A Brandon attorney has been sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material, authorities announced. Senior U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday handed down the sentence to 47-year-old Benjamin Crawford, who pleaded guilty to the charges in June 2025. In addition to the prison term, Crawford was ordered … Read more
A North Carolina man was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison for a violent 2023 ambush that left two Robeson County Sheriff’s deputies wounded and sparked a dramatic escape attempt, federal officials announced Monday. Shawn Tobin Locklear Jr., now 21, pleaded guilty to using a firearm during a crime of violence and possessing a … Read more
An Orlando woman who used her husband’s drug money to fund a lavish lifestyle was sentenced to five years in federal prison this week. U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron handed down the sentence to 40-year-old Island Thi Truong following her guilty plea last August. In addition to prison, the court ordered the forfeiture of … Read more
Pasco County deputies are seeking the public’s help to identify four men accused of stealing merchandise from a local business earlier this week. The theft occurred on the evening of January 8. Investigators said the group entered a store on the 5900 block of Wesley Grove Boulevard around 6:15 p.m., grabbed several items, and then … Read more
A 35-year-old man has died after being shot late Saturday night on the city’s Far South Side, according to Chicago police. The shooting occurred around 10:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of East 85th Place in the Avalon Park neighborhood. Police said the victim was shot in the back and transported to a nearby hospital, … Read more
A Bartow woman is in custody after Polk County deputies say she orchestrated a burglary by deceiving local business owners into unknowingly removing thousands of dollars’ worth of property from a Winter Haven home. The investigation began on December 22, when deputies responded to a reported break-in at a residence on Eloise Cove Drive. Upon … Read more
A Texas-based sports agent is facing federal charges after prosecutors allege he siphoned hundreds of thousands of dollars from client accounts and concealed the theft by disguising withdrawals as legitimate business expenses. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced in Tampa, Florida, that a federal grand jury has unsealed an indictment charging Lucas Mirtl, 42, of … Read more
A local high school basketball coach is in jail after being accused of soliciting a minor online during a state-run sting operation. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) announced the arrest of 56-year-old Troy Hartmann on Wednesday, January 7. He is facing multiple charges, including online solicitation of a minor, harmful communication with a … Read more
Police have arrested Adam Rosema following a violent crash that left a young woman in critical condition. Investigators allege the collision involved excessive speed and aggressive driving and occurred during the early morning hours of November 8. Rosema now faces charges of racing on a highway and reckless driving resulting in serious bodily injury. The … Read more
A Hialeah woman has been arrested in connection with the theft of multiple packages taken from a residential porch just days before Christmas, police said. According to an arrest report, Thalia Fernandez, 24, of Hialeah, was taken into custody Thursday, several weeks after the alleged theft on December 16 at a home on East 43rd … Read more