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Justice Department sues Uber for disability discrimination, seeks $125 million in damages

12Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

California

Justice Department sues Uber for disability discrimination, seeks $125 million in damages

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Uber Technologies Inc. alleging widespread discrimination against passengers with disabilities, including individuals with service animals and those using stowable wheelchairs and other mobility devices. File Photo (February 2022) The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claims Uber violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to ensure equal access to its ride-hailing services. The ADA prohibits private transportation companies from discriminating based on disability and requires reasonable accommodations such as allowing service animals and providing access for individuals using mobility devices. According to the civil complaint,...

Florida man indicted for evading taxes on millions earned from selling internet to U.S. servicemembers abroad

12Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Florida

Florida man indicted for evading taxes on millions earned from selling internet to U.S. servicemembers abroad

MIAMI, FL – A federal grand jury in Miami has indicted Joseph Stewart of Miami for tax evasion and filing false tax returns related to millions in income he allegedly earned from selling internet access to American servicemembers and contractors stationed overseas. According to the indictment, from 2013 to 2021, Stewart earned over $6.8 million in dividends from his 50% ownership in a business serving U.S. personnel abroad. While he filed tax returns before the business became profitable, he allegedly stopped filing timely returns once he began receiving significant dividend income. After receiving IRS correspondence in 2019, Stewart allegedly hired a tax attorney and return preparers but misrepresented that more than $3.8 million in dividends received between 2013 and 2018 were ...

Two charged in federal indictment for bypassing wastewater treatment in Nashville

12Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Tennessee

Two charged in federal indictment for bypassing wastewater treatment in Nashville

NASHVILLE, TN – A federal grand jury indictment unsealed today charges two individuals with conspiring to bypass treatment processes and tamper with a monitoring device at a Nashville waste treatment facility, in violation of the Clean Water Act. File Photo (September 2025) According to court documents, Randall Ray Stark, of Texas, and Caleb Warren Randall, of Tennessee, served as Facility Operations Manager and Plant Supervisor, respectively, at the facility operated by Allwaste Onsite, doing business as Onsite Environmental (Onsite). The indictment alleges that in December 2022 and January 2023, Stark and Randall directed employees to bypass required treatment processes and discharge untreated and partially treated wastewater into the Nashville sewer system. They also allegedly ...

UK-Nigerian national sentenced to 90 months for role in transnational inheritance fraud scheme

12Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Florida

UK-Nigerian national sentenced to 90 months for role in transnational inheritance fraud scheme

MIAMI, FL – A dual United Kingdom–Nigerian national, Iheanyichukwu Jonathan Abraham, 44, has been sentenced to 90 months in prison for his role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme targeting elderly victims in the United States. According to court documents, Abraham and his co-conspirators sent personalized letters to elderly U.S. residents falsely claiming they were entitled to multimillion-dollar inheritances from deceased relatives in Portugal. Victims were instructed to send payments for fake delivery fees and taxes to claim their inheritance. Abraham helped operate a complex network that laundered the fraud proceeds through former victims in the United States, who were manipulated into receiving and forwarding money to others involved in the scheme. Abraham was ext...

Pflugerville police ask for help locating missing 15-year-old girl

12Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Texas

Pflugerville police ask for help locating missing 15-year-old girl

PFLUGERVILLE, TX – The Pflugerville Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating 15-year-old Izabella Villegas. Izabella was last seen on September 8, 2025. She is described as a Hispanic female, 4 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 100 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Pflugerville Police Department at 512-990-6700.

West Fargo police ask for help locating missing woman last seen in June

12Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

North Dakota

West Fargo police ask for help locating missing woman last seen in June

WEST FARGO, ND – The West Fargo Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating 33-year-old Amanda Mae Jorgenson. Jorgenson was last seen around June 2, 2025, in the area of the Days Inn located at 1507 19th Avenue North in Fargo. She is described as 4 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 90 pounds, with dark red or black hair and brown eyes. Jorgenson was reported missing on September 8, 2025. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to contact the West Fargo Police Department at 701-515-5500.

Deceased person, rifle found after Kingwood standoff and house fire during HCSO SWAT warrant service

12Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Texas

Deceased person, rifle found after Kingwood standoff and house fire during HCSO SWAT warrant service

KINGWOOD, TX – A man believed to be wanted on multiple charges, including felony assault, was involved in a standoff with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team on Thursday at a residence in the 2000 block of Shadow Rock Drive near Kingwood and Woodland Hills Drives. According to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, deputies were serving a warrant for a 46-year-old male suspect facing a felony assault charge in Harris County and a possible protective order violation in Montgomery County. When deputies arrived around 11 a.m., the suspect reportedly refused to come out and allegedly fired shots from inside the home. No personnel were injured, but some first responders’ equipment was struck. Additional gunfire was reportedly heard from inside the residence. Sheriff Gonzalez confirmed that ...

Cleburne County library director arrested for felony theft and abuse of office

12Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Arkansas

Cleburne County library director arrested for felony theft and abuse of office

HEBER SPRINGS, AR – Special Agents with the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division have arrested Zackery Cothren, 47, Director of the Cleburne County Public Library, on felony charges of Theft of Property and Abuse of Office. The arrest follows a May 22, 2025, request from Sixteenth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Drew Smith after a Legislative Audit revealed questionable purchases and possible fraud involving library employees. On September 11, 2025, an arrest warrant was issued for Cothren. He was taken into custody at his residence in Cleburne County and transported to the Cleburne County Detention Center. He was later released on a $5,000 bond. Investigators determined that approximately $78,000 in public funds were misappropriated. Cothren has served...

White Chevrolet Equinox located in fatal New Castle hit-and-run investigation

12Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Delaware

White Chevrolet Equinox located in fatal New Castle hit-and-run investigation

NEW CASTLE, DE – The Delaware State Police have located the suspect vehicle involved in the fatal hit-and-run that occurred on September 8, 2025, on South Dupont Highway. The vehicle, identified as a white Chevrolet Equinox, was found unoccupied at a residence and has been secured as part of the ongoing investigation. The Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate the incident and is actively seeking additional witnesses. Investigators are particularly interested in any dash camera or surveillance footage from the area around the time of the crash. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Master Corporal R. Kunicki at (302) 365-8417. Tips may also be shared via private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or through De...

Tennessee man pleads guilty in $3.4M COVID-19 tax credit fraud scheme

12Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Tennessee

Tennessee man pleads guilty in $3.4M COVID-19 tax credit fraud scheme

KINGSPORT, TN – A Tennessee man has pleaded guilty to tax and wire fraud charges for his role in a scheme that sought approximately $3.4 million in fraudulent COVID-19-related tax refunds. File Photo (July 2022) According to court documents and statements made in court, Edward Zanes, of Kingsport, conspired with others to exploit pandemic-era tax credits by creating phony businesses with no actual operations or employees. The fraudulent entities were used to file false tax returns claiming refunds through the employee retention credit and the paid sick and family leave credit—programs designed to support businesses during the pandemic. Zanes assisted in preparing and filing multiple false tax returns and ensured they were sent to addresses he and his co-conspirators controlled. In...