Jury Awards $18.7 Million to Family in St. Louis Police Shooting Case, Rejects Claim Victim Was Armed

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — A substantial multimillion-dollar judgment has been awarded to the family of a man fatally shot by a St. Louis police officer. The jury decided on an $18.7 million payout in a case that has drawn renewed attention to law enforcement practices. The lawsuit stemmed from an incident on August 19, 2015, involving Mansur Ball-Bey, who was shot by police while they were executing a search warrant at a home in North City. Officers alleged that Ball-Bey was armed, a claim which his family fervently disputed. During the trial, a significant turning … Read more

Jury Selection Set to Start in Minnesota for Suspected Mastermind Behind $250M COVID-19 Fraud Case

Minneapolis, MN — Jury selection is set to commence this week in the trial of a Minnesota man accused of orchestrating a massive $250 million fraud scheme targeting federal pandemic aid. The alleged mastermind, Kyle Gossett, faces serious charges for his role in swindling COVID-19 relief funds intended for small businesses struggling during the pandemic. According to authorities, Gossett led a complex operation that manipulated the Small Business Administration’s Emergency Injury Disaster Loan program. Prosecutors allege that he and his accomplices fabricated businesses and submitted over 400 fraudulent applications, successfully siphoning millions from the relief … Read more

Rapid City Man Acquitted in High-Profile Sexual Assault Case After Second Jury Deliberation

Rapid City, S.D. — After a rigorous legal battle, Abel Diaz of Rapid City was acquitted of four counts of sexual assault, absolving him of charges from incidents reported in 2019 and 2020. The verdict, delivered by a jury comprising eight women and four men, concluded a retrial that was initially indecisive, leaving the community and those involved seeking closure. Diaz faced allegations of assaulting three women during separate incidents in June and October of 2019, and again in August 2020. The accusations led to a trial held in May, which resulted in a hung … Read more

Orange County DA Secures Conviction in High-Stakes Parolee Firearm Possession Case

Goshen, N.Y. – Justin Babik, a 47-year-old resident of Goshen, faces up to 15 years in prison after being convicted on charges of illegal weapon possession. The verdict was delivered following a jury trial in Orange County Court, where Babik was found guilty of criminal possession of a weapon in the second and fourth degrees. The charges stemmed from an incident on May 8, 2024, when Babik reportedly became embroiled in a heated argument with his son, during which he sent threatening text messages. Alarmed, his son contacted the Village of Goshen Police Department. Babik … Read more