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Tenth Circuit upholds firearm and ammunition convictions tied to motel room window search

15Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Oklahoma

Tenth Circuit upholds firearm and ammunition convictions tied to motel room window search

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the convictions of Cameron Watkins, also known as “Crazy Gun,” who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The case centered on whether a police officer’s act of peering through a one-inch gap in a motel room curtain constituted an unlawful search under the Fourth Amendment. According to court records, police were investigating a violent carjacking that occurred in an Oklahoma City motel parking lot on October 8, 2021. A motel manager directed officers to Room 231, where a man matching the suspect’s description was believed to be staying. Officer Michael McNally stood on the motel's open-air walkway and looked through a one-inch opening in the room’s window cu...

Sixth Circuit upholds 97-month sentence for Ohio man convicted of meth distribution

15Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Ohio

Sixth Circuit upholds 97-month sentence for Ohio man convicted of meth distribution

CLEVELAND, OH – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has affirmed the 97-month prison sentence of Richard Confer, who pleaded guilty to two counts of methamphetamine distribution in the Northern District of Ohio. According to court documents, Confer was arrested in 2023 after authorities conducted two controlled drug buys using a confidential informant at his home. A third incident was observed during surveillance, where an individual admitted to purchasing meth from Confer just minutes prior. Confer challenged the application of a two-level sentencing enhancement for maintaining a drug premises, arguing that drug sales at his home were incidental. The court disagreed, citing evidence that Confer stored bulk quantities of methamphetamine in his residence and used a dig...

West Nile virus detected in mosquito pools across four Dallas County cities

15Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Texas

West Nile virus detected in mosquito pools across four Dallas County cities

DALLAS COUNTY, TX – Mosquito samples collected in four cities have tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to an update released October 15, 2025. Health officials confirmed that one mosquito pool in each of the following ZIP codes returned positive test results: DeSoto (75115) Duncanville (75116) Glenn Heights (75154) Lancaster (75146) A total of four new positive mosquito pools were identified in this latest surveillance round. Local health departments may implement spraying or other mosquito control measures in the affected areas.

Fourth Circuit upholds guilty plea despite procedural flaws in Virginia firearms case

15Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Virginia

Fourth Circuit upholds guilty plea despite procedural flaws in Virginia firearms case

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has upheld the conviction of Robert Smith, Jr., a Virginia man who pleaded guilty to falsifying information on federal firearms purchase forms, despite several procedural oversights during his plea hearing. The October 15, 2025, decision, authored by Judge Wilkinson and joined by Judges Thacker and Heytens, affirmed the lower court’s ruling that Smith’s plea remained valid under Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, even though portions of the required colloquy were omitted. Smith was indicted on 24 counts of making false statements to a federal firearms licensee after purchasing 59 guns over 16 months using fictitious Virginia addresses. One address did not exist, and the other was occupied by indivi...

Former inmates lose federal appeal over delayed release under Virginia sentence credit law

15Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Virginia

Former inmates lose federal appeal over delayed release under Virginia sentence credit law

RICHMOND, VA — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by two Virginia inmates who were held for an extra year after they should have been released under a 2020 sentencing reform law. The court’s October 15, 2025, decision affirms a lower court ruling that neither Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares nor Virginia Department of Corrections Director Harold Clarke can be held personally liable for the delay in releasing Hamilton Hall Swart III and Richard Earl DaSilva. According to court records, the dispute arose after the General Assembly passed H.B. 5148, which expanded eligibility for enhanced sentence credits, allowing some inmates to earn up to 15 days of credit per 30 days served. The law excluded certain serious offen...

Fourth Circuit upholds dismissal of lawsuit filed by former State Department official accused of child abuse

15Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Virginia

Fourth Circuit upholds dismissal of lawsuit filed by former State Department official accused of child abuse

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has affirmed the dismissal of a federal and state malicious prosecution lawsuit filed by John Scott Moretti, a former State Department official who was arrested in 2020 on child sexual abuse charges but later had those charges dropped. According to court documents, Moretti had been indicted in Virginia on charges including forcible sodomy and indecent liberties with a child after a juvenile, identified as Jane Doe, accused him of sexually abusing her years earlier while she was visiting his home to play with his daughter. The investigation was initiated by the Prince William County Police Department after the juvenile disclosed the alleged abuse to her therapist while in residential treatment in 2019. Detective Hel...

Fourth Circuit affirms $811 million judgment against Nexus Services over immigration bond scheme

15Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Massachusetts, New York, U.S., Virginia

Fourth Circuit affirms $811 million judgment against Nexus Services over immigration bond scheme

RICHMOND, VA – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has upheld a nearly $811 million judgment against Nexus Services, Inc., its subsidiary Libre by Nexus, and three of its executives for operating a fraudulent scheme targeting detained immigrants. According to court records, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), joined by the attorneys general of Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia, filed a 17-count civil enforcement action against the defendants in 2021. The case centered on claims that Nexus and Libre by Nexus misled immigrant detainees into believing they were purchasing full-service bond assistance when, in fact, they were subjected to exploitative fees and deceptive contract terms. The defendants allegedly promised “easy and affordable” immigration b...

Tow truck driver identified as suspect in Club Aragon shooting turns himself in

15Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Houston

Tow truck driver identified as suspect in Club Aragon shooting turns himself in

HOUSTON, TX – A felony murder charge has been filed against 32-year-old John Leathers in connection to the fatal shooting of a woman outside Club Aragon in southwest Houston. According to court documents, the incident occurred around 3 a.m. on October 12 in the parking lot of the nightclub located at 8150 Southwest Freeway. A family had been leaving the club when a large fight broke out involving the woman’s adult children and others. Pepper spray was reportedly deployed during the altercation, leaving several individuals temporarily impaired. https://youtu.be/nNlrf1peVmI The woman’s stepfather drove to the feeder road to pick up the adult children, and they soon discovered she had been shot. Emergency personnel responded to a secondary location at 8704 South Gessner, where ...

Major drug seizure in Woodbury leads to arrest following joint task force operation

15Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Minnesota

Major drug seizure in Woodbury leads to arrest following joint task force operation

WOODBURY, MN – A major drug trafficking investigation led by the Washington County Drug Task Force resulted in the seizure of large quantities of narcotics and firearms on Friday. The operation was carried out in coordination with the Airport Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Woodbury Police Department. Officers executed a search warrant at a residence in Woodbury, where they discovered: 10 pounds of methamphetamine 1.68 pounds of fentanyl 10 grams of cocaine Two handguns One suspect was taken into custody at the scene and is being held pending formal charges. Authorities expect charges to include Aggravated First-Degree Controlled Substance Possession with Firearms. The investigation remains ongoing.

Man fatally shot on Alton Street in North Charleston

15Oct

By Houston StringerNo Comments

South Carolina

Man fatally shot on Alton Street in North Charleston

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – The North Charleston Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred on the evening of Monday, October 13, 2025. Just before 9:00 p.m., officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 1900 block of Alton Street. Upon arrival, they located a male victim outside a residence suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported by EMS to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. No arrests have been made at this time. Detectives are pursuing all leads, and the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to this case, or knowledge of illegal firearms or suspicious activity, is urged to submit a tip through the secure and confidential Crime Watch platform at www.northcharlestonpd.org.