Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who falsely claimed she was kidnapped, has been ordered to pay nearly $18,000 in restitution and sentenced to 12 months supervised probation, community service, and mental health counseling. She had initially pleaded not guilty to false reporting charges but later admitted to making up the kidnapping. The incident sparked a nationwide search and led to calls for stronger penalties for false reporting.
A 17-year-old from California, Alan Winston Filion, has been arrested and charged as an adult for orchestrating hundreds of swatting incidents across the country, including targeting schools, FBI agents' homes, and a Florida mosque. He allegedly made false reports that triggered law enforcement responses and even targeted his own home. Filion is accused of using technology to disguise his voice and location, and has an affinity for "The Lord of the Rings" and has made antisemitic comments online. Swatting is considered a dangerous and senseless crime that puts innocent lives at risk and drains valuable resources.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has ordered Bank of America to pay a $12 million penalty for submitting false mortgage lending information to the federal government. Bank of America loan officers failed to ask certain demographic questions required by law and falsely reported that applicants had chosen not to respond. This violation of the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) and its implementing regulation, Regulation C, is not the first time Bank of America has faced penalties from the CFPB for violating federal law. The bank must now take steps to rectify its illegal reporting practices and pay the penalty into the CFPB's victims relief fund.
Carlee Russell, 26, is set to appear in court on two misdemeanor charges related to a staged kidnapping incident in July. Russell called 911 to report a toddler walking along the side of the interstate, triggering a search that garnered national attention. However, authorities later discovered that Russell had fabricated the situation. She admitted to falsifying the incident and turned herself in to the police. The lack of harsher charges for such hoaxes has frustrated law enforcement officials.
Carlee Russell, who staged her own disappearance in July, is scheduled for her first court proceeding today in Hoover's Municipal Court. Russell, charged with false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident, will discuss the next steps in the judicial process with her attorney and prosecutors. The disappearance sparked a massive search and concern, but it was later revealed that there was no abduction and Russell had acted alone.
Jessica Burgess, a 42-year-old woman from Norfolk, Nebraska, has been sentenced to 2 years in prison for her involvement in her daughter's illegal abortion and the burial of the remains. She pleaded guilty to prohibited acts with human skeletal remains, abortion at 20 weeks past gestation, and false reporting. The judge ordered her to serve a year in prison for each charge, with the abortion sentence to run consecutively. Burgess' daughter, Celeste Burgess, was previously sentenced to 90 days in jail and probation for her role in the case. The investigation revealed that Jessica ordered abortion pills online and instructed her daughter to take them. The remains were buried and attempted to be burned multiple times.
The Pentagon protested a false Fox News report that claimed a fallen Marine's family had to pay for transporting her remains. The story, based on a retracted claim by a congressman, falsely stated that the family faced a financial burden of $60,000. The Marine Corps disputed the story and communicated with Fox executives, but the network quietly amended the article without issuing an apology or correction. This incident raises concerns about media ethics and the responsibility of news organizations to verify information before publishing.
Carlee Russell has been charged with false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident after staging her own disappearance, which caused panic and alarm in the community. The charges are misdemeanors, each carrying a $1,000 bond. Despite the disruption caused, the existing law only allows for these charges to be filed. Hoover police Chief Nick Derzis expressed frustration and plans to ask state lawmakers to enhance the legislation for false reporting of violent crimes. Attorney General Steve Marshall's office will handle the case, dedicating a team to assist in the prosecution.
Carlee Russell, a nursing student from Alabama, is facing charges of false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident after faking her own kidnapping. The charges are class A misdemeanors in Alabama, punishable by up to one year in prison. Russell's disappearance sparked a nationwide manhunt, but she later admitted that there was no kidnapping and it was a "single act" committed by herself. Her motive for staging the disappearance remains unclear. Russell's boyfriend, who initially searched for her, erased all trace of her on social media after learning the truth.
Prosecutors in Alabama are considering pressing charges against Carlee Russell, the woman who claimed she was kidnapped after going missing for two days. The potential charges include falsely reporting an incident and false reporting to law enforcement authorities, both of which are class A misdemeanors in Alabama. The police have confirmed that the disappearance was a "hoax" and are in discussions with the district attorney's office regarding possible criminal charges. Russell's attorney has issued a statement acknowledging that there was no kidnapping and that Russell acted alone.
Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who claimed she was kidnapped after stopping to help a toddler on the side of the road, is expected to face criminal charges for falsely reporting the incident. The charges being considered are falsely reporting an incident and false reporting to law enforcement authorities, each carrying a maximum sentence of one year in jail. The Black and Missing Foundation has urged the public to not let this case impact future missing persons cases, emphasizing the importance of continuing to search for missing individuals, particularly people of color.
Kevin Federline denies a report claiming Britney Spears is on drugs, calling it false and repulsive. Spears' attorney has sent a legal letter to the Daily Mail asking for the outlet to retract the story and conduct an internal investigation. Federline also accuses journalist Daphne Barak of exploiting minors and harassing his family. Spears responds to the report on Instagram, expressing her sadness and hopes that it is false. The new reporting comes amid Federline's request to move his sons to Hawaii, which Spears has consented to.
A 23-year-old Pennsylvania woman, Chloe Stein, has been charged with four misdemeanors for faking her own abduction to hide the fact that she dropped out of college and wasn't about to graduate. Stein was last heard from on Monday evening when she texted her boyfriend saying she was being pulled over by a police officer. Her family found her vehicle abandoned, and an expansive search for Stein was launched. The case unravelled when a tip came in that Stein was actually at a home in Jeannette, about 30 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Stein admitted to fabricating all of the information pertaining to the incident, and police are investigating whether other people were involved in her alleged hoax.
Alabama basketball player Kai Spears, his father, legal representation, and the university have all denied a report by the New York Times that connected Spears to a fatal January shooting. Spears slammed the reporting, calling it "100% inaccurate," and his family is exploring legal options. The report alleged that Spears was with Brandon Miller inside another car that had its windshield struck by two bullets, but Spears and his legal team have refuted this claim. Alabama AD Greg Byrne also released a statement denying the involvement of any student-athletes in the incident.
