Crimes and Courts
Film Crew Voiced Complaints Before Fatal On-Set Shooting
Published
5 years agoon
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Alec Baldwin fatally shot a cinematographer on a New Mexico film set with a gun a crew member had assured the actor was safe, a tragic mistake that came hours after some workers walked off the job to protest conditions and production issues.
An assistant director, Dave Halls, grabbed a prop gun off a cart at a desert movie ranch and handed it to Baldwin during a Thursday rehearsal for the Western film “Rust,” according to court records made public Friday.
“Cold gun,” Halls yelled, declaring the weapon didn’t carry live rounds and was ready to fire.
But it wasn’t. When Baldwin pulled the trigger, he unwittingly killed 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza, who was standing behind her inside a wooden, chapel-like building.
A 911 call that alerted authorities to the shooting at the Bonanza Creek Ranch outside Santa Fe hints at the panic on the movie set, as detailed in a recording released by the Santa Fe County Regional Emergency Communications Center.
“We had two people accidentally shot on a move set by a prop gun, we need help immediately,” script supervisor Mamie Mitchell told an emergency dispatcher. “We were rehearsing and it went off, and I ran out, we all ran out.”
The dispatcher asked if the gun was loaded with a real bullet.
“I cannot tell you. We have two injuries,” Mitchell replied. “And this (expletive) AD (assistant director) that yelled at me at lunch, asking about revisions….He’s supposed to check the guns. He’s responsible for what happens on the set.”
Halls did not immediately return phone and email messages seeking comment. The Associated Press was unable to contact Hannah Gutierrez, the film’s armorer, and several messages sent to production companies affiliated with “Rust” did not receive responses Friday.
The gun Baldwin used was one of three that Gutierrez had set on a cart outside the building where a scene was being rehearsed, according to the court records. Halls grabbed the firearm from the cart and brought it inside to the actor, unaware that it was loaded with live rounds, a detective wrote in a search warrant application.
It was unclear how many rounds were fired. Gutierrez removed a shell casing from the gun after the shooting, and she turned the weapon over to police when they arrived, the court records say.
Guns used in making movies are sometimes real weapons that can fire either bullets or blanks, which are gunpowder charges that produce a flash and a bang but no dangerous projectile.
New Mexico workplace safety investigators are examining if film industry standards for gun safety were followed during production of “Rust.” The Los Angeles Times, citing two crew members it did not name, reported that five days before the shooting, Baldwin’s stunt double accidentally fired two live rounds after being told the gun didn’t have any ammunition.
A crew member who was alarmed by the misfires told a unit production manager in a text message, “We’ve now had 3 accidental discharges. This is super unsafe,” according to a copy of the message reviewed by the newspaper. The New York Times also reported that there were at least two earlier accidental gun discharges; it cited three former crew members.
Mitchell, the script supervisor, told The Associated Press she was standing next to Hutchins when the cinematographer was hit.
“I ran out and called 911 and said ‘Bring everybody, send everybody,’ ” Mitchell said. “This woman is gone at the beginning of her career. She was an extraordinary, rare, very rare woman.”
Filmmaker Souza, who was shot in the shoulder, said in a statement to NBC News that he was grateful for the support he was receiving and gutted by the loss of Hutchins. “She was kind, vibrant, incredibly talented, fought for every inch and always pushed me to be better,” he said.
Santa Fe-area District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said prosecutors are reviewing evidence in the shooting and do not know if charges will be filed.
Baldwin, 63, who is known for his roles in “30 Rock” and “The Hunt for Red October” and his impression of former President Donald Trump on “Saturday Night Live,” has described the killing as a “tragic accident.” He was a producer of “Rust.”
“There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours. I’m fully cooperating with the police investigation,” Baldwin wrote on Twitter. “My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna.”
Production on “Rust” was halted after the shooting. The movie is about a 13-year-old boy who is left to fend for himself and his younger brother following the death of their parents in 1880s Kansas, according to the Internet Movie Database website.
Before the fateful rehearsal, there were reports of some problems on the set. Seven crew members walked off several hours before Hutchins was killed to express their discontent with matters that ranged from safety conditions to their accommodations, according to one of the crew members who left.
The disputes began soon after filming began in early October, said the crew member, who requested anonymity because he feared speaking up would hurt his prospects for future jobs.
The crew was initially housed at the Courtyard by Marriot in Santa Fe, according to the crew member. Four days in, however, they were told that going forward they would be housed at the budget Coyote South hotel. Some crew members balked at staying there.
The Los Angeles Times and Variety also reported on the walkout. Rust Movie Productions did not answer emails Friday and Saturday seeking comment.
