SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a deadly altercation and have made an arrest.

Early Friday, police responded to a report of an assault in the 3000 block of North Fairview in Wichita, according to a media release from Wichita Police. A caller reported witnessing a man attacking another man. The victim was later identified as 33-year-old Cesar Gonzalez of Wichita.&nbsp;

Before officers arrived, the suspect fled the scene. Officers found Gonzalez unresponsive in the parking lot. Sedgwick County EMS transported him to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased at 1:54 a.m.

Officers located the suspect identified in Sedgwick County arrest records as Eduardo Diaz-Yorbal, 33, Wichita, in the 300 block of W. 29th Street and took him into custody without incident. 

Diaz-Yorbal had injuries consistent with the altercation and was admitted to an area hospital for treatment, released and then booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of first-degree murder.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751715135638.png" alt="DIAZ-YOBAL-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>DIAZ-YOBAL-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a deadly altercation and have made an arrest.Early Friday, police responded to a report of an assault in the 3000 block of North Fairview in Wichita, according to a media release from Wichita Police. A caller reported witnessing a man attacking another man. The victim was later identified as 33-year-old Cesar Gonzalez of Wichita.&nbsp;Before officers arrived, the suspect fled the scene. Officers found Gonzalez unresponsive in the parking lot. Sedgwick County EMS transported him to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased at 1:54 a.m.Officers located the suspect identified in Sedgwick County arrest records as Eduardo Diaz-Yorbal, 33, Wichita, in the 300 block of W. 29th Street and took him into custody without incident. Diaz-Yorbal had injuries consistent with the altercation and was admitted to an area hospital for treatment, released and then booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of first-degree murder.&nbsp;

Kansas man accused in fatal fight moved from hospital to jail

KANSAS CITY—A second person has died from a mass shooting that occurred June 14 in Kansas City.

KCPD homicide detectives were notified 44-year-old Ronnie Hardman was pronounced deceased by hospital staff Thursday morning, according to&nbsp; Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Just after 1:30 a.m.&nbsp; June 14, patrol officers were dispatched to 35th and Prospect on a reported shooting. When officers arrived they were directed to the gas station parking lot. They located multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds.&nbsp; Officers began performing live saving measures and ordered EMS to the scene. On scene officers located a total of four victims. An adult female victim had critical injuries, one adult male victim had critical injuries, and two adult male victims had non life threatening injuries. 

All of the victims were transported to local hospitals. The adult female victim, later identified as&nbsp;24-year-old Monique K. Smith was pronounced deceased a short time later by medical personnel.

Additional officers responded to a separate shooting, a short distance away, in the 2000 block of East Linwood where an adult male victim was located. 

Police determined his injuries were as a result of the shooting at 35th and Prospect. He was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. Police have not reported an arrest or possible suspect details in the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749903126084.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A second person has died from a mass shooting that occurred June 14 in Kansas City.KCPD homicide detectives were notified 44-year-old Ronnie Hardman was pronounced deceased by hospital staff Thursday morning, according to&nbsp; Officer Alayna Gonzalez.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749903072954.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte." />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte.</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 1:30 a.m.&nbsp; June 14, patrol officers were dispatched to 35th and Prospect on a reported shooting. When officers arrived they were directed to the gas station parking lot. They located multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds.&nbsp; Officers began performing live saving measures and ordered EMS to the scene. On scene officers located a total of four victims. An adult female victim had critical injuries, one adult male victim had critical injuries, and two adult male victims had non life threatening injuries. All of the victims were transported to local hospitals. The adult female victim, later identified as&nbsp;24-year-old Monique K. Smith was pronounced deceased a short time later by medical personnel.Additional officers responded to a separate shooting, a short distance away, in the 2000 block of East Linwood where an adult male victim was located. Police determined his injuries were as a result of the shooting at 35th and Prospect. He was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. Police have not reported an arrest or possible suspect details in the case.

KCPD: 2nd victim dies from injuries in June mass shooting

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY–Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just after 1a.m. June 30, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Toyota Highlander on U.S. Highway 75, near 118th Road for an alleged traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The traffic stop led to a search of the vehicle. The front seat passenger, Janette Pendleton, 54, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751298972628.png" alt="Pendleton" />
 <figcaption>Pendleton</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY–Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just after 1a.m. June 30, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Toyota Highlander on U.S. Highway 75, near 118th Road for an alleged traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The traffic stop led to a search of the vehicle. The front seat passenger, Janette Pendleton, 54, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Passenger caught with meth during Kan. traffic stop

PHILLIPSBURG, Kan. —&nbsp;The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday evening, June 27, in Phillipsburg, Kansas, resulting in the deaths of Phillips County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Gaede and suspect Kolton Griffith.

Over the past several days, detectives and forensic investigators have processed the scene, conducted interviews, and collected evidence. The Sheriff’s Office is now providing new details about the sequence of events that led to the deadly encounter, according Sedgwick County Sheriff's Spokesman Brandon Stitt.

At approximately 6:02 p.m., the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office received its first report of an explosion near 1st and E Streets. The responding deputy was initially unable to locate the source and cleared the area, believing fireworks may have caused the noise.

By 8:31 p.m., dispatchers received three additional calls reporting loud booms in the same vicinity. Deputy Gaede responded, spoke with concerned residents, and began searching for the source of the explosions. He contacted Griffith, who lived at 899 1st Street. Griffith denied involvement in the detonations, and Deputy Gaede cleared the call around 8:48 p.m. but remained nearby.

Believing the explosions were not commercial-grade fireworks, Deputy Gaede began reviewing Kansas statutes related to the criminal use of explosives.

At 9:18 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office received another report of an explosion from the same area. Deputy Gaede, who was still in the area, observed smoke and made contact with Griffith, who was standing in his front yard. Griffith admitted setting off the explosive device, stating he intended to provoke one of the citizens who had reported the previous explosion.

Determining that Griffith had violated state law regarding the criminal use of explosives—a felony in Kansas—Deputy Gaede attempted to arrest him. After securing one handcuff on Griffith’s left wrist, Griffith resisted, turned away, and drew a concealed revolver from his waistband. He fired five rounds, critically wounding Deputy Gaede. Despite his injuries, Deputy Gaede returned fire, discharging eight rounds and killing Griffith.

A backup deputy arrived within seconds and began life-saving efforts. Deputy Gaede was transported to a local hospital, where he died shortly after arrival.

As part of the ongoing investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant for Griffith’s residence. The Kansas Highway Patrol Hazardous Devices Unit assisted with the search, which uncovered more than 33 pounds of explosive materials, including ammonium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate, and commercial blasting caps. Investigators also recovered over 20 firearms and a large stockpile of ammunition.

The investigation has not revealed that Griffith targeted Deputy Gaede.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate. Upon completion, the case will be submitted to the Phillips County Attorney for review.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751127258786.png" alt="Deputy Brandon Gaede" />
 <figcaption>Deputy Brandon Gaede</figcaption>
 </figure>PHILLIPSBURG, Kan. —&nbsp;The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday evening, June 27, in Phillipsburg, Kansas, resulting in the deaths of Phillips County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Gaede and suspect Kolton Griffith.Over the past several days, detectives and forensic investigators have processed the scene, conducted interviews, and collected evidence. The Sheriff’s Office is now providing new details about the sequence of events that led to the deadly encounter, according Sedgwick County Sheriff's Spokesman Brandon Stitt.At approximately 6:02 p.m., the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office received its first report of an explosion near 1st and E Streets. The responding deputy was initially unable to locate the source and cleared the area, believing fireworks may have caused the noise.By 8:31 p.m., dispatchers received three additional calls reporting loud booms in the same vicinity. Deputy Gaede responded, spoke with concerned residents, and began searching for the source of the explosions. He contacted Griffith, who lived at 899 1st Street. Griffith denied involvement in the detonations, and Deputy Gaede cleared the call around 8:48 p.m. but remained nearby.Believing the explosions were not commercial-grade fireworks, Deputy Gaede began reviewing Kansas statutes related to the criminal use of explosives.At 9:18 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office received another report of an explosion from the same area. Deputy Gaede, who was still in the area, observed smoke and made contact with Griffith, who was standing in his front yard. Griffith admitted setting off the explosive device, stating he intended to provoke one of the citizens who had reported the previous explosion.Determining that Griffith had violated state law regarding the criminal use of explosives—a felony in Kansas—Deputy Gaede attempted to arrest him. After securing one handcuff on Griffith’s left wrist, Griffith resisted, turned away, and drew a concealed revolver from his waistband. He fired five rounds, critically wounding Deputy Gaede. Despite his injuries, Deputy Gaede returned fire, discharging eight rounds and killing Griffith.A backup deputy arrived within seconds and began life-saving efforts. Deputy Gaede was transported to a local hospital, where he died shortly after arrival.As part of the ongoing investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant for Griffith’s residence. The Kansas Highway Patrol Hazardous Devices Unit assisted with the search, which uncovered more than 33 pounds of explosive materials, including ammonium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate, and commercial blasting caps. Investigators also recovered over 20 firearms and a large stockpile of ammunition.The investigation has not revealed that Griffith targeted Deputy Gaede.The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate. Upon completion, the case will be submitted to the Phillips County Attorney for review.

