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VA social worker sentenced for lying about military service, collecting benefits

March 15, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(PROVIDENCE, R.I.) — A Rhode Island woman who pleaded guilty to carrying out what prosecutors said was a massive fraud — pretending to be a Purple Heart recipient and Bronze Star-decorated U.S Marine — was sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison Tuesday.

Sarah Cavanaugh told people she defrauded she was injured in Iraq, despite never serving in the military, prosecutors said.

Cavanaugh claimed she was a “cancer-stricken” Purple Heart recipient to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent charitable donations and veterans’ benefits, they said. Cavanaugh used the stolen identities of actual veterans to get the money, according to the Justice Department.

A search of Defense Department records, officials said, indicates Cavanaugh never served in any branch of the U.S. military.

In reality, according to the DOJ, Cavanaugh was a social worker at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center and used her position “to gain access to documents, personal information, and medical records belonging to a Marine and a Navy veteran who was battling cancer.”

Prosecutors called her conduct “near-daily criminal conduct over a period of five years,” saying she defrauded “veterans, veterans’ organizations, veterans’ charities, friends, and co-workers in a “methodical and calculated manner.”

She allegedly stole more than $250,000 from those organizations in what prosecutors called a “brazen scheme.”

“Sarah Cavanagh feigned having cancer, and falsely claimed valor where there was none, to gain hundreds of thousands of dollars in benefits and charitable donations. Her actions are an insult to every veteran who has served our country, and today she learned her fate for her criminal conduct,” Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division, said. “Make no mistake, the FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to seeking justice for anyone who lies about serving our country and illegally takes money from federal programs that help veterans who rightfully deserve it.”

Cavanagh, according to prosecutors, rose to a leadership position at a VFW lodge, gave public speeches while dressed in full U.S. Marine uniform, complete with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star that she purchased on the internet; and secured a spot in an arts program at the University of Southern California, a program she described to a U.S. Army veteran she met through the Wounded Warrior Program who was later accepted into the program.

Music notes: BLACKPINK, BTS, Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter and more

March 15, 2023 by WDNY Radio

BLACKPINK‘s Jisoo shared a visualizer for her upcoming debut solo album, ME, on Wednesday, and it’s already been viewed millions of times. The album arrives March 31.

BTS‘ Jimin previewed his upcoming debut solo album, as well — FACE arrives March 24. He posted the teaser for “Set Me Free Pt. 2,” which sees intense choreography as he sings the song’s title.

Sabrina Carpenter is rumored to be dating Shawn Mendes, and fans think he’s wearing her birthstone. Sabrina was born in May, so her birthstone is an emerald. Shawn wore a nearly $1,000 David Yurman Roman Amulet to an Oscar after-party — but the necklace’s green stone is malachite. He’s also worn the necklace since 2019. Page Six says it hasn’t been confirmed they’re dating … yet.

Bad Bunny was on Carpool Karaoke with James Corden and sang songs by Ariana Grande and Harry Styles, as well as his own hits. He tried belting out Ari’s “Break Free” and sang along to Harry’s “As It Was.” Bad Bunny is a rapper and appears to have a lower singing register, so he gets an “A” for effort.

Speaking of Harry, he’s apparently a very good boss. His tour photographer, Lloyd Wakefield, told British Vogue, “[Harry] is one of the better bosses I’ve had.” Wakefield added of how he’s able to take such dynamic tour photos, “He’s interacting with me as he’s performing. We’re just bantering. I think that’s important. If it was a bit stiff, then I don’t think the outcome of the images would be what they are.”

Lizzo is headlining 2023 Splendour in the Grass in New South Wales, Australia. The full lineup was not announced, but The Guardian reveals the event was canceled last year due to bad luck, like inclement weather and transportation chaos. The festival runs July 21 to July 23.

Music notes: John Mayer, Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus, Lizzo and Shawn Mendes

March 15, 2023 by WDNY Radio

In case you missed it, John Mayer was on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert to promote his new tour. He performed his 2013 song “Waitin’ On the Day” from the album Paradise Valley.

Get your tan on with Miley Cyrus’ new partnership with Dolce Glow. The pair launched the Endless Summer Vacation box in celebration of her new album. Fans can buy the offering online for $115; it comes with a self-tanning mist, self-tanning water, body glow lotion and brush.

Harry Styles is apparently a very good boss. His tour photographer, Lloyd Wakefield, told British Vogue, “[Harry] is one of the better bosses I’ve had.” Wakefield added of how he’s able to take such dynamic tour photos, “He’s interacting with me as he’s performing. We’re just bantering. I think that’s important. If it was a bit stiff, then I don’t think the outcome of the images would be what they are.”

