J. Y. Bender News
Mother receives life sentence without parole for son's beating death in DeKalb County
By J. Y. Bender | Dec 10, 2025
A DeKalb County mother has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the death of her four-year-old son, Anthony Vice.
PACER updates password reset and MFA enrollment procedures for CM/ECF users
By J. Y. Bender | Dec 6, 2025
On October 16, 2025, PACER introduced an update that allows users with CM/ECF-level access to reset their own passwords if their account search status becomes inactive due to inactivity.
U.S. District Court for Northern Georgia updates local rules effective December 2025
By J. Y. Bender | Dec 1, 2025
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia has announced amendments to Local Rules 16.2 and 67.1, as well as Appendix B to the Local Rules, which will take effect on December 1, 2025.
PACER Service Center provides guidance to reduce user call wait times
By J. Y. Bender | Nov 24, 2025
The PACER Service Center (PSC) has issued guidance to help reduce call wait times by encouraging users to contact the center only when necessary.
Multiple agencies arrest four people in Georgia child exploitation investigation
By J. Y. Bender | Nov 17, 2025
A joint investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies has resulted in the arrest of four individuals on charges related to child exploitation.
U.S. District Court for Northern District of Georgia lifts stay on federal civil cases
By J. Y. Bender | Nov 13, 2025
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia has announced that it is lifting the stay on civil litigation involving the United States and its agencies.
Two plead guilty in scheme involving ex-Facebook diversity manager who stole millions
By J. Y. Bender | Nov 13, 2025
Brice E. Anderson and Terrance Lockett have admitted to conspiring with Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a former diversity program manager at Facebook, in a scheme that defrauded the company of significant sums.
Stone Mountain man sentenced to life without parole for fatal shooting of teen
By J. Y. Bender | Nov 7, 2025
A Stone Mountain man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the fatal shooting of one teenage girl and the wounding of another, following a conviction by jury trial in DeKalb County.
Former Atlanta postal worker pleads guilty to theft and PPP loan fraud
By J. Y. Bender | Nov 5, 2025
A former U.S. Postal Service mail carrier, Vershun Weaver, has admitted to stealing U.S. Treasury checks from recipients along his delivery route and fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eleventh Circuit approves amendments to CJA Plan for Northern District of Georgia
By J. Y. Bender | Oct 10, 2025
Effective October 9, 2025, the Eleventh Circuit Judicial Council has approved changes to the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Plan for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
U.S. District Court for Northern District of Georgia issues order on sensitive document handling
By J. Y. Bender | Oct 7, 2025
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia has issued Standing Order 25-03, which sets rules for handling highly sensitive documents.
U.S. District Court pauses civil cases involving federal government due to funding lapse
By J. Y. Bender | Oct 1, 2025
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia has announced a temporary halt to all civil litigation involving the United States as a party.
Calhoun man sentenced for drug trafficking and assaulting federal agents
By J. Y. Bender | Sep 30, 2025
DeWayne Allen McGill, a 40-year-old resident of Calhoun, Georgia, has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to several charges including possession of methamphetamine with...
Former gym owner sentenced to over 27 years for child sexual exploitation
By J. Y. Bender | Sep 30, 2025
A former gym owner in Toombs County, Georgia, has been sentenced to 327 months in federal prison for producing and possessing images and videos of child sexual exploitation.
Pipe bomber gets 14-year sentence for ATM explosion in Decatur
By J. Y. Bender | Sep 25, 2025
Abdurrahim Jalal has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for detonating an explosive device at a Bank of America ATM and possessing illegal explosives at his home.
Five Mexican nationals charged after major meth seizure linked to CJNG cartel
By J. Y. Bender | Sep 22, 2025
Five Mexican nationals have been charged in federal court after authorities seized over 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine from locations in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia.
Central Violations Bureau warns of scam websites impersonating its payment portal
By J. Y. Bender | Sep 17, 2025
A fraudulent website has been reported to be impersonating the Central Violations Bureau (CVB), potentially seeking to obtain personal or financial information from users under false pretenses.
Former Army soldier receives life sentences for child sexual abuse at Fort Stewart
By J. Y. Bender | Sep 9, 2025
A former Army soldier, Austin Michael Burak, 32, of Oak Harbor, Washington, has been sentenced to concurrent life sentences after being convicted of sexually abusing two children at Fort Stewart Military Reservation in Georgia.
DeKalb County man indicted in double homicide following domestic violence incidents
By J. Y. Bender | Sep 5, 2025
A DeKalb County man has been indicted on more than 30 charges in connection with a series of domestic violence incidents that led to the deaths of his estranged wife and a 6-year-old girl.