#Federal Bureau of Investigation Office in Augusta

[upperpeninsulabreakingnews]

South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News Bulletin – 12-20-17 – 10:45 a.m. ET

Off to federal prison for a man who has kept Augusta area cops busy for a decade

By Greg Peterson South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News Co-Owner, News Director 906-273-2433

(Augusta, GA) – An Augusta man who has been arrested numerous times on cocaine and gun charges is off to federal prison tonight

35-year-old Michael Lavon Harden of Augusta, GA was sentenced to three years (36 months) in federal prison by Chief U.S. District Court Judge J. Randall Hall on Mon., Dec. 17, 2017.

The maximum sentence he could have received was 10 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal prison system.

Under a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Harden pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm by a convicted felon involving a Beretta 92F Compact 9 MM pistol during a Dec. 12, 2016 incident in Richmond County

Judge Hall allowed a defense request he serve his time nearby:

In Feb. 2005, Harden, then 25, was sentenced by Richmond County Superior Court Judge William Fleming, Jr. to 10 days in jail, almost one year probation, fined $630 and had to perform 40 hours of community service plus graduate from a risk-reduction program.

In June 2008, Harden was indicted by a Richmond County Grand Jury for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, receiving stolen property, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

In Nov. 2009, Harden , then 30, of 120 East East Hall Street was indicted by a Richmond County Grand on two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime plus terroristic threats and first-degree criminal damage to property.

In June 2010, Harden and two others were arrested by Richmond County vice officers after a late night raid at a residence pm the 100 block of Greene Street during which agents searched the laundry room and seized two baggies of crack cocaine weighing a total 50 grams plus a gun.

In August 2010, Harden was indicted on cocaine trafficking charges by a Richmond County Grand Jury

Listed Addresses: 202 Forsythe St, Augusta, GA 120 E Hall St, Augusta, GA

WRDW TV-12 June 24, 2010 AUGUSTA, GA — Richmond County narcotics officers were busy last night. Multiple arrests ranging from possession of marijuana to trafficking cocaine and possession of MDMA (ecstasy) with intent to distribute. Some were charged with possession of firearms and others with obstruction. http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/97086914.html

Federal judge has enough of Augusta man playing the system with repeated arrests for drugs and guns South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News Bulletin – 12-20-17 – 10:45 a.m. ET Off to federal prison for a man who has kept Augusta area cops busy for a decade��

[kacydeneen]

Deadly Blast Strikes Heart of Maine Fire Dept.'s Real 'Brotherhood'

When an explosion destroyed a building, killed a firefighter and injured seven more people Monday in Farmington, Maine, it battered a local fire department with a tight-knit "brotherhood" and family ties that run deep.

Captain Michael Bell was killed in the blast, while his brother, Farmington Fire Chief Terry Bell, remained in critical condition Tuesday night. So did Captain Scott Baxter and his father, firefighter Theodore Baxter, according to the Maine Medical Center.

Firefighter Killed in Blast at Maine Disability Facility

While his own son, also a Farmington fire captain, was recovering in the hospital, Acting Fire Chief Tim Hardy spoke at a news conference Tuesday to assure the community that their 911 calls would still be answered.

The massive propane explosion, the biggest one a state inspector said he'd ever seen, has "really hit home with all of us," Hardy said.

NYC Rabbi Preyed on Dozens of Minors for Nude Pics: Feds

"It's a brotherhood, it's a family," Hardy said. "They say we play hard and we work hard and that's where the family part of it comes from. A lot of times we're together in the best of conditions but then again we're together in the worst of conditions."

Smell of Gas, Then an Explosion

Cokie Roberts, Longtime Political Journalist, Dies at 75

That worst of conditions came after the Farmington Fire Department was called over the smell of gas at 8:07 a.m. Monday. Police said the building blew apart when firefighters were investigating the scene; the force of the blast damaged  buildings and vehicles nearby and sent smoke and dust high into the sky.

In all, five of the town fire department's seven officers were hurt or killed in the blast at the housing nonprofit Life Enrichment Advancing People.

Two other firefighters were hurt, along with Larry Lord, a maintenance officer at the LEAP facility who was flown to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston to be cared for. Lord may not have been a firefighter, but the 60-year-old was hailed as a hero at Tuesday's news conference.