New details on the encounter that left Kan. sheriff's deputy, suspect dead

MCPHERSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged online threats against children in McPherson County.

Just before 7p.m. Wednesday, the Marquette, Kansas Police department learned of a video posted on TikTok threatening harm to children who attend the Marquette Learning Center,&nbsp;310 Swedonia Street in the City of Marquette, according to a media release from the McPherson County Sheriff.

Following an investigation, deputies identified a suspect. According to online booking records, 53-year-old Steven Patrick of Marquette was arrested&nbsp; on requested charges of aggravated criminal threat and criminal threat.&nbsp;

An officer was assigned to the Learning Center during normal business hours Thursday to ensure safety of the children and staff, according to the sheriff's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751556875146.png" alt="Patrick. photo McPherson County" />
 <figcaption>Patrick. photo McPherson County</figcaption>
 </figure>MCPHERSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged online threats against children in McPherson County.Just before 7p.m. Wednesday, the Marquette, Kansas Police department learned of a video posted on TikTok threatening harm to children who attend the Marquette Learning Center,&nbsp;310 Swedonia Street in the City of Marquette, according to a media release from the McPherson County Sheriff.Following an investigation, deputies identified a suspect. According to online booking records, 53-year-old Steven Patrick of Marquette was arrested&nbsp; on requested charges of aggravated criminal threat and criminal threat.&nbsp;An officer was assigned to the Learning Center during normal business hours Thursday to ensure safety of the children and staff, according to the sheriff's office.

Sheriff: Kansas man made social media threat to harm children

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in connection with sex crimes involving a runaway teen is due back in Judge Quentin Pittman's courtroom Thursday afternoon for a plea hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's ofice.

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/inmatesearch/Details.aspx?Id=747078">Samuel Loredo, 22, is charged</a>&nbsp;with 3 counts of Criminal Sodomy, 2 counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child, 1 count of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, 1 count of Aggravated Interference With Parental Custody, and 2 counts of Contributing to a Child’s Misconduct, according to the District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just after noon November 18, law enforcement in Murray, Kentucky informed the Wichita Police Department that a 14-year-old runaway may be in Wichita based on their investigation, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.

Wichita police responded to the area of 2300 N Woodlawn where it was believed that the child may have been. Patrol and Investigations began working together to find additional information to locate the juvenile and determine the circumstances around their presence in Wichita.

Throughout the afternoon and the evening detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked to conduct additional interviews. Through those interviews, detectives determined that Loredo was communicating with the 14-year-old and arranged for the juvenile to travel to Wichita.

As a result of the investigation, police arrested&nbsp; Loredo, and booked him into Sedgwick County Jail.

Officers with the Wichita Police Department NET team located the juvenile wandering the area.&nbsp; &nbsp;Loredo remains jailed on bonds totaling&nbsp;$1,870,000.00, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732208663228.png" alt="Loredo photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Loredo photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in connection with sex crimes involving a runaway teen is due back in Judge Quentin Pittman's courtroom Thursday afternoon for a plea hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's ofice.<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/inmatesearch/Details.aspx?Id=747078">Samuel Loredo, 22, is charged</a>&nbsp;with 3 counts of Criminal Sodomy, 2 counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child, 1 count of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, 1 count of Aggravated Interference With Parental Custody, and 2 counts of Contributing to a Child’s Misconduct, according to the District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just after noon November 18, law enforcement in Murray, Kentucky informed the Wichita Police Department that a 14-year-old runaway may be in Wichita based on their investigation, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.Wichita police responded to the area of 2300 N Woodlawn where it was believed that the child may have been. Patrol and Investigations began working together to find additional information to locate the juvenile and determine the circumstances around their presence in Wichita.Throughout the afternoon and the evening detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked to conduct additional interviews. Through those interviews, detectives determined that Loredo was communicating with the 14-year-old and arranged for the juvenile to travel to Wichita.As a result of the investigation, police arrested&nbsp; Loredo, and booked him into Sedgwick County Jail.Officers with the Wichita Police Department NET team located the juvenile wandering the area.&nbsp; &nbsp;Loredo remains jailed on bonds totaling&nbsp;$1,870,000.00, according to online jail records.

Kan. man accused of sex crimes with runaway is due back in court

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Bryan Kohberger&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kohberger-idaho-students-killed-plea-deal-9226e0768186084d1748d72fa1ed587e">pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;to murder Wednesday in the brutal stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students in 2022 that stunned and terrified the campus and set off a nationwide search, which ended weeks later when he was arrested in Pennsylvania.

<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the full affidavit, which explains the basis for Kohberger's arrest.

Kohberger, who was a criminal justice graduate student at nearby Washington State University, admitted to the slayings before entering a formal guilty plea in a deal with prosecutors that will allow him to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-murders-students-stabbed-kohberger-da6b7758a2beda6c05a5373286f6a692">avoid the death penalty</a>. He was set to go to trial in August.

Idaho Fourth Judicial District Judge Steven Hippler said as the hearing began Wednesday that he would not take into account public opinion when deciding whether to accept the agreement.

“This court cannot require the prosecutor to seek the death penalty, nor would it be appropriate for this court to do that," he said. "This court … cannot force the state to seek the death penalty.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/moscow-idaho-boise-university-of-d0ed74d74bd11f3c58e5f78ea52a0b6c">The small farming community</a>&nbsp;of Moscow, in the northern Idaho panhandle, had not had a homicide in about five years when Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen were found dead at a rental home near campus on Nov. 13, 2022. Autopsies showed the four victims were all likely asleep when they were attacked. Some had defensive wounds and each was stabbed multiple times.

Long before sunrise Wednesday, reporters were setting up cameras outside the courthouse in Boise and lining up along with those hoping to snag a seat for the hearing.

The killings grabbed headlines around the world and set off a nationwide hunt, including an elaborate effort to track down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-pennsylvania-idaho-5f5173a3af306701d5659f2fb61a9d44">a white sedan</a>&nbsp;spotted on surveillance cameras repeatedly driving by the rental home. Police said they used genetic genealogy to identify Kohberger as a possible suspect and accessed cellphone data to pinpoint his movements the night of the killings.

At the time, Kohberger was a criminal justice graduate student at nearby Washington State University who had just completed his first semester and was a teaching assistant in the criminology program.

Kohberger was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/law-enforcement-idaho-pennsylvania-crime-5a9c3c1117dbf2efcd37cdf04e5c01ae">arrested in Pennsylvania</a>, where his parents lived, weeks later. Investigators said they matched his DNA to genetic material recovered from a knife sheath found at the crime scene.

Online shopping records showed that Kohberger had purchased a military-style knife months earlier — as well as a sheath like the one found at the scene.

No motive has emerged for the killings, nor is it clear why the attacker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/911-call-idaho-university-students-killed-kohberger-b6212886cfef1a269c0e172462f227e9">spared two roommates</a>&nbsp;who were in the home. There also was no indication he had a relationship with any of the victims,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kohberger-idaho-students-killed-victims-5ab2369325a207db21541bccbbc11434">who all were friends</a>&nbsp;and members of the university’s Greek system.

