- “Sexual violence is such a thief”: Ashley Judd speaks out against overturn of Weinstein conviction Salon
- Star witness in Harvey Weinstein trial says she’d consider testifying after overturned conviction: ‘This isn’t just about me’ CNN
- Can Weinstein’s Overturned New York Conviction Help Him Appeal California Case? The New York Times
- Here’s why Harvey Weinstein’s New York rape conviction was tossed and what happens next The Associated Press
- Judge installed by liberal Democrats over centrist Hochul pick responsible for Harvey Weinstein ruling New York Post
Tag Archives: thief
Disturbing moment black Amazon delivery driver is assaulted and branded a ‘thief’ by two white women inside lu – Daily Mail
- Disturbing moment black Amazon delivery driver is assaulted and branded a ‘thief’ by two white women inside lu Daily Mail
- Caught on camera: Amazon delivery driver harassed by residents at luxury apartment in River Oaks KHOU.com
- Disturbing video shows black Amazon worker as she’s attacked by white women in luxury Texas building while dropping off package New York Post
- Police working to contact woman accused of assaulting Amazon delivery partner as she delivered package in River Oaks KPRC Click2Houston
- VIDEO: Amazon driver accosted at Texas luxury apartments Chron
Kia owner shoots accused car thief while standing on apartment balcony, Texas cops say – Yahoo! Voices
- Kia owner shoots accused car thief while standing on apartment balcony, Texas cops say Yahoo! Voices
- Man is shot multiple times after apartment resident says he was trying to steal his car, SAPD says KENS 5: Your San Antonio News Source
- Car owner confronts, shoots suspected vehicle thief at far North Side apartments, police say KSAT 12
- Suspected car thief at North Side apartment shot multiple times by resident, police said San Antonio Express-News
- Man is shot multiple times after apartment resident says he was trying to steal his Kia, SAPD says KENS5.com
- View Full Coverage on Google News
Octopath Traveler II details Throne the Thief, Temenos the Cleric, secondary jobs, and support skills
Publisher Square Enix [5,072 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/companies/square-enix”>Square Enix and developer Acquire [282 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/companies/gungho-online-entertainment/acquire”>Acquire have released new information and screenshots for Octopath Traveler II [6 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/games/octopath-traveler-ii”>Octopath Traveler II introducing the tales of Osvald the Scholar and Partitio the Merchant, and water travel.
Get the details below.
■ Concept
About
This game is a brand-new entry in the Octopath Traveler [22 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/games/octopath-traveler”>Octopath Traveler series, the first installment of which was initially released in 2018 and sold over three million copies worldwide.
It takes the series’ HD-2D [19 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/series/hd-2d”>HD-2D graphics, a fusion of retro pixel art and 3D CG, to even greater heights. In the world of Solistia, eight new travelers venture forth into an exciting new era.
Where will you go? What will you do? Whose tale will you bring to life? Every path is yours to take. Embark on an Adventure [631 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/genres/adventure”>adventure all your own.
New World, New Tales [1 article]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/companies/new-tales”>New Tales
The story takes place in Solistia, a land comprising an eastern and western continent divided by the sea.
It is a bustling era, wherein large vessels navigate busy sea routes and the power of steam gives birth to new technologies.
Some people thrill to glamorous stars of the stage and industry, while others are brought to tears by war, plague, and poverty.
In this faraway realm, eight travelers hailing from different regions venture forth for their own reasons. Step into their shoes and explore the land as you see fit.
■ Throne Anguis, the Thief (voiced by Erica Mendez in English, Rie Tanaka in Japanese)
Your name is Throne Anguis, and you are a thief. Your tale begins in a thrilling city in the Brightlands.
You are a member of the Blacksnakes, a thieves guild that controls the city from the shadows. Your job is to steal…and clean.
“Not again… Not this stench. Every time I breathe it in, it feels as though my very lungs are rotting… The stench of blood.”
