A man who was hired to kill an Orange County resident inside his apartment in exchange for $10,000 and a pound of marijuana has been convicted of murder, prosecutors said. 

Douglas McFarlane, 27, of Middletown, was found guilty of first-degree murder and second-degree murder following a jury trial in Orange County Court on Friday, Oct. 23, according to Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler. 

The conviction comes weeks after Sheldon Paul, 42, also of Middletown, was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder for arranging the killing of a man he mistakenly believed had orchestrated a burglary at his home, as Daily Voice previously reported.

The murder happened on the morning of March 11, 2019, when McFarlane, then 19, and Dijion Constantine, then 18, forced their way into the victim's apartment on Knapp Street in Middletown, according to evidence presented at both trials. The victim, who was alone inside the apartment, was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head. 

Prosecutors said that Paul hired McFarlane and Constantine to kill the man in retaliation for a burglary of Paul's home five days earlier, on March 6, 2019. 

According to the DA's Office, Paul offered the pair $10,000 and a pound of marijuana to carry out the killing.

McFarlane shot the victim in the head at close range with a .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol, prosecutors said. 

Evidence presented at both trials also showed that Paul later realized he had been wrong about the victim's involvement in the burglary. 

Paul was convicted on Friday, Oct. 2, and faces up to 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on Jan. 21, 2027. 

McFarlane, meanwhile, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole on the first-degree murder conviction. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 25, 2027, and remains held at the Orange County Jail without bail. 

As for Constantine, now 26, he previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 4. 

Hoovler said prosecutors will seek the maximum permissible sentences for both McFarlane and Paul.

A man was ejected from a vehicle and killed after it slammed into a tree along a Maryland roadway, prompting a police investigation and an extended road closure.

First responders were called to the area of Governor Bridge Road and Whispering Leaves Lane in Bowie shortly after 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, where a single vehicle had crashed into a tree, according to the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department.

Officials said that a man was ejected from the vehicle during the crash and pronounced dead at the scene.

His identity has not been released.

Investigators with the City of Bowie Police Department's Accident Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene in the 16900 block of Governor Bridge Road to determine what led to the fatal crash.

Police advised that the roadway would remain closed for an undetermined period and urged motorists to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.

Anyone with information about the crash has been asked to contact the Bowie Police Department at 240-544-5700.

The crash remains under investigation. Check back to Daily Voice for updates as additional information is released.

More than a pound of cocaine was discovered in a Capital Region traffic stop, ending with four people behind bars, state police said Friday, Oct. 23.

David T. Jones and Niza T. Perez, of Brooklyn, were booked along with Vermont residents Gary K. Reichert and Sara L. Williams, New York State Police said.

Reichert, 44, was driving a vehicle on Central Avenue in Albany when state troopers pulled it over just before 10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, authorities said. Jones, 31; Perez, 29; and Williams, 44, were passengers in the car, troopers said.

With the assistance of K9 officer Mike, investigators found more than one pound of cocaine inside the car, state police said.

Additionally, Jones was carrying pills that contained narcotics, and troopers found a gun where Williams had been sitting in the vehicle, according to state police.

All four suspects were charged with first- and third-degree drug possession, arraigned Thursday, Oct. 22, and held without bail in Albany County jail, according to police and online court records. Their next hearings are all scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Jones was also charged with seventh-degree drug possession, Reichert was hit with traffic tickets, and Williams was charged with second-degree weapons possession and criminal firearm possession, authorities said.

A would-be Delta Airlines passenger unleashed a racist, expletive-filled tirade as he was hauled off a plane at JFK Airport on Thursday, Oct. 22.

“Can you believe these motherf-----s? You believe this?” the man is heard saying in a video shared on X by Shawn Wasson. “Put it on Instagram! Look at these n—s! Look at these n—s!”

Other passengers can be heard clapping as Port Authority police officers remove the man from the plane.

Authorities have since identified the man as Jerome Anixter, a 60-year-old man from Brooklyn, WABC reported. He was charged with assault, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and obstructing governmental administration, according to the station.

Wesson, whose username is “thenewsjunkie,” said a source on the plane told him Anixter was yelling “Death to America” and making gun noises before he was hauled off the aircraft.

The flight, DL2342 to Atlanta, departed 45 minutes late from JFK and arrived 22 minutes late into Hartsfield-Jackson, according to FlightAware. Delta issued a statement to WABC stating the airline has “zero tolerance for disruptive behavior” and thanking Port Authority police for their help.

A Massachusetts father faces prison after a jury convicted him of repeatedly groping a teenage girl on a flight while traveling with his wife and four children.

