(NEW YORK) — Sam Bankman-Fried on Monday sought to dismiss most of the criminal charges he faces in connection with the collapse of FTX, the crypto exchange he founded.
Bankman-Fried filed a motion to dismiss 10 of the 13 counts he faces, including fraud, conspiracy and foreign bribery.
The two-page motion included a reference to declarations from two of Bankman-Fried’s attorneys that would give the underlying reasons why he thinks the charges should be dismissed. The motion said at least some of the charges failed to properly state an offense.
Bankman-Fried was arrested in December 2022 in the Bahamas, where FTX was based. He has been confined to his parents’ home in Palo Alto, California, since his extradition to the United States.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges contained in the indictments returned in Manhattan, New York, where federal prosecutors said he misappropriated billions of dollars from FTX before it went bankrupt. Prosecutors allege he used the money to cover losses at his hedge fund, Alameda Research, to buy lavish real estate and to make political donations.
In a November 2022 interview with ABC News, before his arrest, Bankman-Fried said he was ultimately responsible for the downfall of both companies, but denied that he knew “that there was any improper use of customer funds.”
Prosecutors have until the end of the month to respond to Bankman-Fried’s motion to dismiss.
(NEW YORK) — Officials representing some New York suburbs have rebuked New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ plan to send migrants to their towns for shelter.
Rockland County’s top official declared a state of emergency on Saturday in response to Adams’ plan to send 340 adult male migrants to live at an Armoni Inn and Suites in Orangeburg, New York, for four months.
“The City declared itself a Sanctuary City in December of 2016 committing itself to supporting undocumented individuals while this County has not, for the simple fact that we are one-tenth the population of New York City and incapable of receiving and sustaining the volume of undocumented migrants Mayor Eric Adams intends to send over,” County executive Edwin Day said.
Rockland County is located close to 40 miles northwest of New York City and is near the Hudson River.
On Friday, Adams announced he was sending migrants to neighboring New York counties in response to the rising numbers of asylum seekers arriving in the city, which is reportedly overwhelming the city’s shelter system.
“Despite calling on the federal government for a national decompression strategy since last year, and for a decompression strategy across the state, New York City has been left without the necessary support to manage this crisis,” Adams said in a press release. “With a vacuum of leadership, we are now being forced to undertake our own decompression strategy.”
Adding, “This new, voluntary program will provide asylum seekers with temporary housing, access to services, and connections to local communities as they build a stable life in New York state.”
Adams’ announcement came nearly a week before the Trump-era Title 42 border policy is set to expire
Title 42 is a pandemic-era public health order that allows the U.S. to expel migrants without them being allowed to apply for asylum.
The policy, which is expected to end Thursday, has been implemented more than 2.8 million times to remove migrants since March 2020.
Teresa Kenny, supervisor for Orangetown, which is in Rockland County, served a notice of violation to Armoni Inn and Suites after the town’s fire inspector and assistant building inspector observed that the hotel was “essentially” turning into a shelter, which violated the hotel’s certificate of occupancy.
Officials from Orange County and Newburgh also criticized the mayor’s decision, while blasting the federal government for its “failed immigration policy and inability to control the border.”
“It is clear that the immigration crisis created by the federal government has negatively impacted Orange County,” Orange County executive Steven Neuhaus and Town of Newburgh supervisor Gil Piaquadio said in a statement. “It is a self-induced problem created by lack of planning and continues to burden our taxpayers.”
In a statement to ABC News, Adams’ press secretary Fabien Levy said New York City has taken care of over 61,000 migrants without any issues and that elected officials in New York and other parts of the country should “do their part and emulate the humane and compassionate approach New York City has taken over the past year,” until the federal government provides support.
“The Rockland County executive has sadly already shown he is not a leader this state needs,” Levy said. “Instead, we’ve been met with racist rhetoric and reprehensible threats from the head of a county that will be tasked with caring for less than one-fourth of 1% of the asylum seekers who have come to New York City, and, once again, New York would be paying for shelter, food, and services.”
City officials also pushed back against claims that over 340 asylum seekers would be going to Rockland County, saying that it’s up to 300 people and it would be split between two counties.
Since April 2022, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has bused thousands of migrants from the Texas-Mexico border to Democrat-led cities across the country, including New York City, citing a need to secure the border after claiming the Biden administration isn’t doing so.
