Convicted

Former State Senator Convicted in Intricate “Ghost Candidate” Scheme That Swung 2020 Election

by

MIAMI — A former Republican state senator from Florida was convicted Monday of several charges related to a political maneuver in which he was accused of planting a so-called “ghost candidate” to sway a key 2020 Senate race. Frank Artiles faced accusations of masterminding a scheme intended to spoil the re-election chances of a Democratic incumbent by introducing a third-party candidate who shared the incumbent’s last name. The case centered on the District 37 race, where Alex Rodriguez, a no-party-affiliation candidate, entered the fray and unexpectedly garnered over 6,000 votes. Officials stated that Rodriguez’s involvement … Read more

New York Man Convicted of Murder and Assault in Tragic Fourth of July Party Shooting

by

Garden City, NY — A state jury recently convicted 23-year-old Thomas Massenburg of second-degree murder and additional charges, concluding a trial that spotlighted gang violence stemming from a deadly July 4, 2020, shooting at a house party. The verdict followed five hours of deliberations after the trial, which commenced on September 11 under Judge Howard Sturim. Massenburg, identified by prosecutors as an alleged member of the Mac Baller Bloods gang, was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. According to the district attorney’s office, … Read more

Illinois Man Wrongfully Convicted of Murder Receives $50 Million Compensation After Years Behind Bars

by

Chicago, IL — In a significant legal victory, an Illinois man who spent over two decades wrongfully imprisoned for a murder he did not commit has been awarded $50 million by a jury. The decision, reached after deliberations, seeks to compensate for the profound personal and emotional toll suffered from years of unwarranted incarceration. The plaintiff, whose conviction for a 1994 killing was overturned due to new DNA evidence, filed a civil lawsuit claiming malicious prosecution, emotional distress, and violation of his civil rights. His lawyers argued that egregious mishandling and fabrication of evidence by … Read more

Montana Law School Grad Found Not Guilty of Attempted Rape But Convicted on Other Charges in High-Profile Case

by

Missoula, MT — In a late Friday deliberation, a Missoula jury issued a mixed verdict in the trial of Cole Larson Levine, a 25-year-old former University of Montana law student. Levine was acquitted of attempted sexual intercourse without consent but was convicted on four other charges including aggravated assault. The accusations stemmed from an incident reported in downtown Missoula in August 2022. Along with the assault charges, Levine was found guilty of destruction or tampering with a communication device and unlawful restraint, a lesser charge related to allegations of attempted kidnapping. Additionally, Levine faced consequences … Read more