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Ex-FBI official worked for sanctioned Russian oligarch, prosecutors say
NEW YORK, Jan 23 (Reuters) – A former top FBI official was charged on Monday with working for sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, as U.S. prosecutors ramp up efforts to enforce sanctions on Russian officials and police their alleged enablers.
Charles McGonigal, who led the FBI’s counterintelligence division in New York before retiring in 2018, pleaded not guilty to four criminal counts including sanctions violations and money laundering at a hearing in Manhattan federal court.
He was released on $500,000 bond, following his arrest over the weekend.
Prosecutors said McGonigal, 54, in 2021 received concealed payments from Deripaska, who was sanctioned in 2018, in exchange for investigating a rival oligarch.
McGonigal was also charged with unsuccessfully pushing in 2019 to lift sanctions against Deripaska.
Sanctions “must be enforced equally against all U.S. citizens in order to be successful,” FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael Driscoll said in a statement. “There are no exceptions for anyone, including a former FBI official.”
Separately on Monday, federal prosecutors in Washington said McGonigal received $225,000 in cash from a former member of Albania’s intelligence service, who had been a source in an investigation into foreign political lobbying that McGonigal was supervising.
McGonigal faces nine counts in that case, including making false statements to conceal from the FBI the nature of his relationship with the person.
“This is obviously a distressing day for Mr McGonigal and his family,” the defendant’s lawyer Seth DuCharme told reporters after the Manhattan hearing. “We’ll review the evidence, we’ll closely scrutinize it, and we have a lot of confidence in Mr McGonigal.”
Deripaska, the founder of Russian aluminum company Rusal (RUAL.MM), was among two dozen Russian oligarchs and government officials blacklisted by Washington in 2018 in reaction to Russia’s alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.
He and the Kremlin have denied any election interference.
Also charged in the Manhattan case was Sergey Shestakov, a former Soviet diplomat who later became an American citizen and Russian language interpreter for U.S. courts and government agencies.
Prosecutors said Shestakov he worked with McGonigal to help Deripaska, and made false statements to investigators.
Shestakov pleaded not guilty on Monday and was released on $200,000 bond.
The enforcement of sanctions are part of U.S. efforts to pressure Moscow to stop its war in Ukraine, which the Kremlin calls a “special military operation.”
Deripaska was charged last September with violating the sanctions against him by arranging to have his children born in the United States.
The following month, British businessman Graham Bonham-Carter was charged with conspiring to violate sanctions by trying to move Deripaska’s artwork out of the United States.
Deripaska is at large, and Bonham-Carter is contesting extradition to the United States.
Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Rosalba O’Brien, Bill Berkrot, Jonathan Oatis and Marguerita Choy
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
‘RHOC’ alum Kelly Dodd’s husband Rick Leventhal survives car crash
Rick Leventhal, the husband of “Real Housewives of Orange County” alum Kelly Dodd, feels “lucky to be alive” after surviving a horrifying car crash.
“So lucky to be alive & grateful for the well wishes & care I’m getting. 4 broken ribs, fractured bone right foot, wounded pride,” the former Fox News reporter, 62, captioned an Instagram post shared Tuesday night.
“So far that’s it 🙏❤️😎.”
In an accompanying video from his hospital bed, Leventhal elaborated on the scary incident.
“I hydroplaned heading east on 410, about 40 minutes outside pf Palm Desert, just straight away hit what felt like a patch of ice,” he said, acknowledging Southern California’s recent bout of heavy rain. “It was just water or whatever.”
Leventhal continued, “Roads were slick, lost control, slammed into the wall hard. Started spitting around across lanes of traffic and slammed right into the back of a tractor trailer, ripped the front end of a Mercedes off and smashed a windshield.”
The news personality went on to say that one of his vehicle’s windows “busted” and “both airbags” deployed.
“I think I might’ve broke my ribs from the airbag,” he said, noting that a “trucker helped [him] out.”