Authorities have said cellphone data and surveillance video show that Kohberger visited the victims’ neighborhood at least a dozen times before the killings, and that he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-pennsylvania-idaho-5f5173a3af306701d5659f2fb61a9d44">traveled in the same area</a>&nbsp;that night.

Kohberger’s lawyers said he was simply on a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-students-stabbed-bryan-kohberger-alibi-9854c98806921d698dd85a896481f5f2">long drive by himself</a>&nbsp;around the time the four were killed.

The case was moved to Boise because of pretrial publicity in northern Idaho. Hippler must approve the plea deal. If Kohberger pleads guilty as expected, he would likely be sentenced in July.

Although the Goncalves family opposed the agreement and said they would seek to stop it, they also argued that any such deal should require Kohberger to make a full confession, detail the facts of what happened and provide the location of the murder weapon.

"We deserve to know when the beginning of the end was,” they wrote in a Facebook post.

The family of Chapin —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-idaho-boise-university-of-67fb6e86a6c1a5da47862048c794c903">one of three triplets</a>&nbsp;who attended the university together — supports the deal, their spokesperson, Christina Teves, said Tuesday.

Attorney Leander James, who represents Mogen’s mother and stepfather, declined to give their views but said he would deliver a statement on their behalf after Wednesday’s hearing. Mogen’s father, Ben Mogen, told CBS News he was relieved by the agreement.

“We can actually put this behind us and not have these future dates and future things that we don’t want to have to be at, that we shouldn’t have to be at, that have to do with this terrible person,” he said. “We get to just think about the rest of lives and have to try and figure out how to do it without Maddie and the rest of the kids.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751459170755.png" alt="Kohberger photo Ada Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Kohberger photo Ada Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Bryan Kohberger&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kohberger-idaho-students-killed-plea-deal-9226e0768186084d1748d72fa1ed587e">pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;to murder Wednesday in the brutal stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students in 2022 that stunned and terrified the campus and set off a nationwide search, which ended weeks later when he was arrested in Pennsylvania.<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the full affidavit, which explains the basis for Kohberger's arrest.Kohberger, who was a criminal justice graduate student at nearby Washington State University, admitted to the slayings before entering a formal guilty plea in a deal with prosecutors that will allow him to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-murders-students-stabbed-kohberger-da6b7758a2beda6c05a5373286f6a692">avoid the death penalty</a>. He was set to go to trial in August.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751479520041.png" alt="From top left, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle. courtesy photos" />
 <figcaption>From top left, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle. courtesy photos</figcaption>
 </figure>Idaho Fourth Judicial District Judge Steven Hippler said as the hearing began Wednesday that he would not take into account public opinion when deciding whether to accept the agreement.“This court cannot require the prosecutor to seek the death penalty, nor would it be appropriate for this court to do that," he said. "This court … cannot force the state to seek the death penalty.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/moscow-idaho-boise-university-of-d0ed74d74bd11f3c58e5f78ea52a0b6c">The small farming community</a>&nbsp;of Moscow, in the northern Idaho panhandle, had not had a homicide in about five years when Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen were found dead at a rental home near campus on Nov. 13, 2022. Autopsies showed the four victims were all likely asleep when they were attacked. Some had defensive wounds and each was stabbed multiple times.Long before sunrise Wednesday, reporters were setting up cameras outside the courthouse in Boise and lining up along with those hoping to snag a seat for the hearing.The killings grabbed headlines around the world and set off a nationwide hunt, including an elaborate effort to track down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-pennsylvania-idaho-5f5173a3af306701d5659f2fb61a9d44">a white sedan</a>&nbsp;spotted on surveillance cameras repeatedly driving by the rental home. Police said they used genetic genealogy to identify Kohberger as a possible suspect and accessed cellphone data to pinpoint his movements the night of the killings.At the time, Kohberger was a criminal justice graduate student at nearby Washington State University who had just completed his first semester and was a teaching assistant in the criminology program.Kohberger was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/law-enforcement-idaho-pennsylvania-crime-5a9c3c1117dbf2efcd37cdf04e5c01ae">arrested in Pennsylvania</a>, where his parents lived, weeks later. Investigators said they matched his DNA to genetic material recovered from a knife sheath found at the crime scene.Online shopping records showed that Kohberger had purchased a military-style knife months earlier — as well as a sheath like the one found at the scene.No motive has emerged for the killings, nor is it clear why the attacker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/911-call-idaho-university-students-killed-kohberger-b6212886cfef1a269c0e172462f227e9">spared two roommates</a>&nbsp;who were in the home. There also was no indication he had a relationship with any of the victims,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kohberger-idaho-students-killed-victims-5ab2369325a207db21541bccbbc11434">who all were friends</a>&nbsp;and members of the university’s Greek system.Authorities have said cellphone data and surveillance video show that Kohberger visited the victims’ neighborhood at least a dozen times before the killings, and that he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-pennsylvania-idaho-5f5173a3af306701d5659f2fb61a9d44">traveled in the same area</a>&nbsp;that night.Kohberger’s lawyers said he was simply on a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-students-stabbed-bryan-kohberger-alibi-9854c98806921d698dd85a896481f5f2">long drive by himself</a>&nbsp;around the time the four were killed.The case was moved to Boise because of pretrial publicity in northern Idaho. Hippler must approve the plea deal. If Kohberger pleads guilty as expected, he would likely be sentenced in July.Although the Goncalves family opposed the agreement and said they would seek to stop it, they also argued that any such deal should require Kohberger to make a full confession, detail the facts of what happened and provide the location of the murder weapon."We deserve to know when the beginning of the end was,” they wrote in a Facebook post.The family of Chapin —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-idaho-boise-university-of-67fb6e86a6c1a5da47862048c794c903">one of three triplets</a>&nbsp;who attended the university together — supports the deal, their spokesperson, Christina Teves, said Tuesday.Attorney Leander James, who represents Mogen’s mother and stepfather, declined to give their views but said he would deliver a statement on their behalf after Wednesday’s hearing. Mogen’s father, Ben Mogen, told CBS News he was relieved by the agreement.“We can actually put this behind us and not have these future dates and future things that we don’t want to have to be at, that we shouldn’t have to be at, that have to do with this terrible person,” he said. “We get to just think about the rest of lives and have to try and figure out how to do it without Maddie and the rest of the kids.”___

Plea deal: Man admits killing 4 Idaho students to avoid death penalty

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a Sunday homicide in Kansas City, Kansas have identified the victim who died as 19-year-old&nbsp;Jesse Marquez of Kansas City, Kansas, according to a statement from police.

Just before 7:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 2700 Block of S. 8th Terrace in Kansas City, Kansas.

First responders discovered&nbsp; Marquez outside a residence, the victim of apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased on scene. The suspects fled the scene in a vehicle prior to officers arrival. This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit.&nbsp; Police have not released details on an arrest.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a Sunday homicide in Kansas City, Kansas have identified the victim who died as 19-year-old&nbsp;Jesse Marquez of Kansas City, Kansas, according to a statement from police.Just before 7:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 2700 Block of S. 8th Terrace in Kansas City, Kansas.First responders discovered&nbsp; Marquez outside a residence, the victim of apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased on scene. The suspects fled the scene in a vehicle prior to officers arrival. This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit.&nbsp; Police have not released details on an arrest.

Police: Kansas teen identified as homicide victim

NEW YORK (AP) — Sean “Diddy Combs was convicted of a prostitution-related offense but acquitted Wednesday of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put one of hip-hop’s most celebrated figures behind bars for life.

The mixed result came on the third day of deliberations. It could still send Combs, 55, to prison for as long as a decade, and is likely to end his career as a hitmaking music executive, fashion entrepreneur, brand ambassador and reality TV star.

But the verdict cleared him of charges that could have put one of hip-hop’s most celebrated figures behind bars for life.

After they read the verdict, Combs held his hands up in a prayer motion, looking at jury and hugged his defense lawyer Teny Geragos.

Combs was convicted of flying people around the country, including his girlfriends and paid male sex workers, to engage in sexual encounters, a felony violation of the federal Mann Act.

But the jury of eight men and four women acquitted Combs of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, related to allegations that he used his money, power and frightening physical force to manipulate his girlfriends into hundreds of drug-fueled sex marathons with the men.

Combs and his defense team argued that the women were willing participants and that none of his violence justified the severity of the charges.

