DOJ indicts 48 suspected members of Sinaloa cartel after series of drugs raids
Federal authorities have seized tens of millions of dollars worth of methamphetamine in raids across California, Arizona and Nevada. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Wednesday, Nov. 7, that it has charged 48 suspected members of the Sinaloa cartel with distributing meth, fentanyl, heroin and cocaine.
Authorities say that they found more than 8,000 pounds of methamphetamine with a street value reportedly around $72 million, in addition to firearms.
The DOJ says nearly 150 federal, state and local law enforcement officials arrested 25 suspects and performed 15 search warrants in Imperial County, California, Yuma, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada. Law enforcement officials say that 23 of the suspects connected to the crimes are still on the loose.
Charges in the DOJ indictments include drug trafficking, conspiracy and bulk cash smuggling. If convicted, the charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life behind bars, in addition to a $10 million fine.
U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said in a statement that the arrests and seizure of drugs is an extreme blow to a major drug-trafficking network.
The Sinaloa cartel is one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations and has long-controlled drug routes into the United States.
The branch of the Sinaloa cartel charged in the indictment is linked to a drug lord known as “El Mayo,” who is currently being held in New York, which operates out of Imperial Valley and Mexicali, Mexico.
Othel Moore’s family releases video showing his death in a Missouri prison
The family of Othel Moore released a new video Tuesday, Oct. 30, showing the last moments of his life before he died in a cell. Moore was incarcerated at the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Missouri, passing away in December 2023.
“We are here because on December 8, 2023, a 38-year-old Black man was unjustifiably killed at the Jefferson City Correctional Facility,” Andrew Stroth, Moore’s family attorney, said at a news conference Tuesday, Oct. 29. “Last Thursday, October 24, we filed an amended 15-count federal civil rights complaint detailing this unjustified and brutal murder of Othel Moore.”
In the video, Moore is restrained with a spit mask covering his face, his hands behind his back and his legs bound together. He is placed in a small cell while guards look on from outside. He sat motionless for about 10 minutes before a nurse checked on him.
Four prison workers have pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder. Stroth claims the prison workers sprayed Moore with pepper spray and forced him into a position where he suffocated to death. He compares Moore’s death to that of George Floyd, saying prison workers and inmates witnessed Moore crying out, “I can’t breathe.”
“Thirty agonizing minutes of Othel in a dry room or dayroom struggling to breathe,” Stroth said. “Struggling to survive for over 30 minutes.”
Stroth also criticized the medical staff for their lack of urgency in helping Moore.
“The other very disturbing aspect of this case is the lack of care by Centurion Health,” he said. “The medical staff that on every step in this situation failed to protect and preserve and respect the sanctity of Othel’s health.”
Moore’s family has filed wrongful death lawsuits.
The prison released a statement in June saying the restraint used on Moore was “designed to prevent injury to himself and others” and that the department has since “discontinued use of the restraint system in which Moore was held.”
“We have taken and will continue to take steps necessary to mitigate safety risks to everyone in our facilities,” the statement read.
Prison guards told investigators that Moore was not listening to commands and was spitting at them. At the time of his death, Moore was serving a 30-year sentence for domestic assault, drug possession, robbery, armed criminal action and violence against a Department of Corrections inmate or employee.
With six days until the election, former President Donald Trump stumped in Allentown, Pennsylvania as Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her “closing argument.” We have what each said about what’s at stake next Tuesday. Also, details on what happened after a gunman opened fire from a hotel in Atlanta. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.
Harris gives closing argument as Trump addresses Biden’s comments
Some twists on the campaign trail with under a week to go now to Election Day and already more than 50 million ballots cast. Both presidential candidates gave dueling speeches Tuesday night, Oct. 29.
The Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris delivered what she described as her “closing argument” to the American people near the White House as the Republican nominee former President Donald Trump looked to court Latino voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.
During her address at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., the vice president emphasized its significance as the same site where former President Trump spoke to his supporters right before the riots on the capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
“So tonight, I will speak to everyone about the choice and stakes in this election,” she said. “Look, we know who Donald Trump is. He is the person who stood at this very spot nearly four years ago and sent an armed mob to the United States Capitol to overturn the will of the people in a free and fair election.”
The vice president also told voters she will seek common ground, saying she will give those who disagree with her a “seat at the table.”
