West Virginia
Deputy: Man stole work tools, then accidentally called boss
FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) - Authorities say a man stole tools from his workplace at an auto repair shop and then accidentally called his boss as he tried to sell them.
Citing an arrest report, the Times West Virginian says the owner of the repair shop in the community of Millersville told deputies that one of his employees recently called him about tools he was selling. The owner said the employee immediately hung up after he realized who he had called.
Deputies say they recovered the stolen tools after they obtained a warrant to search the vehicle and home of the worker, identified as 37-year-old Shawn Nelson Furner of Fairmont.
Furner is charged with felony breaking and entering, as well as conspiracy to commit a felony.
It is unclear whether Furner has an attorney.
Massachusetts
Feds find $20M cash hidden in Massachusetts box spring
WESTBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - Federal authorities say they have found about $20 million in cash hidden inside a box spring in a Massachusetts apartment as part of the investigation into an internet telecom company that prosecutors say was actually a massive pyramid scheme.
The cash was found in Westborough on Wednesday. Federal authorities charged 28-year-old Cleber Rene Rizerio Rocha with conspiring to commit money laundering in connection with the money. A lawyer for the Brazilian national could not be reached.
The seizure was made in connection with an investigation into TelexFree. Prosecutors say TelexFree had few customers and made most of its revenue from people buying into the company with a promise of payouts for posting online ads for it. They were paid with money from new recruits. Authorities allege almost 1 million people worldwide were swindled out of nearly $1.8 billion.
Florida
Top lawyer mum on working for Donald Trump administration
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi kept mum Friday when asked if she would take a position in President-elect Donald Trump's administration, saying she would "not discuss anything confidential."
Bondi spoke to reporters during a news conference at the Tampa International Airport about human trafficking.
"I'm very happy being the Attorney General of the state of Florida right now," she said, grinning and deflecting the report in Bloomberg News that said she would be tapped for an administration post.
Bondi's critics say she let Trump off the hook over his controversial Trump University, featuring his get-rich-quick real estate seminars.
Documents obtained by The Associated Press in September showed New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's scrutiny of The Donald J. Trump Foundation dated back to at least June, when his office formally questioned a donation made by the charity to a group supporting Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Bondi personally solicited the money during a 2013 phone call that came after her office received complaints from former students claiming they were scammed by Trump University, Trump's get-rich-quick real estate seminars.
The Trump Foundation check arrived just days after Bondi's office told a newspaper it was reviewing a lawsuit against Trump University filed by Schneiderman. Bondi's office never sued Trump, though she denies his donation played any role in that decision.
Trump later paid a $2,500 fine over the check from his foundation because it violated federal law barring charities from making political contributions.
Most of Bondi's news conference focused on human trafficking, which she's been vocal about since taking office in 2011.
She added that she's spoken to Trump and other members of the transition team about the issue of human trafficking and that Trump is "committed to fighting human trafficking in our country."
Friday's announcement that the Tampa airport will post signs and information on human trafficking comes during a weekend when tens of thousands of people will fly to the city for the college football playoff championship game.
"Partnering with the airport gives unique opportunity to spread awareness," she said. "And the public: you are also essential in this fight. By knowing the signs of human trafficking you can save a life."
Bondi was asked by a reporter if airports across the country would be encouraged to spread such messages if she were in the new president's administration.
"Absolutely," she said.
Pennsylvania
Pizza deliveryman shot by cops gets $4.4M settlement
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A pizza deliveryman shot and injured when plainclothes police fired 14 times at his car has negotiated a $4.4 million settlement with the city of Philadelphia.
Lawyers for Philippe Holland say after being shot in the head, neck and leg in April 2014, he has bullet fragments in his brain and suffers from a seizure disorder.
Then-Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey apologized at the time and visited the 20-year-old victim in the hospital. City lawyers announcing the settlement Friday called the events that night "unfortunate" and "regrettable."
Holland's lawsuit against the city says he thought he was being robbed when the officers approached him as they investigated a shooting blocks away. Holland was shot as he tried to flee.
The settlement includes new training policies for plainclothes officers.
New Hampshire
Circus agrees to plea deal in fatal tent collapse
LANCASTER, N.H. (AP) - Court records show a Florida-based circus operator has agreed to a plea deal following a tent collapse in New Hampshire in 2015 that killed two people and injured dozens.
The Caledonian-Record in Vermont reports details of the plea deal involving Sarasota-based Walker International Events weren't made available.
The company had previously pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of operating without a license and to misdemeanor counts alleging it hadn't complied with state standards. Corporations can face fines and sanctions on criminal convictions.
The company, now out of business, agreed to pay federal safety fines and settled some lawsuits.
Forty-one-year-old Robert Young and his 6-year-old daughter, Annabelle, of Concord, Vermont, died when a storm with 75 mph winds blew through the Lancaster Fairgrounds, toppling the tent.
Published: Mon, Jan 09, 2017