Jonathan Alan Lefman, 48, of Newton, touched the 17-year-old’s buttocks without her consent during an Aug. 30, 2024, JetBlue flight from Puerto Rico to Boston, federal prosecutors said. A jury found him guilty after a three-day trial. 

Lefman sat behind the girl, with his 16-year-old son beside him. Prosecutors said he pushed his hand through the gap between her seat cushion and seatback to touch her repeatedly.

The girl spotted his reflection in the monitor at her seat. She took photos and video of his fingers wriggling through the gap to touch her, officials said.

After the flight, an adult female relative traveling with the girl confronted Lefman. She also alerted a JetBlue supervisor and showed video of his fingers, according to court records.

Lefman said he had been stretching and apologized. Investigators later asked whether he recognized the fingers shown on camera.

“Not really, no,” he replied.

The jury convicted Lefman of abusive sexual contact within federal aircraft jurisdiction. He faces a maximum prison term of two years and a fine of up to $250,000. A judge is scheduled to sentence him on Jan. 12, 2027. 

“The defendant repeatedly sexually abused a minor who was simply trying to travel safely aboard a commercial flight,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “No one should have to fear being sexually assaulted, whether in the air or on the ground.

A Bergen County contractor has been ordered to stop work on a new Somerset County police and public safety building after state labor investigators found multiple wage violations affecting six workers.

3 J's Masonry Corp. of Waldwick received the stop-work order Friday, Oct. 16, for work at the South Bound Brook Public Safety Building and Police Department, according to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

The company was performing concrete decking and rebar installation when investigators identified violations including failure to pay prevailing wages, unpaid or late wages, failure to pay minimum wage and improper classification of workers. Investigators also cited the company for failing to register and submit certified payroll records to the public body overseeing the project.

3 J's Masonry was hired by Clifton-based Suliman Construction LLC, another subcontractor on the project. The primary contractor is G. Meyer Group Inc. of Brielle, state officials said.

The stop-work order comes as South Bound Brook moves forward with a major investment in its police facilities. 

In February, borough officials introduced a bond ordinance authorizing nearly $6.4 million in capital spending for construction of the new police building, police vehicles and a street sweeper.

The ordinance also proposed issuing approximately $6.07 million in bonds and notes to help finance those improvements.

"Public works projects should set the standard for fair labor practices, not undermine them," said Assistant Commissioner for Wage and Hour Compliance Joseph Petrecca.

"When contractors cut corners by shortchanging workers, they’re not only harming families – they’re also compromising the integrity of public projects and gaining unfair advantages over law-abiding contractors."

The order halts work found to violate state labor laws. Employers who continue working in violation of an order can face civil penalties of $5,000 per day. The company may appeal the order, and the state must schedule a hearing within seven days if it does. The order can be lifted once outstanding wages, penalties and related violations are resolved.

NJDOL has issued 234 stop-work orders since its enforcement powers were expanded in July 2019.

A Maryland police shooting that left a man fighting for his life began when he approached an officer stopped at an intersection, according to new details released by the state's Attorney General's Office.

The encounter unfolded at approximately 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, near Erdman Avenue and Ravenwood Avenue in Baltimore, where the officer was sitting in a marked patrol cruiser at a stop sign.

The man then ran from the officer, who initially followed him in his cruiser before getting out and continuing the pursuit on foot. During the chase, the man allegedly pointed a gun at the officer, who fired his weapon and struck him, investigators said.

Officers provided aid until paramedics arrived and took over. The man was transported to a nearby hospital, where he remained in critical condition as of Friday, Oct. 23. A firearm was recovered at the scene, and the officer was not injured.

The officer was wearing a body camera that recorded the encounter, according to investigators. The footage will be released in accordance with Baltimore Police Department and Independent Investigations Division policies.

The officer's identity is expected to be released within two business days of the shooting, though investigators said that timeline could be extended. Authorities have not released the wounded man's identity.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Three Westchester County residents are among eight people accused of carrying out a multimillion-dollar bank fraud scheme that used social media to recruit people willing to provide access to their bank accounts, federal prosecutors said.  

The defendants, including two men from Mount Vernon and one from Yonkers, are accused of depositing fraudulent checks and US Treasury notes into bank accounts before withdrawing money, according to an indictment unsealed on Wednesday, Oct. 21, by the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.  

Federal authorities allege the operation began as early as 2022 and caused millions of dollars in losses to financial institutions across the country. 

The three Westchester defendants are Floyd Forrest, 27, of Mount Vernon; Reheem Anderson, 23, of Mount Vernon; and Chavaughn Boothe, 32, of Yonkers. Five Bronx residents were also charged: Jeshon Bingham, 24; Rupertt Sherrir, 26; Mikhail Davis, 31; Juzan Spence, 31; and Michelle Hylton, 33. 