Determined to escape the cycle of bloodshed, you embark on a journey for the keys to your freedom…
■ Characters in Throne’s Tale
Father (voiced by DC Douglas in English, Kenyu Horiuchi in Japanese)
One of the leaders of the Blacksnakes, and a first-rate assassin who oversees the guild’s jobs. He taught Throné the art of assassination when she was young.
Mother (voiced by Meli Grant in English, Tomie Kataoka in Japanese)
The other leader of the Blacksnakes who values order and discipline above all. She manages the guild’s members and mercilessly punishes those who fail her.
Pirro (voiced by Sean Chiplock in English, Takamasa Mogi in Japanese)
A member of the Blacksnakes. Though somewhat resigned to his life in the guild, he also dreams of rising through the ranks and earning his freedom.
Scaracci (voiced by Eliah Mountjoy in English, Ryohei Arai in Japanese)
A member of the Blacksnakes. He puts on a bold front, but secretly fears being punished by the guild.
■ Throne’s Adventure Begins in the Brightlands
Eastern Solistia is an urban region home to the continent‘s largest city. Blessed by warm sunshine and a pleasant climate, it soon became known as the Brightlands. Agricultural abundance caused the region to flourish, and people flocked here in droves. Wealth soon followed, and development soon after. Before long, buildings like theaters and game parlors were erected to entertain the evergrowing crowds, and now the light of civilization shines as bright here as the sun does overhead. At the center of all of this lies the Brightlands’ beating heart: New Delsta. In the east of these lands can be found Clockbank, an industrial center that has prospered ever since the Age of Discovery.
—The urban Brightlands region.
—New Delsta’s theater.
—The industrial town of Clockbank.
■ Throne’s Path Actions
Steal
Steal townspeople’s belongings (with a given probability). Fail, and your reputation will suffer.
—You won’t be able to use Path Actions if your reputation suffers. Raise Thronée’s level to increase her chances of success.
Ambush
Knock people unconscious. You must be the appropriate level to succeed.
—If Throne’s level is high enough, she can knock someone unconscious. This will allow you to move forward when someone is blocking your path.
■ Throne’s Talent: Blessing of Darkness
Throne can augment all allies at the start of battle at night.
—Blessing of Darkness automatically triggers at the start of battles at night. This raises the physical attack, elemental attack, and speed of all allies, allowing your party to immediately go on the offensive.
■ Throne’s Latent Power: Leave No Tract
When her latent power gauge is full, Throne can act twice in a single turn.
—Throne’s latent power allows her to act twice in a row, giving her an extra edge in battle.
—The choice is yours on how best to use the two Action [820 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/genres/action”>actions. You can go on the offensive, heal, and more.
■ Temenos Mistral, the Cleric (voiced by Jordan Dash Cruz in English, Akira Ishida in Japanese)
Your name is Temenos Mistral, and you are a cleric. Your tale begins in the mountainous region of the Crestlands.
Though easygoing in your duties as Inquisitor, that all changes the day a tragic incident takes place in the church.
“Oh dear… I suppose it can’t be helped. After all, doubt is what I do.”
Sensing that there is much more to the incident than meets the eye, you set out to solve the mystery left in its wake…
■ Characters in Temenos’ Tale
Pontiff Jorg (voiced by Jay Preston in English, Fumitake Ishiguro in Japanese)
The most prominent member of the Order of the Sacred Flame, respected by all the townspeople. He trusts Temenos and has appointed him Inquisitor.
Crick (voiced by Stephen Fu in English, Junya Enoki in Japanese)
A newly anointed Sanctum Knight. He meets Temenos after being tasked with guarding the cathedral, and together they investigate the strange incident within.