“As Americans, we rise and fall together,” she said. “America, for too long, we have been consumed with too much division, chaos and mutual distrust. And it can be easy then to forget a simple truth: it doesn’t have to be this way. It doesn’t have to be this way. We have to stop pointing fingers and start locking arms.”
In Pennsylvania, former President Trump reached out to voters during a rally in the majority Hispanic town of Allentown.
“I’m here today with a message of hope for all Americans,” he said. “With your vote this election — oh, do I look forward to this election. We — I’m going to say ‘we’ because we are going to do it as a group. We will end inflation. Wwe will stop the invasion of criminals into our country. And we will bring back the American dream. We’re doing it together, Pennsylvania.”
During his rally, the former president asked his supporters to vote and send in their mail-in ballots early, saying “they’ve already cheated” in the state — a reference to law enforcement in Lancaster County announcing they were investigating around 2,500 voter registration forms for alleged fraud.
Trump turned his attention to President Joe Biden after Florida Sen. Marco Rubio joined him on stage.
“I wasn’t going to say anything, but I have breaking news for you Mr. President,” Rubio told Trump. “You may not have heard this: just moments ago, Joe Biden stated that our supporters are garbage, are garbage. He’s talking about the border patrol, he’s talking about nurses, he’s talking about teachers, he’s talking about everyday Americans who love their country and want to dream big again and support you Mr. President.”
“Remember Hillary [Clinton], she said ‘deplorable’ and then she said ‘irredeemable,’ right?” Trump responded. “But she said ‘deplorable.’ That didn’t work out. Garbage, I think, is worse right?”
What they were referring to were comments made by President Biden during a Voto Latino campaign call Tuesday night. Biden spoke about the comedian who made controversial jokes about Puerto Rico during Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally over the weekend.
“Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a ‘floating island of garbage,’” the president said. “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters.”
The White House issued a statement saying, “The president referred to the hateful rhetoric at the Madison Square Garden rally as ‘garbage.’” President Biden himself followed up on his comments with a post on X saying, “Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage…the comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation.”
During an appearance on Fox News Tuesday night, Trump told host Sean Hannity nobody from his campaign vetted the comedian before the MSG rally.
As it pertains to the alleged voter fraud in Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro told CNN there will be safe elections in the state and when asked about Biden’s “garbage” comment, Shapiro said, “It’s certainly not the words I would choose.”
Supreme Court rules RFK Jr. will remain on ballot in 2 swing states
It was unlikely the Supreme Court would have ruled in his favor, because voting is already underway in both states. Kennedy’s name also remains on the ballot in some other states, but he did not ask the Supreme Court to take it off anywhere but Wisconsin and Michigan in an apparent move to secure more voters for his ally Trump.
Steve Bannon spends first day out of prison stumping for Trump
Longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon wasted no time showing his support for the former president after being released from prison early Tuesday morning. Bannon just finished serving a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena from Congress during its investigation into the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021.
Bannon’s first order of business was to resume his podcast “WarRoom.” He then held a news conference urging Republicans to turn out in droves to vote for Trump on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
“I’ve been empowered by my four months at Danbury Federal Prison,” Bannon said during the news conference.
He added, “Obviously with seven days or six days left, you have to have a convergence of the get out the vote effort. I am not a huge believer in our ability to actually participate in rallies or do rallies because right now I think President Trump does great and he has people long there are going to do rallies in the different states. Our focus is one thing to make sure that we get as many American citizens, either early voting when they can or to the polls next Tuesday.”
He has pleaded not guilty to money laundering, conspiracy, fraud and other charges. His trial in that case is scheduled to begin in December.
Paul Pelosi attacker sentenced to life term on state charges
A judge sentenced the man who broke into former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s northern California home and attacked her husband, Paul, with a hammer to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
David DePape, 44, was already serving 30 years in federal prison for the attack when a San Francisco jury found him guilty of multiple state charges in June.
Both the prosecution and defense said the life without parole sentence will be served concurrently with DePape’s federal sentence. It has not yet been determined where he will serve his punishment.
Suspect in custody after shots fired at Atlanta Four Seasons
A police officer and a suspected shooter are recovering after gunfire broke out at a building that houses a Four Seasons Hotel and residences in Atlanta Tuesday. The Atlanta police chief said the officer was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
UPDATE: Barricaded Gunman turned Active Shooter Situation Zone 5 at 75 14th Street Sound from Mayor Andre Dickens & Chief Darin Schierbaumhttps://t.co/TjSDcj3YTj
Authorities say the man fired at least once from the balcony of a residence on the 33rd floor of the 53-story high-rise building. They say he also shot through walls and doors, but no other injuries were reported.