"He was responsible for evacuating at least a dozen or so employees and, without his quick actions, I think it would have been a much more horrific tragedy," Farmington Police Chief Jack Peck said.

The wreckage looked much the same Tuesday as it had the day before.

State fire marshal investigator Sgt. Ken Grimes said at the news conference it was "a tremendous explosion ... the worst one I've seen as far as structural damage and neighborhood damage."

There is no immediate suspected cause at the start of the painstaking investigation, which also involves the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Grimes said. He may be able to report a suspected cause by Friday.

Farmington Fire's Local Ties

The Farmington community has rallied around its fire department, which has been and continues to be led by its own.

Both Terry Bell and acting chief Hardy were born and raised in Farmington, a town of about 7,600 just under two hours north of Portland.

They both graduated from Mt. Blue High School in town, joined the town fire department and climbed the ranks after attending Maine State Fire Academy, according to their biographies on the town's website. Bell joined the department in 1977 and Hardy the year after; Bell was hired as the town's first full-time fire chief, a role he's held for 19 years.

"We've all come up through the ranks together," Hardy said. 

Gov. Janet Mills is also from Farmington and knows the Bell family, she said in a Facebook video, adding, "Please join me in keeping them in your thoughts and prayers."

A stillness hung in the air in Farmington Tuesday as the town awaited updates on the condition of the wounded. 

"Text messages, a phone call, something," Selectwoman Paula Nason said. 

Community and Family Support 

The "overwhelming" community support for the department has manifested in donations of food, drinks and more, Hardy said, as well as a helping hand from fire departments near and far. They will be assisting with day-to-day calls while the Farmington department focuses on its needs, especially those of the family of Capt. Michael Bell, a 30-year veteran of the force.

"We will recover from this and we will eventually be back to full staff. This is going to take some time," Hardy said.

He said Bell's wife is receiving excellent support herself: "Under the circumstances and conditions right now, she's doing well."

Bell's body was returned to Farmington from an autopsy in Augusta Tuesday in a procession that brought Mainers out to pay their respects all along the route.

Hardy's son, Capt. Timothy D. Hardy, was one of two firefighters upgraded to satisfactory condition at Maine Medical Center Tuesday night. Earlier, the son had encouraged the father to go attend to the duties of his new, hopefully temporary job.

c"I'm very lucky, I have a very supportive wife, I have a very supportive son. My son and I have worked together in some serious conditions, some serious fire scenes," Acting Chief Hardy said at the news conference. "They have both told me that, for the time being, i'm where I need to be to help with the community."

Among the funds being set up to accept donations is the Farmington Fireman's Benevolent Association, where people will be able to contribute funds for the firefighters and their families.

necn's Dustin Wlodkowski contributed to this report.

Photo Credit: NBC10 Boston Deadly Blast Strikes Heart of Maine Fire Dept.'s Real 'Brotherhood' published first on Miami News

[party-hard-or-die]

Reality Winner to change her plea on leaking Russian interference…

(Reuters) – A Georgia woman accused of illegally leaking a classified report on Russian interference in U.S. elections to a media outlet and charged with an espionage offense plans to change her plea, a document filed in federal court on Thursday showed.

Reality Leigh Winner pleaded not guilty in June, 2017 after she was charged with passing the top secret National Security Agency report to The Intercept last year while working with Pluribus International Corp, which provides analytical services for U.S. defense and intelligence.

Attorneys for Winner, a 26-year-old from Augusta, Georgia, filed on Thursday a request in the Southern District of Georgia to change her not guilty plea, a court document showed.

A plea agreement, detailing her new plea, was also filed with the court, but was not made public.

Winner was charged on a federal grand jury indictment with a single count of willful retention and transmission of national defense information, a felony offense under the Espionage and Censorship Act that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Winner has spent the last year in jail after a federal judge ordered Winner to remain held without bond after prosecutors argued that she posed a flight risk and public danger, citing what they called “disturbing” comments found in her notebook.

In one notation she wrote: “I want to burn the White House down,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Solari told the judge. The prosecutor said investigators also found the names of three Islamic extremists known to federal authorities listed in Winner’s notebook.