■ Temenos’ Adventure Begins in the Crestlands
Northeast Solistia, a land of mountains and hills. Perched high atop one stony peak rises Aelfric Cathedral [3 articles]” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/games/cathedral”>Cathedral, the center of the Sacred Flame faith. Adherents of this religion’s tenets have worshipped the Sacred Flame that the cathedral houses since time immemorial. Even through the bitterly cold winter a century previous, the flame continued to warm the hearts and souls of all who visited. In both name and spirit, the Sacred Flame and its church are the divine lords of this land. At the base of the cathedral lies the small town of Flamechurch. Though its population is small, the townsfolk make a good living providing for the crowds of pilgrims who travel here to visit the cathedral.
—The mountainous Crestlands.
—Aelfric Cathedral.
—Flamechurch.
■ Temenos’ Path Actions
Guide
Lead a townsperson around. You must be the appropriate level to succeed.
—If Temenos’ level is high enough, he can Guide someone and even summon them to aid him in battle.
Coerce
Force information out of someone by breaking them in battle.
—Lower your foe’s Shield Points to 0 to break them and obtain the information you seek. You won’t need to defeat your target, so focus on exploiting their weak points.
■ Temenos’ Talent: Moonlight Judgment
Temenos can enfeeble all foes at the start of battle at night.
—Moonlight Judgment automatically triggers at the start of battles at night. This blinds foes, which lowers their accuracy and safeguards your party from oncoming attacks. It also decreases foes’ physical and elemental defense, giving you the upper hand.
Temenos’ Latent Power: Judgment
When his latent power gauge is full, Temenos can lower foes’ Shield Points with any attack.
—On the turn Judgment is activated, all of Temenos’ attacks will lower enemy Shield Points. Combine this with boosted attacks or multiple-hit skills and he can break an enemy in a single turn.
■ Secondary Jobs
Each traveler sets out with a primary job, which they can combine with a secondary job in battle as their journey progresses.
Changing your secondary job also changes the weapons and skills at your disposal.
—The more weapons you can use, the easier it will be to break an opponent. This will also drastically increase your power on the battlefield.
—The choice is yours as to whether you develop your travelers’ strengths, compensate for their weaknesses, or something else entirely.
Obtaining Secondary Jobs
You can obtain licenses at various guilds throughout the world for basic jobs like Warrior and Dancer. Fulfill the guilds’ requests and you can obtain up to three licenses, allowing multiple travelers to use the same secondary job.
—Some guilds operate openly in towns, while others are hidden away. Search every corner of the world to find them all.
—Special jobs require a unique item known as “proof” to be used in battle. Only a single traveler can use one of these powerful jobs at a time, so choose wisely.
■ Support Skills
Learn job skills to unlock support skills. Each traveler can equip up to four of these valuable skills that trigger automatically.
—Learn job skills to unlock support skills. Each traveler can equip up to four of these valuable skills that trigger automatically.
—Combine different jobs’ support skills, like Summon Strength and Eagle Eye, to further strengthen your travelers.
—Some support skills can be used outside of battle, like Evasive Maneuvers and Vigorous Victor.
■ Crossed Paths: Throne and Temenos
This installment includes Crossed Paths, which are stories involving two travelers.
Throne and Temenos return to Flamechurch. Throne recalls a rumor she heard of a treasure inside the cathedral and asks Temenos if he would like to do a little investigating…
US Announces ‘Historic $3.36 Billion Cryptocurrency Seizure’ as Silk Road Bitcoin Thief Pleads Guilty – Regulation Bitcoin News
The man who stole over 50,000 bitcoins from the Silk Road marketplace has pleaded guilty. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, “the seizure was then the largest cryptocurrency seizure” in the history of the DOJ and “remains the department’s second-largest financial seizure ever.”
Silk Road Exploiter Pleads Guilty
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Monday that James Zhong pleaded guilty on Friday “to committing wire fraud in September 2012 when he unlawfully obtained over 50,000 bitcoin from the Silk Road dark web internet marketplace.” The Justice Department also announced a “historic $3.36 billion cryptocurrency seizure” in connection to the case.
