Football player wrongly put in jail, mail theft in Florida: Latest legal stories
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.
Men go ‘fishing’ in USPS box, steal mail using homemade devices in FL, feds say
In Florida, two men, Aquarius Jones and Johnathan Bryant, were caught using homemade “fishing” devices to steal mail from a USPS collection box, according to federal court filings. The men, who rented a black SUV, were found with mail fishing devices and stolen checks worth over $12,000, prosecutors say. Both men pleaded guilty to charges related to mail theft and bank fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. | Published April 11 | Read More
73-year-old fired over age after 31 years at New Mexico movie theater, feds say
In New Mexico, a 73-year-old man named Abby Parrish was forced to retire from Allen Theatres due to his age, according to a federal lawsuit. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says the lawsuit has led to a $250,000 settlement for Parrish and others affected. | Published April 11 | Read More
Man exploits 16-year-old over Instagram, then flees his trial in CA, feds say
Gregory Cole Jr., a 30-year-old from Lancaster, California, was found guilty of child sexual abuse material charges after prosecutors say he exploited a 16-year-old girl over Instagram. Cole fled during his trial by removing his ankle monitor and is now considered a fugitive, prosecutors say. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, with sentencing set for June 23. | Published April 14 | Read More
Worker fakes death, tries to hide $4M she stole working in Florida, feds say
Madelyn Hernandez, of Lee County, Florida, faked her death to cover up the theft of over $4 million from her employer, a textile company, federal prosecutors say. She created false invoices to divert funds to her own accounts and later admitted to the scheme when confronted by authorities, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. Hernandez was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to forfeit the stolen amount, prosecutors say. | Published April 14 | Read More
Dad keeps quiet about construction job, gets $270K in disability in NJ, feds say
A man from Toms River, New Jersey, collected $270,933 in disability benefits while secretly working in construction, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. He pleaded guilty to theft of public money and making false statements to the Social Security Administration, prosecutors say. | Published April 15 | Read More
Officer mistakenly shot by fellow cop is wrongly fired in Alabama, lawsuit says
Ryan Pinyan, a former Alabama police officer, is suing to regain his job after being fired following an accidental shooting by a fellow officer, according to his lawsuit. Pinyan, who was hospitalized and unable to return to work, claims he was terminated without explanation and denied funds for his K-9’s medical care. He seeks reinstatement, back pay, and damages. | Published April 15 | Read More
Man stole benefits from missing girlfriend’s son, feds say. NJ mom still missing
In Newark, New Jersey, a man was sentenced to over three years in prison for stealing nearly $20,000 in benefits meant for his missing girlfriend’s disabled son, federal prosecutors say. The woman has been missing since 2017, and the man used her identity to access the benefits, according to prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, prosecutors say. | Published April 16 | Read More
Football player jailed for 2 months was wrongly accused of murder, SC suit says
Ty’Ran Dixon, a professional football player from South Carolina, was wrongly accused of murder and jailed for over two months, according to a lawsuit. The Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office is accused of pursuing the wrong man, leading to Dixon’s detention in multiple jails. Dixon is suing on claims of negligence, false arrest, and more. | Published April 17 | Read More
McClatchy News continues to follow lawsuits and legal cases from around the country. Check back for more legal stories.