According to a probable-cause affidavit from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Winner admitted to intentionally printing a copy of the intelligence report in her office and mailing it to the news outlet.

The NSA document in question provided technical details on what it said were Russian attempts to hack election officials in the United States and a voting-machine firm before the presidential election in November, two U.S. officials with knowledge of the case have confirmed to Reuters.

The FBI said unauthorized disclosure of the secret document “could reasonably result in exceptionally grave damage to the national security,” though the government has not alleged that Winner sought to share the report with foreign agents.

Reporting by Brendan O’Brien in Milwaukee; editing by Richard Pullin

The post Reality Winner to change her plea on leaking Russian interference… appeared first on World The News.

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[cleopatrarps]

Reality Winner to change her plea on leaking Russian interference…

(Reuters) – A Georgia woman accused of illegally leaking a classified report on Russian interference in U.S. elections to a media outlet and charged with an espionage offense plans to change her plea, a document filed in federal court on Thursday showed.

Reality Leigh Winner pleaded not guilty in June, 2017 after she was charged with passing the top secret National Security Agency report to The Intercept last year while working with Pluribus International Corp, which provides analytical services for U.S. defense and intelligence.

Attorneys for Winner, a 26-year-old from Augusta, Georgia, filed on Thursday a request in the Southern District of Georgia to change her not guilty plea, a court document showed.

A plea agreement, detailing her new plea, was also filed with the court, but was not made public.

Winner was charged on a federal grand jury indictment with a single count of willful retention and transmission of national defense information, a felony offense under the Espionage and Censorship Act that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Winner has spent the last year in jail after a federal judge ordered Winner to remain held without bond after prosecutors argued that she posed a flight risk and public danger, citing what they called “disturbing” comments found in her notebook.

In one notation she wrote: “I want to burn the White House down,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Solari told the judge. The prosecutor said investigators also found the names of three Islamic extremists known to federal authorities listed in Winner’s notebook.

According to a probable-cause affidavit from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Winner admitted to intentionally printing a copy of the intelligence report in her office and mailing it to the news outlet.

The NSA document in question provided technical details on what it said were Russian attempts to hack election officials in the United States and a voting-machine firm before the presidential election in November, two U.S. officials with knowledge of the case have confirmed to Reuters.

The FBI said unauthorized disclosure of the secret document “could reasonably result in exceptionally grave damage to the national security,” though the government has not alleged that Winner sought to share the report with foreign agents.

Reporting by Brendan O’Brien in Milwaukee; editing by Richard Pullin

The post Reality Winner to change her plea on leaking Russian interference… appeared first on World The News.

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[newestbalance]

Reality Winner to change her plea on leaking Russian interference…

(Reuters) – A Georgia woman accused of illegally leaking a classified report on Russian interference in U.S. elections to a media outlet and charged with an espionage offense plans to change her plea, a document filed in federal court on Thursday showed.

Reality Leigh Winner pleaded not guilty in June, 2017 after she was charged with passing the top secret National Security Agency report to The Intercept last year while working with Pluribus International Corp, which provides analytical services for U.S. defense and intelligence.

Attorneys for Winner, a 26-year-old from Augusta, Georgia, filed on Thursday a request in the Southern District of Georgia to change her not guilty plea, a court document showed.

A plea agreement, detailing her new plea, was also filed with the court, but was not made public.

Winner was charged on a federal grand jury indictment with a single count of willful retention and transmission of national defense information, a felony offense under the Espionage and Censorship Act that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Winner has spent the last year in jail after a federal judge ordered Winner to remain held without bond after prosecutors argued that she posed a flight risk and public danger, citing what they called “disturbing” comments found in her notebook.

In one notation she wrote: “I want to burn the White House down,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Solari told the judge. The prosecutor said investigators also found the names of three Islamic extremists known to federal authorities listed in Winner’s notebook.

According to a probable-cause affidavit from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Winner admitted to intentionally printing a copy of the intelligence report in her office and mailing it to the news outlet.

The NSA document in question provided technical details on what it said were Russian attempts to hack election officials in the United States and a voting-machine firm before the presidential election in November, two U.S. officials with knowledge of the case have confirmed to Reuters.