The DOJ explained that law enforcement conducted a search at Zhong’s house in Gainesville, Georgia, on Nov. 9, 2021, and “seized approximately 50,676.17851897 bitcoin, then valued at over $3.36 billion,” elaborating:
This seizure was then the largest cryptocurrency seizure in the history of the U.S. Department of Justice and today remains the department’s second-largest financial seizure ever.
Zhong also had about 3,500 more bitcoins from exchanging into BTC over 50,000 bitcoin cash (BCH) which he received following the bitcoin blockchain hard fork in August 2017. He used an overseas cryptocurrency exchange for the conversion.
Besides the BTC seized at his house, Zhong began “voluntarily surrendering to the government additional bitcoin” beginning in March this year, the DOJ revealed, adding that “In total, Zhong voluntarily surrendered 1,004.14621836 additional bitcoin.”
The government is seeking the forfeiture of “approximately 51,680.32473733 bitcoin,” the DOJ noted. At the time of writing, BTC is trading at $20,641.28, so the amount sought by the government is about $1.07 billion.
Zhong’s Scheme to Defraud Silk Road Marketplace
Zhong executed a scheme to defraud the Silk Road marketplace of its money and property in September 2012, the DOJ said, adding that he “was able to withdraw many times more bitcoin out of Silk Road than he had deposited in the first instance.” For example, the Justice Department detailed that on Sept. 19, 2012:
Zhong deposited 500 bitcoin into a Silk Road wallet. Less than five seconds after making the initial deposit, Zhong executed five withdrawals of 500 bitcoin in rapid succession — i.e., within the same second — resulting in a net gain of 2,000 bitcoin.
On Monday, the U.S. government filed an Amended Preliminary Order of Forfeiture in the United States v. Ross Ulbricht case “seeking to forfeit approximately 51,351.89785803 bitcoin traceable to Silk Road, valued at approximately $3,388,817,011.90 at the time of seizure.” Silk Road’s founder, Ross Ulbricht, was convicted in 2015 and is currently serving a double life sentence, plus 40 years without parole.
U.S. District Judge Paul Gardephe also entered a Consent Preliminary Order of Forfeiture on Friday for 154.4268793000044 BTC, $661,900 in cash, 25 Casascius coins (physical bitcoin) worth about 174 BTC, various metals, and Zhong’s 80% interest in Memphis-based RE&D Investments LLC. The metals seized consisted of “four one-ounce silver-colored bars, three one-ounce gold-colored bars, four 10-ounce silver-colored bars, and one gold-colored coin,” the Justice Department highlighted.
Following the DOJ’s announcement, some people on social media began noticing that one of Zhong’s BTC addresses revealed in a court document matches one posted by Bitcointalk user “Loaded.” Bitmex Research tweeted: “In March 2017, Bitcointalk user ‘Loaded’ signed a message from an address with 40,000 bitcoin, asking to do a 1 to 1 swap for ‘Bitcoin Unlimited’ with Roger Ver. It now appears these funds have been seized by the U.S. authorities.”
Commenting on Loaded’s Bitcointalk post, Bitcoin.com founder Ver, stated: “As I recall, he never replied to my DMs about making the bet.”
What do you think about this case? Let us know in the comments section below.
Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.
Kim Kardashian thief says he feels NO guilt for gunpoint Paris robbery
One of the perpetrators of Kim Kardashian’s 2016 Paris robbery has spoken out, declaring he feels no guilt over the crime.
Yunis Abbas is one of 12 elderly men arrested for the burglary, in which Kardashian was bound at gunpoint while the band of thieves now known as the ‘grandpa robbers’ plundered $10 million worth of jewelry from her luxurious hotel suite.
In a new interview with VICE News, Abbas confirmed that he developed the idea for the robbery after seeing Kardashian repeatedly flaunt her jewelry on social media.
‘Since she was throwing money away, I was there to collect it, and that was that. Guilty? No, I don’t care,’ he said with a chuckle. ‘I don’t care.’