Despite his injuries, Leventhal insisted that he is “fine.” However, doctors “want to keep me in the hospital for a little bit,” he added. “But it could have been so much worse.”
His spouse, Dodd, 47 — whom he wed in October 2020 — asked fans for prayers in a post of her own.
“There will be no smash tomorrow on @youtube the rick and kelly show. My husband got in a horrible car accident,” she captioned photos of the wreck. “He is in the ER.. please say prayers for @rickleventhal.”
A portion of Dodd’s Bravo family sent well wishes for Leventhal in her comments section.
“Oh no! Thank God he is ok,” her former “RHOC” castmate Vicki Gunvalson wrote. “Praying for a speedy recovery.”
“Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Margaret Josephs wrote added, “So frightening sending prayers 🙏🙏🙏❤️.”
“Shahs of Sunset” alum Mercedes “MJ” Javid also shared a supportive message, writing, “omg no im so sorry and sending prayers.”
Meanwhile, Leventhal himself expressed extra gratitude for his safety following the accident.
“Honestly I’m lucky to be alive. Scariest moments of my life,” he commented on Dodd’s page. “This makes everything even more meaningful ❤️.”
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Power Rangers Alum Jason David Frank’s Cause of Death Revealed
Content warning: This story discusses suicide.
Jason David Frank‘s wife is sharing the actor’s cause of death.
Tammie Frank said Jason, known for his portrayal of the green Power Ranger in Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, died by suicide on Nov. 19 during a weekend outing he had planned amid the pair’s efforts to rekindle their relationship. He was 49.
“While Jason was a well-known name to some, we lived a very normal life with ups and downs, just like anyone else,” Tammie told People in an interview published Nov. 30. “It has shocked and saddened me beyond belief to see that the media has turned my family’s tragedy into a tall tale. Since Jason’s death, I have been harassed online and can no longer stand to watch my husband’s good name slandered.”
Tammie, married to Jason for 19 years, said his tragic death comes “as much a shock to me as anyone else.”
Nearly half of Meta job cuts were in tech, reorg underway – execs say
OAKLAND, Calif., Nov 11 (Reuters) – Facebook owner Meta Platforms (META.O) told employees on Friday that it would stop developing smart displays and smartwatches and that nearly half of the 11,000 jobs it eliminated this week in an unprecedented cost-cutting move were technology roles.
Speaking during an employee townhall meeting heard by Reuters, Meta executives also said they were reorganizing parts of the company, combining a voice and video calling unit with other messaging teams and setting up a new division, Family Foundations, focused on tough engineering problems.
The executives said that the first mass layoff in the social media company’s 18-year history affected staffers at every level and on every team, including individuals with high performance ratings.
Overall, 54% of those laid off were in business positions and the rest were in technology roles, Meta human resources chief Lori Goler said. Meta’s recruiting team was cut nearly in half, she said.
The executives said further rounds of job cuts were not expected. But other expenses would have to be cut, they said, noting reviews underway about contractors, real estate, computing infrastructure and various products.
SMART DEVICES CUT
Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth, who runs the metaverse-oriented Reality Labs division, told staffers Meta would end its work on Portal smart display devices and on its smartwatches.
Meta had decided earlier this year to stop marketing Portal devices, known for their video calling capabilities, to consumers and focus instead on business sales, Bosworth said.
As the economy declined, executives decided more recently to make “bigger changes,” he said.
“It was just going to take so long, and take so much investment to get into the enterprise segment, it felt like the wrong way to invest your time and money,” said Bosworth.
Portal had not been a major revenue generator and drew privacy concerns from potential users. Meta had yet to unveil any smartwatches.
Bosworth said the smartwatch unit would focus instead on augmented reality glasses. More than half of the total investment in Reality Labs was going to augmented reality, he added.
Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg on Friday reiterated his apology from Wednesday about having to cut 13% of the workforce, telling employees he had failed to forecast Meta’s first dropoff in revenue.
