Wednesday, September 3

Author: Houston Stringer

Defendants convicted in $1M IRS tax refund fraud scheme
30Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Hawaii

Defendants convicted in $1M IRS tax refund fraud scheme

HONOLULU, HI – A federal jury convicted four Hawaii residents this week for their roles in a tax refund fraud scheme that resulted in more than $1 million in fraudulent refunds from the Internal Revenue Service. According to court documents and trial evidence, from January 2015 through September 2018, Rosemarie Lastimado-Dradi, Marciaminajuanequita Dumlao, Elvah Miranda, and Daniel Miranda conspired to defraud the United States by filing false individual tax returns and other documents claiming fraudulent withholdings from mortgage lenders. The IRS issued refunds based on the false filings. The conspirators attempted to conceal the funds from the government by creating trusts, opening new business and trust bank accounts, and moving the proceeds between accounts. Lastimado-Dradi,...
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El Mayo pleads guilty to leading Sinaloa Cartel and racketeering charges
30Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Washington D.C.

El Mayo pleads guilty to leading Sinaloa Cartel and racketeering charges

WASHINGTON (Aug. 29, 2025) – According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Ismael Zambada Garcia, also known as “El Mayo,” co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, pleaded guilty on Aug. 25 to being a principal leader of a continuing criminal enterprise and to a racketeering charge. Photo Courtesy of DOJ via OPA (August 29, 2025) Zambada Garcia, 75, of Sinaloa, Mexico, admitted his role as a leader of one of the world’s most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations. Prosecutors said the plea establishes his responsibility for directing large-scale drug trafficking operations connected to the cartel. Sentencing details have not yet been announced.
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Driver dies after vehicle overturns in Georgetown crash
30Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Delaware

Driver dies after vehicle overturns in Georgetown crash

GEORGETOWN, Del. – Delaware State Police are investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash that occurred earlier this month in Georgetown. On August 19, 2025, at approximately 7:00 p.m., a Honda Pilot was traveling eastbound on Hardscrabble Road, east of Tyndall Road, when it left the roadway and entered a ditch. The vehicle traveled along the ditch, struck a tree, overturned several times, and then hit a second tree. The driver, 29-year-old Marco Lobos-Simaj of Georgetown, was taken to an area hospital with critical injuries. He died on August 27, 2025, as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. The Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing its investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Sergeant A. Mitchell at (302) 703-3269, ...
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Maryland man arrested for 5th offense DUI in Delaware
30Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Delaware

Maryland man arrested for 5th offense DUI in Delaware

BRIDGEVILLE, Del. – Delaware State Police have arrested 51-year-old Todd Kellner of Westminster, Maryland, for his fifth offense DUI following a traffic stop Friday night. On August 29, 2025, at approximately 9:00 p.m., troopers were dispatched to the area of Seashore Highway and Sussex Highway in Bridgeville for reports of a black GMC Yukon swerving across lanes and driving below the speed limit. The vehicle was located southbound on Sussex Highway near Redden Road, where a trooper initiated a stop. Police identified the driver as Kellner and conducted a Standardized Field Sobriety Test. Troopers reported that Kellner showed numerous signs of impairment and took him into custody without incident. A computer check revealed he had four prior DUI convictions. Kellner was transpo...
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Man found deceased after burglary call in north Houston
30Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Houston

Man found deceased after burglary call in north Houston

HOUSTON, TX – Houston police are investigating after a man was found deceased outside a home in the 500 block of Blue Bell Road around 2 a.m. https://youtu.be/s7eXa37ymeA Officers responded to a reported burglary in progress and discovered the male on the ground, unresponsive and not breathing, with a significant amount of blood around him. The cause of death is pending the medical examiner’s review. Police said the homeowners did not know the man. While responding, an HPD unit crashed into a ditch nearby. Both officers were transported to the hospital with minor injuries. https://youtu.be/Cjiy8tv0BRg
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HPD unit crashes in ditch while responding to burglary call on Blue Bell Road
30Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Houston

HPD unit crashes in ditch while responding to burglary call on Blue Bell Road

HOUSTON, TX – Two Houston police officers were injured after their patrol unit crashed in a ditch while responding to a burglary call. https://youtu.be/Cjiy8tv0BRg The crash occurred around 2 a.m. in the 600 block of Blue Bell Road near the North Freeway. According to police, the two-man unit was en route to a reported burglary when it left the roadway and crashed in a ditch. Both officers were transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries and are expected to be okay. No other vehicles were involved. https://youtu.be/s7eXa37ymeA
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Stolen vehicle catches fire after suspects crash during overnight chase
30Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Houston

Stolen vehicle catches fire after suspects crash during overnight chase

HOUSTON, TX – An overnight police pursuit ended in a fiery crash in northeast Houston. https://youtu.be/O0YJGYnOVMI The crash occurred around 1:10 a.m. in the 6500 block of Lockwood. The chase lasted less than 15 minutes. Two suspects were inside a stolen vehicle that caught fire after crashing. Police were able to remove them from the vehicle. According to the Houston Police Department, both suspects were transported to the hospital with minor injuries from the crash, not from burns. No other injuries were reported.
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Delaware State Police investigate fatal motorcycle crash in Greenwood
30Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Delaware

Delaware State Police investigate fatal motorcycle crash in Greenwood

GREENWOOD, DE – Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal single-vehicle motorcycle crash that occurred Friday morning in Greenwood. The crash happened on August 29, 2025, at approximately 7:10 a.m. A gray Kawasaki ZX6 motorcycle was traveling westbound on Beach Highway, west of Webb Farm Road, at a high rate of speed when it entered the eastbound lane to pass two vehicles. As the rider returned to the westbound lane, he lost control, causing the motorcycle to skid off the roadway and strike a utility pole. The rider was ejected from the motorcycle. The 39-year-old man from Dover was pronounced deceased at the scene. His identity is being withheld until next of kin are notified. The roadway was closed for about five hours while troopers investigated and cleared the scene...
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Dallas police arrest five, seize body armor, drugs, and guns in Northwest Dallas investigation
29Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Texas

Dallas police arrest five, seize body armor, drugs, and guns in Northwest Dallas investigation

DALLAS, TX – Officers with the Dallas Police Department’s Northwest CRT and Deployment squads arrested five suspects and seized body armor and two guns following an investigation into a location in the 3300 block of Webb Chapel Extension. Photo Courtesy of Dallas PD According to police, the investigation involved several weeks of surveillance and evidence gathering and resulted in Dallas SWAT serving a search warrant on August 22, 2025. Oscar Garza, 22, was arrested and charged with multiple felony offenses, including Manufacture or Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Penalty Group 1B, greater than or equal to 4 – 200 grams; Manufacture or Delivery of a Controlled Substance – Penalty Group 1, greater than or equal to 4 – 200 grams; Manufacture or Delivery of a Controlled Substanc...
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Houston police recover 25 guns, $90,000 in stolen property in theft investigation
29Aug By Houston StringerNo Comments
Texas

Houston police recover 25 guns, $90,000 in stolen property in theft investigation

HOUSTON, TX – The Houston Police Department’s Property & Financial Crimes Division, working with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, executed a search warrant this week related to a theft investigation. Photo Courtesy of HPD According to police, the operation resulted in the recovery of 25 guns and more than $90,000 worth of stolen property. Photo Courtesy of HPD The investigation into those responsible remains ongoing. Photo Courtesy of HPD If you have any information, you are urged to contact the Houston Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
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