He also divulged details of the robbery itself, alleging that Kardashian’s ‘secretary’ attempted to call for assistance – but dialed 911 despite being in France.
‘I don’t care’: Yunis Abbas, one of the perpetrators of Kim Kardashian’s 2016 Paris robbery has spoken out, declaring he feels no guilt over the crime
Before: Kim was bound at gunpoint and robbed of $10 million worth of jewelry in October 2016 while attending Paris Fashion Week, where she is pictured at the Balenciaga show
When asked about celebrities posting about their valuables on the internet, Abbas defiantly argued: ‘They should be a little less showy towards people who can’t afford it. For some people, it’s provocative.’
Kardashian reportedly experienced flashbacks after the robbery, during which she feared she might be raped or murdered.
Abbas acknowledged: ‘You don’t come out of it unscathed. We didn’t expect this. Of course she must have been traumatized.’
When the crime was committed in October 2016, all the men were in their 60s or 70s, prompting the French media to dub them the ‘grandpa robbers.’
Dazzling: One of the pieces Abbas and his gang took was the $4 million 20-carat Lorraine Schwartz engagement ring Kardashian was given by Kanye West
‘Provocative’: When asked about celebrities posting about their valuables on the internet, Abbas defiantly argued: ‘They should be a little less showy towards people who can’t afford it’
One of the pieces Abbas and his gang took was the $4 million 20-carat Lorraine Schwartz engagement ring Kardashian was given by Kanye West.
‘I went on the internet, and it’s true, I saw her jewelry, I saw her ring, I saw that she showed it everywhere, and we knew this information through social media,’ Abbas said while explaining the crime to VICE News.
Back then he was less aware of her than of her husband ‘but I saw one of her shows where she threw her diamond in the pool in that episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. I thought: “She’s got a lot of money. This lady doesn’t care at all.”‘
Abbas may have been referring to a notorious episode in which Kardashian lost a $75,000 diamond earring in the ocean in Bora Bora.
Defiant: ‘Since she was throwing money away, I was there to collect it, and that was that. Guilty? No, I don’t care,’ he said with a chuckle
Whoops: Abbas told VICE that his arrest stemmed from the fact that he left some of his DNA on the concierge while tying him up
She worked herself up into hysterics over the earring, exasperating her elder sister Kourtney Kardashian, who drawled: ‘Kim, there’s people that are dying.’
The ‘grandpa robbers’ discovered online that Kim Kardashian was headed to Paris Fashion Week in October 2016 ‘so we went there to do some reconnaissance.’
They successfully traced her to the Hotel De Pourtales in the 8th arrondissement, and according to Abbas they ‘were there from midnight’ the night of the crime.
Kardashian’s sisters had left the hotel that evening with their bodyguard Pascal Duvier in tow, leaving her alone and vulnerable in her suite.
Alone: The robbers successfully traced her to the Hotel De Pourtales in the 8th arrondissement, where reporters are pictured after the crime
‘We got in through the little door that was open on the inside,’ Abbas said. ‘As soon as we got in, we took control of the concierge. We overpowered him. We tied him up. But then we looked for the keys of the bedroom she stayed in.’
He explained: ‘I stayed downstairs, but my two colleagues went upstairs with the concierge to go to Madame Kardashian’s room.’
The men who breached her suite then tied her up, gagged her and threw her in the bathtub as she reportedly pleaded for her life.
When Abbas’ ‘colleagues’ returned downstairs, he said: ‘Madame Kardashian’s secretary called for help. But she called 911 in the United States, which scared us, which made them lose a lot of time. And when we got out, there was a bunch of police outside who didn’t know anything about the robbery.’
Vulnerable: Kardashian’s sisters had left the hotel the evening of the robbery with their bodyguard Pascal Duvier in tow; Kardashian and Duvier are pictured just one day before
While making his getaway by bicycle, Abbas dropped a 30,000€ diamond-encrusted cross, and France 24 reports that hours later it was discovered by a passerby.
