
Why did Cornelius Harper murder his cellmate five years ago? Learn more
Cornelius Harper told investigators that he was on a holy mission to purge those he saw as 'defective," the release states.
More: Life sentence given in Clements Unit murder of cellmate, here's what we know
Harper told investigators that after killing Nunez on Good Friday, which fell on April 10, 2020, he tricked prison guards into believing Nunez was still alive by taking advantage of COVID-19 protocols that hindered a close inspection of their cell, which was on the very end of the pod.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Why did Cornelius Harper murder his cellmate five years ago? Learn more
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Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Why everybody refuses to believe crime is falling, even though it is
Homicides in Los Angeles are on track to hit a nearly 60-year low. Property crime across California dipped in the last year and now stands at its lowest ebb in three decades. Yet a feeling persists that the Golden State has been tarnished by a wave of unchecked crime. Conservative media fanned that notion in June, when unruly and sometimes violent crowds took over streets in a few L.A. neighborhoods. Statistics and analysis from the Public Policy Institute of California suggest that though most types of crime numbers in the state are headed in the right direction — downward — perception does not always meet reality. The average citizen now has a front-row seat to more robbery, battery and noxious behavior than ever. That's because mobile phones and social media give all of us a front-row seat to the most antisocial miscreant behavior in our midst. Nothing enrages a tax-paying, law-abiding citizen like the sight of some knucklehead(s) busting into stores, ransacking shelves or covering buildings with graffiti. It happened at an Auto Zone store in South L.A. in June. And at another Auto Zone again this week. It's not just that the do-badders are breaking the law; it's that they seem to be relishing doing wrong. And they seem to have no concern about consequences. In the June incident, many of the thieves can be seen videoing their handiwork. One young woman holds a pink balloon. Like it's a party. Ah, the impunity. Those images do more to instill and inflate Californians' sense of lawlessness than perhaps any other factor. A boatload of statistics showing that many crimes have decreased can't pack the emotional wallop of watching a crime spree unfold before your eyes. And yet. Two explosive videos do not a trend make. Researcher Magnus Lofstrom at the Public Policy Institute of California reported this week that crime totals for 2024 'provide mostly good news for Californians,' adding: 'Most of the crimes that saw notable increases during and after the pandemic fell in 2024.' Violent crime decreased statewide by 9.6% from 2023 to 2024, the stats showed. That included a 13.7% dip in the homicide rate, reflecting what LAPD figures show for the state's largest city. Property crimes declined 10% from 2023 to 2024 and by the same amount over the last five years. Burglaries have dropped nearly 20% over those five years, and larceny declined more than 14%. To be sure, there is some bad news hidden in those trends. Even as violent crime have fallen, aggravated assaults have gone up nearly 22% over five years. Lofstrom told me no one can quite explain the increase. There is a theory that the increasing ranks of homeless people could contribute to the increase, as those living without shelter present as easier perpetrators, and victims, of violence. A couple of other problem spots: Auto theft rose markedly, by 19% since 2019. Shoplifting also continued a rise that became pronounced at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those numbers, and video of outrageous smash-and-grab and takeover robberies, might explain why California voters last year approved Proposition 36. The measure toughens penalties for many crimes by reclassifying some misdemeanors as felonies, including when the items stolen are worth $950 or less. We'll see next year whether the new penalties, put in place in 2025, have an impact on crime. But even then, let's not forget: Viral videos represent a narrow slice of our world, not all of reality. No matter how the ugly images make you feel, crime is generally on the downswing. And that's a good thing. Robert says, 'My wife, Shuang, cooks fresh salmon mixed with rice for our elderly Chihuahua, Puddin.' Email us at essentialcalifornia@ and your response might appear in the newsletter this week. Today's great photo is from Times photographer Robert Gauthier, who captured a food delivery robot as it crossed the street. The startup behind these bots is planning to expand aggressively across the country in the coming year — but the residents of Silver Lake have given them mixed reviews thus far. Jim Rainey, staff writerDiamy Wang, homepage internIzzy Nunes, audience internKevinisha Walker, multiplatform editorAndrew Campa, Sunday writerKarim Doumar, head of newsletters How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on


Miami Herald
6 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Wealthy owner of Florida telecom firm gets 5 years for fleecing $110M from U.S.