The FBI said unauthorized disclosure of the secret document “could reasonably result in exceptionally grave damage to the national security,” though the government has not alleged that Winner sought to share the report with foreign agents.

Reporting by Brendan O’Brien in Milwaukee; editing by Richard Pullin

The post Reality Winner to change her plea on leaking Russian interference… appeared first on World The News.

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[whatsupaugusta]

Austin chief: Bombings suspect blew himself up

ROUND ROCK, TX (RNN) – A suspect in the Austin bombings blew himself up as police closed in on him, Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said Wednesday morning.

During an investigation, “a person of interest moved to being a suspect,” Manley said. The police chief said the suspect was a 24-year-old male but declined to identify him. 

The city of Austin cannot breathe a sigh of relief yet, as law enforcement officials are concerned that there may be additional devices in the community, Christopher Combs of the FBI said.

“We do not understand what motivated him to do what he did,” Manley said, nor do they know if he worked alone or with accomplices.

Through teamwork with state and federal official, “We ultimately located a vehicle that the suspect was driving at a hotel in Round Rock” on Tuesday night, Manley said.

Multiple law enforcement officials took position around the hotel. While waiting for tactical vehicles to arrive, the suspect’s vehicle drove away and police followed, Manley said.

He then pulled off the road onto the frontage road.

As members of law enforcement approached his vehicle, he blew it up, the chief said. A law enforcement officer sustained minor injuries, getting knocked back by the blast.

Another law enforcement member discharged his weapon.

Manley said authorities were able to discern similarities between the bombs.

In a tweet at 5:30 a.m. ET, the Houston division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said officials were at the scene with police and FBI agents.

The Austin Police Department tweeted early Wednesday morning that they were working an officer-involved shooting in Round Rock, a city about 19 miles from Austin.

Police reportedly used a blend of security video, cell phone technology and receipts to track down the suspect. 

The suspect is believed to be involved in a series of bombings in and near Austin, TX, that took place from March 2 to March 20. Two people lost their lives and five others suffered injuries in the incidents.

President Donald Trump congratulated law enforcement officers Wednesday, following the news of the suspect’s death.

A package bomb killed 39-year-old Anthony Stephan House on March 2 at his home and another package bomb claimed the life of 17-year-old Draylen Mason at his mother’s home on March 12.

The blast also injured Mason’s mother.

The third package bomb detonated a few hours later on March 12 and left one person injured.

A tripwire-activated bomb detonated near a road in Travis County on March 18 and injured two people. Those victims are expected to fully recover.

The fifth device, another package bomb, exploded in a FedEx ground facility in Schertz, TX, on March 20 and injured one person. FedEx confirmed that the person responsible for sending it also shipped a second package, a sixth device.

It was secured in in a FedEx facility near the Austin airport and turned over to law enforcement.

Authorities originally believed the attacks could be racially motivated, but the fourth bomb appeared random, rather than targeted, the Associated Press reported.

Police responded to another incident, initially reported as a seventh bomb, March 20, but determined that an incendiary device had “initiated” at an Austin Goodwill, injuring one employee. Police said they believed the incident was unrelated.

Copyright 2018 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.

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[lowrettaduhvyne]

#ATLANTA -- A nationwide #sextrafficking crackdown resulted in dozens of arrests and three children rescued in Atlanta, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced on Wednesday. " #OperationCrossCountryXI ", which involved 55 #FBI field offices and involved 78 state and local forces, ran from Oct. 12 to Oct. 15. The FBI said nationwide, 120 alleged traffickers were arrested and 84 minors were recovered. In #Georgia, authorities made 60 arrests, including 58 in Atlanta and 2 in #Savannah. Four juveniles were recovered in the state -- 3 in Atlanta, and 1 in #Augusta . As part of the crackdown, FBI agents and task force officers staged operations in hotels, casinos and truck stops as well as street corners and internet websites. The youngest victim was just 3 months old. The average age of those recovered was 15, according to the FBI. “We at the FBI have no greater mission than to protect our nation’s children from harm,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Unfortunately, the number of traffickers arrested—and the number of children recovered—reinforces why we need to continue to do this important work.”

