Latest News
Idaho Man Pleads Guilty to Hacking Computers of the City of Newnan and a Griffin Medical Clinic
By GA News Gazette | Mar 19, 2024
Robert Purbeck, also known as “Lifelock,” and “Studmaster,” pleaded guilty to federal charges of computer fraud and abuse. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan stated, “Purbeck breached computer systems in our district and across the country, stole vast amounts of personal information, and aggravated his crimes by weaponizing sensitive data in an egregious attempt to extort his victims.”In response to Purbeck's actions, FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley emphasized, “FBI Atlanta continues to be unrelenting in bringing cybercriminals to justice and determined to...
Man Sentenced to Life for Fatally Shooting His Friend in the Back
By GA News Gazette | Mar 19, 2024
Cobb District Attorney Flynn D. Broady Jr. announced that Kehari Yarber, 26, has been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the murder of his friend, Blake Porter. Yarber was found guilty of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Superior Court Judge Robert D. Leonard II imposed the sentence, along with an additional five years to be served consecutively.According to the investigation, on October 31, 2020, Cobb County Police discovered Blake Porter, 20, deceased from multiple gunshot...
Atlanta Meat Market Owner Sentenced to Federal Prison in $10 Million Food Stamp Fraud Scheme
By GA News Gazette | Mar 19, 2024
Atlanta - Uttam Halder, the Atlanta meat market owner, has been sentenced to federal prison for his involvement in a $10 million food stamp fraud scheme. Halder, who fled to Mexico and attempted to escape to Istanbul, was apprehended by foreign authorities with a counterfeit Mexican passport.U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan expressed, "The federal government trusted Halder to safeguard precious SNAP funds designed to alleviate hunger but he abused that trust to fuel his greed by profiting from a multimillion-dollar scheme to fraudulently redeem SNAP benefits."Miles Davis,...
Atlanta Man Convicted in Murder Over $35
By GA News Gazette | Mar 19, 2024
Atlanta man, Rickey Carter, 65, has been found guilty on charges of Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony in the shooting death of his friend, Quinlan Parker, 48, over a $35 debt. The conviction was announced by DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston following a bench trial in DeKalb County Superior Court.According to the report, the incident took place on January 28, 2022, when Carter shot Parker at an apartment in unincorporated Decatur. Parker was found dead from a gunshot wound to the...
Multiple Defendants Face Federal Firearms and Drug Charges in Southern Georgia
By GA News Gazette | Mar 18, 2024
Several individuals in Southern Georgia are facing federal charges related to firearms possession and drug distribution, as well as others who have already been sentenced for federal gun offenses. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, Jill E. Steinberg, emphasized the importance of addressing the issue of illegally possessed firearms, especially those modified for fully automatic fire, to enhance the safety of the community.Highlighting the collaborative efforts under Project Safe Neighborhoods, which involves various law enforcement agencies, including...
Atlanta Man Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-19 Relief Funding
By GA News Gazette | Mar 18, 2024
An Atlanta man, Kemar Clarke Jr., has been sentenced to eight months in prison and ordered to pay $41,665 in restitution for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 small-business relief funding. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, Jill E. Steinberg, stated, “When Congress approved relief funding for small businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic, far too many people saw it as an opportunity to cash in at the expense of deserving business owners. We are committed to holding accountable those who defraud American taxpayers.”According to court documents...
STONE MOUNTAIN MAN CONVICTED IN SHOOTING DEATH OF TEENAGER
By GA News Gazette | Mar 15, 2024
DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced a conviction in the case against Trillian Haile, a Stone Mountain man accused of the shooting death of teenager Dontavious Young. Jurors returned guilty verdicts on charges of Voluntary Manslaughter, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.According to the investigation, officers found Young lying in the road with multiple gunshot wounds after responding to 911 calls about a shooting on Cherry Wood Drive. Young was pronounced dead at the hospital after being shot 13 times....
