Crimes and Courts
White supremacist gets life in prison for Buffalo massacre
Published
3 years agoon
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — A white supremacist who killed 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket was sentenced to life in prison without parole Wednesday after relatives of his victims confronted him with the pain and rage caused by his racist attack.
Anger briefly turned physical at Payton Gendron’s sentencing when a man in the audience rushed at him. The man was quickly restrained; prosecutors later said he wouldn’t be charged. The proceeding resumed after about 10 minutes, with more emotional outpouring from people who lost loved ones or were themselves wounded in the attack.
Gendron, whose hatred was fueled by racist conspiracy theories he encountered online, cried during some of the testimony and apologized to victims and their families in a brief statement.
Some angrily condemned him; others quoted from the Bible or said they were praying for him. Several pointed out that he deliberately attacked a Black community far from his nearly all-white hometown.
“You’ve been brainwashed,” Wayne Jones Sr., the only child of victim Celestine Chaney, said as sobs rose from the audience. “You don’t even know Black people that much to hate them. You learned this on the internet, and it was a big mistake.”
“I hope you find it in your heart to apologize to these people, man. You did wrong for no reason,” Jones said.
Gendron pleaded guilty in November to crimes including murder and domestic terrorism motivated by hate, a charge that carried an automatic life sentence.
“There can be no mercy for you, no understanding, no second chances,” Judge Susan Eagan said as she sentenced him.
Gendron, 19, also faces separate federal charges that could carry a death sentence if the U.S. Justice Department chooses to seek it. His defense attorney said in December that Gendron is prepared to plead guilty in federal court as well to avoid execution. New York state does not have the death penalty.
Gendron wore bullet-resistant armor and a helmet equipped with a livestreaming camera as he carried out the May 14 attack with a semiautomatic rifle he purchased legally but then modified so he could load it with illegal high-capacity ammunition magazines.
Tamika Harper, a niece of victim Geraldine Talley, said she hoped Gendron would pray for forgiveness.
“Do I hate you? No. Do I want you to die? No. I want you to stay alive. I want you to think about this every day of your life,” she said, speaking gently. “Think about my family and the other nine families that you’ve destroyed forever.”
Gendron locked eyes with Harper as she spoke, then lowered his head and cried.
Kimberly Salter, the widow of security guard Aaron Salter, explained that she and her family were wearing “red for the blood that he shed for his family and for his community, and black because we are still grieving.”
Christopher Braden, a Tops Friendly Market employee who was shot in the leg, said he was haunted by seeing the victims where they lay as he was carried out of the store.
“The visions haunt me in my sleep and every day,” he said.
Barbara Massey Mapps excoriated him for killing her 72-year-old sister, Katherine Massey. As Mapps shouted and pointed at Gendron, a person in the audience took a few steps toward him before getting held back.
“You don’t know what we’re going through,” a man shouted as he was led away by court officers. For several minutes thereafter, family members hugged and calmed each other.
Eagan then ordered Gendron back in and let the proceeding resume after admonishing everyone to “conduct ourselves appropriately.”
In his short statement, Gendron acknowledged he “shot and killed people because they were Black.”
“I believed what I read online and acted out of hate, and now I can’t take it back, but I wish I could, and I don’t want anyone to be inspired by me,” he said as a woman in the courtroom audience stood up, screamed that “we don’t need” his remarks and stormed out.
There were only three survivors among the 13 people he shot while specifically seeking out Black shoppers and workers.
His victims at the Tops market included a church deacon, the grocery store’s guard, a neighborhood activist, a man shopping for a birthday cake, a grandmother of nine and the mother of a former Buffalo fire commissioner. The victims ranged in age from 32 to 86.
In documents posted online, Gendron said he hoped the attack would help preserve white power in the U.S. He wrote that he picked the Tops grocery store, about a three-hour drive from his home in Conklin, New York, because it was in a predominantly Black neighborhood.
The mass shooting in Buffalo, and another less than two weeks later that killed 19 students and two teachers at a Texas elementary school, amplified calls for stronger gun controls, including from victims’ relatives who traveled to Washington, D.C. to testify before lawmakers.
New York legislators quickly passed a law banning semiautomatic rifle sales to most people under age 21. The state also banned sales of some types of body armor.
President Joe Biden signed a compromise gun violence bill in June intended to toughen background checks, keep firearms from more domestic violence offenders and help states put in place red flag laws making it easier for authorities to take weapons from people adjudged to be dangerous.
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Crimes and Courts
Florida Creates Public Assistance Fraud Task Force, Appoints Special Prosecutor to Crack Down on Fraud
Published
1 month agoon
April 15, 2026TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — James Uthmeier announced the launch of the Public Assistance Fraud Task Force, a multi-agency initiative aimed at strengthening investigations and prosecutions of fraud involving taxpayer-funded benefit programs.
As part of the effort, Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Scott Strauss has been appointed as special prosecutor to oversee complex, multi-circuit fraud cases and coordinate legal strategies across agencies.
