us-crime-and-justice214.95 min read
Texas executes Jamaal Howard, first U.S. death since Tennessee's failed injection
2 days ago•Source: CNN
Us Crime And Justice News
The latest us crime and justice stories, each synthesized from multiple sources with added background and context.
Featured Us Crime And Justice Stories
View original source
225.885 min•4 days ago
Cornell hires former DOJ official to audit response to 2024 rape allegations
Cornell University has appointed former US Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to lead an independent review of its handling of a 2024 gang rape allegation. The investigation follows a civil lawsuit filed by the victim, known as Jane Doe, and a vote of no confidence motion by the faculty senate. While the university faces intense scrutiny, New York Attorney General Letitia James is simultaneously conducting a criminal investigation after taking over the case from local prosecutors.
More Top Stories
2
3
More Us Crime And Justice Stories
Judge halts charges against ex-Marine amid mental-health evaluation after Trump golf-course arrest
A judge suspended criminal charges against 38-year-old Jeanine John Taele, a former Marine, who was arrested at Trump National Golf Course Los Angeles with a loaded 9 mm pistol, a loaded magazine, and a badge in his vehicle. Taele is being evaluated in a Hollywood mental-health court after a pretrial assessment suggested he’s not fit to stand trial and he claimed to have been a State Department official. Investigators noted about 200 pages of writings found at the scene, including schedules for Melania Trump and Secret Service members, and Taele has a prior 2025 arrest for robbery. He remains jailed until a September 9 hearing; his attorney said it’s too early to determine how mental health may affect his defense. The case underscores concerns about violence in a polarized political environment.
Unreported Phoenix traffic stop triggers firing and arrest of two officers
Two Phoenix police officers, Antonio Felix and Luis Vasquez, were fired and arrested after an Aug. 5 unreported traffic stop in which they assaulted a man and a woman and tasered them; there is no body-worn-camera video, but investigators say probable cause exists and the officers face aggravated assault and kidnapping charges. Vasquez was released on bond while Felix remained jailed as the investigation continues. Tempe police later learned the car involved was linked to the victims, and Phoenix officials noted prior policy violations by the officers. The case has a court date scheduled and the investigation is ongoing.
FBI raids Swalwell home as federal probe into sexual misconduct allegations advances
Federal agents seized Swalwell’s electronic devices at San Francisco’s airport and then raided his Washington, D.C. home as part of a federal probe tied to sexual assault allegations; Swalwell resigned from Congress in April amid reporting on the allegations, and two women publicly accused him and said they spoke with the FBI. The Manhattan DA’s Office and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department have opened investigations in the wake of the reporting.
ICE detains captain in fatal NYC harbor boat capsizing
The captain of a boat that capsized near the Statue of Liberty, killing a mother and her 5-month-old daughter, Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana, 46, has been detained by ICE. He is charged in federal court with two counts of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death after investigators say the Yamaha AR210 was over capacity and piloted without proper licenses. Hernandez-Umana was released on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond with conditions; he also faces state charges and remains in ICE custody awaiting trial with removal proceedings possible after sentencing. The crash, which left the victims Sara Sanchez and her infant daughter Antonella Garcia dead, occurred during a birthday boat trip in New York Harbor, with Coast Guard and NYPD continuing the investigation into the vessel’s safety credentials and the cause of the capsizing.
Suspect Arrested in Brutal Great Falls Park Homicide Involving Co-worker
A 19-year-old man, Alexis Antonio Cedillos-Campos, was arrested in Maryland and confessed to the stabbing death of 42-year-old Carmen Lizet Puch, who was found Aug. 17 in the parking area of Difficult Run Stream Valley Park in Great Falls, Virginia. Police say Cedillos-Campos and Puch were coworkers and had an intimate relationship; he armed himself with a fixed-blade knife, gloves, and a water bottle before the attack and is awaiting extradition to Virginia. Investigators note Cedillos-Campos is an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador who had previously been detained by federal authorities at the border. The case has fed into national debates on immigration policy, though officials cited broader political talking points surrounding border security.”
Mississippi Woman Found Hanging: Authorities Probe Circumstances
Jackson, Miss.—The body of 29-year-old Tasia Fortune was found hanging in the backyard of an abandoned Jackson home, with police saying they are working to determine the circumstances and have not yet labeled the death suspicious. Fortune, a mother of four who had traveled to Kentucky for a family reunion, was mourned by her mother who says Fortune did not take her own life. An autopsy will determine the cause and manner of death. Fortune's death follows two other hangings in Mississippi within a year, drawing scrutiny of how authorities handle deaths in Black communities, with scant information about suspects or persons of interest. A memorial has grown at the site, and civil-rights voices have urged transparency as investigations continue.
ICE to Outfit All Field Officers with Body Cams by August, but Footage Access Remains Restricted
ICE says it will outfit every field officer with body cameras by the end of August, a rapid expansion that could create a visual record of federal immigration enforcement; however, public access to footage remains limited as ICE policies allow withholding or delaying release to protect investigations and privacy, a stance the agency defended amid scrutiny over recent shootings and related coverage.
Unsealed Docs Add Rape and Trafficking Charges in Tate Extradition Case
Newly unsealed UK authorities’ filings expand charges against Andrew and Tristan Tate in their extradition case, detailing multiple rape and sex-trafficking allegations from victims in England. The documents accompany their appearance in Miami federal court and bring the total charges to 42 for Andrew and 17 for Tristan (59 across both brothers). Prosecutors say victims were choked and assaulted in past years; the Tates deny wrongdoing. The extradition process to determine if they should be surrendered to the UK continues, with next milestones including bail decisions and the outline of an extradition hearing.
Army veteran accused of incendiary attack outside NYC federal building, FBI says
A 43-year-old Army veteran, Andrew Arrabaca, allegedly poured gasoline outside 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan, ignited it with a lighter, and fired several airsoft pellets from a rifle after arriving with an anti-ICE sign; three people were injured, Arrabaca is in custody, and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating as charges remain pending. Officials described him as anti-government extremist.
Napa County hit-and-run case involving Paul Pelosi under review for possible misdemeanor charges
Paul Pelosi, husband of Nancy Pelosi, was involved in a hit-and-run in Yountville, Napa County, California, after allegedly striking a legally parked car, briefly stopping, then driving away; there were no injuries. Deputies later found Pelosi’s car with severe front-end damage about a quarter-mile away. He was not arrested, and authorities say the incident could lead to a misdemeanor charge for fleeing the scene, with the California DMV determining his continued ability to drive—an ordinary step for older drivers. Pelosi has a prior DUI conviction in 2022, for which he served a short jail term and probation. The episode follows a separate 2022 assault on the Pelosi home.