Police said the suspect lives in the residential portion of the building and was not a guest at the Four Seasons hotel portion.
Yankees deny Dodgers a World Series sweep with Game 4 win
Despite another Freddie Freeman home run — becoming the first player to homer in games 1, 2, 3, and 4 — the Yankees crushed the Dodgers 11-4 in Game 4 Tuesday night in the Bronx, highlighted by three home runs including a grand slam by shortstop Anthony Volpe.
The game also featured an odd moment when Yankees fans tried to pry a foul ball out of the glove of Dodgers’ Mookie Betts. The fans were escorted from their seats by stadium security after that play.
The 11 runs were the most by the Yankees in a World Series game since Game 5 of the 1978 series when they scored 12 against the Dodgers.
Now the Yankees are hoping to do what no other team has done in Major League Baseball history: come back from being down 3-0 in the Fall Classic to win it all.
The Dodgers still just need one more win to claim the championship.
Calif. proposal aims to ban involuntary servitude in prisons
A proposal on California’a ballot could end what critics call government-sanctioned slavery in prisons. The state is one of 20 where incarcerated people can be forced to do work ranging from kitchen and janitorial duties to fighting wildfires. They typically make less than $1 per hour.
California State Rep. Lori Wilson, D, and the state’s legislative Black caucus are behind Proposition 6, which would stop forced labor as a criminal punishment in the state’s prisons and prevent inmates who refuse to work from being penalized.
The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution did abolish slavery and involuntary servitude more than a century ago, but not for people who have been convicted of crimes.
Wilson’s proposal would allow inmates to choose their jobs and give them access to programs she says would help them thrive. Supporters of Proposition 6 say forcing inmates to work is both a moral issue and a public safety concern.
However, they’re struggling to explain the proposal to voters, as another crime-related measure, Proposition 36, gets a lot of attention. This other proposition would increase penalties for repeat offenders of certain theft and drug-related crimes.
While the two measures aren’t directly connected, backers of Proposition 6 are worried their measure will get lost in the tough-on-crime theme of the “Yes on 36” campaign.
Department of Justice launches operation at NYC jail housing Diddy
Federal investigators from two agencies reportedly launched an “interagency operation” on Monday, Oct. 28, at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Both Sean “Diddy” Combs and former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried are housed in the facility.
The agencies involved include the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of Prisons, both revealing little about the reasons for the operation. They say that it is to ensure safety for both employees and inmates at the facility.
Federal authorities say the exact nature of the operation will not be revealed until it is complete, citing security interests. The agencies maintained that the actions were preplanned and there is “no active threat.”
The probe comes as the jail faces criticism for reportedly abhorrent conditions, widespread violence and multiple deaths. The DOJ and Bureau of Prisons previously vowed to fix the problems at the jail and enhance accountability.
Federal prosecutors charged nine inmates last month in connection with a series of attacks from April to August, including two inmates who were stabbed to death and another pierced through the spine with a makeshift icepick. Separately, a correctional officer is accused of shooting at a car during a high-speed chase that was unauthorized.
Prisoners have reportedly long complained over the conditions at the jail and claim they are barred from leaving their cells for showers, exercise, visits and calls. The facility is also reportedly plagued by rampant drug and contraband smuggling, sometimes organized by employees.
Egypt proposes cease-fire, prisoner swap to ease Gaza’s devastation
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has proposed a plan aimed at reducing violence in Gaza, calling for a brief truce, a prisoner exchange and renewed peace talks between Hamas and Israel. The proposal, announced by al-Sisi, includes releasing four Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
He suggested that broader cease-fire discussions could follow within 10 days of a temporary truce.
Hamas and Israel have not yet responded officially. However, sources close to the mediation effort indicate that while Hamas may consider the offer, it remains focused on securing an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.
The United Nations has described conditions in northern Gaza as “unbearable.” Officials pointed to severe shortages of food, medical supplies and essential services.
An Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in Jabalia killed 20 people, according to officials. A different strike killed nine sheltering in a school.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, the ongoing conflict has led to over 43,000 Palestinian deaths. About 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced.
Egypt has been spearheading mediation efforts, with support from the United States and Qatar. The success of the proposal hinges on responses from both Israel and Hamas, as negotiators aim to establish a temporary cease-fire lasting up to a month, setting the stage for more permanent peace discussions.