The Biden administration has criticized Abbott’s bussing of migrants, calling his decision to send migrants in subfreezing temperatures to Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence last year a politically motivated “stunt.”
In September, Adams called for “coordination” with the federal government and Republican governors over the busing and flying of migrants to the city, saying that New York City’s system was “nearing its breaking point.”
Adams said last year that New York City was managing the flow and influx of asylum seekers without help from state or federal officials.
(NEW YORK) — Angelina Jolie paid tribute to her late mother this week, 15 years after her death from cancer, and encouraged other women to “go for mammograms and blood tests or ultrasounds.”
Mammograms are the recommended tests to screen for breast cancer in average risk women. Though there are currently no known effective screenings for ovarian cancer, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends ultrasounds and blood tests for patients with BRCCA1 or BRCA2 gene variants.
In an Instagram post she shared on Monday, the actress and humanitarian brought awareness to breast and ovarian cancer by reminding women to “look after themselves.”
“Tomorrow would have been my mother’s 73rd birthday,” Jolie began. “She passed away 15 years ago, after a long struggle with breast and ovarian cancer. In June, I will be a month away from the age when she was diagnosed. I have had preventive surgeries to try to lessen chances but I continue to have check ups.”
“Sending my love to those who have also lost loved ones and strength to those who are fighting at this very moment for their lives and the lives of those they love,” she continued. “And to other women, please take the time to look after yourself and go for your mammograms and blood tests or ultrasounds, particularly if you have a family history of cancer.”
Jolie shared the post on World Ovarian Cancer Day, which aims to bring awareness about the disease.
In a 2015 op-ed for the New York Times, Jolie announced that she underwent surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes as a preventative measure to lower her risk of cancer. For women like Jolie, who carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic variants, surgery is one method to prevent cancer, though it is not recommended for women with average risk.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 55-72% of women with the BRCA1 variant, like Jolie, develop breast cancer by age 70-80, and 39-44% develop ovarian cancer by age 70-80.
“I lost my mother, grandmother and aunt to cancer,” she said at the time. “I wanted other women at risk to know about the options.”
According to the National Cancer Institute, a woman’s lifetime risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer is markedly increased if she inherits a harmful variant in BRCA1 or BRCA2.
The institute encourages those who are concerned about the possibility of having the harmful variant in either gene to discuss those concerns with their health care provider or a genetic counselor.
Two years prior to opening up about her surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes, Jolie wrote in another op-ed that she had a preventive double mastectomy.
In her op-ed, she echoed what she shared in her recent Instagram post and said that she hoped other women could “benefit from my experience.”
“Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness,” she wrote in the op-ed. “But today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer and take action.”
(ALLEN, Texas) — Eight people were killed and seven others were injured when a gunman opened fire at an outdoor mall north of Dallas, Texas, on Saturday afternoon, officials said.
The alleged gunman died after a confrontation with police at the Allen Premium Outlets, police said.
The Texas Department of Public Safety released the names of the adult victims killed in Saturday’s shooting.
They were identified as Kyu Song Cho, 37, of Dallas; Cindy Cho, 35, of Dallas; Christian LaCour, 20, of Nevada, Texas; Elio Cumana-Rivas, 32, of Dallas; and Aishwarya Thatikonda, 26, of McKinney, Texas.
Investigators said three unidentified minors, ages 3, 8 and 11, were also among those killed.
-ABC News’ Stephanie Wash and Jack Date
May 08, 6:55 PM EDT
What police found after search warrant issued
ABC affiliate WFAA has obtained a search warrant return listing what was found by investigators at the suspect’s home.
Among the items were three boxes of ammo and loose rounds, a knife in a holster, two holsters and silver-colored handcuffs, according to the search warrant listing obtained by ABC affiliate WFAA.
-ABC News’ Josh Margolin
May 08, 1:36 PM EDT
Suspect terminated from Army after 3 months
The mass shooting suspect, Mauricio Garcia, joined the U.S. Army in June 2008 and was terminated three months later, according to an Army spokesperson.
“He was separated under the 2005 edition of Army Regulation 635-200, paragraph 5–17, Other designated physical or mental conditions,” an Army official said.
-ABC News’ Matt Seyler
May 08, 1:32 PM EDT
6 victims remain in hospital
Medical City Healthcare said its hospitals are still treating six patients from the mass shooting.