There were other concerns.
Only minimal COVID-19 precautions were taken even though crew and cast members often worked in small enclosed spaces on the ranch, the crew member who spoke to the AP said. He said he never witnessed any formal orientation about weapons used on set, which normally would take place before filming begins.
A combination of those concerns prompted the seven to walk off the job.
“We packed our gear and left that morning,” the crew member said of the Thursday walkout.
Gutierrez, the film’s armorer, is the daughter of a longtime Hollywood firearms expert. She gave an interview in September to the Voices of the West podcast in which she said she had learned how to handle guns from her father since she was a teenager.
During the podcast interview. Gutierrez shared that she just finished her first movie in the role of head armorer, a project in Montana starring Nicholas Cage titled “The Old Way.”
“I was really nervous about it at first and I almost didn’t take the job because I wasn’t sure if I was ready but doing it, like, it went really smoothly,” she said.
In another on-set gun death from 1993, Brandon Lee, the son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, was killed by a bullet left in a prop gun after a previous scene. Similar shootings have occurred involving stage weapons that were loaded with live rounds during historical re-enactments.
Gun-safety protocol on sets in the United States has improved since then, said Steven Hall, a veteran director of photography in Britain. But he said one of the riskiest positions to be in is behind the camera because that person is in the line of fire in scenes where an actor appears to point a gun at the audience.
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Crimes and Courts
Florida Gaming Control Commission Seizes 163 Illegal Slot Machines, $247K in St. Petersburg
Published
6 days agoon
September 15, 2026
State gaming agents and partner law enforcement agencies targeted two St. Petersburg businesses, seizing more than $247,000 in cash and issuing notices to appear to three people.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (FNN) — The Florida Gaming Control Commission seized 163 alleged illegal slot machines and $247,285 in cash during searches of two St. Petersburg businesses as part of an enforcement action dubbed “Operation Final Spin,” according to the agency.
The Sept. 10 operation was conducted with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol and Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, according to an FGCC news release.
The searches targeted Action Arcade, 6541 54th Ave. N., and The Zoo Sports Club and Grille, 5111 66th St. N.
FGCC is responsible for regulating authorized gambling and enforcing Florida’s criminal gambling prohibitions. Its stated enforcement priorities include investigating illegal arcades, slot-machine businesses and the distribution of illegal gambling devices.
163 Machines Seized at Two Locations
According to FGCC, agents seized 90 machines and $142,020 from Action Arcade.
Two people were issued notices to appear, with each accused of one count of possession of slot machines and one count of keeping a gambling house, the agency said.
At The Zoo Sports Club and Grille, agents seized another 73 machines and $105,265, according to FGCC. One person was issued a notice to appear on allegations of possession of slot machines and acting as an agent or employee of a gambling house.
The allegations are charges, and the individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
State Rep. Berny Jacques Joins Enforcement Action
Florida Gaming Control Commission Vice Chair Tina Repp and state Rep. Berny Jacques participated in the enforcement action, according to the commission.
“These machines are designed to take advantage of people, and far too often that means senior citizens living on fixed incomes who can least afford to lose what they have,” Jacques said in the agency’s release.
Jacques thanked FGCC and participating law enforcement agencies and said the operation was intended to protect vulnerable residents.
Repp said the operation was part of a broader statewide enforcement effort.
“Operation Final Spin and the more than 200 illegal arcades we have shut down before this should make it clear that our goal is to disrupt and dismantle illegal gaming across the state of Florida,” Repp said.
The claim that more than 200 illegal arcades have previously been shut down is attributed to Repp and FGCC.
🎰Operation Final Spin: Two locations. 163 illegal slot machines. $247,285 in U.S. currency seized.
The Florida Gaming Control Commission executed search warrants in two locations in St. Petersburg as part of the operation with the participation of FGCC Vice Chair Tina Repp and… pic.twitter.com/IgNOYNv2gn
— Florida Gaming Control Commission (@FLGamingControl) September 15, 2026
Where Slot Machines Are Legal in Florida
Florida tightly restricts where slot machines can legally operate. FGCC says slot-machine gaming is authorized at eight licensed pari-mutuel facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties and at certain tribal gaming facilities. The agency says offering slot-machine gaming at an unlicensed establishment, including bars, restaurants and adult arcades, violates state law.
FGCC also warns that illegal gambling businesses operate outside regulatory safeguards governing licensed slot machines, including requirements related to game integrity and minimum payout percentages.
Florida’s gambling laws and regulations are primarily contained in Chapters 550, 551 and 849 of the Florida Statutes.