After the verdict was read, Combs continued to pump his right fist subtly, seemingly satisfied that he was acquitted on the most serious charges.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian was weighing whether to grant Combs bail in the wake of the verdict. He adjourned the court while he considers whether to free Combs on bail.

Combs, 55, has been behind bars since his arrest in September. His lawyers argued that the acquittal on the most serious counts changed the legal landscape enough that he should get bail.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sean-diddy-combs">Combs</a>&nbsp;seemed buoyant arriving in the courtroom earlier Wednesday morning, a contrast to his mood a day earlier after he learned that the jury at his sex trafficking trial had reached a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sean-combs-diddy-trial-jury-deliberations-25c62300cae33ca9f18aee28788449b5">yet-to-be-disclosed verdict</a>&nbsp;on all but one of the five charges.

Combs smiled and clasped his hands together in the air toward his family and supporters before hugging several of his lawyers and sitting down to await the outcome of the jury's third day of deliberations.

On Tuesday, Subramanian ordered the jury to continue its closed-door discussions for a third day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diddy-sean-combs-trial-jury-jurors-81dec675f8c17599dfafa0829517470a">the panel of eight men and four women</a>&nbsp;said it was unable to reach consensus on the top count: racketeering conspiracy.

The judge agreed with prosecutors and Combs’ defense team that less than 13 hours of deliberations was too soon to give up on reaching a verdict on all counts.

In a note to the court late Tuesday, the jury said “unpersuadable opinions on both sides” among some jurors had prevented the group from reaching a unanimous verdict on the racketeering conspiracy charge.

The disclosure of Tuesday's jury note about the partial verdict had seemed to put defense attorneys and their client in a dour mood even before it was read in open court by the judge.

Eight defense lawyers formed a half-circle behind Combs as the smiles and lighthearted mood that accompanied the arrival of other jury notes over two days seemed absent as the attorneys contemplated the possibility that jurors had reached agreement on counts that carry the heaviest sentencing penalties.

Combs appeared morose as his lawyers spoke with him. At one point,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diddy-sean-combs-timeline-f9c343652872f787a73069d50a821611">the hip-hop mogul</a>&nbsp;solemnly read a piece of paper that attorney Marc Agnifilo handed to him.

After the jury came in for instructions and then exited the room, a subdued Combs sat in his chair for a few minutes. As he stood to leave, he faced his relatives and supporters in the audience, blew a kiss and tapped his heart, as he frequently has done at the start and end of each day.

Then he paused before his mother and exchanged a few words, telling her, “Love you” and “I’ll be all right.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751300290551.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Sean “Diddy Combs was convicted of a prostitution-related offense but acquitted Wednesday of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put one of hip-hop’s most celebrated figures behind bars for life.The mixed result came on the third day of deliberations. It could still send Combs, 55, to prison for as long as a decade, and is likely to end his career as a hitmaking music executive, fashion entrepreneur, brand ambassador and reality TV star.But the verdict cleared him of charges that could have put one of hip-hop’s most celebrated figures behind bars for life.After they read the verdict, Combs held his hands up in a prayer motion, looking at jury and hugged his defense lawyer Teny Geragos.Combs was convicted of flying people around the country, including his girlfriends and paid male sex workers, to engage in sexual encounters, a felony violation of the federal Mann Act.But the jury of eight men and four women acquitted Combs of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges, related to allegations that he used his money, power and frightening physical force to manipulate his girlfriends into hundreds of drug-fueled sex marathons with the men.Combs and his defense team argued that the women were willing participants and that none of his violence justified the severity of the charges.After the verdict was read, Combs continued to pump his right fist subtly, seemingly satisfied that he was acquitted on the most serious charges.U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian was weighing whether to grant Combs bail in the wake of the verdict. He adjourned the court while he considers whether to free Combs on bail.Combs, 55, has been behind bars since his arrest in September. His lawyers argued that the acquittal on the most serious counts changed the legal landscape enough that he should get bail.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sean-diddy-combs">Combs</a>&nbsp;seemed buoyant arriving in the courtroom earlier Wednesday morning, a contrast to his mood a day earlier after he learned that the jury at his sex trafficking trial had reached a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sean-combs-diddy-trial-jury-deliberations-25c62300cae33ca9f18aee28788449b5">yet-to-be-disclosed verdict</a>&nbsp;on all but one of the five charges.Combs smiled and clasped his hands together in the air toward his family and supporters before hugging several of his lawyers and sitting down to await the outcome of the jury's third day of deliberations.On Tuesday, Subramanian ordered the jury to continue its closed-door discussions for a third day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diddy-sean-combs-trial-jury-jurors-81dec675f8c17599dfafa0829517470a">the panel of eight men and four women</a>&nbsp;said it was unable to reach consensus on the top count: racketeering conspiracy.The judge agreed with prosecutors and Combs’ defense team that less than 13 hours of deliberations was too soon to give up on reaching a verdict on all counts.In a note to the court late Tuesday, the jury said “unpersuadable opinions on both sides” among some jurors had prevented the group from reaching a unanimous verdict on the racketeering conspiracy charge.The disclosure of Tuesday's jury note about the partial verdict had seemed to put defense attorneys and their client in a dour mood even before it was read in open court by the judge.Eight defense lawyers formed a half-circle behind Combs as the smiles and lighthearted mood that accompanied the arrival of other jury notes over two days seemed absent as the attorneys contemplated the possibility that jurors had reached agreement on counts that carry the heaviest sentencing penalties.Combs appeared morose as his lawyers spoke with him. At one point,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diddy-sean-combs-timeline-f9c343652872f787a73069d50a821611">the hip-hop mogul</a>&nbsp;solemnly read a piece of paper that attorney Marc Agnifilo handed to him.After the jury came in for instructions and then exited the room, a subdued Combs sat in his chair for a few minutes. As he stood to leave, he faced his relatives and supporters in the audience, blew a kiss and tapped his heart, as he frequently has done at the start and end of each day.Then he paused before his mother and exchanged a few words, telling her, “Love you” and “I’ll be all right.”Marshals then led him from the room.

Split verdict: Sean “Diddy” Combs not guilty on most serious charges

KANSAS CITY—A man wounded in a shooting last month has died.

Just before 3:30a.m. June 15, officers were dispatched to Truman and Prospect Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri.&nbsp; First responders located a victim, later identified as 24-year-old Jalin Brewer, inside a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. 

EMS transported Brewer to an area hospital for treatment&nbsp;&nbsp;Detectives were notified on Tuesday he died as a result of his injuries. Preliminary investigation indicated this was a result of an argument that led to gunfire. Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

KANSAS CITY—A man wounded in a shooting last month has died.Just before 3:30a.m. June 15, officers were dispatched to Truman and Prospect Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri.&nbsp; First responders located a victim, later identified as 24-year-old Jalin Brewer, inside a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. EMS transported Brewer to an area hospital for treatment&nbsp;&nbsp;Detectives were notified on Tuesday he died as a result of his injuries. Preliminary investigation indicated this was a result of an argument that led to gunfire. Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

Victim dies two-weeks after wounded in Kansas City shooting

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspects on multiple allegations

&nbsp;Just after&nbsp; 3:30 a.m. Monday, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a person with a gun threatening people and a report of multiple gun shots at 18199 S. Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Deputies responded to the location and while on scene discovered that a pickup at the residence was used in running down a man on a motorcycle causing injuries to the man. It was reported that the pickup also struck a second vehicle.

On Monday, Jackson County Sheriff Deputies and Detectives served a search warrant at the scene. Three juveniles that were found staying at the residence were placed into police protective custody.

Chellcie Lynn Sparks, 37, of Mayetta was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of attempted second degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, criminal threat, criminal restraint, aggravated endangering a child, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; The sheriff's office released no details on the condition of the motorcyclist.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751399232739.png" alt="Sparks photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Sparks photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspects on multiple allegations&nbsp;Just after&nbsp; 3:30 a.m. Monday, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a person with a gun threatening people and a report of multiple gun shots at 18199 S. Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Deputies responded to the location and while on scene discovered that a pickup at the residence was used in running down a man on a motorcycle causing injuries to the man. It was reported that the pickup also struck a second vehicle.On Monday, Jackson County Sheriff Deputies and Detectives served a search warrant at the scene. Three juveniles that were found staying at the residence were placed into police protective custody.Chellcie Lynn Sparks, 37, of Mayetta was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of attempted second degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, criminal threat, criminal restraint, aggravated endangering a child, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; The sheriff's office released no details on the condition of the motorcyclist.