Three are in critical condition, two are in fair condition and one patient — who is at Medical City Children’s Hospital — is in good condition, officials said.
May 08, 12:47 PM EDT
Schumer calls special meeting for Senate Democrats
In the wake of a spate of mass shootings, including in Allen, Texas, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called a special caucus meeting for Senate Democrats to discuss gun violence and the path forward on gun safety legislation, according to a Schumer spokesperson.
The meeting is set for Thursday, May 11 at 12:45 p.m. ET.
-ABC News’ Trish Turner
May 08, 12:05 PM EDT
Memorial grows outside Allen Premium Outlets, therapy dogs arrive
A memorial outside the Allen Premium Outlets continues to grow.
Dallas native Roberto Marquez has made it his life’s work to create memorials at the scene of tragedies. He told ABC News that this memorial in Allen is his 11th.
Marquez said Home Depot donated the lumber he used to build the crosses.
Volunteers from Lutheran Church Charities have also arrived at the scene with therapy dogs. The group has over 140 dogs in at least 25 states.
The same dogs in Allen on Monday were on the scene in Uvalde last year when 19 students and two teachers were killed in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary school.
A vigil for the Allen victims is set for Wednesday at 7 p.m., according to community leaders.
-ABC News’ Ike Ejiochi and Abigal Shalawylo
May 08, 6:54 AM EDT
‘I knew she was gone’: Witness describes aftermath
After a gunman opened fire at the Allen Premium Outlets, Joshua W. Barnwell, an eyewitness with military experience, rushed to help the wounded.
A woman who was conscious asked him to help her daughter, he said.
“This woman had massive trauma, five to six gunshot wounds,” Barnwell told Good Morning America on Monday.
He went to the daughter to start chest compressions, he said.
“When I saw the massive amount of blood come out from her when I gave her chest compressions to her back,” Barnwell said. “I knew she was gone.”
May 07, 8:13 PM EDT
VP Harris on mall shooting: ‘All Americans deserve to be safe from gun violence’
Vice President Kamala Harris released a statement Sunday about the shooting, also urging Congress to act.
“Doug and I mourn for the eight adults and children who lost their lives, pray for those wounded, and send our gratitude to the first responders who ran toward danger,” she said in a statement.
“All Americans deserve to be safe from gun violence. But they are not,” Harris continued. “Not because we do not know the solutions. Not because the American people are divided on this issue — even a majority of gun owners support sensible reforms.”
Harris urged Congress to send a bill to President Joe Biden that would ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and would introduce universal background checks.
“We need action,” Harris added.
-ABC News’ Molly Nagle
May 07, 7:47 PM EDT
FBI alerts public on how to get vehicles left at Allen Premium Outlets
The FBI has provided details to the public on how they can retrieve their vehicles from the outlet mall.
Those with vehicles that were left at the mall can meet at the Allen Senior Recreation Center beginning at 5:45 p.m. local time Sunday, where they will be sent to the outlet mall, the FBI said Sunday in a press release.
The senior center will be managing the retrievals until 9:30 p.m. local time, the FBI said.
“Please drop off only one individual for vehicle retrieval,” the FBI said. “Be sure to have your car keys with you.”
Officials have urged the public not to go directly to Allen Premium Outlets.
May 07, 7:17 PM EDT
Suspect had history of mental health problems: Sources
Preliminary information developed during the investigation indicates the suspect was in the U.S. Army in 2008 and was “removed due to mental health concerns,” law enforcement sources briefed on the probe tell ABC News.
In addition to the insignia on the shooter’s equipment that suggested a right-wing extremist ideology, investigators have found social media accounts connected to the suspect that reveal hundreds of postings and images, including writings with racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist rhetoric, including neo-Nazi material and material espousing the supremacy of the white race, the sources said.
None of the subject’s postings analyzed to date were liked or shared by other users nor were there any public comments, according to the sources. The suspect’s account did not contain any friends or associates that were publicly visible, the sources said.
Investigators have determined the suspect had no criminal history and opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle, according to the sources. The shooter was equipped with a ballistic vest, numerous magazines and additional handguns, the sources said.
-ABC News’ Josh Margolin
May 07, 5:54 PM EDT
20-year-old security guard identified as victim in mall shooting
Christian LaCour, 20, is the first victim of the shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets to be identified.
LaCour died while working as a security guard at the outlet mall, his sister said.
