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Pittsford Woman Pleads Guilty in Multi-State Stolen Cooking Oil Scheme

Pittsford Woman Pleads Guilty in Multi-State Stolen Cooking Oil Scheme

Fangfang Yan, 41, of Pittsford, New York, has pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony for her involvement in a scheme to steal and resell used cooking oil from Henrietta restaurants. According to U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, Yan was part of a federal case involving six individuals accused of orchestrating the theft and sale of used cooking oil for biodiesel fuel production. Prosecutors allege that Yan, along with Guodeng Chen and Didi Huang of Pittsford, and three New York City residents, participated in the operation. Court documents indicate that used cooking oil was stolen from collection tanks outside establishments such as The Distillery, Osaka Sushi, and the Asian Food Mart in Henrietta. The stolen oil was then transported to a warehouse for collection and storage before being sold to a broker. Specifically, Chen and Huang arranged for two 45,000-pound shipments of the stolen oil to be sent from Western New York to a refinery in Erie, Pennsylvania, in April 2022, generating nearly $60,000. Yan a...

Woman charged with planning ISIS-inspired attack on New York State Capitol building

Woman charged with planning ISIS-inspired attack on New York State Capitol building

By Jasper Ward WASHINGTON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities arrested and charged a New York woman with planning to carry out an Islamic State-inspired attack on the state's capitol building in Albany, the Justice Department said on Thursday.

College Soccer Player Karoline Heintz Allegedly Killed by Boyfriend Who Blamed 'Demon'

College Soccer Player Karoline Heintz Allegedly Killed by Boyfriend Who Blamed 'Demon'

Karoline Heintz, an 18-year-old incoming freshman on the Pennsylvania Western University soccer team, was allegedly stabbed to death by her boyfriend, Royce Moser. According to court documents, Moser, also 18, claimed during an interview with investigators that a 'demon' took over and instructed him to stab Heintz. The incident reportedly occurred outside Moser's father's residence in North Strabane, Pennsylvania, where Heintz had met Moser to talk. After the stabbing, Moser allegedly called his mother, Rachel Moser, who then assisted him in an attempt to cover up the crime. Rachel Moser is accused of telling her son to bring the car to her house, pull it into the garage, and then helped him clean the vehicle with disinfectant spray. She also allegedly disposed of the knife used in the stabbing and washed her son's clothes. Heintz's body was later discovered in the rear hatch of a Jeep Cherokee near the California Library after she failed to return to campus.

Harvard settles stolen body parts lawsuits. Here's what happened

Harvard settles stolen body parts lawsuits. Here's what happened

The settlement comes three years after multiple families filed lawsuits and claimed they donated remains of loved ones to the university.

Philadelphia Police Captain Jason Smith Leads Manhunt for Zymire Hughes, Accused of Terrorizing Center City

Philadelphia Police Captain Jason Smith Leads Manhunt for Zymire Hughes, Accused of Terrorizing Center City

Philadelphia Police Captain Jason Smith is leading the ongoing manhunt for 22-year-old Zymire Hughes, who is accused of terrorizing individuals in Center City Philadelphia while wearing a Chucky-style Halloween mask. An arrest warrant has been issued for Hughes, who allegedly chased people around City Hall in the early morning hours, asking one woman, “Are you ready to die?” This incident resulted in the woman severely injuring her leg while fleeing. Authorities believe Hughes may have fled Pennsylvania, as he has known ties to California and Las Vegas, Nevada, where he reportedly travels for employment reasons. District Attorney Larry Krasner emphasized that Hughes's actions were likely for social media fame, as investigators have identified three social media accounts associated with him, two on TikTok and one on Instagram. Despite not brandishing a weapon or physically touching anyone, Hughes implied he had a weapon to the jogger, and his actions caused significant fear among approximately 15 people. He...

Police Investigate Two Washington County Homes in Connection with PennWest California Student's Death

Police Investigate Two Washington County Homes in Connection with PennWest California Student's Death

Police are investigating two homes in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in connection with the suspicious death of 18-year-old PennWest California student Karoline Heintz. One of the homes is located on William Drive in North Strabane Township, where detectives were observed removing evidence. The second home is along Route 40 in Beallsville, from which a vehicle was towed away. Heintz, of McMurray, was found dead in a vehicle early Thursday morning in a parking area on Wood Street, near the PennWest California campus, after her family tracked her vehicle's location when she failed to check back in. The Washington County Coroner Tim Warco stated that Heintz had been with family earlier in the day and was expected to return to campus housing. Pennsylvania State Police have deemed her death suspicious, and both the Washington County Coroner's Office and State Police are conducting investigations. Later on Thursday, State Police announced charges against an 18-year-old, Royce Moser, for homicide, and his mothe...

