Tragic jail death and forced migrant labor: Read the latest legal stories across US
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Thousands of legal cases reach U.S. courts every year. From accusations of mistreatment in prisons to fraud to sexual abuse and beyond, here are some of the latest from across the country.
Jail staff ignored screams of tortured 24-year-old killed in California cell, suit says
A lawsuit in California alleges that jail staff ignored the cries of Brandon Yates, who was tortured and killed by a violent cellmate. Despite being aware of the cellmate’s dangerous behavior, staff failed to intervene, according to a lawsuit. Yates’ family is seeking damages for the alleged negligence that led to his death. | Published Feb. 25 | Read More |
On-duty officer smuggling 16 ‘bricks’ of cocaine is caught at Atlanta airport, feds say
A U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officer was convicted of smuggling cocaine through Atlanta’s airport. The officer used his position to bypass security and was caught with 16 bricks of cocaine, federal prosecutors say, and he faces sentencing. | Published Feb. 27 | Read More |
Couple forces migrants into unpaid work and steals their McDonald’s wages in CA, feds say
A woman and her husband are accused of forcing asylum-seeking migrants from Latin America to work without pay at their California home. They also stole wages earned by the migrants at a local McDonald’s, federal prosecutors said. They were arrested on forced labor charges, according to prosecutors. | Published Feb. 27 | Read More |
Tax worker steals life savings from Oregon man who ‘lived more than frugally,’ feds say
A receptionist at H&R Block in Oregon was sentenced to three years in prison on accusations of stealing over $426,000 from an elderly man with an intellectual disability. The theft was discovered after the man’s death, officials say, revealing the receptionist had used the money for personal expenses. The judge ordered the receptionist to pay restitution to the victim’s family. | Published Feb. 28 | Read More |
Cops force man in cage, tase him and drag his ‘limp’ body into NM jail cell, feds say
In New Mexico, a federal jury found two former police officers guilty of violating a man’s civil rights after he was tased 14 times and died in a jail cell. The officers were accused of using unreasonable force and failing to provide medical attention. The city of Jal settled with the man’s family for $5 million. | Published March 3 | Read More |
Priest convicted of child molestation in Maryland lied to gain US citizenship, feds say
A former priest convicted of molesting a child in Maryland has been sentenced to federal prison on a charge of passport fraud after prosecutors said he lied to gain U.S. citizenship. He’ll be transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody after he serves his federal sentence and state sentence in Maryland. | Published March 4 | Read More |
Dentist threatens to kill public figures over politics and gets prison in Florida, feds say
A federal judge sentenced a dentist from Tampa, Florida, to two years in prison for sending threats to public figures, including an election official. He sent more than 100 threats to individuals whom he disagreed with on politics, according to prosecutors. | Published March 5 | Read More |
Executive stole $6.7M meant for injured babies, ‘lived lavishly’ in Virginia, feds say
The former executive of a program providing millions in benefits to families of children with birth-related injuries in Virginia was sentenced to federal prison, prosecutors said. He was accused of stealing more than $6.7 million from the program. The man previously pleaded guilty to mail fraud and money laundering charges, according to prosecutors. | Published March 6 | Read More |
McClatchy News continues to follow lawsuitsand legal cases around the country. Check back for more legal stories.