Reporting Suspected Illegal Gambling
People who suspect illegal gambling activity can submit information through the Florida Gaming Control Commission’s reporting system or call 850-880-3433.
Additional information about authorized gambling locations is available through the FGCC Gaming Locations directory.
Crimes and Courts
DOJ: Man Charged With Laundering Conspiracy in $1.3 Billion Medicare, Health Insurance Fraud Scheme
Published
2 weeks agoon
September 8, 2026
Federal prosecutors allege Erekle Gugava helped move proceeds from a transnational fraud operation that used stolen identities and submitted at least $1.3 billion in fraudulent medical-equipment claims to Medicare and private insurers.
BOSTON (FNN) — A federal grand jury in Massachusetts has indicted a 33-year-old Georgian national on a money laundering conspiracy charge stemming from an alleged $1.3 billion health care fraud operation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Federal prosecutors allege Erekle Gugava served as a money launderer for a transnational criminal organization accused of orchestrating a multibillion-dollar scheme targeting Medicare and other health insurers.
The Justice Department announced the indictment Friday, Sept. 4.
According to DOJ, the organization, which prosecutors said was based in Russia and elsewhere, was previously identified through Operation Gold Rush, part of what the department has described as the largest health care fraud case it has prosecuted.
DOJ: $1.3 Billion in Allegedly Fraudulent Claims
According to charging documents cited by DOJ, Gugava purportedly owned ND Medical Solutions LLC, a Pennsylvania durable medical equipment company, from February through July 2025.
During that five-month period, prosecutors allege ND Medical submitted at least $1.3 billion in fraudulent durable medical equipment claims to Medicare, private insurers providing Medicare supplemental coverage, employer-sponsored health plans and other insurers.
Those insurers paid ND Medical approximately $6.5 million, according to the Justice Department.
The distinction between the $1.3 billion and $6.5 million figures is significant: DOJ alleges $1.3 billion was billed, while approximately $6.5 million was actually paid to the company.
Prosecutors Allege Money Was Transferred Overseas
Federal prosecutors allege Gugava facilitated the deposit and transfer of proceeds generated by the scheme.
According to DOJ, Gugava opened several bank accounts in ND Medical’s name and was the sole signatory. Checks from Medicare supplemental insurers and other health insurers were allegedly deposited into those accounts.
Prosecutors allege the money was ultimately transferred to overseas bank accounts for the benefit of the transnational organization.
“Fraud networks cannot function without people willing to launder and transmit their proceeds,” Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of DOJ’s National Fraud Enforcement Division said in the department’s announcement.
McDonald said prosecutors allege Gugava helped move fraud proceeds through domestic and international financial channels.
DOJ: Stolen Identities Used to Support Claims
The alleged scheme also involved stolen identities, according to federal prosecutors.
DOJ said the fraudulent claims relied in part on identities belonging to people in Massachusetts, elsewhere in New England and across the United States.
Some were elderly or disabled Americans who reported receiving insurance explanation-of-benefits forms showing medical equipment they said they never received, according to the Justice Department.
Prosecutors said some records also identified doctors the beneficiaries said they had never visited and listed equipment as coming from ND Medical, a company with which they said they were unfamiliar.
Operation Gold Rush
DOJ said Gugava’s case is connected to Operation Gold Rush, an investigation targeting a transnational organization accused of exploiting Medicare and other insurers.
According to the Justice Department, the organization allegedly used payments originating from legitimate government programs and established insurance companies to facilitate money laundering. Because the payments came from legitimate insurers, prosecutors contend the proceeds initially appeared legitimate.
The department previously identified Operation Gold Rush as part of its broader national effort targeting health care fraud.
Six Federal Agencies Investigating
The investigation involves multiple federal law enforcement and oversight agencies, including:
- Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General
- FBI
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service
- IRS Criminal Investigation
- Homeland Security Investigations
- Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration
Prosecutors from DOJ’s National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Health Care Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts are handling the case.
Defendant Faces Up to 20 Years if Convicted
Gugava is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
If convicted, he faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, according to DOJ. A maximum statutory penalty does not indicate what sentence would ultimately be imposed if a defendant is convicted.
The Justice Department also described Gugava in its announcement as an “illegal alien from Georgia.” That description reflects DOJ’s characterization of his immigration status in its Sept. 4 press release.
DOJ Expands Federal Fraud Enforcement
The Justice Department said the prosecution is part of its broader federal campaign against fraud involving government benefit programs.