[upperpeninsulabreakingnews]

SHOCKING EXCLUSIVE: Read all federal the paperwork on the threats to the Islamic Society of Augusta: Read the federal indictment of the St. Louis, Missouri man who has been indicted by a federal grand jury for threatening the Islamic Society of Augusta

South Eastern Social Justice Breaking News Bulletin – 12-15-17 11:25 a.m. ET – Exclusive Read the original 10-count federal indictment of the St. Louis, Missouri man who has been indicted by a federal grand jury for threatening the Islamic Society of Augusta (more…)

[whatsupaugusta]

Some in GOP alarmed as Trump tweets against Robert Mueller

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump kept up his attack on the escalating Russia investigation, insisting in a new tweet Monday that it was “a total WITCH HUNT with massive conflicts of interest!” The comment came a day after a top White House lawyer tried to calm speculation that the president was considering firing the special counsel leading the probe.

White House lawyer Ty Cobb offered a statement late Sunday after top congressional Republicans warned of repercussions if Trump fired special counsel Robert Mueller, who is looking into contacts between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia and Russian meddling in the presidential election.

In a series of weekend tweets, Trump jabbed directly at Mueller by name for the first time. The president challenged the investigation’s existence and suggested political bias on the part of Mueller’s investigators. Trump has long been frustrated by the lengthy and intensifying probe, and insists his campaign did not collude with Russia to influence the election in his favor.

“The Mueller probe should never have been started in that there was no collusion and there was no crime,” he said in a late Saturday tweet.

Likely contributing to Trump’s sense of frustration, The New York Times reported last week that Mueller had subpoenaed the Trump Organization for Russia-related documents. Trump had said Mueller would cross a red line with such a step.

“Why does the Mueller team have 13 hardened Democrats, some big Crooked Hillary supporters, and Zero Republicans?” he tweeted Sunday.

Some of Mueller’s investigators indeed have contributed to Democratic political candidates, but Justice Department policy and federal service law bar discrimination in the hiring of career positions on the basis of political affiliation. Mueller is a Republican.

The tweets revived talk that Trump may, in an attempt to end the investigation, move to have Mueller fired. Cobb sought to tamp down the speculation.

“In response to media speculation and related questions being posed to the Administration, the White House yet again confirms that the President is not considering or discussing the firing of the Special Counsel, Robert Mueller,” he said.

Trump on Monday tweeted: “A total WITCH HUNT with massive conflicts of interest!”

Earlier Sunday, members of Congress, including some top Republicans, warned Trump to not even think about terminating Mueller.

“If he tried to do that, that would be the beginning of the end of his presidency,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a Trump ally.

Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform panel, warned Trump that a Mueller firing would be a distraction from the president’s agenda.

“Let it play out its course,” Gowdy said on “Fox News Sunday.” ”If you’ve done nothing wrong, you should want the investigation to be as fulsome and thorough as possible.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said through a spokeswoman that “Mr. Mueller and his team should be able to do their job.”

And Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., tweeted that it is “critical” Mueller be allowed to complete a thorough investigation “unimpeded.”

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., called for passage of stalled bipartisan bills designed to protect Mueller. He said Trump “is engaged in desperate and reckless conduct to intimidate his law enforcement agencies of this country and to try and stop the special counsel. That is unacceptable in a democracy.”

Trump cannot directly fire Mueller, who can only be dismissed for cause. Any dismissal would have to be carried out by Rod Rosenstein, the Trump-appointed deputy attorney general who has publicly expressed support for Mueller.

Trump has fumed to confidants that the Mueller probe is “going to choke the life out of” his presidency if allowed to continue unabated indefinitely, according to an outside adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations with the president.

Trump has long believed that the entrenched bureaucracy, particularly at the Justice Department and FBI, is out to thwart him. He fumed to one confidant after seeing a promotion for a forthcoming book by James Comey, the FBI director he fired last year, believing Comey will seek to enrich himself by besmirching Trump’s reputation. Comey’s book, “A Higher Loyalty,” topped Amazon.com’s best-seller list on Sunday.