Cartersville Sex Offender Sentenced for Possessing Child Pornography
By GA News Gazette | Mar 14, 2024
Jerry Joseph Southern, a convicted sex offender, was sentenced today to ten years of imprisonment for possessing thousands of digital images and videos depicting the rape and sexual abuse of children, including prepubescent minors under the age of 12.U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan stated, “This office remains committed to working with our state and local partners to identify and prosecute individuals who commit heinous crimes against minors. Southern’s sentence of imprisonment reflects the seriousness of his recidivist conduct and the need to prevent him from facilitating...
Cincinnati Man Sentenced for Brandishing a Weapon on Frontier Airlines Flight
By GA News Gazette | Mar 14, 2024
William Allen Liebisch, 43, of Cincinnati, Ohio, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for interfering with the performance of the duties of a flight crew. Liebisch carried a box cutter on an airplane en route to Tampa, Florida, and told a fellow passenger that he wanted to stab someone aboard the flight, causing the pilot to make an emergency landing in Atlanta.“The flying public deserves to travel in peace without fear that a fellow passenger will create a violent disturbance,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Liebisch’s conduct created panic among the flight...
Attorney Registration Now Open for the 2024 Eleventh Circuit Judicial Conference
By GA News Gazette | Mar 12, 2024
Attorney Registration Now Open for the 2024 Eleventh Circuit Judicial ConferenceAttorneys practicing within the Eleventh Circuit have the opportunity to attend the upcoming 2024 Eleventh Circuit Judicial Conference, scheduled to take place on May 9-10, 2024, at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama. The conference, organized by the judges of the Eleventh Circuit, aims to delve into court matters and explore avenues for enhancing the judicial system within the Circuit.A key aspect of the conference is the limited availability of space, which will be allocated on a...
Drug Traffickers Sentenced for Importing Fentanyl and Methamphetamine from Mexico to Metro-Atlanta
By GA News Gazette | Mar 12, 2024
Alba Ordoñez-Ordoñez and Jose Guadalupe Canizales-Rivera have been sentenced for their roles in importing fentanyl and methamphetamine from Mexico to Metro-Atlanta. Ordoñez-Ordoñez was sentenced to 138 months in federal prison, while Canizales-Rivera received a sentence of five years and three months in prison.U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan emphasized the dangers posed by drug traffickers who disguise narcotics as legitimate medication, stating, “These sentences reflect the grave risks to public safety created by drug traffickers who disguise dangerous narcotics as...
2024 Eleventh Circuit Judicial Conference to be Held in May
By GA News Gazette | Mar 12, 2024
The 2024 Eleventh Circuit Judicial Conference is scheduled to take place on 9 - 10 May 2024 at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama. This conference is a significant event convened by the judges of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, which encompasses Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.According to the announcement, the purpose of the conference is to address the business of the courts and to explore ways to enhance the administration of justice within the circuit. It is an opportunity for legal professionals to engage in discussions and collaborative efforts aimed at improving...
Two Men Found Guilty of Murder in Cobb County Court Proceedings
By GA News Gazette | Mar 12, 2024
Two men have been found guilty of murder in recent court proceedings in Cobb County, as reported on March 12, 2024. The first case involved an Austell man who was sentenced to life in prison for malice murder. The second case highlighted the announcement by Cobb County DA Flynn D. Broady, Jr. regarding a guilty plea in a child molestation and aggravated case.In addition to the criminal trials, a new grief support group has been established to aid victims and survivors of homicide in the community. This initiative aims to provide much-needed assistance and comfort to those...
