Writer Leonardo Padura chronicles life in Cuba as his detective ‘alter ego’ solves gripping crimes

HAVANA — His novels recount gruesome murders, thefts, scams, bribes and humiliating secrets. But those are not even the most important themes in the stories told by award-winning Cuban writer Leonardo Padura. For the last four decades, Padura, 68, has managed to turn his series of detective thrillers into a social and political chronicle of … Read more

Reality TV’s Chrisleys are appealing their bank fraud and tax evasion convictions in federal court

ATLANTA — Reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who are in prison after being convicted on federal charges of bank fraud and tax evasion, are challenging aspects of their convictions and sentences in a federal appeals court. The Chrisleys rose to fame with their show “Chrisley Knows Best,” which chronicled the exploits of their … Read more

Funeral Home Owners, Found With 190 Decaying Bodies, Charged With COVID Fraud

DENVER (AP) — A couple who owned a Colorado funeral home where authorities last year discovered 190 decaying bodies were indicted on federal charges that they misspent nearly $900,000 in pandemic relief funds on vacations, cosmetic surgery, jewelry and other personal expenses, according to court documents unsealed Monday. The indictment reaffirms accusations from state prosecutors … Read more

Crypto Magnate Do Kwon Found Liable for Multi-Billion-Dollar Fraud

The defense attempted to draw a distinction between the failure of Terraform’s crypto assets, whose risk profile it implied was well understood by investors, and the acts of fraud alleged by the SEC. “Failure doesn’t equal fraud,” David Patton, attorney to Kwon, reportedly told the courtroom in his opening statement. The defense also sought to … Read more

Police arrest 22 in EU raids linked to suspected theft of Italy’s pandemic funds worth $650 million

BRUSSELS — Police in Italy, Austria, Romania and Slovakia arrested 22 people Thursday as part of an investigation into the suspected siphoning of hundreds millions of euros in post-pandemic relief funds from the European Union. The 600 million euros ($650 million) were part of Italy’s post-pandemic money, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office said. The EPPO … Read more

He Emptied an Entire Crypto Exchange Onto a Thumb Drive. Then He Disappeared

He told the court that he grew his beard down to his clavicle, shaved his head. He said that when he learned about the prosecutor’s indictment—that his brother and sister were charged with fraud, that they would stand trial in a month, and that without Özer they would most likely take the blame for Thodex’s … Read more

FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison

The defense’s court filing was supplemented with letters from Bankman-Fried’s family members and various associates, testifying to his good character, remorse, and utilitarian ideals. “The public perception of Sam could not be further from the truth,” wrote Barbara Fried, his mother. “Being consigned to prison for decades will destroy Sam as surely as would hanging … Read more

Arizona legislation to better regulate rehab programs targeted by Medicaid scams is moving forward

PHOENIX — A Navajo state senator said Friday she’s hoping for final approval of her bill to tighten regulations for rehab facilities amid widespread fraud that has bilked hundreds of millions in Arizona Medicaid dollars and scammed hundreds of Native Americans seeking help for addictions. Senate Bill 1655, sponsored by Sen. Theresa Hatathlie, was unanimously … Read more

Former Jaguars financial manager who pled guilty to stealing $22M from team gets 78 months in prison

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A former Jacksonville Jaguars financial manager who pled guilty to stealing more than $22 million from the NFL franchise through its virtual credit card program was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison Tuesday. Judge Henry Lee Adams Jr. sentenced Amit Patel, 31, in U.S. District Court in Jacksonville. Patel, wearing a … Read more

Rajasthan: Two former ministers, several ex-MLAs quit Congress to join BJP ahead of Lok Sabha polls

Jaipur: Several Rajasthan Congress leaders including former ministers Rajendra Yadav and Lal Chand Kataria joined the BJP Sunday, days before the expected announcement of the Lok Sabha elections. Former Congress MLAs Ricchpal Mirdha, his son Vijaypal Mirdha and Khiladi Bairwa; former independent MLA Alok Beniwal, former state chief of Congress Seva Dal Suresh Chaudhary, Rampal … Read more