. The warrants, which will remain sealed, are on the state level. The FBI has also applied for a Federal Order to retrieve cell phone records to identify people in the area of the substations on Saturday night. They are still working on …

The Associated Press reports: The Colorado Springs gay nightclub shooter had charges dropped in a 2021 bomb threat case after family members who were terrorized in the incident refused to cooperate, according to the district attorney and court documents unsealed Thursday. The charges were dropped despite authorities finding a “tub” full of bomb-making chemicals and later receiving warnings from other …

The Florida Phoenix reports: Florida Speaker of the House Paul Renner released a statement saying that he will remove Harding from all his committee assignments. “After consultation with Rep. Harding regarding his indictment, I am temporarily removing him from his committee assignments to allow him time to focus on this matter,” Renner said. “In America, we adhere to the rule …

The Associated Press reports: Authorities said the person who would later kill five at a Colorado LGBTQ nightclub was on the FBI’s radar a day before being arrested for threatening to kill family members, but agents closed out the case just weeks later. The disclosure by the FBI to The Associated Press creates a new timeline for when law enforcement …

Shaw Local reports: Nearly eight years after he was charged with disseminating child pornography, three lawyers and scrapped trial dates later, DeKalb pastor Corey D. Butler will spend more than a decade in prison after he pleaded guilty Wednesday in front of a DeKalb County judge. Butler, now 42, was indicted on April 29, 2015, with dissemination of child pornography, …

CNN reports:   A growing number of reported threats to power infrastructure are under investigation following attacks on substations in the South and on the West Coast as electricity becomes a more critical need in winter. Even before the gun assaults Saturday in Moore County, North Carolina, wiped out power for days to thousands, at least five electricity substations in …

Posted to Florida Rep. Joe Harding’s Facebook page: Today, I pleaded not guilty to federal charges that state I improperly obtained and used an EIDL loan issued by the Small Business Administration. I want the public and my constituents to know that I fully repaid the loan and cooperated with investigators as requested. On advice from counsel, I will be …

The Associated Press reports: Duke Energy said Wednesday that it has completed repairs on substation equipment in Moore County, North Carolina, as the FBI renewed calls to the public for help identifying “unknown” suspect or suspect behind sabotage gunfire at two substations that caused major power outages extending several days. In a statement to customers on its website, the energy …

The New York Post reports: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s niece was likely drunk and high when she was kicked off a Spirit Airlines flight, displaying “unusual strength” and foaming from the mouth as she fought off cops and shouted, “Do you know who I am?” Shannon Epstein allegedly caused the ruckus on a 6 a.m. flight from New …

Des Moines’ CBS affiliate reports: A former Des Moines metro area youth pastor is charged with giving alcohol to minors and sexually assaulting them. Caleb Toney faces five charges, including assault with intent to commit sexual abuse and supplying alcohol to someone underage. A criminal complaint says that while Toney was a youth pastor, he gave alcohol to minors on …

The New York Post reports: The MTA wants to redesign subway turnstiles and emergency exit gates — the “superhighway” for deadbeats — to crack down on fare evasion, CEO Janno Lieber said Monday. “The exit gate — which is nominally supposed to be for fire, exiting purposes, to comply with the fire code — has become the superhighway for fare …

From the Justice Department: A New York man pleaded guilty today to a felony charge for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election. Rafael Rondon, …

Just in via press release: Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) released the following statement after receiving a bomb threat targeting his home and office: “Early this morning, I was informed by the San Francisco Standard and the police that someone had issued a bomb threat against me, listing my specific home address and also threatening to shoot up my Capitol …

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports: The former pastor of a church in Chester issued a tearful apology to his wife, his family and his former congregants Tuesday as he was sentenced to six years’ probation for having a sexual relationship with an underage girl. Edward Lilly, 72, said he was “deeply, profoundly sorry” during the brief hearing before Delaware County Court …

The Daily Beast reports: Samuel Bateman, a self-proclaimed “prophet” of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, had 20 wives, many of whom were under the age of 15, according to an FBI investigation. Bateman drank wine and had sex with a male follower, Moroni Johnson, in a motel room in Lincoln, Nebraska, in front of his underage …

CNN reports: The House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol has decided to make criminal referrals to the Department of Justice, the panel’s chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson, told reporters Tuesday. Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, said the committee has not narrowed down the universe of individuals who may be referred. Asked whether Thompson believed any …

Durham’s ABC affiliate reports: It will be another day of waking up in total darkness for people in Moore County. Residents there are dealing with a third day of impacts from an attack on the power grid. More than 35,000 customers still don’t have power, according to Duke Energy. This after two substations were shot at over the weekend causing …

The Colorado Springs Gazette reports: Denver prosecutors want to know if there are any more victims of a Morrison contractor and youth pastor who is accused of bilking an elderly couple out of $250,000, according to a news release. Investigators allege Tilo Lopez, 35, funneled money paid for the couple’s retirement home on everything from fancy hotel stays and Las …

The Associated Press reports: The man who shot Lady Gaga’s dog walker and stole her French bulldogs in 2021 took a plea deal and was sentenced to 21 years in prison on Monday, officials said. The Lady Gaga connection was a coincidence, authorities have said. The motive was the value of the French bulldogs and detectives do not believe the …