The president also has long been torn over how to approach the probe. His legal team, namely Cobb, has counseled Trump to cooperate with Mueller. But some former campaign advisers have urged Trump to be combative, warning that the investigation poses an existential threat to his presidency.

Aides and friends say they understand Trump’s frustration.

Marc Short, Trump’s congressional liaison, said the frustration is “well-warranted” because “there has been no evidence whatsoever of collusion.”

Trump may have felt emboldened after Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe on Friday, something Trump had clamored for out of a belief that McCabe was part of the entrenched, anti-Trump bureaucracy. “A great day for Democracy,” Trump tweeted afterward. Trump asserted without elaboration that McCabe knew “all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!”

The Associated Press later reported that McCabe kept personal memos detailing interactions with Trump that have been provided to Mueller’s office and are similar to notes compiled by Comey. Trump sought to cast doubt on their veracity, tweeting Sunday that he spent “very little time” with McCabe “but he never took notes when he was with me.”

“I don’t believe he made memos except to help his own agenda, probably at a later date. Same with lying James Comey. Can we call them Fake Memos?” Trump tweeted. It wouldn’t be unusual for a senior official to make notes soon after meeting with the president.

The contents of McCabe’s memos are unknown, but they could help substantiate McCabe’s assertion that he was unfairly maligned by a White House he says had declared “war” on the FBI and Mueller’s investigation.

Sessions said he dismissed McCabe on the recommendation of FBI disciplinary officials who said McCabe had not been candid with a watchdog office investigation. An upcoming inspector general’s report is expected to conclude that McCabe had authorized the release of information to the media and was not forthcoming with the watchdog office as it examined the bureau’s handling of an investigation into Democrat Hillary Clinton’s emails.

McCabe has vigorously disputed the allegations and said his credibility came under attack as “part of a larger effort not just to slander me personally” but also the FBI and law enforcement.

Mueller is investigating whether Trump’s actions, including Comey’s ouster, constitute obstruction of justice.

___

Associated Press writers Chad Day and Eric Tucker in Washington and Jonathan Lemire in New York contributed to this report.

___

Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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[upperpeninsulabreakingnews]

S.E. Social Justice Breaking News Bulletin – Happening Now

The list of what the FBI and SLED seized at the Allendale Town Hall during political corruption raid – tens of thousands of records

11-17-17 8:30 p.m. ET

By Greg Peterson S.E. Social Justice Breaking News News Director/Co-owner 1-906-273-2433

(Allendale, SC) – A state and federal probe into alleged corruption involving Allendale city officials appears to be much more in-depth and widespread than originally thought – as agents confiscated almost all city records amounting to tens of thousands of files and more.

Federal prosecutors – in a motion to seal the search warrant – stated officials feared tipping off “targets” of the probe – and that could result in the destruction of records and city officials fleeing to avoid prosecution.

For almost a month before the raid, only a handful of state and federal law enforcement and judicial officials knew of the pending search and seizure of tens of thousands of city records and the town hall.

In fact, the motion points out that tipping off suspects could result in danger to cooperating informants and witnesses in the corruption probe.

The motion to seal the search warrant information was prepared by Asst. U.S. Attorney Jay N. Richardson on behalf of South Carolina U.S. Attorney Beth Drake.

Records obtained by S.E. Social Justice Breaking News reveal the dozens of city records obtained on Oct. 3, 2017 when state and federal agents raid the Allendale, SC City Hall – serving a search warrant and seizing thousands of pages of records with no one present representing the city when agent burst through the door.

The raid was conducted by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

Among the records seized were the “James Elmore Backhoe Injury File;”credit cards (Office Max, Home Depot); Water Department work orders; 2016 payroll records/ledgers, invoices, employee time sheets, hard drives, documents related to insurance and vehicle auction; several ledger books, numerous checkbook receipts, grant documents, documents from the insurance reserve fund; and much, much more.

In fact, it appears the probe into alleged corruption by city officials now appears to be much more sweeping than originally thought – as agents seized virtually all city records including most departments..

Here is a list of what the FBI and SLED seized:

The search warrant was signed on Sept. 27, 2017 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Paige Jones Gossett in Columbia, SC – and the agents were given until Oct. 11 to conduct the raid.