Kansas woman accused of running motorcyclist down with a pickup

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.

Just before 3:30p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;June 24, a Sheriff’s Deputy&nbsp;conducted a traffic stop on a white Ford Taurus in the 1700 block of SW Topeka Boulevard, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. A K-9 Unit assisted and illegal narcotics were located.&nbsp;

Dee’Yana A. S. Scaggs, 20, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant and Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body

Stanley K. Lawton, 76, of Topeka, was also arrested and booked into the SNDOC for Topeka bench warrants. He has previous drug convictions and was in the Kansas prison system from 1984-2004, according the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751294324511.png" alt="Lawton photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Lawton photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.Just before 3:30p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;June 24, a Sheriff’s Deputy&nbsp;conducted a traffic stop on a white Ford Taurus in the 1700 block of SW Topeka Boulevard, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. A K-9 Unit assisted and illegal narcotics were located.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751294285377.png" alt="Scaggs photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Scaggs photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Dee’Yana A. S. Scaggs, 20, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant and Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human bodyStanley K. Lawton, 76, of Topeka, was also arrested and booked into the SNDOC for Topeka bench warrants. He has previous drug convictions and was in the Kansas prison system from 1984-2004, according the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kan. couple with 56-year age difference caught with illegal drugs

TREGO COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating three suspects on drug allegations in Trego County.

Trego County Sheriff's Deputies and WaKeeney Police executed a search warrant at a local residence, according to a social media report from the sheriff's office. 

Officers made 3 arrests and seized fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana, along with a multitude of drug paraphernalia. 

"The Trego County Sheriff’s Office and the WaKeeney Police Department are committed to keeping our community safe and keeping these dangerous drugs out."

These individuals have been charged with intent to distribute within 1000’ of a school, according to the sheriff's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751377936724.png" alt="Photo Trego County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Trego County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>TREGO COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating three suspects on drug allegations in Trego County.Trego County Sheriff's Deputies and WaKeeney Police executed a search warrant at a local residence, according to a social media report from the sheriff's office. Officers made 3 arrests and seized fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana, along with a multitude of drug paraphernalia. "The Trego County Sheriff’s Office and the WaKeeney Police Department are committed to keeping our community safe and keeping these dangerous drugs out."These individuals have been charged with intent to distribute within 1000’ of a school, according to the sheriff's office.

Officers seized fentanyl, meth and made 3 arrests in NW Kansas

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement investigating a deadly weekend shooting in Wichita have made an arrest.&nbsp;

Just after 6p.m. on Monday police<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/inmatesearch/Details.aspx?Id=228061"> booked 27-year-old Elijah Fanning</a> into the Sedgwick County Jail, according to online booking records. Fanning is being held on requested charges of 2nd degree murder, criminal discharge of a firearm, criminal possession of a weapon and for an outstanding warrant, according to a media release from police.

The investigation began at 2:26 p.m. on&nbsp; Saturday, when officers responded to a shooting in the 2700 block of W. 2nd Street in Wichita.

First responders found a 26 year old Wichita man on the ground with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Detectives learned the shooting followed a disturbance between the victim and four other males. All four fled the area before officers arrived.

One person of interest remains outstanding. Investigators are actively working leads to locate the remaining suspect involved.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751242881236.png" alt="Police at the scene Sunday-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene Sunday-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement investigating a deadly weekend shooting in Wichita have made an arrest.&nbsp;Just after 6p.m. on Monday police<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/inmatesearch/Details.aspx?Id=228061"> booked 27-year-old Elijah Fanning</a> into the Sedgwick County Jail, according to online booking records. Fanning is being held on requested charges of 2nd degree murder, criminal discharge of a firearm, criminal possession of a weapon and for an outstanding warrant, according to a media release from police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751366599042.png" alt="Fanning-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Fanning-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>The investigation began at 2:26 p.m. on&nbsp; Saturday, when officers responded to a shooting in the 2700 block of W. 2nd Street in Wichita.First responders found a 26 year old Wichita man on the ground with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Detectives learned the shooting followed a disturbance between the victim and four other males. All four fled the area before officers arrived.One person of interest remains outstanding. Investigators are actively working leads to locate the remaining suspect involved.

Police: Kan. suspect arrested for weekend homicide

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a violent altercation that injured two teenagers at a skate park in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just after 1a.m. Sunday, police&nbsp;responded to report of a disturbance at 6401 NE Pleasant Valley Road in Kansas City, according to a statement from police.

First responders learned that a girl had been struck by a car, which fled the scene. They also learned that a teenager girl had arrived at a hospital with a gunshot wound. The 15-year-old shooting victim told hospital staff she was shot at Pleasant Valley Skate Park, according to police.

The injured girl reported a verbal altercation broke out and people began pushing and hitting the vehicle she was in. The driver of the vehicle, who was listed as a victim of aggravated assault, began to drive away as the altercation continued.

Someone fired a gun as they drove off. The gunshots struck the car and the girl who was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The driver and other victim was a 16-year-old girl.&nbsp; Police have not reported a possible suspect or an arrest.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a violent altercation that injured two teenagers at a skate park in Kansas City, Missouri.Just after 1a.m. Sunday, police&nbsp;responded to report of a disturbance at 6401 NE Pleasant Valley Road in Kansas City, according to a statement from police.First responders learned that a girl had been struck by a car, which fled the scene. They also learned that a teenager girl had arrived at a hospital with a gunshot wound. The 15-year-old shooting victim told hospital staff she was shot at Pleasant Valley Skate Park, according to police.The injured girl reported a verbal altercation broke out and people began pushing and hitting the vehicle she was in. The driver of the vehicle, who was listed as a victim of aggravated assault, began to drive away as the altercation continued.Someone fired a gun as they drove off. The gunshots struck the car and the girl who was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The driver and other victim was a 16-year-old girl.&nbsp; Police have not reported a possible suspect or an arrest.

Girls hurt in disturbance, shooting at Kansas City skate park

The Trump administration wants Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to raid worksites in the agriculture and hospitality industries, despite an initial reprieve this month. Experts say the policy could hurt businesses that rely on immigrant workers.

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/harvestpublicmedia" target="_blank">Harvest Public Media</a>

Under orders from the Trump administration, ICE is ramping up arrests and deportations, with a reported goal to make a minimum of 3,000 arrests each day. That includes raids on farms, ranches and dairies.

The approach to immigration enforcement among farm workers continues to swing back and forth under the Trump administration.

On Friday, President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-he-is-looking-new-steps-farm-labor-2025-06-20/" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;he’s considering a new policy that would allow the agriculture industry to keep employing immigrants who are not authorized to work, if farmers and ranchers can assume “responsibility” for their workers.

“We're looking at doing something where, in the case of good, reputable farmers, they can take responsibility for the people that they hire and let them have responsibility, because we can't put the farms out of business," Trump said at a recent press conference. "And at the same time we don't want to hurt people that aren't criminals."

Yet last week, the Department of Homeland Security told Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/06/16/trump-farms-hotels-immigration-raids/?utm_campaign=wp_main&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social" target="_blank">continue raids</a>&nbsp;on farms, ranches and dairies across the United States.

That directive was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/us/politics/trump-ice-raids-farms-hotels.html" target="_blank">briefly paused</a>&nbsp;by Trump following large ICE operations earlier this month — including the arrests of more than 70 people at a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/people-are-scared-ice-agents-raid-facilities-in-omaha/" target="_blank">meat-packing facility</a>&nbsp;in Omaha, Nebraska. At the time, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114670684664650262" target="_blank">wrote on Truth Social</a>&nbsp;that the policy was “very aggressive” and could take long-time immigrant workers away from farms.

Despite&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/16/nx-s1-5430846/farming-industry-immigration-ice-worksite-enforcement-trump" target="_blank">pushback</a>&nbsp;from some leaders in the agriculture industry, as well as people advocating for immigrant worker rights, the Trump administration then&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/19/trump-immigration-raids-farms-hotels-border-czar" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;it will continue targeting agriculture worksites, as well as in the hospitality industry, with a focus on people with a criminal background.

