Under Coverist

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The death of an 81-year-old grandmother at a Norfolk senior living facility has been ruled a homicide, and her daughter and grandson are now facing charges. On Monday, Heather Cummings, 53, and her son Cliffton Cummings, 24, appeared in Norfolk court for their preliminary hearings. On June 30, Norfolk police responded to Commonwealth Senior Living on Poplar Hall Drive after a report of an unresponsive patient. The woman was later identified as Cleo A. Loizides, mother and grandmother to Heather and Cliffton. Both were subsequently charged with second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Authorities say the suspects confessed to their involvement in the crime. In her confession, Heather Cummings stated that she held her mother down while urging her to “just let go, it’s for the best,” as her son, Cliffton, strangled the victim using a strap from his bag. It was also revealed that the pair had traveled from Indiana to Virginia to carry out the murder. On M...

Attorney General Dana Nessel Announces Major Human Trafficking Bust in Detroit Detroit, Michigan (WILX) – Attorney General Dana Nessel held a press conference on December 6 to reveal the successful takedown of a significant international human trafficking ring operating in the Detroit area. Nessel, alongside Michigan State Police and Homeland Security, confirmed that search and arrest warrants were executed at four massage parlors in Wayne and Macomb Counties, leading to the arrest of four individuals and the dismantling of the trafficking network. “This operation has ended one of the largest human trafficking rings we’ve ever uncovered in Michigan,” said Nessel. “Thanks to the incredible efforts of several law enforcement agencies, we have taken down four illicit massage parlors and freed multiple trafficking victims from forced labor and exploitation.” The investigation led police to discover 7 to 9 women of Chinese and Korean descent in the targeted locations, though authorities wer...

TORONTO — A Toronto resident who lost $355,000 in a romance cryptocurrency scam has successfully recovered $225,000 following a three-year international investigation, according to Toronto police. The fraud began in June 2021 when the victim reportedly started an online relationship with a man named "Moshe Theodor McNigh" through Facebook. Over time, the suspect allegedly convinced the victim to invest in cryptocurrency via the website Legacyfxtraders.online. In the fall of 2021, Nigerian law enforcement informed the victim that they had been defrauded in the cryptocurrency scheme and arrested a man linked to the fraud. The Nigerian authorities seized the fraudulent proceeds, some of which were identified as belonging to the Toronto resident. Nigerian courts later ordered the funds to be returned to the victim. This recovery followed a multi-unit investigation involving the Toronto Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Nigeria's Economic an...

In a shocking case of fraud, a man was arrested in Nashik, Maharashtra, for allegedly swindling a resident from Tamil Nadu out of Rs5 crore by falsely promising him a gubernatorial position. The accused, Niranjan Kulkarni, was taken into police custody on Monday following an investigation into the complaint filed by the victim. The victim, identified as Narsimha Reddy Damodar Reddy Apoori, a Chennai resident, was reportedly convinced by Kulkarni in January that he could secure a high-ranking political post. Kulkarni claimed to have extensive political connections and assured Reddy of being appointed to a gubernatorial position in exchange for a service fee of Rs15 crore. To further the deception, Kulkarni presented forged property documents as proof of his credibility, leading Reddy to trust him. Between February and April, Reddy transferred Rs60 lakh in cash and an additional Rs4.48 crore via bank transfers to Kulkarni as part of the deal. However, as the months passed, Reddy began to...

Jury selection for the trial of Tyler Witham-Jordan, accused of murdering his then-girlfriend’s three-year-old daughter, began on Tuesday in Lincoln County Superior Court. Witham-Jordan, from Edgecomb, faces charges of depraved indifference murder related to the death of Makinzlee Handrahan on Christmas morning, 2022. The child was reportedly killed by blunt-force trauma. Court clerks stated that jury selection for the case, State of Maine vs. Tyler Witham-Jordan, is expected to last two days. According to court documents, Witham-Jordan’s DNA was found on several items connected to the crime scene, including under the victim's fingernails, on a broken hairbrush, and on various objects like a towel, shirt, and the child’s diaper. Blood spots were also found on the bathroom wall. Earlier this September, Witham-Jordan’s defense attorney, Jim Howaniec, contested the inclusion of DNA evidence, claiming that Witham-Jordan’s DNA could have been naturally present in the home, given that he...

CENTRAL, LA — A former Central Police lieutenant, Huey Haley, who was arrested in October for allegedly falsifying timesheets and defrauding the department of over $7,500, is now facing new accusations of paycheck fraud dating back to 2020. Following a review of payroll records for the past four years, Central Police investigators discovered evidence suggesting that Haley had "double-dipped" — receiving pay from both extra-duty employers and the police department for the same hours. Investigators estimate that Haley claimed 1,400 hours of work he never performed, amounting to about $24,000 in fraudulent pay. Despite the new findings, police announced that Haley would not be re-arrested for these additional offenses. Instead, they have forwarded their evidence to the District Attorney for potential prosecution. Central Mayor Wade Evans has requested the state legislative auditor to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the police department following these developments. H...

Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 22 suspected internet fraudsters during a sting operation on Friday, December 6, 2024. The arrests took place in Umuagu and Olokoro, located in Abia State. The EFCC recovered several valuable items from the suspects, including six exotic cars, eight laptops, and 36 mobile phones. The suspects are currently under investigation and will be charged in court once the investigation is concluded. Additionally, the EFCC announced the conviction of Aisha Wakil, known as "Mama Boko-Haram," along with two others, for their involvement in a financial crime. The trio was sentenced to five years imprisonment without an option of a fine. Wakil, the Chief Executive Officer of the Complete Care and Aid Foundation, along with Programme Manager Tahiru Saidu Daura and Country Director Prince Lawal Shoyode, were re-arraigned on September 1, 2020, on charges of conspiracy, cheating, and pr...