TASK FORCE TO TARGET FRAUD
The task force is designed to provide legal counsel and streamline criminal prosecutions for state agencies and law enforcement, enhancing Florida’s ability to build strong cases against individuals accused of fraud.
“We are launching this task force to bring accountability and prosecute those who are stealing from Floridians,” Uthmeier said. “Florida is not Minnesota or California, and we will safeguard the taxpayers’ investment in the services meant for the vulnerable.”
MULTI-AGENCY COLLABORATION
State leaders emphasized the importance of coordination across agencies to combat increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes.
“Under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Uthmeier, Florida has continued to identify, address, and prevent fraud,” said Shevaun L. Harris, secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration. “This multi-agency initiative creates an opportunity to collectively reaffirm that commitment.”
Brad McVay added that protecting taxpayer-funded programs is essential to maintaining public trust.
“Floridians deserve a government that safeguards their taxpayer dollars from fraudsters,” McVay said.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass also stressed enforcement.
“If you commit fraud against public assistance programs, you will be held accountable,” Glass said.
ROLE OF SPECIAL PROSECUTOR
The special prosecutor will evaluate and oversee ongoing multi-circuit investigations, assist in developing cases for prosecution, and support law enforcement with legal tools such as warrants and affidavits.
Kathleen Von Hoene said the initiative will strengthen protections for vulnerable populations.
“Our goal is to protect the public, preserve the integrity of the Medicaid program, and safeguard the populations it serves,” she said.
PROGRAMS AND ENFORCEMENT
Florida’s public assistance programs include Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, housing assistance and reemployment services. Fraud involving these programs can result in criminal charges ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, with penalties including fines, restitution and incarceration.
Law enforcement agencies interested in participating in the task force can contact the Office of Statewide Prosecution for more information.
Central Florida News
Orange County Clerk Hosts Operation Green Light to Help Drivers Reinstate Licenses April 15
Published
1 month agoon
April 12, 2026ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (FNN) — The Orange County Clerk of Courts is continuing its efforts to help residents regain their driving privileges by offering year-round assistance to individuals with suspended licenses due to unpaid traffic tickets or criminal fines.
As part of the initiative, the Clerk’s Office will host Operation Green Light on April 15, 2026, with extended hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Orange County Courthouse, Suite 410.
EVENT OFFERS PATH TO LICENSE REINSTATEMENT
During the one-day event, residents can receive in-person assistance to address outstanding traffic tickets and criminal fines, taking the first step toward reinstating their driver licenses.
Officials say eligible customers may have certain collection agency fees waived, enroll in payment plans and restore their driving privileges once all requirements are met. Affordable down payments will be available; however, standard reinstatement fees will still apply.
No appointment or prior registration is required to participate.
STATEWIDE INITIATIVE EXPANDS ACCESS
Operation Green Light is part of a statewide effort running from April 11 through April 25, 2026, aimed at helping thousands of Floridians resolve overdue fines and get back on the road legally.
The program is designed to reduce financial barriers that often prevent residents from addressing court-related debt and driver license suspensions.
YEAR-ROUND SUPPORT AVAILABLE
Residents who cannot attend the April 15 event can still receive assistance year-round through the Clerk’s Compliance Division, located in Suite 410 of the courthouse.
Staff members are available to help individuals set up payment plans and guide them through the license reinstatement process.
Central Florida News
Bodycam Shows Deputy Shoot Suspect After Taser Fails Outside Walmart, Authorities Say
Published
2 months agoon
March 19, 2026By
Willie DavidORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (FNN) — The Orange County Sheriff’s Office released body-worn camera footage from a deputy-involved shooting involving a suspected shoplifter outside a Walmart store nearly a month after the incident.
Deputies Respond to Armed Shoplifting Call
According to investigators, deputies responded around 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 22, 2026, to a reported shoplifting incident at the Walmart on East Colonial Drive.
A caller told dispatchers a man wearing a black ski mask was attempting to steal merchandise, appeared to have a knife and was declaring “martial law” as he exited the store with a shopping cart full of items.
Bodycam Shows Confrontation Before Shooting
Deputies said a responding deputy encountered the suspect on Colonial Drive near the store pushing a cart loaded with merchandise.
Body-camera footage shows the deputy giving multiple commands for the man to stop. Authorities said the suspect ignored the commands. The deputy then deployed a Taser, but it had no effect.
Shortly afterward, the deputy can be heard warning the suspect at least three times not to reach. Moments later, the deputy fired his service weapon, striking the man.
Deputies on scene secured the suspect and provided first aid before he was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators said two knives were recovered at the scene.
Suspect Identified; Investigation Underway
Authorities identified the suspect as Jason Anthony Beal, 48. He was charged with robbery with a deadly weapon and resisting an officer with violence.
The shooting remains under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which will submit its findings to the State Attorney’s Office for review.
As part of standard protocol, the deputy involved has been placed on temporary paid administrative leave pending the initial FDLE review. The sheriff’s office will also conduct an internal investigation once the state probe is completed.