Many in the agriculture industry are concerned the policy will constrict labor and hurt both the farm business and everyday consumers. That includes Matt Teagarden, the head of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kla.org/" target="_blank">Kansas Livestock Association</a>, which represents more than 5,000 members in the state.

“These raids disrupt our food supply and contribute to higher food prices,” Teagarden said. “In addition to the workers who’ve been detained, these raids contribute to fear in these communities and lead to workers— fully legal workers — staying home out of fear.”

Under orders from the Trump administration, ICE is ramping up arrests and deportations around the U.S., with a reported goal to make a minimum of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ices-tactics-draw-criticism-it-triples-daily-arrest-targets-2025-06-10/" target="_blank">3,000 arrests</a>&nbsp;each day.

“There will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent criminals or purposely try to undermine ICE’s efforts,” said Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, during an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/homeland-security-official-on-the-trump-administrations-immigration-policy-changes" target="_blank">interview with PBS</a>. “Worksite enforcement remains a cornerstone of our efforts to safeguard public safety, national security and economic stability.”

For immigrant workers and the rural communities who depend on their labor, the potential for incoming raids is concerning, said Sonia Parras, an immigration attorney in Des Moines, Iowa.

“The unintended consequence is that they destroyed the lives of the immigrant community, but also the industries, the mom-and-pops shops, and businesses,” Parras said. “Is the cost of a raid — on U.S. citizens and the economy of a town and surrounding areas — worth extracting or detaining immigrants in the area?”

In 2008, Parras provided pro-bono legal services when&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2008/06/09/91327136/immigration-raid-leaves-mark-on-iowa-town" target="_blank">ICE raided a meat-packing plant</a>&nbsp;and arrested nearly 400 people in Postville, Iowa. This past week, she said her phone has been ringing “off the hook” with people calling in a panic, asking for help if they get arrested.

“When the administration — to me — prioritizes punitive enforcement that targets these workers, it creates a bit of a paradox where the very workforce that the farmers relied upon is being driven into the shadows,” said Parras.

Throughout the country, 42% of farm workers were not legally authorized to work in the U.S. in 2022, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/chart-detail?chartId=63466" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Another 19% were immigrants authorized to work through visas or who had legal permanent resident status.

Although Teagarden and others in the agriculture industry support immigration enforcement in the form of “securing” the southern U.S. border and “removing violent criminals,” he said they want to work with Trump and Congress to address the issue in a “reasonable way” that supports the industry.

“It really is clear to me that the people pushing for these raids that target farms and feed yards and dairies, have no idea how farms operate.” Teagarden said. “You can’t just turn off a cow. It doesn’t work that way. Cows have to be milked, cattle have to be fed.”

Work from immigrants in the agriculture industry has allowed labor costs for farmers and ranchers to remain low, and ultimately keep food prices lower for consumers, according to David Ortega, a professor of food economics and policy at Michigan State University.

“The agricultural sector relies heavily on migrant workers in order to do some of those critical activities that many U.S. born workers are either unable or unwilling to perform,” Ortega said. “Things like harvesting, planting, working in meatpacking plants, all of the critical activities that are needed to get food from the farm all the way to the table.”

Some agriculture stakeholders throughout the Midwest, particularly in the specialty crop sector who rely on immigrant labor, are already raising concerns, Ortega said. Without some protections in place for immigrants working in the agriculture industry, the enforcement policy is having a “chilling effect” on workers who are not easily replaced — even those who are authorized to work in the U.S. — he said.

“It's not surprising that we're seeing producers reach out to individuals in elected positions, noting that these activities, the rhetoric that the Trump administration has on illegal immigration and these mass deportations, are affecting their business,” Ortega said.

This story was produced in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/harvestpublicmedia" target="_blank">Harvest Public Media</a>, a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest and Great Plains. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751055280443.png" alt="A Mason /&nbsp;U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement" />
 <figcaption>A Mason /&nbsp;U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The Trump administration wants Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to raid worksites in the agriculture and hospitality industries, despite an initial reprieve this month. Experts say the policy could hurt businesses that rely on immigrant workers.</h2><a href="https://www.kcur.org/harvestpublicmedia" target="_blank">Harvest Public Media</a>Under orders from the Trump administration, ICE is ramping up arrests and deportations, with a reported goal to make a minimum of 3,000 arrests each day. That includes raids on farms, ranches and dairies.The approach to immigration enforcement among farm workers continues to swing back and forth under the Trump administration.On Friday, President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-he-is-looking-new-steps-farm-labor-2025-06-20/" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;he’s considering a new policy that would allow the agriculture industry to keep employing immigrants who are not authorized to work, if farmers and ranchers can assume “responsibility” for their workers.“We're looking at doing something where, in the case of good, reputable farmers, they can take responsibility for the people that they hire and let them have responsibility, because we can't put the farms out of business," Trump said at a recent press conference. "And at the same time we don't want to hurt people that aren't criminals."Yet last week, the Department of Homeland Security told Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/06/16/trump-farms-hotels-immigration-raids/?utm_campaign=wp_main&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social" target="_blank">continue raids</a>&nbsp;on farms, ranches and dairies across the United States.That directive was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/us/politics/trump-ice-raids-farms-hotels.html" target="_blank">briefly paused</a>&nbsp;by Trump following large ICE operations earlier this month — including the arrests of more than 70 people at a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/people-are-scared-ice-agents-raid-facilities-in-omaha/" target="_blank">meat-packing facility</a>&nbsp;in Omaha, Nebraska. At the time, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114670684664650262" target="_blank">wrote on Truth Social</a>&nbsp;that the policy was “very aggressive” and could take long-time immigrant workers away from farms.Despite&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/06/16/nx-s1-5430846/farming-industry-immigration-ice-worksite-enforcement-trump" target="_blank">pushback</a>&nbsp;from some leaders in the agriculture industry, as well as people advocating for immigrant worker rights, the Trump administration then&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/06/19/trump-immigration-raids-farms-hotels-border-czar" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;it will continue targeting agriculture worksites, as well as in the hospitality industry, with a focus on people with a criminal background.Many in the agriculture industry are concerned the policy will constrict labor and hurt both the farm business and everyday consumers. That includes Matt Teagarden, the head of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kla.org/" target="_blank">Kansas Livestock Association</a>, which represents more than 5,000 members in the state.“These raids disrupt our food supply and contribute to higher food prices,” Teagarden said. “In addition to the workers who’ve been detained, these raids contribute to fear in these communities and lead to workers— fully legal workers — staying home out of fear.”Under orders from the Trump administration, ICE is ramping up arrests and deportations around the U.S., with a reported goal to make a minimum of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ices-tactics-draw-criticism-it-triples-daily-arrest-targets-2025-06-10/" target="_blank">3,000 arrests</a>&nbsp;each day.“There will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent criminals or purposely try to undermine ICE’s efforts,” said Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, during an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/homeland-security-official-on-the-trump-administrations-immigration-policy-changes" target="_blank">interview with PBS</a>. “Worksite enforcement remains a cornerstone of our efforts to safeguard public safety, national security and economic stability.”For immigrant workers and the rural communities who depend on their labor, the potential for incoming raids is concerning, said Sonia Parras, an immigration attorney in Des Moines, Iowa.“The unintended consequence is that they destroyed the lives of the immigrant community, but also the industries, the mom-and-pops shops, and businesses,” Parras said. “Is the cost of a raid — on U.S. citizens and the economy of a town and surrounding areas — worth extracting or detaining immigrants in the area?”In 2008, Parras provided pro-bono legal services when&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2008/06/09/91327136/immigration-raid-leaves-mark-on-iowa-town" target="_blank">ICE raided a meat-packing plant</a>&nbsp;and arrested nearly 400 people in Postville, Iowa. This past week, she said her phone has been ringing “off the hook” with people calling in a panic, asking for help if they get arrested.“When the administration — to me — prioritizes punitive enforcement that targets these workers, it creates a bit of a paradox where the very workforce that the farmers relied upon is being driven into the shadows,” said Parras.Throughout the country, 42% of farm workers were not legally authorized to work in the U.S. in 2022, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/chart-detail?chartId=63466" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Another 19% were immigrants authorized to work through visas or who had legal permanent resident status.Although Teagarden and others in the agriculture industry support immigration enforcement in the form of “securing” the southern U.S. border and “removing violent criminals,” he said they want to work with Trump and Congress to address the issue in a “reasonable way” that supports the industry.“It really is clear to me that the people pushing for these raids that target farms and feed yards and dairies, have no idea how farms operate.” Teagarden said. “You can’t just turn off a cow. It doesn’t work that way. Cows have to be milked, cattle have to be fed.”Work from immigrants in the agriculture industry has allowed labor costs for farmers and ranchers to remain low, and ultimately keep food prices lower for consumers, according to David Ortega, a professor of food economics and policy at Michigan State University.“The agricultural sector relies heavily on migrant workers in order to do some of those critical activities that many U.S. born workers are either unable or unwilling to perform,” Ortega said. “Things like harvesting, planting, working in meatpacking plants, all of the critical activities that are needed to get food from the farm all the way to the table.”Some agriculture stakeholders throughout the Midwest, particularly in the specialty crop sector who rely on immigrant labor, are already raising concerns, Ortega said. Without some protections in place for immigrants working in the agriculture industry, the enforcement policy is having a “chilling effect” on workers who are not easily replaced — even those who are authorized to work in the U.S. — he said.“It's not surprising that we're seeing producers reach out to individuals in elected positions, noting that these activities, the rhetoric that the Trump administration has on illegal immigration and these mass deportations, are affecting their business,” Ortega said.This story was produced in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/harvestpublicmedia" target="_blank">Harvest Public Media</a>, a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest and Great Plains. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues.