“He was a really sweet kid,” Brianna Smith told ABC News over the phone. “I’m sad that he’s gone.”
Christian’s mother, Tracye LaCour, asked for privacy, telling ABC News that they are praying for the families of the other victims.
-ABC News’ Miles Cohen
May 07, 3:33 PM EDT
Alleged shooter ID’d in deadly Texas mall rampage
The suspect in the Allen, Texas, mall mass shooting was identified Sunday as Mauricio Garcia, according to law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation.
The 33-year-old Garcia was fatally shot by a police officer who rushed to the gunfire and confronted him at the outlet mall on Saturday afternoon, police said.
The Texas Department of Public Safety, which is leading the investigation, was searching Mauricio’s home and vehicle on Sunday. The agency declined to comment further on Garcia and said the motive for the shooting remains under investigation.
President Joe Biden said the assailant was dressed in tactical gear and armed with an AR-15-style assault weapon he used to gun down eight people and injure at least nine others.
May 07, 2:43 PM EDT
3 people wounded in attack remain in critical condition: Police
At least three people wounded in a mass shooting at an Allen, Texas, outlet mall remained in critical condition on Sunday, according to police.
Four victims were taken to Medical City McKinney, a trauma center in McKinney, Texas, about seven miles from Allen. Three of the patients were in critical condition and one was listed in fair condition, according to a statement Sunday from the Allen Police Department.
Eight victims were killed in the attack and a total of nine people were injured, police said. The shooter, whose name has not been released by police, was confronted and fatally shot by a police officer.
Among the injured, one patient was transferred from Medical City McKinney to Medical City Plano and was in fair condition. Another patient was transferred to Medical City Children’s Hospital in fair condition, police said.
“We are a strong and caring community and we want all of the victims and their families impacted by this tragedy to know that we will wrap our arms around you, and we are here for you,” Allen Mayor Kenneth M. Fulk said in a statement released Sunday. “The City of Allen pledges to offer our complete support. We know you are grieving, we are grieving. Rest assured, the nation and the world are also grieving.”
May 07, 2:40 PM EDT
Biden calls on Congress to pass assault weapons ban
President Joe Biden is renewing his call for Congress to pass an assault weapons ban following Saturday’s mass shooting at a Texas outlet mall.
“Yesterday, an assailant in tactical gear armed with an AR-15 style assault weapon gunned down innocent people in a shopping mall, and not for the first time. Such an attack is too shocking to be so familiar,” Biden said in a statement released Sunday.
“And yet, American communities have suffered roughly 200 mass shootings already this year, according to leading counts. More than 14,000 of our fellow citizens have lost their lives, credible estimates show. The leading cause of death for American kids is gun violence,” Biden said.
Biden argued that “some progress” has been made as a result of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and his various executive actions, but blasted GOP lawmakers, saying, they “cannot continue to meet this epidemic with a shrug. Tweeted thoughts and prayers are not enough.”
“Once again, I ask Congress to send me a bill banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Enacting universal background checks. Requiring safe storage. Ending immunity for gun manufacturers. I will sign it immediately. We need nothing less to keep our streets safe.”
May 07, 12:03 PM EDT
Abbott says mall shooting underscores need to address mental health issues
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he plans to visit Allen, Texas, on Sunday afternoon as he argued in a TV interview that the mass shooting at an outlet mall there underscores the need to focus on addressing mental health issues.
“Texans are hurting today. And the people who are hurting the most obviously are the families of the victims, the families of lost loved ones, families who have a loved one who is injured and our main priority right now is to help and support those families in the Allen community,” Abbott said on Fox News Sunday.
He said he is going to Allen on Sunday “to begin the process of providing hope and healing.”
“But I can tell you there are questions that are lingering that the families want answers to. And that is why this happened? Why did that gunman do this? How did this happen? And I know that those families need answers as quickly as possible,” said Abbott, who praised the quick response of police in confronting the shooter and killing him.
Abbott was asked about new polling that shows strong support for background checks for gun purchases, increasing the legal age to buy a gun to 21 and requiring mental health checks for purchases. The governor said his state is also looking at legislation to address “easy solutions” to get guns out of the hands of criminals.
But overall, Abbott argued, the focus should be on the “long term solution” of addressing mental health.
