columbus Archives

General

Columbus: Desjuan R. Lee Harris pleads guilty to armed robberies

Columbus man, Desjuan R. Lee Harris pleads guilty to armed robberies at local Internet cafés COLUMBUS, OH (STL.News) A Columbus man has agreed to plead guilty in a case involving the murder of a husband and wife in a local Internet café. Desjuan R. Lee Harris, 25, offered his guilty plea in U.S. District Court today to two counts of robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Harris and others were indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2019 for crimes related to a string of robberies of Internet gaming businesses, including one robbery at Players Paradise on East Broad Street that resulted in murder on Jan. 20, 2019. Chris A. King, 25, is charged with three counts of murder (including the murder of a witness), and Dezhan Townsend, 21, and Justic...

General

Columbus: Daniel Lloyd Pleads Guilty To Stolen Gun Charge

Aryan Brotherhood Member, Daniel Lloyd Pleads Guilty To Stolen Gun Charge COLUMBUS, GA (STL.News) A member of the Aryan Brotherhood pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen gun as part of an investigation into gang activity in the Columbus community, said Peter D. Leary, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Daniel Lloyd, 34, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count possession of a stolen firearm before U.S. District Judge Clay D. Land on Monday, December 21. Lloyd is facing a maximum ten years imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. There is no parole in the federal system. According to the stipulation of facts entered into court, on February 13, the Columbus Police Department assisted the Georgia Department of...

General

Columbus, Ohio: Southern District California man Daniel Lee Rippy sentenced to prison

Columbus, Ohio: Southern District California man Daniel Lee Rippy sentenced to prison for threatening players, school during Ohio State football game (STL.News) – A California man was sentenced to prison today for making violent threats toward The Ohio State University and its football players during the 2018 Ohio State v. Michigan game. Daniel Lee Rippy, 29, of Livermore, Calif., was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for making an interstate threat. According to court documents, Rippy sent a message over Facebook threatening a shooting at The Ohio State University and vowing to hurt football players. He sent several other threats during the game – which was being played in Columbus – to injure or kill players, their family members and the head coach. “In the middle of Ohio ...

General

Ohio: Court of Appeals affirms conviction against entertainment industry business manager Kevin Foster

Ohio: Court of Appeals affirms conviction against entertainment industry business manager Kevin Foster who defrauded celebrity clients (STL.News) – The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the conviction of a New Jersey entertainment industry business manager who was convicted at trial in federal court in Columbus. A jury convicted Kevin Foster, 44, of Montclair, N.J., in August 2018 of 16 counts for his role in an investment scam involving the product “OXYwater”. The court sentenced Foster to 89 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay nearly $8 million in restitution. Foster appealed, contending that the evidence supporting one of his convictions was insufficient and challenging the sentence imposed. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the United States and aff...

General

Driving Park man Diamondo Valdez Butler charged with dealing fentanyl

Driving Park man Diamondo Valdez Butler charged with dealing fentanyl that resulted in overdose death (STL.News) – A federal grand jury has charged Diamondo Valdez Butler, 39, of Columbus, with dealing fentanyl that resulted in an overdose death. Butler was arrested last night by authorities with the DEA and Gahanna Division of Police. According to the indictment, on April 1, 2020, Butler distributed fentanyl that resulted in the death of a Gahanna man. Butler, also known as “Yellow,” allegedly sold $70 worth of fentanyl to a friend of the deceased at a gas station on Cleveland Ave. The friend and the deceased traveled to the gas station together and each contributed $35 towards the purchase. The fentanyl was divided half to the deceased and half to the friend. The deceased used the f...

Politics

Ohio Governor Announces Jillian Froment as Director of Ohio Department of Insurance

Jillian Froment appointed as Director of the Ohio Department of Insurance COLUMBUS, OH (STL.News) Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced that Jillian Froment, Director of the Ohio Department of Insurance, has resigned her position to pursue other opportunities. Froment joined the department in 2011 and has served as director since 2017. “As Director of the Ohio Department of Insurance, Jillian has been an advocate for Ohio’s consumers as well as promoting fair competition in Ohio’s insurance marketplace. I thank her for her service to the people of Ohio.” Tynesia Dorsey will serve as interim director. Ms. Dorsey has worked at the department for over twenty years, many of them as Chief Administrative Officer and Director of Consumer Advocacy. A link to Dorsey’s bio can be found here....