According to DOJ, its Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program has charged more than 6,200 defendants since 2007 in cases involving more than $45 billion in alleged billings to federal health care programs and private insurers.
The department also announced the creation of its National Fraud Enforcement Division earlier this year to coordinate investigations and prosecutions involving fraud against federal programs and the public.
Indictment Contains Allegations
An indictment is a formal accusation and does not establish guilt.
Gugava is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Crimes and Courts
DOJ Charges Five in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Wisconsin in Alleged Illegal Voting, Voter Registration Cases
Published
2 weeks agoon
September 8, 2026
WASHINGTON (FNN) — Five people in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Wisconsin face federal charges in separate cases involving alleged illegal voting, false claims of U.S. citizenship or fraudulent voter registration connected to the 2022 or 2024 elections, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The Justice Department announced the charges Friday, Sept. 4, saying the defendants include four non-U.S. citizens accused of illegally voting and one U.S. citizen accused of aiding and abetting election-related offenses.
The cases were brought in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, District of New Jersey and Western District of Wisconsin.
DOJ: Election Fraud Will Be Prosecuted
Attorney General Todd Blanche said in the DOJ announcement that election integrity is fundamental to American democracy and emphasized that voting in federal elections is limited to eligible U.S. citizens.
“Election fraud is a serious crime, and it is the duty of the Department of Justice to treat it as such,” Blanche said.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau considers election integrity a priority and would investigate credible allegations of election fraud and illegal voting.
Federal officials also emphasized that the charges are allegations and have not resulted in findings of guilt.
Pennsylvania: Three People Charged
According to the Justice Department, Thomas Holtzman, 68, and his wife, Marisol Guzman, 50, both of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with allegations that Guzman illegally voted as a non-U.S. citizen in the 2024 election.
DOJ said Guzman was charged with voting as an alien.
Holtzman, a U.S. citizen, was charged with making a false statement of citizenship in order to vote and aiding and abetting, as well as fraudulent registration and aiding and abetting, according to federal prosecutors.
In a separate Pennsylvania case, Katya Rodriguez, 30, a Mexican national living in Harrisburg, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to alleged illegal voting in the 2024 election.
According to DOJ, Rodriguez was charged with making a false statement of citizenship in order to vote, fraudulent registration and voting as an alien.
If convicted, Holtzman faces a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison, Guzman up to one year and Rodriguez up to 11 years, according to the Justice Department. Any sentence would be determined by a federal judge based on applicable law and federal sentencing guidelines.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the Pennsylvania cases, DOJ said.
New Jersey: Federal Complaint Alleges Noncitizen Voted in 2024 Primary
In New Jersey, Mercedes Alexandra Cardoso of Union County was charged with voting by an alien in a federal election, according to the Justice Department.
The federal complaint alleges Cardoso was not a U.S. citizen when she registered through the New Jersey Division of Elections’ Online Voter Registration System.
According to prosecutors, Cardoso falsely certified on her voter registration application that she was a U.S. citizen.
DOJ said Cardoso allegedly cast a ballot in the June 2024 primary election, which included candidates seeking federal office.
Federal prosecutors said Cardoso entered the United States from Ecuador on a B-2 visa and was not a U.S. citizen when she allegedly voted.
If convicted, Cardoso faces a statutory maximum of one year in prison. Her initial court appearance was scheduled for Sept. 8, according to DOJ.
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services investigated the case.
Wisconsin: 2022 Election Vote Leads to Federal Charge
In Wisconsin, Jesus Javier Jurado Garcia, 25, a Mexican national living in Beloit, was charged Sept. 2 with illegally voting as an alien in the November 2022 election, according to the Justice Department.
A federal criminal information alleges Jurado Garcia knew he was not a U.S. citizen when he voted on Nov. 8, 2022, in an election that included races for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
If convicted, Jurado Garcia faces a statutory maximum sentence of one year in prison, DOJ said.
Federal Officials Emphasize Election-Law Enforcement
U.S. attorneys in all three jurisdictions used the announcement to emphasize federal enforcement of election laws.
U.S. Attorney Brian Miller for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said his office would prosecute people accused of illegally voting in federal elections as well as those accused of facilitating illegal voting.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey said the federal government has a responsibility to safeguard elections and investigate alleged violations of federal election law.
U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma for the Western District of Wisconsin similarly said his office is committed to enforcing federal election laws.
Homeland Security Investigations also said its agents worked with federal partners to investigate the alleged conduct and support the prosecutions.
Charges Remain Allegations
The cases are at the charging stage.
A criminal complaint, indictment or information contains allegations and does not establish that a defendant committed a crime. All five defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