How The Alleged Scheme Worked

According to the indictment, the defendants used Instagram and other messaging platforms to recruit people known as "mules", who would provide access to existing bank accounts or open new accounts in exchange for payment. 

Members of the alleged conspiracy then deposited forged or counterfeit checks and Treasury notes into those accounts. Before the banks could determine that the deposits were fraudulent, the defendants allegedly withdrew money from the accounts. 

Prosecutors say the defendants also used social media to recruit participants, exchange information about bank branches, and share images of fraudulent checks and cash. The indictment includes screenshots of Instagram posts allegedly used to recruit account holders.

One post attributed to Davis's Instagram account said "Need TD right now," while another said "Wells Fargo instant 5k rn if you trynna make lil bread." 

Another, attributed to Boothe, listed several financial institutions, including Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and TD Bank, saying, "let's do something right now." 

According to prosecutors, members of the group also collected personal information belonging to account holders and unsuspecting victims, including Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses, banking credentials, PINs, and answers to security questions. 

Investigators also allege that some defendants photographed fraudulent checks, deposit slips, bank balances, and cash to boast about their activities and attract more recruits.

Fraudulent Deposits In Westchester 

The indictment identifies several alleged fraudulent transactions involving bank branches in Westchester County. Among them was a $36,000 fraudulent check deposited at a Westchester bank branch around Sept. 3, 2022. 

Prosecutors also allege that a fraudulent check for approximately $7,612 was deposited into an account belonging to a recruited "mule" at a Westchester bank branch in early 2023.  

Another fraudulent check worth approximately $23,865 was allegedly deposited into a different recruited participant's account at a Westchester branch on Feb. 10, 2023. 

The indictment does not identify the specific Westchester bank branches involved in the transactions.

Defendants Face Up To 30 Years

Each of the eight defendants faces one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of bank fraud.

Each charge carries a maximum possible sentence of 30 years in federal prison.

Seven defendants were expected to be arraigned before US Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause on Oct. 21, while Anderson's arraignment was scheduled for a later date, prosecutors said.

A 49-year-old Toms River resident has pleaded guilty to a shooting that injured a man in Lakewood, authorities announced.

Million Brown-Bey pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and a weapons offense on Thursday, Oct. 22, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. Per the terms of a plea agreement, Brown-Bey faces 10 years in prison, Billhimer said.

On Sunday, Jan. 7, Lakewood police responded to shots fired at the West Gate Shopping Complex, after Brown-Bey approached the victim's vehicle at a residence on Hillside Avenue fired at least one round, striking him, Billhimer said. Soon after, a 27-year-old man arrived at Hackensack Meridian Health Ocean Medical Center in Brick Township with gunshot wounds to both of his arms, Billhimer said. The victim was treated for his injuries and released, Billhimer said.

An investigation identified Brown-Bey as the suspect and he was soon taken into custody, Billhimer said.

A group of crypto scammers, including two from Long Island, who boosted a self-proclaimed “Reverend CEO” will cough up nearly $6 million as part of a settlement with state authorities, officials said.

Frantz Ciceron, of Farmingdale, owes $2.05 million and James Corbett, of Mastic Beach, owes $750,000, the New York Attorney General’s office announced Thursday, Oct. 22.

Ciceron and Corbett were part of the NovaTech FX scheme, which preyed on Haitian communities and religious groups in New York City and across the country, according to investigators.

NovaTech founders Eddy and Cynthia Petion recruited investors with promises of guaranteed high returns, eventually convincing their marks to deposit more than $1.3 billion worth of cryptocurrency into NovaTech between August 2019 and April 2023, according to investigators.

Cynthia Petion branded herself as a “Reverend CEO” then revealed in internal chats that NovaTech investors were like “a cult” and would “join and follow mindlessly… They don’t think. They just agree with everything you say,” according to charging documents.

Despite the large investments, NovaTech never even traded $26 million on its platform, the AG’s office said. The operation collapsed in 2023, hundreds of investors were unable to get their money back, and the Petions have since fled the U.S., according to authorities.

A wide variety of state and federal investigators have since opened cases against NovaTech, the Petions, and their alleged accomplices. The settlement announced Thursday applied to four men — Ciceron, Corbett, Martin Zizi, of Kennesaw, GA, and Ricardo Roy Sr., of Queens.

Ciceron's attorney told Newsday he was a lucky early investor who legitimately made money through NovaTech and paid the settlement "voluntarily" after "no finding or admission of wrongdoing."

More than 11,000 New Yorkers lost money in the NovaTech scam and the Petions’ prior failed crypto market, AWS Mining, according to the AG’s office.