General

Max Prison Gregg Ramsdell Sentence + Restitution For Discharged Veteran Who Faked Military Honors

Max Prison Gregg Ramsdell Sentence + Restitution For Discharged Veteran Who Faked Military Honors And Combat-Related Mental Health Illness To Claim VA Benefits (STL.News) – A veteran who reaped federal monetary benefits for faking a mental health condition and who falsely claimed to have earned two of the highest honors bestowed for military service was sentenced to the top of his sentencing guideline range and will pay restitution for his crimes, said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Gregg Ramsdell, 61, of Columbus, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, the top of his federal sentencing guideline range, three years supervised release and was ordered to pay $76,000 in restitution to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by U.S...

Politics

Ohio Attorney General Yost Announces Teen Ambassador Board Members

(STL.News) – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost today announced that more than 400 students representing 68 Ohio counties have been named to his office’s Teen Ambassador Board for the upcoming school year. The participants represent more than 180 schools throughout the state. “The Teen Ambassador Board is an opportunity for young men and women who have distinguished themselves as leaders to meet and expand their interested in law and government,” Yost said. “We look forward to help hone their talents to a potential career in public service.” The mission of the Teen Ambassador Board is to provide Ohio’s future leaders with an inside look at Ohio law and government. The board is open to high school juniors and seniors from public, private, home, charter, and online schools located in Ohio...

General

Ryan J. Gibbs who bought tiger skin for $3,000 pleads guilty to violating Endangered Species Act

(STL.News) – A Cincinnati man who paid $3,000 for a tiger skin rug pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to violating the Endangered Species Act. According to court documents, in August 2018, Ryan J. Gibbs, 44, of Cincinnati, contacted a man in the United Kingdom about buying a tiger skin rug. The man told Gibbs he could not legally ship a tiger skin to the United States, but knew someone in Minnesota who had tiger skins. Gibbs started emailing and calling the person, who was actually an undercover Special Agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and said he wanted to buy a tiger skin and a mounted flamingo. Gibbs and the agent discussed the illegality of buying and selling tiger parts across state lines. Gibbs and the agent met near Jeffersonville, Ohio in December 2018 w...

General

Defendant Jonathan Dunlap Recorded Making Threats Against Federal Official

Defendant Jonathan Dunlap Recorded Making Threats Against Federal Official From Jail Cell Sentenced To 151 Months In Prison (STL.News) – A defendant recorded from jail making threats against a federal official involved in his case was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison, said Charles “Charlie” Peeler, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Jonathan Dunlap, 30, of Pine Mountain, Harris County, Georgia was sentenced on Monday, August 3 by U.S. District Judge Clay Land to a combined 151 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and threatening a federal official. There is no parole in the federal system. On July 24, 2019, federal agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Harris County She...

General

Denia I. Avila and four other Central Ohioans charged in conspiracy to kidnap

Denia I. Avila and four other Central Ohioans charged in conspiracy to kidnap Hilliard couple, impersonate law enforcement (STL.News) – A federal grand jury has indicted a victim’s ex-girlfriend and four of her associates for conspiring and attempting to kidnap her ex-boyfriend and his girlfriend. The indictment was filed today. Denia I. Avila, 37, of Columbus, and co-conspirators allegedly impersonated federal law enforcement officers and used a Taser while attempting to kidnap the victims. The four others charged include, Jessica E. Wise, 38, of Columbus; Ellis L. Ray, II, 19, of Canal Winchester; Michael K. Ousley, 43, of Columbus; and Jerry E. McCallister, Jr, 27, of Columbus. According to court documents, the co-conspirators attempted to kidnap the two individuals on Nov. 25, 2019,...

General

Maryland man Vincent Brocoli sentenced to prison for cyberstalking Ohio victims

(STL.News) – A Maryland man was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 30 months in prison for cyberstalking victims in the Southern District of Ohio. Vincent Brocoli, 33, of Essex, Md., was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2019 and pleaded guilty in November 2019. According to court documents, from August 2016 until April 2019, Brocoli (also known as Matthew Dehart, BunchMedia and BunchMarketing), cyberstalked a female victim and her parents by creating social media accounts in their names, sending them threats, and using the Internet to cause substantial emotional distress to their family. Brocoli created social media accounts like @xokirstylies1, @xokirstyslut1 and @killyourselfkirsty, among others. The defendant used the Internet to post photos of the victim with a cross on ...

