America Today Staff 
A federal judge has sentenced an Atlanta man to nearly six years in prison after identifying him as the mastermind behind a large-scale identity theft and check fraud operation that targeted businesses across central and southern Illinois. Traveon H. Reese, 31, received a 70-month federal prison sentence after admitting he led a conspiracy involving stolen … Read more
A Citrus County jury has convicted Dwann Demetrius Ross Jr., 37, of second-degree murder with a firearm, rejecting his claim that a deadly 2024 shooting involving a fellow business owner was committed in self-defense. The verdict was delivered Thursday in a case centered on the death of Traske C. Johnson, 33, who was shot and … Read more
A Kissimmee man is facing multiple felony charges after investigators say he exploited Walmart’s return system to pocket thousands of dollars, targeting dozens of stores across Florida and Georgia through a “phantom receipt” refund scheme. Authorities identified the suspect as Branden Nikita Brown, 31, who was arrested last Friday by the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. … Read more
Three suspects were hospitalized after a dangerous police pursuit involving an allegedly stolen pickup truck ended in a violent rollover crash in Pacoima on Thursday night. Details remain limited, and authorities have not confirmed when or where officers with the Los Angeles Police Department initially began the pursuit. At some point, the driver led police … Read more
Two people were arrested after a violent fight escalated into a shooting outside a Dollar Tree store in Victorville, authorities said. Victorville deputies responded to reports of a shooting at the Dollar Tree located in the 14000 block of La Paz Drive just before 5 p.m. on Jan. 14. According to witnesses, several individuals were … Read more
A man was shot and killed during a narcotics investigation in Palmdale after allegedly running over a deputy’s foot while deputies were serving a search warrant, authorities said. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Narcotics Bureau deputies arrived at a home in the 37900 block of 11th Street East around 12:20 p.m. on … Read more
A man has been taken into custody in connection with the alleged sexual assault of an underage girl in Ontario, California, authorities said. According to the Ontario Police Department, the incident occurred on Jan. 15 while the victim was riding a local bus. She was seated near the suspect, identified as Jamely Metelus, 20, of … Read more
A woman who was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Laguna Beach and remained unidentified for more than four decades has now been positively identified, authorities confirmed. The victim was Virginia Irene Nelson, known as “Ginny” to her family. She was 46 years old at the time of her death. Originally from Yonkers, New York, … Read more
Two Northwest Indiana women are facing criminal charges after allegedly stealing merchandise from a beauty supply store in Hobart, according to court records. Destinee Mikaela Keil, 22, of Highland, and Danielle Lea Jones, 35, of Gary, were charged following a reported retail theft at Sally Beauty Supply, located in the 7700 block of East Ridge … Read more
A Lake County jury has convicted Michael Langford on multiple felony charges stemming from the sexual abuse of minors, concluding a years-long investigation by local law enforcement and the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office. According to court records and trial testimony, the investigation began in August 2019 after a report of suspected child abuse was made … Read more