Shawn Mendes is rumored to be dating singer Sabrina Carpenter, and fans think he’s wearing her birthstone. Sabrina was born in May, so her birthstone is an emerald. Shawn wore a nearly $1,000 David Yurman Roman Amulet to an Oscar after-party — but the necklace’s green stone is malachite. He’s also had the necklace since at least 2019, where he wore it to the American Music Awards. Page Six says it hasn’t been confirmed they’re dating … yet.

Hugh Jackman busy “becoming Wolverine”

March 15, 2023 by WDNY Radio

On Instagram, Hugh Jackman is keeping fans abreast of his progress as he gears up for his face-off/team-up with real-life pal Ryan Reynolds‘ red-masked motormouth in Deadpool 3.

Jackman posted a video in which he’s on the floor of a gym, performing a grueling set of sliding planks with a massive weight plate balanced on his back.

Behind him, a trainer puts him through his paces as he gets back into superhero shape.

“If you’re looking for me. I’m #becomingwolverineagain,” the 54-year-old star captioned the video, which ends with him laughing about his predicament, saying to the camera with an exhausted laugh, “Good afternoon!”

Incidentally, the first comment came from Dafne Keen, who as a newcomer starred as Jackman’s daughter in 2016’s Oscar-nominated film Logan. “Okay, Logan,” she replied, earning cheers from fans.

Deadpool 3, both DP and Wolvie’s first official foray into the Disney-owned Marvel Cinematic Universe, hits theaters November 8, 2024.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

Washington state bill would provide safeguards against ‘deepfake’ political ads

March 15, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(OLYMPIA, Wash.) — Washington state legislators are looking to get ahead of some technological tools used for political misinformation before they say they further disrupt the public trust in government.

The state Senate passed a bill last month that would provide political candidates with legal safeguards in civil court against “deepfake” videos, audio and images that are used in political ads.

“Deepfakes” are typically any form of media that has been altered and manipulated to misrepresent someone, typically in a way that shows the person saying something that was never said.

Washington Sec. of State Steve Hobbs, who requested the bill, told ABC News that such altered videos haven’t been officially used in campaigns, but several groups around the world are using them with malicious intent.

“We’re trying to get ahead of it,” Hobbs told ABC News.

Hobbs cited a “deepfake” video released last year at the start of the Russian-Ukraine conflict that falsely showed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy call on soldiers to surrender to the Russians. Although viewers and world leaders were able to see through the deception and the video was taken down from social media sites, Hobbs said that the public is vulnerable to similar types of manipulation.

“The last thing you want is political campaigns or political action committees to put ads out of the ‘deepfakes’ of the person they are trying to vote out,” he said. “Even if that ad was up a day or two before people realize it’s a ‘deepfake’ it can cause damage.”

The bill defines synthetic media in campaigns for elective office as ” an image, an audio recording, or a video recording of an individual’s appearance, speech, or conduct that has been intentionally manipulated with the use of generative adversarial network techniques or other digital technology in a manner to create a realistic but false image, audio, or video that produces a depiction that to a reasonable individual is of a real individual in appearance, action, or speech that did not actually occur in reality.”

Under the bill, candidates who are the victim of a “deepfake” video could “seek injunctive or other equitable relief prohibiting the publication of such synthetic media.”

The bill passed the state Senate on Feb. 15 with a 35-15 vote.

The state House of Representatives held a public hearing in the State Government & Tribal Relations committee on March 10 and some constituents expressed concern about the language of the bill.

Joshua Hardwick, who works in video, told the committee he opposed the bill because the current language didn’t clarify what constitutes a “deepfake” or an image or video edited for clarity or artistic purposes.

“If I apply a filter, make a color image black and white or sepia, or I want to shorten a part of the content and some things that may not be considered synthetic would be included,” he testified.

Hobbs contended that the bill’s language clearly does not include photo or video edits in its definition. He added that it does not intend to infringe on people’s First Amendment rights.

“If you want through the First Amendment, go after someone with ads and you have a political stance, that’s your right. But to take someone’s image or video and change it to make it look like they’re making a speech that they didn’t say, that’s just wrong,” Hobbs said.

The timetable for the bill to be voted in the House committee and the full chamber haven’t been set. Hobbs said there will likely be tweaks to the language and amendments following the discourse but stressed that “deepfake” campaigns are topics that need legislative action fast.

“We have to do something, we just can’t do nothing. We need other states to put up [safeguards] and the federal government to take action,” he said.