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

17 charged in upstate NY drug trafficking ring; cocaine, fentanyl seized

17 charged in upstate NY drug trafficking ring; cocaine, fentanyl seized

New York Attorney General Letitia James said the alleged operation moved cocaine from Puerto Rico into western New York, with activity spanning four New York counties.

Harvard Medical School Settles Lawsuits for $53 Million Over Stolen Body Parts Scandal

Harvard Medical School Settles Lawsuits for $53 Million Over Stolen Body Parts Scandal

Harvard Medical School has agreed to a $53 million settlement to resolve class-action lawsuits filed by relatives of body donors whose remains were stolen and sold by former morgue manager Cedric Lodge. The settlement, which awaits court approval, will establish two funds for the 47 relatives involved in the lawsuits. Cedric Lodge was sentenced to eight years in prison last year for his role in a scheme where he stole and sold body parts, including brains, skin, hands, and faces, to buyers in Pennsylvania and other locations. His wife, Denise Lodge, received a sentence of just over a year for her involvement, and six other individuals who purchased remains from Cedric Lodge have also pleaded guilty and been sentenced. The school stated that Lodge acted without its knowledge or permission and that it cannot precisely identify all affected donors. The settlement covers relatives of individuals who donated their remains to Harvard Medical School between January 1, 2018, and March 31, 2023.

Harvard University to Pay $53 Million Settlement Over Theft and Sale of Human Remains

Harvard University to Pay $53 Million Settlement Over Theft and Sale of Human Remains

Harvard University has agreed to a $53 million settlement to resolve civil lawsuits stemming from the illegal theft and sale of human remains donated to its medical school for scientific research. Cedric Lodge, a former Harvard Medical School morgue manager, was sentenced to eight years in prison in December after pleading guilty to stealing and selling body parts, including organs, skin, brains, and dissected heads, from cadavers between 2018 and at least March 2020. His wife, Denise Lodge, received a 12-month and one-day prison sentence for her involvement. The U.S. Justice Department stated that Lodge transported the remains to his New Hampshire home and, with his wife, shipped them to buyers in other states, including Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, often for resale at a profit. Several other defendants also pleaded guilty and were sentenced in related cases. The settlement follows lawsuits filed by affected families in the summer of 2023, alleging negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and emotional di...

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

What channel is Bills vs Browns preseason game on? Time, TV, streaming

What channel is Bills vs Browns preseason game on? Time, TV, streaming

The Buffalo Bills visit the Cleveland Browns for their second preseason game. Here's the start time, TV channel and streaming information.

Federal Jury Convicts New Braunfels Man for Trafficking Thousands of Firearms to Mexico

Federal Jury Convicts New Braunfels Man for Trafficking Thousands of Firearms to Mexico

A federal jury has found a New Braunfels man guilty of trafficking thousands of firearms into Mexico. This conviction was announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas, based in San Antonio. The case highlights the ongoing efforts and effectiveness of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in combating illegal arms trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border. The individual's actions involved the illicit movement of a significant quantity of weapons, contributing to the flow of firearms into Mexico, which often fuels cartel violence and instability in the region. This verdict underscores the commitment of federal law enforcement to prosecute those involved in such dangerous cross-border criminal activities.

Suspect Matthew Jose Rosengrant Faces Additional Car Theft Charges in Exeter Township

Suspect Matthew Jose Rosengrant Faces Additional Car Theft Charges in Exeter Township

Matthew Jose Rosengrant, 38, is facing additional charges related to vehicle theft in Exeter Township, Pennsylvania. Wyoming Area Regional Police reported that Rosengrant allegedly drove a stolen 2015 Chevrolet Captiva on private property on state Route 92 early Sunday morning. Police allege he repeatedly drove around the residence, attempted to enter the front door, and threatened to kill the landowner when confronted. Rosengrant then crashed the stolen Chevrolet into trees before fleeing into a wooded area. During the investigation, authorities discovered he also allegedly stole a Subaru Legacy from a private residence on Wilson Street in Exeter Township, which was later found in Wyoming Borough. This incident follows previous charges by Courtdale Borough police for stealing a 2013 Volkswagen and the same Chevrolet Captiva from Rockcut Used Autos.