Harvey Weinstein diagnosed with cancer, reports say
Disgraced movie mogul and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein has been diagnosed with cancer, according to multiple sources. Reports say he has chronic myeloid leukemia, a form of bone marrow cancer, and he’s undergoing treatment at Rikers Island prison in New York where he’s serving a 16-year sentence.
“Craig Rothfeld, Mr. Weinstein’s authorized legal healthcare representative in New York State, expresses profound dismay at the speculation surrounding Mr. Weinstein’s medical condition,” Weinstein’s spokesperson Juda Engelmayer said in a statement provided to Variety. “It is both troubling and unacceptable that such private and confidential health matters have become a subject of public discourse. Out of respect for Mr. Weinstein’s privacy, we will offer no further comment.”
This is just the latest health issue Weinstein has faced behind bars. Last month, he had emergency heart surgery to alleviate a significant amount of fluid in his lungs and heart, and he was hospitalized in July with COVID-19 and double pneumonia.
‘Central Park 5’ sue Donald Trump for defamation after debate remarks
Members of the “Central Park Five” sued former President Donald Trump for defamation. Their lawsuit comes after the comments Trump made about their case at the presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris in September 2024.
The five black and latino men were teenagers when they were wrongfully convicted of raping and beating a white female jogger in Central Park in 1989.
At the time, Trump bought a full-page ad in multiple newspapers including the New York Times and called for the teens to be executed.
The men spent years in prison and were exonerated in 2022 after DNA linked another person to the crime.
During the debate on Sept. 10, Trump said they pleaded guilty to the crimes and “badly hurt a person, killed a person” in the attack.
The lawsuit alleged what Trump said was defamatory because they never pleaded guilty to the assaults.
Trump campaign spokesman, Steve Cheung said the lawsuit is, “Just another frivolous, election interference lawsuit, filed by desperate left-wing activists, in an attempt to distract the American people from Kamala Harris’ dangerously liberal agenda and failing campaign.”
Freed American Paul Whelan describes years inside Russian prison
Former Marine Paul Whelan has shared new details about his over five-year imprisonment in Russia, including allegations of psychological and physical abuse. Whelan, who was released in August as part of a multination prisoner swap, credits WNBA star Brittney Griner for helping keep his case in the public eye.
Whelan was arrested in 2018 on charges of espionage that he and U.S. officials have repeatedly denied.
For more than five years, Whelan endured what he described as dire conditions, including insufficient food, medical neglect, and continuous pressure from Russian authorities to confess to spying for the U.S. government.
AP Photo
Among those advocates was Griner, who herself was detained in Russia in 2022 on drug charges. After her release in a high-profile swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, Griner became a vocal supporter of Whelan, using her platform to raise awareness about his continued imprisonment.
Whelan was not part of the 2022 prisoner swap that freed Griner, a decision that left him fearing for his life.
He said he believed being left behind meant the U.S. had effectively signed a “death warrant” for him. However, in August, Whelan’s long-awaited release was secured in a multination agreement, which also freed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and several other prisoners.
Now back home in Michigan, Whelan is struggling to reintegrate into civilian life. He has described dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and concerns about finding work after his long absence.
Whelan remains committed to advocating for other Americans who remain detained overseas, much like Griner did for him.
Private prison operator under investigation after $4M in settlements
CoreCivic, the largest private prison operator in the U.S., is under federal investigation following years of allegations of inmate mistreatment in its Tennessee facilities. The company has spent $4.4 million since 2016 to settle nearly 80 lawsuits, involving claims ranging from violent beatings to medical neglect resulting in more than 20 deaths.
CoreCivic’s Trousdale Turner Correctional Center is a focal point of the investigation, with the Department of Justice focusing on incidents of violence, contraband smuggling and severe staff shortages.
One of the largest settlements, for $900,000, involved the suicide of an inmate where staff allegedly falsified records. Despite paying millions in fines and settlements, CoreCivic continued to renew its contracts with Tennessee.
Whistleblowers and advocates have raised concerns that CoreCivic views these settlements as a routine cost of doing business, prioritizing profits over inmate welfare. Since 2016, Tennessee has fined CoreCivic $37.7 million for contractual violations, but the company has not admitted wrongdoing in any of its settlements.
Families of the victims are calling for systemic changes to ensure accountability and improve conditions inside the facilities.