Ex-Trump attorney Michael Cohen wraps up his grand jury testimony in Stormy Daniels hush money probe

March 15, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, on Wednesday completed his testimony before a Manhattan grand jury investigating a 2016 hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

Cohen answered questions from each of the grand jurors over the course of about two hours, before emerging from the courthouse and declaring himself “relieved.”

“I’m relieved that my role, for the time being, is now over,” Cohen said. “I’ve complied with every request that was asked of me by the district attorney’s office so they can review this case as best as they can.”

Cohen paid $130,000 to Daniels in the closing days of the 2016 presidential campaign to allegedly keep her quiet about an affair she claimed to have had with Trump. The former president has denied the affair and his attorneys have framed the funds as an extortion payment.

Cohen served prison time after he pleaded guilty to federal charges that included campaign finance violations related to the hush payment. Cohen’s attorney, Lanny Davis, noted Wednesday that when federal prosecutors charged Cohen they said that Trump — identified in court records as Individual 1 — directed Cohen to make the $130,000 hush payment, after which his reimbursement to Cohen was falsely logged in the Trump Organization’s records, according to prosecutors.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is mulling whether to charge Trump with falsifying business records, sources have told ABC News.

Davis said, however, that he was uncertain whether the DA would move forward with an indictment of Trump.

“I am certain that they’ve been very thorough and factual,” Davis said.

No current or former U.S. president has even been indicted for criminal conduct.

Appearing on Fox News on Monday, Trump’s defense attorney, Joe Tacopina, questioned whether Cohen even had a law license when he served as Trump’s personal attorney.

On Wednesday Cohen was prepared with a retort: “I think Joe Tacopina needs to take a refresher course.”

Why most bank deposits are safe, despite the Silicon Valley Bank collapse

March 15, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — The failure of Silicon Valley Bank, the second-biggest bank collapse in U.S. history, called into doubt the fate of roughly $175 billion in customer deposits.

Days later, the U.S. government guaranteed the protection of all Silicon Valley Bank deposits but the turmoil left Americans with a lingering question: Is my money safe in the bank?

Robust insurance protections for bank deposits and the infrequency of bank failures afford security for account holders, making deposits safe even as the industry undergoes turmoil, experts told ABC News.

“It’s absolutely 100% safe,” Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, told ABC News. “All depositors in banks and credit unions can be entirely confident that their money is safe.”

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, which safeguards the stability of the financial system, protects depositors at all FDIC-insured banks for up to $250,000 in funds for each different type of account held.

Nearly every bank is FDIC insured, and the vast majority of accounts fall below the $250,000 threshold.

In other words, bank account holders with $250,000 or less can rest assured that their money enjoys full protection from the U.S. government in the event of a bank failure.

A joint account between two individuals qualifies for FDIC insurance of up to $500,000.

Similarly, credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Administration, a government agency.

In an effort to tamp down financial panic and prevent a wider crisis, the U.S. government dramatically expanded FDIC insurance protections to cover accounts at failed banks Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank that exceed the $250,000 threshold.

If other financial institutions collapse as a result of the fallout, the government will likely extend that full protection to depositors at the affected banks, Zandi said.

“There is no way at this point, given all the angst, that the government is going to allow a depositor to lose a penny,” he said.

In normal market conditions, however, depositors with funds that exceed $250,000 stand to lose part or all of the money if a bank goes belly up. Individuals or institutions with holdings that exceed that threshold can divide their money between multiple different account types or banks to keep each one below the threshold, Zandi said.

When an FDIC-insured bank collapses, a government agency typically takes control of the bank and soon afterward makes funds available to customers.

“In many cases, regulators go in and seize the banking operations and determine what deposits are owed and do their best to get those paid out within the next day or two,” Jeff Jones a finance professor at Missouri State University, told ABC News.

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Depositors can find solace not only in the robust insurance protections but also in the knowledge that U.S. bank failures are very rare, experts said.

Not a single bank failure took place last year or the year before, according to research firm Bankrate. In 2010, at the height of the Great Recession, 157 banks failed.

For context, there are 4,706 commercial banks and savings institutions insured by the FDIC, the agency said last month.

“You can calculate the probability,” Zandi said. “It’s pretty small.”

Despite the collapse of two of the nation’s 30-largest banks in recent days, the possibility of widespread bank failures remains highly unlikely, the experts said, noting extraordinary government intervention that helped contain the damage to the financial system.

“I feel confident that the financial system is on very solid footing,” Zandi said. “The government intervention here was extremely aggressive.”