ICE raids push farm workers to stay home ‘out of fear.’ That could hurt U.S. food production

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man convicted in the domestic violence murder of a Wichita woman was is going to prison. On Thursday, Carlos Anderson-Honeycutt, 26, Wichita, was sentenced to life in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In March he was found guilty of the murder of&nbsp; Britnee Wicker after a jury trial.

On November, 19, 2023 police were dispatched to a shooting at a home in the 2300 block of S. Belmont in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.&nbsp;

First responders located 24-year-old Brittnee Wicker inside her home with a fatal gunshot wound. She would be pronounced deceased on the scene.&nbsp;

Following a thorough collaborative effort with law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Wichita Police Department discovered that&nbsp;Anderson-Honeycutt was in the State of Texas. Coordinating with partners in Texas, particularly the United States Customs and Border Patrol, an arrest was successfully made near Brownsville, Texas.&nbsp;

On Nov. 15, 2023 authorities booked Anderson-Honeycutt into the Sedgwick County Jail and eventually charged with 1st Degree Murder.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700924495261.png" alt="Anderson-Honeycutt-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Anderson-Honeycutt-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man convicted in the domestic violence murder of a Wichita woman was is going to prison. On Thursday, Carlos Anderson-Honeycutt, 26, Wichita, was sentenced to life in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In March he was found guilty of the murder of&nbsp; Britnee Wicker after a jury trial.On November, 19, 2023 police were dispatched to a shooting at a home in the 2300 block of S. Belmont in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700926072292.png" alt="Britnee Wicker-photo Affinity Mortuary" />
 <figcaption>Britnee Wicker-photo Affinity Mortuary</figcaption>
 </figure>First responders located 24-year-old Brittnee Wicker inside her home with a fatal gunshot wound. She would be pronounced deceased on the scene.&nbsp;Following a thorough collaborative effort with law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Wichita Police Department discovered that&nbsp;Anderson-Honeycutt was in the State of Texas. Coordinating with partners in Texas, particularly the United States Customs and Border Patrol, an arrest was successfully made near Brownsville, Texas.&nbsp;On Nov. 15, 2023 authorities booked Anderson-Honeycutt into the Sedgwick County Jail and eventually charged with 1st Degree Murder.

Man captured by DHS is going to prison for killing Kansas woman  

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to murdering four University of Idaho students as part of a deal with prosecutors to avoid the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-murders-students-stabbed-kohberger-da6b7758a2beda6c05a5373286f6a692">death penalty</a>, multiple media outlets reported Monday.

The news was delivered to families of the victims in a letter from prosecutors, according to ABC News. A change of plea hearing was set for Wednesday. Kohberger's trial had been set to begin in August.

<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the full&nbsp;unsealed affidavit, which explains the basis for Kohberger's arrest.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-idaho-students-killings-arrest-b3b1ffd8138827f0bdad16d20e17cf83">Kohberger</a>, 30, is accused in the stabbing deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves at a rental home near campus in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022. Autopsies showed the four were all likely asleep when they were attacked, some had defensive wounds and each was stabbed multiple times.

Goncalves' family expressed outrage in a Facebook post: “We are beyond furious at the State of Idaho. They have failed us. Please give us some time. This was very unexpected.”

Kohberger, then a criminal justice graduate student at Washington State University, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/law-enforcement-idaho-pennsylvania-crime-5a9c3c1117dbf2efcd37cdf04e5c01ae">arrested in Pennsylvania</a>&nbsp;weeks after the killings. Investigators said they matched his DNA to genetic material recovered from a knife sheath found at the crime scene.

In a court filing, his lawyers said Kohberger was on a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-students-stabbed-bryan-kohberger-alibi-9854c98806921d698dd85a896481f5f2">long drive by himself</a>&nbsp;around the time the four were killed.

The killings shook the small farming community of about 25,000 people, which hadn’t had a homicide in about five years. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bryan-kohberger-idaho-students-killed-trial-boise-45ca6dc670fa9e0088e7774772752f80">trial was moved</a>&nbsp;from rural northern Idaho to Boise after the defense expressed concerns that Kohberger couldn’t get a fair trial in the county where the killings occurred.

In Idaho, judges may reject plea agreements, though such moves are rare. If a judge rejects a plea agreement, the defendant is allowed to withdraw the guilty plea.

Earlier Monday, a Pennsylvania judge had ordered that three people whose testimony was requested by defense attorneys would have to travel to Idaho to appear at Kohberger’s trial.

The defense subpoenas were granted regarding a boxing trainer who knew Kohberger as a teenager, a childhood acquaintance of Kohberger’s and a third man whose significance was not explained.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-state-government-law-enforcement-crime-0118f189f18ea76194b752e211becd1f">gag order</a>&nbsp;has largely kept attorneys, investigators and others from speaking publicly about the investigation or trial.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672924870681.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to murdering four University of Idaho students as part of a deal with prosecutors to avoid the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-murders-students-stabbed-kohberger-da6b7758a2beda6c05a5373286f6a692">death penalty</a>, multiple media outlets reported Monday.The news was delivered to families of the victims in a letter from prosecutors, according to ABC News. A change of plea hearing was set for Wednesday. Kohberger's trial had been set to begin in August.<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23564673/122922-affidavit-exhibit-a-statement-of-brett-payne_redacted.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the full&nbsp;unsealed affidavit, which explains the basis for Kohberger's arrest.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-idaho-students-killings-arrest-b3b1ffd8138827f0bdad16d20e17cf83">Kohberger</a>, 30, is accused in the stabbing deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves at a rental home near campus in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022. Autopsies showed the four were all likely asleep when they were attacked, some had defensive wounds and each was stabbed multiple times.Goncalves' family expressed outrage in a Facebook post: “We are beyond furious at the State of Idaho. They have failed us. Please give us some time. This was very unexpected.”Kohberger, then a criminal justice graduate student at Washington State University, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/law-enforcement-idaho-pennsylvania-crime-5a9c3c1117dbf2efcd37cdf04e5c01ae">arrested in Pennsylvania</a>&nbsp;weeks after the killings. Investigators said they matched his DNA to genetic material recovered from a knife sheath found at the crime scene.In a court filing, his lawyers said Kohberger was on a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-students-stabbed-bryan-kohberger-alibi-9854c98806921d698dd85a896481f5f2">long drive by himself</a>&nbsp;around the time the four were killed.The killings shook the small farming community of about 25,000 people, which hadn’t had a homicide in about five years. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bryan-kohberger-idaho-students-killed-trial-boise-45ca6dc670fa9e0088e7774772752f80">trial was moved</a>&nbsp;from rural northern Idaho to Boise after the defense expressed concerns that Kohberger couldn’t get a fair trial in the county where the killings occurred.In Idaho, judges may reject plea agreements, though such moves are rare. If a judge rejects a plea agreement, the defendant is allowed to withdraw the guilty plea.Earlier Monday, a Pennsylvania judge had ordered that three people whose testimony was requested by defense attorneys would have to travel to Idaho to appear at Kohberger’s trial.The defense subpoenas were granted regarding a boxing trainer who knew Kohberger as a teenager, a childhood acquaintance of Kohberger’s and a third man whose significance was not explained.A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-state-government-law-enforcement-crime-0118f189f18ea76194b752e211becd1f">gag order</a>&nbsp;has largely kept attorneys, investigators and others from speaking publicly about the investigation or trial.