However Abbas told VICE that his arrest stemmed from the fact that he left some of his DNA on the concierge while tying him up, allowing the police to track him down, a task made easier by the fact he ‘already had a record.’
Abbas then spent 22 months in prison but was granted a release on health grounds and has since published a memoir of the robbery.
Aomar Ait Khedache, one of the men arrested for the heist, told French police the engagement ring was the only surviving piece of Kardashian’s stolen jewelry.
Hand in hand: Kardashian is pictured with her elder sister Kourtney Kardashian (right) in Paris just one day before the robbery took place
In early 2017, Le Monde obtained a transcript of Khedache’s police interview, where he explained that his gang melted down and sold off the rest of the spoils.
‘For the jewelry never to be recognized, we made a common decision to melt it,’ he said, claiming their loot was taken to the diamond trade hub of Antwerp.
Kardashian later told David Letterman the experience left her so ‘paranoid’ for a year that she would have ‘half a dozen’ guards constantly posted at her Calabasas home.
Last year, five years after the robbery, she revealed she was still so scarred by the incident that she no longer keeps any jewelry at home, even in a safe.
Trauma: Kardashian later told David Letterman the experience left her so ‘paranoid’ for a year that she would have ‘half a dozen’ guards constantly posted at her Calabasas home
‘I can’t sleep if I have jewelry in my safe, or money, or anything at my house. I just don’t live my life like that,’ she said in a Keeping Up With The Kardashians special.
She insisted ‘no expensive items ever come’ to her home and ‘As far as jewelry, if I’m wearing something, it’s borrowed. It’s fake.’
Kardashian claimed she has become a ‘completely different person’ after the robbery ‘in the best way’ by dialing back her materialism.
Prior to the ordeal she ‘had to have the coolest car, the best rims, the best outfit and I thought that I was the s**t because of that. I thought that made me,’ she said.
Terrified: Last year, five years after the robbery, Kim revealed she was still so scarred by the incident that she no longer keeps any jewelry at home, even in a safe
‘The things I valued before that happened were genuinely completely different than what I value now,’ said the reality star, who is now a mother of four. ‘It’s fun to get dressed up and all this, but like, things don’t make me.’
Last November the 12 ‘grandpa robbers’ were indicted on various charges in connection with the Paris jewel heist that sent shockwaves around the world.
French law shields Kardashian from having to be cross-examined, meaning she will not have to face her accused assailants in court.
Square Enix Selling Tomb Raider, Deus Ex And Thief Studios
The Embracer Group, a planet-swallowing mass of video game publishers that already includes the likes of Gearbox and THQ Nordic, tonight announced a deal to purchase a number of storied studios and properties from Square Enix.
While the purchase isn’t final—this is just “an agreement to acquire” them until everything is signed off later in the year—the announcement press release says that if approved it will be a USD$300 million deal. For the $300 mil, Embracer will get hold of:
- The studios Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal and Square Enix Montreal (the latter of which will presumably be in for a name change), numbering around 1100 employees worldwide.
- The “catalogue of IPs” owned and/or worked on by those studios, including Deus Ex, Tomb Raider, Thief, Legacy of Kain and “the continued sales and operations of the studios’ more than 50 back-catalogue games”. Also of interest: “Crystal Dynamics is actively working on several AAA projects, including the next mainline Tomb Raider game that will deliver next-generation storytelling and gameplay experiences.”
Square Enix bought Eidos (and Crystal Dynamics along with it) in 2009, and while initially overseeing a number of well-received reboots of series like Tomb Raider and Deus Ex, later games in those properties—along with licensed efforts like The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy—became something of a meme in recent years, as no matter how high their review scores ended up being, or how many copies they would sell, Square Enix would always say the games had “under-performed”.