May 07, 11:23 AM EDT
Domestic terrorism probed in Texas outlet mall massacre
As authorities work to determine a motive for the outlet mall shooting in Allen, Texas, one avenue investigators are exploring is whether this was an act of domestic terrorism, multiple law enforcement sources told ABC News.
The shooter wore patches or stickers on his clothing that raised suspicion he may have gravitated toward right-wing extremism, the sources said, though they added no motive has yet been established.
Federal agents were seen at a home in the Dallas area believed to be associated with the shooter, ABC Dallas affiliate station WFAA reported.
Federal investigators are already going through the suspect’s electronic devices and social media as they work to understand what led to the killing rampage, the sources said.
In addition to a rifle used in the shooting, sources said investigators recovered additional firearms in a vehicle associated with the shooter.
The Texas Rangers are the lead agency on the case with assistance from the FBI, ATF and Allen police.
May 07, 11:08 AM EDT
‘I got him down’: officer who apparently killed Texas shooter says in radio transmission
Police radio dispatches from the Allen, Texas, mall shooting Saturday captured the chaotic moments as the massacre unfolded, including an officer who apparently confronted the killer, calling for backup before reporting, “I got him down.”
“We got shots fired at the Allen Mall,” an officer is heard saying in the radio dispatches, according to the Broadcastify, which records emergency transmissions.
A police officer was at the Allen Premium Outlets when the shooting erupted around 3:30 p.m. Saturday, raced to the gunfire and fatally shot the suspect, Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey said at a news conference on Saturday.
“We got people running,” the officer on the scene radioed to a police dispatcher. “I need everybody I got.”
A short time later, the officer radioed, “I got him down,” referring to the gunman, who police have yet to identify.
May 06, 11:46 PM EDT
Shopper says she ‘hunkered down’ amid shooting
A woman was shopping when she says the shooting began and described how people began to flee for safety.
Elaine Penicaro said in an interview that she was finishing up her shopping when she heard “popping” noises and began to realize how dire the situation was.
“We saw sparks flying like it was right in front of us. So we just ran into the Converse store. They locked the door. We all hunkered down in the back. And that’s where we stayed,” she said.
Penicaro said she heard the police arrive within five to 10 minutes.
May 06, 11:13 PM EDT
Vigil planned for Sunday
A vigil will be held Sunday afternoon in the aftermath of the deadly shooting.
State Rep. Jeff Leach said that a vigil was planned for 5 p.m. at Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church. He made the announcement during a briefing Saturday evening.
“This community is home for us and our hearts are devastated and broken tonight no law enforcement official no elected official Ever imagines or plans to or hopes to speak in front of a press conference like this,” Leach said.
May 06, 11:01 PM EDT
Mayor calls shooting a ‘tragic day’
Ken Fulk, the mayor of Allen, called the shooting a tragic day for the community and extended his sympathies. Fulk, who was elected in 2020, also pledged his support.
“Today is a tragic day for the city of Allen, our citizens, our friends and visitors who were at the Allen Premium Outlets today. We are a strong and caring community and we all want the victims and their families impacted by this tragedy to know that we will wrap our arms around you. And we are here for you,” he said.
May 06, 10:47 PM EDT
Shooter killed at the scene
The shooter was killed at the scene, police said.
Allen Police Department Chief Brian Harvey said at a press briefing that an officer was at Allen Premium Outlets on an unrelated call when he heard gunshots and located the shooter who was then “neutralized.”
“We are asking for the public’s help if you are a witness,” Harvey said.
State Department photo by Ron Przysucha/ Public Domain
(WASHINGTON) — The Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee is threatening to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt if he doesn’t turn over subpoenaed documents tied to the U.S. exit from Afghanistan, marking a significant escalation in the months-long standoff between the Biden administration and Republicans investigating the chaotic withdrawal.
“Should the Department fail to comply with its legal obligation, the Committee is prepared to take the necessary steps to enforce its subpoena, including holding you in contempt of Congress and/or initiating a civil enforcement proceeding,” Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, wrote in a letter to Blinken on Friday, setting a deadline of this Thursday, May 11 at 6 p.m.
The document McCaul is demanding is what’s known within the State Department as a dissent cable — a memo sent through a classified channel for employees to flag their concerns to top levels of leadership — as well as the department’s official response to the cable.