Meta aggressively hired during the pandemic amid a surge in social media usage by stuck-at-home consumers. But business suffered this year as advertisers and consumers pulled the plug on spending in the face of soaring costs and rapidly rising interest rates.
The company also faced increased competition from TikTok and lost access to valuable user data that powered its ad targeting systems after Apple made privacy-oriented changes to its operating system.
“Revenue trends are just a lot lower than what I predicted. Again, I got this wrong. It was a big mistake in planning for the company. I take responsibility for it,” Zuckerberg said.
Going forward, he added, he was not planning to “massively” grow headcount of the Reality Labs unit.
Meta shares closed up 1% at $113.02.
Reporting by Paresh Dave in Oakland, California, Katie Paul in Palo Alto, California, Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Aurora Ellis
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Bachelor Alum Madison Prewett Marries Grant Troutt in Romantic Texas Ceremony
Megan Kay Photography
Madison Prewett has married the man of her dreams.
The former Bachelor contestant, 26, wed Grant Troutt on Saturday at his parents’ home in Dallas, Texas. The pair exchanged vows in front of 400 friends and family members, including Bachelor Nation favorites Victoria Fuller, Hannah Ann Sluss and Kelley Flanagan.
“We chose this location because it’s unique and special to us and having all our friends and family there means so much,” Prewett, 26, exclusively tells PEOPLE of the celebration, which was photographed by Megan Kay Photography and filmed by The Crakes. “I have always wanted to get married in the fall and we wanted a short engagement, so it couldn’t be more perfect.”
The romantic occasion comes three months after Prewett and Troutt’s whirlwind engagement, which occurred just eight months into their relationship. They worked with Whitney Bailey of Engaged Events to create an unforgettable romantic event.
RELATED: All the Celebrity Weddings of 2022
For Prewett, it was crucial that her wedding was “as unique to me as possible” — though, she did borrow some decor inspiration from a fellow Bachelor Nation star.
“Raven Gates Gottschalk also got married in Dallas and we are using the same florist, Something Pretty Florals,” she shares of Gates Gottschalk, who was also in attendance for the ceremony. “Hers was stunning, so we got a lot of inspiration from that.”
Prewett held a bridal brunch a day before Saturday’s wedding. And along with Troutt, a 26-year-old speaker and minister to athletes and churches, the couple hosted a rehearsal dinner Friday evening for family and friends.
Megan Kay Photography
RELATED: Madison Prewett on Why She Was ‘on the Same Page’ with Grant Troutt About Premarital Couples Counseling
Getting ready for the big day ahead, Prewett wore a “special” customized robe from Victoria’s Secret, featuring her new last name on the back, as she got her hair and makeup done. Her bridal party — which was comprised of two maids of honors and six bridesmaids — also wore comfy cami sets from Victoria’s Secret before slipping into their gowns from The Bar.
Prewett’s hair was done by her trusted stylist Chrissy Rasmussen from The Habit Salon. The reality star “couldn’t imagine having anyone else do my hair for my wedding day,” she says.
As for her makeup, she recruited Makeup by Natalie Mas for the task because the artist always makes her “feel glamorous while still feeling like myself.”
Lillian Le Pham Photography
Prewett walked down the aisle to “When God Made You,” by NewSong, wearing a custom-made dress by Nardos Design. The brand specially created all her wedding weekend looks. (Musical duo Caleb and Kelsey sang during the ceremony.)
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At the reception, Prewett and Troutt’s “classy and elegant” theme continued. The tables were decorated with florals arranged by Something Pretty Floral as well as candles and charger plates with menus on top. The menus were designed by Sincerely Addison who also designed the couple’s invitations, seating chart and programs.
Jordan Kahn served as the reception band. But when they shared their first dance, Prewett and Troutt danced to “Set of 2” by Brandon Lake.
Madison Prewett/Instagram
Guests were also treated to an assortment of food, including beef tenderloin and herb-roasted roasted chicken.
