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Former Lawyer Faces Federal Charges After Gambling Away $800,000 in Unpaid Taxes

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OCALA, Fla. – A former lawyer from Lake County in Florida is facing charges for failure to pay taxes after he allegedly gambled away the $800,000 he owed to the IRS. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that Michael Brady Scoma, 51, has been charged with three counts of failure to pay taxes. Scoma, who worked as a personal injury lawyer in Clermont, reported his income to the IRS between 2013 and 2019. He accumulated over $700,000 in tax liabilities during this period, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Authorities revealed that after multiple unsuccessful attempts … Read more

Texas Judge Moves Lawsuit Challenging CFPB’s $8 Credit Card Late Fee Rule to D.C., Dealing Blow to Credit Card Industry

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FORT WORTH, Texas – In a blow to banks and credit card issuers, a Texas judge has agreed to move a lawsuit challenging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s $8 credit card late fee rule to the District of Columbia. The ruling by Judge Mark T. Pittman is a setback for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and five other trade groups that sued the CFPB in March to stop the rule from taking effect on May 14. The CFPB accused the trade groups of engaging in “forum shopping” by filing the case in Texas to find … Read more

Local Police Face Legal Challenge over Wiretapping Lawsuit

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PITTSBURGH, PA – Pittsburgh police are facing a lawsuit over allegations of illegal wiretapping. The lawsuit was filed by Matthew Lackner, a former Pittsburgh police detective, who claims that he was wrongfully wiretapped during a federal drug investigation. Lackner alleges that the wiretapping violated state and federal laws, as well as his right to privacy. The lawsuit seeks damages for emotional distress and violation of constitutional rights. According to Lackner’s attorney, the wiretapping occurred between February 2018 and July 2020 while Lackner was working undercover on the drug investigation. The lawsuit claims that the wiretapping … Read more

Man Indicted in Darlington County Killing Faces Murder Charge in Mechanicsville Shooting

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Darlington County, South Carolina – A man has been indicted by a grand jury and charged with murder in connection to a shooting that occurred in the Mechanicsville area in January. Billy Odell Powell was arraigned on Thursday and is currently being held in the W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center on related charges. The shooting resulted in the death of Herbert Lee Brown, according to Coroner Todd Hardee. The investigation is ongoing, with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division providing assistance to the sheriff’s office homicide team. No further details are available at this time. … Read more