Besides raising awareness about how to protect one’s funds in the bank, the downfall of Silicon Valley Bank also offers lessons for how to invest money elsewhere, the experts said.

Silicon Valley Bank had loaded up on investments into long-term Treasury bonds and mortgage bonds, which typically deliver small but reliable returns amid low interest rates.

As the Federal Reserve aggressively hiked interest rates over the past year, however, those holdings lost significant value.

The takeaway for individuals is the importance of diversification, the experts said, defining that principle as the placement of funds into a range of investments.

“As long as you’re well-diversified, any kind of issue you have will likely be very small and contained,” Jones said.

9th grader sues school district after staffer allegedly ‘physically assaulted’ her when she didn’t recite the Pledge of Allegiance

March 15, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(LEXINGTON, S.C.) — The family of a 15-year-old Black honor student is suing her South Carolina school district, alleging she was assaulted by a school staffer who she said was upset she hadn’t stopped to acknowledge the Pledge of Allegiance.

Lawyers for the family of Marissa Barnwell, a student at River Bluff High School in Lexington, said in a federal lawsuit that on Nov. 29, 2022, Barnwell “decided to exercise her First Amendment Right to refrain from acknowledging the Pledging Allegiance in a non-disruptive manner” when an instructional assistant “physically assaulted” Marissa before taking her to the principal’s office for punishment.

The staffer, along with the school’s principal, the superintendent and the South Carolina Department of Education are also listed as defendants in the lawsuit.

Barnwell’s family attorney, Tyler Bailey, has called for South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson to open a criminal investigation into the incident, saying that the Lexington Police Department has refused to file charges against the staff member who allegedly assaulted Marissa.

“I am respectfully requesting that you use the authority of your office to help restore what little bit of faith the Barnwell family may have left that the word all referenced in the phrase ‘Liberty and Justice for All’ may actually include a 15-year-old Black girl in Lexington, South Carolina, who decided to use her voice to push America to the ideals she hopes to stand for,” Bailey wrote in his letter to the state’s attorney general.

ABC News has reached out to the attorney general’s office.

Marissa and her parents Fynale and Shavell Barnwell, held a press conference on Thursday to discuss the lawsuit.

Fynale Barnwell, Marissa’s mother, said at Thursday’s press conference that her daughter called her in tears claiming that the staffer attacked her.

According to the federal lawsuit, Marissa silently walked to her class while the Pledge of Allegiance was playing on the school’s intercom when she said the staffer pushed her to the wall and “forcefully” touched her to make her comply with saying the pledge.

ABC News obtained school surveillance video that appears to show an interaction between Marissa and the staffer in a school hallway. According to the lawsuit, Marissa alleges that the principal sent Marissa back to class telling her that he would review the surveillance video footage of the alleged incident.

The lawsuit alleges that the staffer deprived Marissa of her constitutional rights and caused physical pain and emotional distress, resulting in medical bills and an inability to enjoy her life.

According to South Carolina law, the Pledge of Allegiance must be said every day at school, but those who choose not to recite it cannot be punished for not participating.

“A person who does not wish to participate may leave the classroom, may remain in his seat, or may express his non-participation in any form which does not materially infringe upon the rights of other persons or disrupt school activities,” the law states.

At Thursday’s press conference, Marissa said that she hadn’t recited the Pledge of Allegiance since the third grade after she questioned if the U.S. was living up to its promise of ensuring “liberty and justice” for all its citizens.

“The fact that this [person] attacked me and disrespected me completely just because of that. No one should ever go through that,” Marissa said. “No one should have to be in school every day and have to face this [person] and have to face the same administration that let this happen.”

“What Marissa wants is for the powers that be to do everything in their power to try to make this right and really get some accountability and justice that she deserves, not just for herself, but for others as well,” Bailey told ABC News.

In a statement to ABC News, Lexington School District One’s chief communication officer Elizabeth “Libby” D. Roof said that the attorney representing the district is in the process of responding to the Barnwells’ lawsuit and that it will be filed in the coming weeks.

According to the family’s attorney, Lexington Police Department said they reviewed the surveillance video and decided not to pursue a case. The department did not respond to ABC News’ request for comment.

ABC News’ Will McDuffie contributed to this report.

Måneskin announces US arena tour

March 15, 2023 by WDNY Radio

After launching a U.S. headlining tour for the first time last year, Måneskin is already graduating to arenas stateside.

The Italian rockers have announced a 2023 U.S. run, beginning September 21 at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. The outing will conclude October 13 in Oakland, California.