General

U.S. Attorney, FBI to announce charges related to $60 million bribe

U.S. Attorney, FBI to announce charges related to $60 million bribe to state official & associates (STL.News) – Federal officials will brief the media on a public corruption racketeering conspiracy involving $60 million. The briefing will be held: TODAY: TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2020 WHEN: 2:30PM WHERE: U.S. Attorney’s Office Main Conference Room 303 Marconi Blvd. Suite 200 Columbus, Ohio 43215 WHO: U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers Chris Hoffman, FBI, Special Agent in Charge *Pool coverage is strongly encouraged for video footage. Reporters not present in person will be given opportunity to ask questions via conference telephone line.* Room available at 2:15PM. ID and valid media credential will be required for entrance on Marconi Blvd., where someone will bring you into the...

General

Former Comptroller of Catholic Diocese of Steubenville David A. Franklin pleads guilty

Former Comptroller of Catholic Diocese of Steubenville David A. Franklin pleads guilty to tax crimes, embezzlement (STL.News) – The former comptroller of the Catholic Diocese of Steubenville pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to failing to pay the Internal Revenue Service payroll taxes withheld from the paychecks of diocesan employees, to filing false tax returns and also embezzling $299,500 in diocesan funds between 2008 and 2017. David A. Franklin, 67, pleaded guilty today to one count of willful failure to account for and pay over employment tax, one count of making a false income tax return and one count of wire fraud. According to court documents, from 2004 through 2016, Franklin caused payroll taxes to be withheld from employee paychecks for the Diocese of Steubenville and the O...

General

California man Daniel Lee Rippy pleads guilty to threats during Ohio State football game

(STL.News) – Daniel Lee Rippy, 29, of Livermore, California pleaded guilty today to threatening a shooting at The Ohio State University and vowing to hurt football players. He sent the online threat during the 2018 football game between Ohio State and Michigan, which was played in Columbus. According to court documents, Rippy sent a message over Facebook stating that the school was going to get shot up and “I’m seriously going to hurt the students and all the players from the football team.” He sent several other threats to injure or kill players, their family members and the head coach. Law enforcement officials at the stadium were placed on high alert and re-allocated resources to investigate the threat, ultimately determining that Rippy was in California at the time he made the thre...

General

Convicted felon Waymond C. Gordon pleads guilty to illegal possession of a firearm

(STL.News) – A convicted felon who was stopped for a traffic violation by Dublin, Ohio Police officers pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to illegal possession of a firearm after officers found a loaded gun in his car. Waymond C. Gordon, 33, of Columbus entered the plea on June 29. According to court documents, on March 12, 2019, Dublin police stopped Gordon for a traffic violation. A records check found that Gordon was driving with a suspended license and had outstanding arrest warrants. Officers searched his car and found a loaded .22 caliber revolver between the driver’s seat and the center console. Gordon had been convicted in Franklin County Common Pleas Court in 2009 of robbery. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing or controlling firearms or ammunition. Po...

Politics

Ohio AG Yost Extends Application Deadline for Teen Ambassador Board

(STL.News) – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office has extended the deadline for high school students to apply for his Teen Ambassador Board. Interested teens now have until July 10, 2020, to apply. The Attorney General’s Teen Ambassador Board consists of high school juniors and seniors from public, private, charter and online schools in Ohio. The mission of the program is to provide Ohio’s future leaders with an inside look at Ohio law and government. “Many of these young men and women are already established leaders in their schools and communities,” Yost said. “The Teen Ambassador Board can help them hone their leadership talents as they prepare for possible careers in public service.” Board members advise the office on issues relating to teens and work with their peers to devel...

Politics

Ohio AG Yost Fights to Protect More than 1,000 Northwest Ohio Jobs

(STL.News) – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost today filed an amicus brief with Michigan’s 30th Circuit Court urging the court to consider the economic impact of a complete shutdown of Enbridge Energy’s Line 5 pipeline. Indiana and Louisiana joined Ohio’s brief. Yost argues that due to the redundancy in the design of the East and West lines, a complete shutdown of both lines unnecessarily negatively effects Ohio refineries and puts more than 1,000 Ohioans out of work. “Both Ohio’s economy and environmental safety are preciously important to me,” Yost said. “I believe that the designed redundancy of the two lines provides the company the ability to safely operate one line while the other is being addressed, which keeps the supply chain intact and Ohioans at work.” Enbridge Energy during ...