Plea deal for suspect in murder of 4 Univ. of Idaho students

The Justice Department on Monday announced the results of its 2025 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in criminal charges against 324 defendants, including 96 doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other licensed medical professionals, in 50 federal districts and 12 State Attorneys General’s Offices across the United States, for their alleged participation in various health care fraud schemes involving over $14.6 billion in intended loss, according to a statement from the DOJ.

The Takedown involved federal and state law enforcement agencies across the country and represents an unprecedented effort to combat health care fraud schemes that exploit patients and taxpayers.

Demonstrating the significant return on investment that results from health care fraud enforcement efforts, the government seized over $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles, cryptocurrency, and other assets as part of the coordinated enforcement efforts. As part of the whole-of-government approach to combating health care fraud announced today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also announced that it successfully prevented over $4 billion from being paid in response to false and fraudulent claims and that it suspended or revoked the billing privileges of 205 providers in the months leading up to the Takedown. Civil charges against 20 defendants for $14.2 million in alleged fraud, as well as civil settlements with 106 defendants totaling $34.3 million, were also announced as part of the Takedown.

Today’s Takedown was led and coordinated by the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and its core partners from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The cases were investigated by agents from HHS-OIG, FBI, DEA, and other federal and state law enforcement agencies. The cases are being prosecuted by Health Care Fraud Strike Force teams from the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, 50 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide, and 12 State Attorneys General Offices.

“This record-setting Health&nbsp;Care Fraud Takedown delivers justice to criminal actors who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens and steal from hardworking American taxpayers,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Make no mistake – this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities.”

“As part of making healthcare accessible and affordable to all Americans, HHS will aggressively work with our law enforcement partners to eliminate the pervasive health care fraud that bedeviled this agency under the former administration and drove up costs,” said Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of the Department of Health and Human Services.

“The Criminal Division is intensely committed to rooting out health care fraud schemes and prosecuting the criminals who perpetrate them because these schemes: (1) often result in physical patient harm through medically unnecessary treatments or failure to provide the correct treatments; (2) contribute to our nationwide opioid epidemic and exacerbate controlled substance addiction; and (3) do all of that while stealing money hardworking Americans contribute to pay for the care of their elders and other vulnerable citizens,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Division’s Health Care Fraud Unit and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices stand united with our law enforcement partners in this fight, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to protect the integrity of our health care programs for the American people.”

“The scale of today’s Takedown is unprecedented, and so is the harm we’re confronting. Individuals who attempt to steal from the federal health care system and put vulnerable patients at risk will be held accountable,”&nbsp;said Acting Inspector General Juliet T. Hodgkins of HHS-OIG. “Our agents at HHS-OIG work relentlessly to detect, investigate, and dismantle these fraud schemes. We are proud to stand with our law enforcement partners in protecting taxpayer dollars and safeguarding patient care.”

“Health care fraud drains critical resources from programs intended to help people who truly need medical care,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to pursuing those who exploit the system for personal gain. With more than $13 billion in fraud uncovered, this is the largest takedown for this initiative to date. Together, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold those accountable who steal from the American people and undermine our health care systems.”

29 defendants were charged for their roles in transnational criminal organizations alleged to have submitted over $12 billion in fraudulent claims to America’s health insurance programs.

For instance, a nationwide investigation known as Operation Gold Rush resulted in the largest loss amount ever charged in a health care fraud case brought by the Department. These charges were announced in the Eastern District of New York, the Northern District of Illinois, the Central District of California, the Middle District of Florida, and the District of New Jersey against 19 defendants. Twelve of these defendants have been arrested, including four defendants who were apprehended in Estonia as a result of international cooperation with Estonian law enforcement and seven defendants who were arrested at U.S. airports and the U.S. border with Mexico, cutting off their intended escape routes as they attempted to avoid capture.

The organization allegedly used a network of foreign straw owners, including individuals sent into the United States from abroad, who, acting at the direction of others using encrypted messaging and assumed identities from overseas, strategically bought dozens of medical supply companies located across the United States. They then rapidly submitted $10.6 billion in fraudulent health care claims to Medicare for urinary catheters and other durable medical equipment by exploiting the stolen identities of over one million Americans spanning all 50 states and using their confidential medical information to submit the fraudulent claims. As alleged, the organization exploited the U.S. financial system by laundering the fraudulent proceeds and deploying a range of tactics to circumvent anti-money laundering controls to transfer funds into cryptocurrency and shell companies located abroad. The arrests announced today also include a banker who facilitated the money laundering of fraud proceeds on behalf of the organization through a U.S.-based bank.

The Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Analytics Team and its partners detected the anomalous billing through proactive data analytics, and HHS-OIG and CMS successfully prevented the organization from receiving all but approximately $41 million of the approximately $4.45 billion that was scheduled to be paid by Medicare. HHS and CMS intend to seek to return the $4.41 billion in escrow to the Medicare trust fund for needed medical care.&nbsp;The scheme nonetheless resulted in payments of approximately $900 million from Medicare supplemental insurers. To date, law enforcement has seized approximately $27.7 million in fraud proceeds as part of Operation Gold Rush.

In another action involving foreign influence, charges were filed in the Northern District of Illinois against five defendants, including two owners and executives of Pakistani marketing organizations, in connection with a $703 million scheme in which Medicare beneficiaries’ identification numbers and other confidential health information were allegedly obtained through theft and deceptive marketing. The defendants allegedly used artificial intelligence to create fake recordings of Medicare beneficiaries purportedly consenting to receive certain products. According to court documents, the beneficiaries’ confidential information was then illegally sold to laboratories and durable medical equipment companies, which used this unlawfully obtained and fraudulently generated data to submit false claims to Medicare. Certain defendants controlled dozens of nominee-owned durable medical equipment companies and laboratories that allegedly submitted fraudulent claims for products and services the beneficiaries did not request, need, or receive. Certain defendants also allegedly conspired to conceal and launder the fraud proceeds from bank accounts they controlled in the United States to bank accounts overseas. In total, the defendants caused approximately $703 million in alleged fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, which paid approximately $418 million on those claims. The government seized approximately $44.7 million from various bank accounts related to this case.

Finally, a defendant based in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates who owned a billing company allegedly orchestrated a scheme to prey upon vulnerable individuals in need of addiction treatment by conspiring with treatment center owners to fraudulently bill Arizona Medicaid approximately $650 million for substance abuse treatment services. According to court documents, some of the services billed were never provided, while other services were provided at a level that was so substandard that it failed to serve any treatment purpose. As part of the conspiracy, treatment center owners allegedly paid illegal kickbacks in exchange for the referral of patients recruited from the homeless population and Native American reservations. The defendant received at least $25 million of ill-gotten Arizona Medicaid funds as a result of the conspiracy and is charged with a money laundering offense for his alleged use of those funds to purchase a $2.9 million home located on a golf estate in Dubai.

Charges were filed in the District of Arizona and the District of Nevada against seven defendants, including five medical professionals, in connection with approximately $1.1 billion in fraudulent claims to Medicare and other health care benefit programs for amniotic wound allografts. As alleged, certain defendants targeted vulnerable elderly patients, many of whom were receiving hospice care, and applied medically unnecessary amniotic allografts to these patients’ wounds. Many of the allografts allegedly were applied without coordination with the patients’ treating physicians, without proper treatment for infection, to superficial wounds that did not need this treatment, and to areas that far exceeded the size of the wound. Certain defendants allegedly received millions in illegal kickbacks from the fraudulent billing scheme.