According to a source familiar with the dissent cable in question, U.S. diplomats warned Blinken that the Afghan government was teetering on the brink of collapse and urged the administration to speed up its evacuation of Afghan allies over a month before the Taliban retook Kabul and the last American troops left the country.
Despite McCaul’s efforts, the State Department signaled on Monday that Blinken would not comply.
“It’s unfortunate that despite having received a classified briefing on the dissent channel cable as well as a written summary that the House Foreign Affairs Committee continues to pursue this unnecessary and unproductive action,” Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a statement.
McCaul has maintained that the documents are vital to the panel’s probe into the final, chaotic days of America’s occupation of Afghanistan. After the committee’s initial request for the material went unfulfilled, he issued a subpoena — his first as chairman — in late March.
Blinken and other administration officials have argued that handing over the documents would jeopardize the integrity of the channel and State Department employees’ ability to privately voice their perspectives on critical matters.
The State Department has offered committee members other means of insight into the dissent cable through a closed-door briefing and summaries.
“Our viewpoint is that the materials and briefings that we’ve offered and provided have sufficiently met the mark when it comes to the committee’s legitimate oversight request,” Patel said during a briefing on Monday.
But McCaul disagrees.
In his letter to Blinken, the chairman blasted the briefers from the department, claiming they were either “unwilling or unable” to answer basic questions and made inaccurate statements. He also complained about the brevity of the department’s one-page summary of the four-page dissent cable.
Beyond the original, unaltered documents, McCaul said his committee would settle for either the cable and the department’s response with “all names and other identifying marks redacted,” an opportunity to privately review the unredacted material with an agreement that it will not publicly disclose the names of any signatories without their permission, or a chance to privately review the material with only the names of the names of the signatories redacted.
When asked whether the department would consider one of the alternative options, Patel balked, saying the administration felt the information it has already provided “sufficiently met the mark.”
Jordan Davis reveals he had a moment of disbelief when he found out he’s in the running for Male Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
“I’ll be honest with you. I haven’t been that shocked in a long time. Definitely the most shocked I’ve been since I started doing music,” the “World Spins Around” hitmaker says.
“I knew I’d made it through to, like, the last round [of voting],” he continues. “Y’all see the other nominees in there and [those are] some heavy hitters. So to hear my name first, it was pure shock.”
Also up for the coveted trophy are Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton and Morgan Wallen.
This isn’t Jordan’s first nomination, however.
“In 2019, I was up for New Artist,” he recalls. “So I think it goes to show that I’ve got a great team, great fans, and … we’ve made some great music that’s connecting with people.”
“Like, the awards are amazing, but to be nominated with those guys is a huge win for me,” he concludes.
Find out if Jordan can clinch the coveted honor as the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards stream live from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
Meanwhile, the Louisiana native’s latest hit, “Next Thing You Know,” is nearing the top 10 as he and his wife, Kristen, prepare to welcome their third child.
(NEW YORK) — The Justice Department recently unsealed charges against a man who allegedly put a camera inside a bathroom onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship and filmed 150 people, including 40 minors.
Jeremy Froias boarded a Royal Caribbean ship bound for St. Maarten, San Juan and the Bahamas, in Miami on April 29, according to a complaint unsealed last week in federal court in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“On or about April 30, 2023, when the Harmony was navigating in international waters, Froias installed a hidden Wi-Fi camera in a public bathroom on the aft of the Harmony’s top deck, between the ‘Flow Rider’ surfing simulator and a bar,” an FBI special agent said in a criminal complaint.
That bathroom was a unisex bathroom, according to court documents.
When a passenger reported there was a hidden camera in the bathroom, security found it and reviewed the micro SD card that was inserted into the camera, which allegedly showed Froias adjusting the camera and connecting it to his phone.
“The initial videos depict Froias hiding the camera and adjusting the angle of the camera, so it focuses on the area of the toilet,” the complaint says. “Froias is also seen taking his Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max out of his pocket and appears to have connected the phone to the hidden camera using Wi-Fi. Froias then exits the bathroom.”
More than 150 individuals, including 40 minors, were seen naked or partially naked on camera, the Justice Department alleged, some as young as 4 or 5 years old.
“Individuals are seen coming into the bathroom to either use the toilet or to change into or out of swimsuits,” court documents say. “Froias’ camera captured these individuals in various stages of undress, including capturing videos of their naked genitals, buttocks and female breasts.”