Måneskin has also announced new shows in Canada and Mexico, as well as Europe and the U.K., South America, Australia and Asia.

Tickets for the North American shows go on sale Thursday, March 23, at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster.

Måneskin released their latest album, Rush!, in January. It includes the singles “Supermodel” and “The Loneliest,” as well as the Tom Morello collaboration “Gossip.”

Top Republican senators slam DeSantis for calling Ukraine war a ‘territorial dispute’

March 15, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Several top GOP senators are pushing back on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ position that “becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia” is not a vital U.S. national interest.

DeSantis’ statement terming the war a “territorial dispute” sparked backlash from members of his own party, including Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., early Trump backer Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.

Cornyn, the senior senator from Texas, told ABC News that he doesn’t understand why DeSantis — a veteran himself — would be against shoring up support for Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion.

“I was kind of surprised. I mean, Governor DeSantis is a veteran. He’s a smart guy. I think he’s been a very good governor. And I just I don’t understand him saying that Ukraine isn’t important to the United States,” Cornyn, who called the issue “absolutely important,” said.

“It raises questions,” Cornyn said when asked whether DeSantis’ remarks gave him concern about the Republican governor’s understanding of the issue.

When asked whether questions about the size and scope of American aid to Ukraine could become a leading GOP narrative on the 2024 campaign trial, Tillis said he thinks “people need to open the aperture.”

“Take a look at do you really want Russia to to own the breadbasket of Europe, and that’s Ukraine, affecting food supplies? People are forgetting what we’ve had to do to get food into North Africa because of the conflict. Do you really want that under Russian control?” he said.

Rubio, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the war in Ukraine is “not a territorial dispute in the sense that any more than it would be a territorial dispute if the United States decided that it wanted to invade Canada or take over the Bahamas.”

“I don’t know what he’s trying to do or what the goal is,” Rubio continued in a conversation with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt regarding DeSantis’ comments. “Obviously, he doesn’t deal with foreign policy every day as governor.”

Rubio, the senior senator from DeSantis’ state, also noted the importance of the conflict as a U.S. national security concern.

“It’s not the number one national security interest the United States has, but it’s an important one. And there are things we can do and should do to further that interest by helping them. It’s not an unlimited interest,” he added.

Graham, without mentioning DeSantis by name, seemed to criticize him as “missing a lot” regarding the international conflict.

“To those who believe that Russia’s unprovoked and barbaric invasion of Ukraine is not a priority for the United States – you are missing a lot.” Graham wrote in a Twitter thread posted on Tuesday.

But DeSantis’ stance, especially his contention that “our citizens are also entitled to know how the billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars are being utilized in Ukraine,” has several supporters within his party. Republican Sen. Josh Hawley and Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar have expressed skepticism of U.S. support for Ukraine, and they have been on the record voting against spending packages to aid Ukrainians in the conflict.

GOP Rep. Chip Roy, a member of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus who last May condemned billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine as “indefensible,” took the step of endorsing DeSantis for president on Wednesday, nodding to the governor’s stance on Ukraine in his statement of support.

“Perhaps most of all Governor DeSantis makes clear he would lead our nation as commander in chief with the kind of resolve and sober strength that produces peace through strength. A veteran himself, he recognizes that a military is best when it is strong, non-politcally correct and lethal– while being sparingly but decisively used and not mired in endless, protracted military engagements all around the globe,” Roy wrote in a statement.

The Republican governor, widely viewed as a top contender for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, dinged the Biden administration for “virtual ‘blank check’ funding of this conflict for ‘as long as it takes,’ without any defined objectives or accountability.”

“The U.S. should not provide assistance that could require the deployment of American troops or enable Ukraine to engage in offensive operations beyond its borders,” DeSantis said in his response to a questionnaire from Fox News opinion host Tucker Carlson, which Carlson shared Monday.

“F-16s and long-range missiles should therefore be off the table. These moves would risk explicitly drawing the United States into the conflict and drawing us closer to a hot war between the world’s two largest nuclear powers. That risk is unacceptable,” he continued.

Former President Donald Trump adopted a similar stance in his response to Carlson’s questionnaire.

“Is opposing Russia in Ukraine a vital American national strategic interest?” Trump asked.

The two probable GOP frontrunners’ stance on Ukraine is directly at odds with other Republican candidates and potential 2024 hopefuls, including former Vice President Mike Pence and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who has declared her candidacy. Both have publicly said that supporting Ukraine is of vital interest to the U.S.

ABC News’ Trish Turner, Brittany Shepherd and Tal Axelrod contributed to this report.

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