CARROLL COUNTY JURY CONVICTS HECTOR RODRIGUEZ AND JESUS RODRIGUEZ OF ATTEMPTED MURDER AND OTHER CHARGES
By GA News Gazette | Mar 11, 2024
On March 7, 2024, a Carroll County jury delivered a verdict in the case of brothers Hector Rodriguez and Jesus Rodriguez Vicerra from Chicago, Illinois. The jury found them guilty of Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Aggravated Battery. Hector Rodriguez faced additional charges of Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer and Driving Under the Influence.Superior Court Judge Dustin Hightower oversaw the trial and handed down sentences to the defendants. Hector Rodriguez received a 20-year prison term followed by 11 years of probation, while Jesus Rodriguez...
Two Men Found Guilty of Murder in Cobb County
By GA News Gazette | Mar 8, 2024
District Attorney Flynn D. Broady Jr. announced that Marcus Bass, 61, and Peterson Paris, 33, have been found guilty of murder by two different juries in Cobb County. Bass was sentenced to life without parole plus five years for various charges, while Paris's sentencing for felony murder, criminal attempt to commit armed robbery, and aggravated assault will be determined at a later date.The convictions stem from the murder of store owner Abu Ahammed at the Kwik E Mart in Acworth. Surveillance footage and cell phone records linked Paris and Bass to the crime scene. Bass...
Bryan County men indicted for bombing Richmond Hill residence
By GA News Gazette | Mar 7, 2024
Two Bryan County men, Stephen Glosser and Caleb Kinsey, have been indicted on multiple federal charges for the bombing of a Richmond Hill residence in January 2023. According to the indictment in USA v. Glosser et al., announced by U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg, the men are charged with various offenses including stalking, use of an explosive to commit another felony offense, conspiracy to use an explosive to commit a felony, and possession of an unregistered destructive device.The indictment alleges that Glosser and Kinsey used electronic communications to surveil...
Disbarred Real Estate Attorney Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Millions from Clients
By GA News Gazette | Mar 5, 2024
Matthew Allen Dickason, a disbarred attorney, has been sentenced to federal prison for embezzling more than $3 million from his clients. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan stated, “Dickason engaged in a long-running and shameful practice of abusing the trust placed in him by his clients and will now serve a prison sentence as a result of his crimes.” The FBI Atlanta's Special Agent in Charge, Keri Farley, added, “As a lawyer, Dickason swore an oath to uphold the law and represent his clients with integrity. Instead, he violated their trust and defrauded innocent victims.” ...
Brunswick Man Enters Guilty Plea in 2022 Shooting and Armed Robbery Case
By GA News Gazette | Mar 4, 2024
District Attorney Keith Higgins announced that Laronse Adriese Chambliss, 21, of Brunswick, GA, entered a non-negotiated guilty plea in Glynn County Superior Court on March 4, 2024, to Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony. Chambliss entered his plea just before the commencement of the trial in his case.According to the facts presented in court, on December 28, 2022, the victim in the case was in Brunswick when he was lured to an address on Pine Street through the Grinder App. Two individuals wearing face coverings...
Jeff Davis Defendant Sentenced to 5-Years for Burglary
By GA News Gazette | Mar 4, 2024
District Attorney Keith Higgins announced that a Jeff Davis County jury found James Larvelle Smith guilty of one count of Burglary in the Second Degree. According to the report, Smith was found by an employee sitting on a Polaris ATV in a barn on May 15, 2023. Smith claimed he had purchased the ATV from the previous owner, but security camera footage showed him moving throughout the property and trying to open doors.During the trial, Smith represented himself and testified that he was the owner of the property, but failed to provide any documentation to support his claim....
ALLEGED CULT LEADER CONVICTED OF RAPING FORMER MEMBER
By GA News Gazette | Mar 1, 2024
DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced a conviction by jury trial in the case against an alleged cult leader accused of raping one of his former members. Jurors returned guilty verdicts against Eligio Bishop, 40, on charges of Rape, False Imprisonment, and three counts of Prohibition on Nude or Sexually Explicit Electronic Transmissions.According to the investigation, officers with the DeKalb County Police Department responded to a call about a domestic incident in March 2022, where they met with the victim who had joined a “sex cult” led by Defendant...