FBI Special Agent Deborah Gordon inventoried what agents were removing after the surprise raid at 9:06 a.m. ET on Oct. 3, 2017.

Agent Gordon states that no one was present at city hall to received a copy of the warrant and inventory.

The official inventory sheet or thousands of city records was signed by FBI Special Agent Clay Trippi on Oct. 10, 2017

Mayor Ronnie Jackson was quoted by local TV stations (WRDW, WJBF, WAGT) – reportedly telling one station the investigation has to do with use of a piece of city equipment on land that he owned.

The mayor denied taxpayer money had been stolen.

The mayor is quoted as saying Allendale City Administrator Dewayne Ennis was inside the building along with SLED and the FBI.

However search warrants states “no one was present” except for law enforcement officials.

Local news coverage:

http://www.thepeoplesentinel.com/news/2017-10-05/allendales-town-hall-back-open-business#.Wg9yqjeX34Y

http://www.wrdw.com/content/news/SLED-and-FBI-investigating-officials-in-Allendale-449283803.html

http://wjbf.com/2017/10/03/fbi-investigators-at-allendale-city-hall/

https://www.fitsnews.com/2017/10/03/sled-fbi-raid-underway-in-allendale/

https://www.facebook.com/fitsnews/posts/1519740431425078

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/fbi-agents-executed-search-warrant-tuesday-at-allendale-city-hall/article_7131cae8-a863-11e7-827d-77fdb3d1571b.html

http://www.townofallendale.sc.gov

EXCLUSIVE New Details of Augusta Area Political Corruption Raid: We have a list of thousands of items seized from the Allendale, SC Town Hall on Oct. 3, 2017 during a massive FBI and SLED raid involving allegations of political corruption S.E. Social Justice Breaking News Bulletin - Happening Now The list of what the FBI and SLED seized at the Allendale Town Hall during political corruption raid - tens of thousands of records…

[upperpeninsulabreakingnews]

S.E. Social Justice Breaking News – Augusta man shot by cops is off to federal prison – again.

11-17-17 12:45 p.m. ET

Off to a place he left this summer – federal prison

By Greg Peterson S.E. Social Justice Breaking News News Director/Co-owner 1-906-273-2433

(Augusta, GA) – An Augusta man who was shot over seven years ago by a Richmond County Sherrif’s Department Deputy is off to federal prison again for violating terms of supervised federal release in a case that began just over five years ago.

Now 31 years old – Diriuss Antonio Redd – was indicted in Feb. 8, 2012 one one count of felon in possession of a firearm by a federal grand jury sitting in Augusta. He was one of over 100 people busted in the Augusta area on state and federal charges during a seven-month joint undercover operation by the RCSD and other agencies including the feds. “Operation Smoke Screen.”

Scroll down to read a press release from federal prosecutors on that operation.

Redd apparently had just been released from federal prison in July 2017 when he was arrested in Nov. 2017 on a supervised release violation.

The indictment stated on October 25, 2011, in Richmond County Redd did “knowingly” possessed a Norinco, Model SKS, 7.62 x 39 caliber rifle. This after having been convicted on June 11, 2004 of forgery-first degree in Richmond County Superior Court.

He was sentenced to five years in prison in July 2012 after pleading guilty to the firearms charge.

However, on Tues., Nov. 14, 2017 Redd was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison for violating probation on several occasions while on supervised release including failing a drug test and not paying fines.

He was sentenced in 2012 and this week by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall, chief judge of the South District of Georgia.

  In 2010, Redd made the Augusta area news when he was shot by a cop while trying to take the officer’s gun.

Richmond County Sheriff’s Deputy Jo Martin shot Redd – then 24 years old – in the groin on April 27, 2010 after he struggled with the officer during his arrest at Augusta Estates mobile home park on Milledgeville Road. Deputy Martin was cleared in the shooting as she was attempting to arrest Redd on outstanding warrants including a felony aggravated stalking charge – when a struggled ensued.

Martin attempted the arrest after responding to the mobile home park about a break-in at a woman’s trailer – and that’s when he spotted Redd.

Redd was wanted on the aggravated stalking charge after his children’s grandmother said he tried to break into a car and was in violation of a court order.