Cruise ship security interviewed Froias, and he allegedly admitted to placing the camera in the bathroom and knew it had been found because he was not able to find it when he went to go get it a day later, court documents state.
Froias is charged with video voyeurism and attempted possession of child exploitation material. He was released on a $25,000 bond by a judge Monday pending trial. He didn’t enter a plea.
The FBI set up a website for anyone who might’ve been a victim to report it to the agency.
“The FBI believes he primarily targeted cruise ship passengers between the timeframe of April 30 and May 1, 2023, who may have used the public bathroom on the aft of the Harmony’s top deck between the ‘Flow Rider’ surfing simulator and a bar,” the form says. “Passengers using this bathroom may have been video recorded by Froias.”
A lawyer for Froias has not yet responded to ABC News’ request for comment.
RAYE‘s global hit “Escapism” will compete for Best Contemporary Song at The Ivors, the U.K.’s most prestigious songwriting award. Another nominee at next week’s ceremony is Ed Sheeran, and as a fellow British songwriter, RAYE tells ABC Audio she’s relieved he won his copyright trial last week.
RAYE suggests it would’ve been terrible for the songwriting community if Ed had been found guilty of ripping off Marvin Gaye‘s “Let’s Get It On.”
“He went about it in such a brilliant way, I think,” she says of Ed’s defense; he successfully argued that nobody can own the chords commonly used in pop songs.
“Within pop music, there’s, like, eight to 10 go-to chord phrases and it’s like, what are you supposed to do, invent a new one?” RAYE agrees. “If chord sequences are going to start to become a way to sue someone, that’s ridiculous.”
As for her own composition, RAYE doesn’t know why “Escapism” has become her U.S. breakthrough, but she knew it was special.
“You can’t expect or really control anything. The only thing that you can affect is the quality or the depth and the substance of [who] you are and how you choose to present it,” she says. “So when I created it … I just knew I was so proud of it. And I was like, ‘I really hope people get to hear it.'”
They have: it’s gone Platinum around the world, and she’s currently opening for Kali Uchis‘ tour.
“It’s been really beautiful because I come on in the beginning and by the end, I’m like, ‘There’s at least 10 people here who understand, and are going to go and stream this album,'” RAYE says of the tour. “That’s what it’s about, y’know?”
Salt-N-Pepa are rappers and mothers who were able to balance both careers and family throughout the course of their careers, but it wasn’t something those in the industry believed was possible. Speaking to Tamron Hall, Pepa revealed they made the decision to become mothers because they knew they were capable of handling both jobs.
“They could recognize ’cause we wanted to be moms and we was moms. We said, ‘We can do it,’ and whatever came my way, I handled it, which was taking the good with the bad … ’cause someone has to do it,” she said, suggesting labels and fans panic when they think artists can’t manage both.
Salt agreed, revealing the extent that an industry worker went to to prevent her from having a baby.
“They do get scared. I don’t think I’ve ever said this out loud, oooh Tamron! I was actually asked to have an abortion,” she said, choosing to keep the person’s identity private. “But to your point, yeah, you just have to know that it’s something that you’re capable of handling if you want a kid and you want to have a career. And it’s definitely harder.”
“Having my daughter, besides finding Jesus, is the best thing that I’ve ever experienced, my kids,” she continued. “Like, I needed that lil’ baby in my life, you know? She kept me company on the road.”
Salt-N-Pepa also discussed other hardships, wins in their careers, hip-hop’s 50th anniversary and more. Their Tamron HallShow episode airs Tuesday.
Universal Music Group is teaming up with Time Studios for a new 10-part docuseries that will give music fans a behind-the-scenes look at the label’s huge music archives, with episodes focusing on The Who, Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Ella Fitzgerald and more.
The series, Deep Dive, will open the vaults of the Iron Mountain Entertainment archival facility and highlight the treasures stored there. It will also focus on the music archivists, curators and producers responsible for caring for what’s stored in the facility, including original and master recordings, as well as filmed performances, music videos and album art.
“We are privileged to have the greatest collection of musical recordings, videos and artwork in the world–millions of assets in total–dating back to 1897 and the founding of the world’s first record label,” David Blackman, head of Film and Television Development and Production for UMG, shares. “Deep Dive celebrates the iconic artists, the untold stories and the passionate people who devote their lives to preserving and finding new audiences for those treasures.”
So far there’s no word on when or where the series will air.