Perhaps knowing that the first question most folks would have following a deal like this would be “so what’s happening with those series?”, Embracer’s press release says:
The acquisition brings a compelling pipeline of new installments from beloved franchises and original IPs, including a new Tomb Raider game. The acquisition builds on Embracer’s mission of creating a leading independent global gaming and entertainment ecosystem. Embracer has been particularly impressed by the studios’ rich portfolio of original IP, housing brands with proven global potential such as Tomb Raider and Deus Ex, as well as demonstrating the ability to create AAA games with large and growing fan bases. There are compelling opportunities to organically grow the studios to maximize their commercial opportunities.
Which is vague, but still more hopeful for fans of something like Deus Ex than Square Enix’s complete silence and neglect in recent years. The purchase is “expected to be completed during the second quarter of Embracer’s financial year 22/23 (July-September 2022).
Note that Embracer spent $1.3 billion just on Gearbox. To get all of this, from the experienced studios to the beloved properties for $1 billion less seems…like a steal.
So why sell? Square Enix’s own press release says:
The Transaction will assist the Company in adapting to the changes underway in the global business environment by establishing a more efficient allocation of resources, which will enhance corporate value by accelerating growth in the Company’s core businesses in the digital entertainment domain. In addition, the Transaction enables the launch of new businesses by moving forward with investments in fields including blockchain, AI, and the cloud.
Imagine having to put on your CV that you sold Tomb Raider to at least partially fund some blockchain shit.
‘A conman, a liar and a thief’: Avenatti guilty of stealing $300,000 from Stormy Daniels
Michael Avenatti has been found guilty of defrauding Stormy Daniels of nearly $300,000 (£221,000) in a Manhattan federal court.
Avenatti, 50, stared straight ahead as the jury returned guilty verdicts on wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges.
He now faces up to 20 years in prison for stealing part of an $800,000 (£590,000) advance Ms Daniels was owed for her 2018 autobiography Full Disclosure, and forging her signature in a contract.
Outside court, Avenatti said he was “very disappointed in the jury’s verdict”.
“I’m looking forward to a full adjudication of all the issues on appeal.”
Judge Jesse Furman ordered Avenatti to surrender to US Marshalls in California on Monday.
Avenatti has delayed beginning a 2.5 year prison sentence for his 2020 conviction in an extortion case while waiting for the book proceeds trial and the retrial of a fraud case in a California federal court.
Prosecutors said it was likely Ms Daniels would speak at his sentencing on 24 May.
Michael Avenatti and Stormy Daniels outside a Manhattan federal court in 2018
(Associated Press)
In a statement released shortly after the verdicts, Ms Daniels’s lawyer Clark Brewster said she was “relieved this nightmare is over”.
“The text communications between Stormy and Mr Avenatti in real time was overwhelming proof of his receipt and embezzlement.
“The forgery of her name and his concealed directive to wire the money to him was irrefutable.
“Still, Mr Avenatti possessed the uncanny ability to steadfastly deny the crimes and persuade others he was entitled to the embezzled funds.
“Stormy is pleased that the justice system works.”
WhatsApp messages between Stormy Daniels and Michael Avenatti provided ‘overwhelming proof’ of his guilt
(US District Attorney’s Office)
The jury reached a verdict just before 1500 local time [2000 GMT] on Friday after more than a day of deliberations.
Earlier, they returned a note suggesting that one female juror had been holding out, and that she was refusing to deliberate with other panellists.
During the two-week trial, prosecutors said the California lawyer cheated Ms Daniels of nearly $300,000 she was owed for her autobiography, spending it on his firm’s payroll and personal expenses.
Avenatti argued that he was owed the money and never thought it was wrong to take it.
After firing his public defenders on day two of the trial, he cross-examined Ms Daniels about her ability to speak to dead people and “dark entities that prowled” her former New Orleans home as he attempted to shatter her credibility.
Michael Avenatti cross-examines witness Stormy Daniels during his criminal trial at the United States Courthouse in Manhattan
(Reuters)
In a tweet after the verdicts were reached, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen said: “Justice has been served. Michael Avenatti has shown himself to be what I have always known him to be… a conman, a liar and a thief.”