But the pair’s wedding cake was the star of the show. “I wanted our wedding cake to be the centerpiece of our reception. I chose to keep it all white with gold details,” she shares. “I had heard about Fancy Cakes by Lauren and was told she was the best. When Grant and I did our cake tasting not only did they taste amazing, but she was also able to make my vision come to life!”
RELATED: Inside Bachelor Alum Madison Prewett’s Fun-Filled Bachelorette Party
Madison Prewett Instagram
At the end of the day, Prewett and Troutt are aware their day wouldn’t have been a success without their families fully in their corners.
“Truly, none of this would have been possible without the support of our families,” she says. “They mean the world to us and we feel so grateful for all of their help during this time!”
After the wedding, Prewett says the newlyweds will be spending two nights in Dallas and then going to Cabo for a week,” which she’s “so excited” for. But more importantly, the newlyweds cannot wait to see what the future has in store for them.
“What we are most excited for is a lifetime together,” she concludes. “We are most looking forward to walking out God’s purpose for our life together. We can’t wait to get plugged into a local church and host community in our new home!”
America’s Got Talent alum and Tyler Perry collaborator Zuri Craig dies at age 44
America’s Got Talent alum and Tyler Perry collaborator Zuri Craig dies at age 44
- Zuri passed away at age 44 from undisclosed causes on Friday night
- Back in 2015, Zuri and his partner Jeffrey Lewis were grand-finalists on the 10th season of NBC’s America’s Got Talent
- The singing duo – collectively known as The CraigLewis Band – were scheduled to perform at The King’s Fest in Georgia on October 30
- Craig also performed in Tyler Perry’s musical plays Madea’s Big Happy Family and A Madea Christmas
America’s Got Talent alum Zuri Craig, who acted in several Tyler Perry plays, passed away at age 44 from undisclosed causes on Friday night.
‘It is with profound sadness that we announce the transition of our beloved son, brother and friend, Zuri Craig,’ his family announced on his ZoReMi Entertainment Instagram account on Sunday.
‘We thank you in advance for your prayers. Please honor our privacy during this unimaginable time of mourning. Official details to follow.’
RIP: America’s Got Talent alum Zuri Craig, who acted in several Tyler Perry plays, passed away at age 44 from undisclosed causes on Friday night
His family announced on Sunday: ‘It is with profound sadness that we announce the transition of our beloved son, brother and friend, Zuri Craig. We thank you in advance for your prayers. Please honor our privacy during this unimaginable time of mourning. Official details to follow’
Back in 2015, Zuri and his singing partner Jeffrey Lewis – collectively known as The CraigLewis Band – were grand-finalists on the 10th season of NBC’s America’s Got Talent.
The talented twosome were scheduled to perform at The King’s Fest on October 30 at the MCHS Gymnasium in Camilla, GA.
Craig also produced the play Soul Food Live, which opens November 20 at Center Stage Theater in Atlanta.
Singing duo: Back in 2015, Zuri and his singing partner Jeffrey Lewis (L) – collectively known as The CraigLewis Band – were grand-finalists on the 10th season of NBC’s America’s Got Talent
Tragedy: The talented twosome were scheduled to perform at The King’s Fest on October 30 at the MCHS Gymnasium in Camilla, GA
Next month! Craig also produced the play Soul Food Live, which opens November 20 at Center Stage Theater in Atlanta
But the Atlanta native is probably best remembered for his work with Tyler Perry, playing 17-year-old sixth grader Donnie in the musical Madea’s Big Happy Family staged at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood in 2010.
Zuri also portrayed Madea’s virginal son Japan Mansell in the musical A Madea Christmas staged at the Cobb Energy Center in Atlanta in 2011.
Craig’s last acting gig was voicing the preacher in OurSomewhere Digital Productions’ podcast, The Color Purple Audio Experience: A Benefit for Black Womxn, which premiered on November 26.