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News coverage: http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/Richmond_Countys_Operation_Smoke_Screen_rounds_up_500K_in_expected_stolen_merchandise_suspects_140742813.html

U.S. Justice Dept. Feb. 2012 News Release: 24 Defendants Charged with Gun Offenses After Undercover Investigation

U.S. Department of Justice United States Attorney Southern District of Georgia The United States Department of Justice – Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorneys Office For Immediate Release February 28, 2012 Edward J. Tarver, United States Attorney Contact: James D. Durham (912) 201-2547 james.durham@usdoj.gov

24 Defendants Charged with Gun Offenses After Undercover Investigation

Undercover RCSO officer purchased and seized over 64 firearms during “Operation Smoke Screen”

AUGUSTA, GA – 15 federal indictments, unsealed today in federal court, have charged 24 defendants with federal firearms offenses. An additional 85 defendants were charged by the Augusta Division’s District Attorney’s Office on state burglary, theft, firearm and drug charges. The federal and state indictments follow a 7-month undercover investigation in the Augusta area dubbed “Operation Smoke Screen.”

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) initiated Operation Smoke Screen in August of 2011. As a result of this undercover operation, RCSO seized an estimated $500,000 in property and identified suspects in 104 burglaries, 12 car break-ins and 16 thefts. While guns were not the focus of the investigation, 64 firearms were recovered; many from convicted felons or individuals dealing in firearms without a license. A number of the guns seized during the undercover operation were reported stolen.

United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver stated, “Operation Smoke Screen is a great example of the successes that can be accomplished through the collaborative efforts of federal and local law enforcement agencies working together to protect the public. This operation serves as notice to the criminal element that if you traffic in stolen guns and other stolen items, law enforcement is watching and you will be prosecuted.”

“The right of citizens to feel safe in their homes is a basic freedom that we feel is worth protecting. The suspects that were targeted during this investigation were alleged to be involved in victimizing citizens of this community and putting guns into the hands of the criminal element,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott Sweetow, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Atlanta Field Division. “ATF actively partners with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to stem firearms-related violent crime. We applaud the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for initiating this multi-faceted investigation aimed at seizing stolen property to include dozens of stolen firearms.”

Following numerous arrests today, initial appearances for several of the federally indicted defendants were held in United States District Court, Augusta, Georgia. The arrests today were undertaken by the RCSO, the United States Marshal Service, the Georgia State Patrol Aviation Division and the ATF RAGE Unit, which consists of members from the ATF, the North Augusta Department of Public Safety, the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office and the Aiken Department of Public Safety. A listing of the 24 defendants recently indicted on federal charges is attached.

Mr. Tarver stressed that an indictment is only an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Assistant United States Attorneys Lamont A. Belk and Nancy C. Greenwood are prosecuting the federal cases for the United States. For additional information, please contact First Assistant United States Attorney James D. Durham at (912) 201-2547.

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Operation Smoke Screen

Federal Defendants Charged

Each of the defendants listed below is from Augusta, Georgia unless otherwise noted:

Dewayne H. Anderson, 45, North Augusta, SC

Charles Maurice Andrews, 19

Derrian R. Brown, 24

Leroy Bunyon, 30

Rodriguez Marquis Bunyon, 32

Twain J. Frails, 22, Hephzibah, GA

Craig Maurice Hambrick, 25

Miguel A. Heredia, 23

Mercedes S. Hyman, 21

Robert L. Johnson, 28, Hephzibah, GA

Jerry Mazone, 31, North Augusta, SC

Curtis A. President, 22

Angelo G. Pringle, 20

Diriuss A. Redd, 26

Danson R. Sheppard, 21

Lemuel Fernandez Smith, 32

Dakabein Ahrand Swint, 20

Amid A. Truitt, 23

Lavinski Vaughn, 24

Grady L. West, 26

Akeem Wiggins, 20

Derrick Demone Williams, 41

Jamal Hakim Wright, 26

Augusta man shot by cops is off to federal prison – again: Originally was one of over 100 Augusta area residents busted in 2012 undercover probe dubbed “Operation Smoke Screen” S.E. Social Justice Breaking News – Augusta man shot by cops is off to federal prison – again.