Avenatti helped secure the book deal for Ms Daniels in spring 2018, shortly after he began representing her in lawsuits meant to free her from the rules of a 2016 payment of $130,000 she had received from President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Mr Cohen to remain silent about an alleged affair with Mr Trump a decade before. The hush-money payment occurred just days before Mr Trump was elected president in 2016. He has denied the claims by Ms Daniels.
Mr Avenatti used his heightened profile at the time to make frequent appearances on cable television news programmes.
Ms Daniels, a porn actress who has also earned stage credits in two mainstream movies, testified during the trial that she never authorised Mr Avenatti to pocket some of the $800,000 advance on her autobiography, Full Disclosure, which was published in the fall of 2018.
Associated Press contributed to this report
Jewel thief scoots away after ‘mind-boggling heist’ in Paris | France
French police are searching for a thief who took jewels worth beween €2m and €3m (£1.7m and £2.55m) from an exclusive Paris store and scooted off before the alarm could be raised.
The man made his getaway on an electric scooter after reportedly threatening staff at the Chaumet jewellers near the Champs-Élysées.
CCTV shows the grey-haired thief, wearing a light-grey suit, white shirt and tie, arriving at the store about 5.10pm on Tuesday. Shortly afterwards he was filmed leaving the shop with a white bag of jewels and gemstones and departing on a green scooter that he had left parked outside.
Staff told police the lone man had at first pretended to be a customer asking to see various pieces of expensive jewellery before drawing a knife. No one was injured in the robbery.
Jeanne d’Hauteserre, the mayor of Paris’s 8th arrondissement where the robbery took place, described it as “mind-boggling, daring, unprecedented and regrettable”. A police officer told Le Parisien newspaper the thief had got away with a “monumental” haul.
The jewellers, founded in 1780 and most famous for its flagship store on the Place Vendôme near the Ritz Hotel, was previously robbed in 2009, when €1.9m of precious stones were stolen.
The French police’s BRB anti-robbery unit is overseeing the investigation into the latest armed robbery.
Potential witnesses at a nearby cafe told Le Parisien they saw and heard nothing. Many were reportedly distracted by the presence of one-time screen hard man and martial arts specialist Jean-Claude Van Damme at the nearby opticians.
Puppies stolen from Petland store in Webster as thief is caught on surveillance video
WEBSTER, Texas (KTRK) — Authorities are trying to solve a crime in which puppies were stolen from a pet store in Webster early Saturday morning.
The dogs were taken from the Petland Webster facility. The thief was caught on surveillance camera running through the store, opening doors and grabbing puppies to stuff them into a duffle bag.
While the suspect was fleeing the pet store, Dulce, the Boston terrier, popped out of the bag and ran back into the store, and was later found hiding in a back room. Milo, the French bulldog, and Rusty, the English bulldog, were stolen.
“I have a personal relationship with all of these dogs,” said sales manager Kristen Andrews. “My immediate reaction – they took these puppies, those are my babies. So you’re messing with my babies.”
The French bulldog is reportedly valued at about $9,400 and the English bulldog is said be worth more than $10,000.
SEE ALSO: Houston man reunited with missing pregnant French bulldog
“At Petland Webster, we are truly shocked and saddened by the news today that three of our beloved pups were taken from us,” said an official statement from the business. “These three puppies were ready to be taken home by a loving family.”
French bulldogs have become commonly targeted by thieves. Perhaps the highest-profile case of French bulldog theft happened when two of Lady Gaga’s dogs were stolen after unknown assailants shot her dog walker in the chest.
RELATED: Why French bulldogs are such frequent targets for thieves
Store owners and employees are cooperating with the authorites. They’re asking the public for any help or information that might help bring the puppies back safely.
Any information or tips about the whereabouts of the puppies should be sent to Webster police. Their main number is listed as 281-332-2426.
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