Tyler Perry Player: But the Atlanta native is probably best remembered for his work with Tyler Perry (L), playing 17-year-old sixth grader Donnie in the musical Madea’s Big Happy Family staged at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood in 2010
‘Spread your legs wider, baby’: Zuri also portrayed Madea’s virginal son Japan Mansell in the musical A Madea Christmas staged at the Cobb Energy Center in Atlanta in 2011
Swan song: Craig’s last acting gig was voicing the preacher in OurSomewhere Digital Productions’ podcast, The Color Purple Audio Experience: A Benefit for Black Womxn, which premiered on November 26
‘RHOA’ Alum Claudia Jordan Shuts Down Meghan Markle Claims ‘Deal Or No Deal’ Treated Models Like Bimbos – Deadline
Claudia Jordan, former star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, is opening up about her own experience on the Deal or No Deal set after Meghan Markle claimed they treated her like a bimbo.
“Flor clarity — yes getting a modeling gig on a game show isn’t necessarily about your intellect but every show the executive producers picked five models with the most outgoing and fun personalities to place mics on who they knew would engage with the contestants,” Jordan shared on her Instagram Stories.
In a second post she continued, “And Deal or No Deal never treated us like bimbos. We got so many opportunities because of that show.”
“That’s the kind of opportunity that is what you make it. If you just show up and don’t engage then you’ll just get your check and not get much out of it but if you show up and seize your moments then there’s no limits to what you can do with the opportunity,” she added.
Jordan she enjoyed her “experience working on Deal or No Deal” as it was a good opportunity in her career and helped her pay “all her bills.”
She also clarified that her response was not an “attack on Meghan cause Lord knows I’ve been defending this woman in the media for years and I still will but I just didn’t want any misunderstanding about the climate and environment on the Deal or No Deal set.”
Jordan said she was “especially protective of Howie Mandel who was nothing but kind and respectful to all 26 of us.”
Markle opened up about her time on the NBC game show on the most recent episode of her Archetypes podcast.
“I was surrounded by smart women on that stage with me, but that wasn’t the focus of why we were there,” she said. “And I would end up leaving with this pit in my stomach, knowing that I was so much more than what was being objectified on the stage. I didn’t like feeling forced to be all looks and little substance. And that’s how it felt for me at the time, being reduced to this specific archetype.”
You can listen to Markle’s podcast below.
‘Idol’ alum Willie Spence’s fatal car crash details revealed
The grisly details surrounding “American Idol” runner-up Willie Spence’s fatal car crash have been revealed.
The late crooner was driving on Interstate 24 East in Marion County, Tenn., on Tuesday afternoon when he exited the highway but crashed into a tractor trailer that was parked on the shoulder, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s report (per ABC’s WJCL22).
Spence, who was wearing a seatbelt, did not survive the accident, but the driver of the tractor trailer was uninjured, the report stated.
Page Six has reached out to the Tennessee Highway Patrol for the report.
“American Idol” released a statement of mourning after news of the 23-year-old’s death broke on Wednesday.
“We are devastated about the passing of our beloved ‘American Idol’ family member, Willie Spence,” the singing competition show said in a statement via Twitter. “He was a true talent who lit up every room he entered and will be deeply missed. We send our condolences to his loved ones.”
Judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie later paid tribute to the Season 19 competitor.
Perry, 37, called Spence the “purest soul” in an Instagram comment on Wednesday, gushing, “I love you Willie. … Sing with the angels my darling.”
Meanwhile, Bryan, 46, tweeted, “Willie really did light up every room he walked into. He could change the mood instantly when he started singing. He will truly be missed.”
For his part, Richie, 73, gushed that he was “blessed” to have met Spence.
“Your light will always shine in this world,” the “Hello” singer wrote. “My thoughts and prayers are with Willie’s family. Rest well my friend.”
Although Perry, Richie and Bryan were moved by his performances, Spence finished in second place after failing to secure enough votes, while Chayce Beckham became the 2021 American Idol.