The wealthy owner of a major South Florida telecommunications company was sentenced on Thursday to five years in prison and ordered to pay about $110 million to the U.S. government for fleecing a federal program known as 'Lifeline' that provides discounted phone services to low-income customers. Issa Asad, CEO of Q Link Wireless LLC, and his Dania Beach-based company pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to defraud the U.S. government program, including theft of public funds, before U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz in Miami federal court. At the same time, Asad, 52, of Southwest Ranches, also pleaded guilty to bilking a government loan program meant to help struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the terms of the plea deals with prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office, Asad and Q Link agreed to pay back the Federal Communications Commission in one of the largest financial penalties in the agency's history. Court records show they have paid almost all of the $110 million in restitution to the FCC. Also, Asad paid a criminal penalty of $17.5 to the government, representing his ill-gotten income from Q Link's Lifeline phone services scam. Asad also paid about $1.8 million in restitution to the Small Business Administration for laundering loan proceeds that his company received from the Paycheck Protection Program during the pandemic. He admitted to using that fraudulent money for construction on his new home, and more than $140,000 on property taxes, jewelry and donations to a local university. Asad must surrender to federal prison authorities in two months, Judge Ruiz ordered on Thursday. This was not Asad's first brush with the law. In 2014, Asad was charged with murder in connection with driving his Mercedes over a groundskeeper at his Dania Beach business following a dispute over $65 in pay for lawn services. Five years later, Asad pleaded no contest to misdemeanor culpuable negligence and was given one year of probation in Broward Circuit Court, according to court documents. Asad was also ordered to pay a $225 fine. Court records provided no explanation for the dramatically different outcome in the criminal case. But while the case was pending, the groundkeeper's family sued Asad over her brother's death in civil court, ending in a confidential settlement before the murder charge was substantially reduced to a misdemeanor. In Miami federal court, Asad and his company admitted to a longtime scheme to defraud the FCC's Lifeline program. It makes everyday communications services more affordable for low-income customers by providing deep discounts on certain monthly cellphone service, broadband internet service and bundled voice-broadband packages purchased from participating telecom provider. Asad and Q Link, represented by the law firm Kobre & Kim, admitted that they purposely conspired to defraud the FCC program between 2012 and 2021 by providing false information about their Lifeline customers and making repeated false claims for government reimbursement, according to a factual statement filed with their plea agreements. They also admitted to retaining Lifeline funds that they were not entitled to receive and deceiving the FCC about the company's compliance with program rules. 'Upon learning that the FCC was investigating their Lifeline billing, Q Link and Asad created and provided false records to the FCC to conceal the scam and to continue collecting reimbursement,' according to a sentencing memo filed by prosecutors Elizabeth Young and John Shipley. 'As part of this plan, they simply manufactured cellphone activity on behalf of Q Link customers who were not using their cellphones. 'At no point did Q Link amend past Lifeline claims for customers who were not using their cellphones or return any of the Lifeline payments (something they could have done),' they wrote in the memo. The case, filed last year, was investigated by the FCC, IRS, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Special Inspector for Pandemic Recovery.


New York Post
12 hours ago
- New York Post
George Santos bids dramatic farewell to supporters, critics before he begins 87-month prison sentence: ‘The curtain falls'
Former Rep. George Santos posted a theatrical farewell on social media Thursday night, just hours before he was to begin serving a federal prison sentence for fraud and identity theft. 'Well, darlings… The curtain falls, the spotlight dims, and the rhinestones are packed,' Santos wrote on X. 'From the halls of Congress to the chaos of cable news what a ride it's been! Was it messy? Always. Glamorous? Occasionally. Honest? I tried… most days. To my supporters: You made this wild political cabaret worth it. To my critics: Thanks for the free press.' The former New York congressman is expected to report to federal custody Friday to begin serving an 87-month sentence, just over seven years, after pleading guilty in 2024 to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Santos was assessed the maximum sentence in April by US District Judge Joanna Seybert. He was also ordered to pay nearly $374,000 in restitution and forfeit more than $205,000 in fraud proceeds. His guilty plea followed a sweeping investigation into campaign finance fraud, donor identity theft and false COVID-era unemployment claims. 5 Former Rep. George Santos leaves Federal Court after his sentencing in Islip, NY on April 25, 2025. PETER FOLEY/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 5 Santos blows a kiss to the cameras as he leaves a federal courthouse in Islip, NY on Oct. 27, 2023. REUTERS 'This prosecution speaks to the truth that my office is committed to aggressively rooting out public corruption,' said US Attorney John J. Durham, who called the sentence 'judgment day' for Santos and justice for his victims. Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly said Santos 'traded in his integrity for designer clothes and a luxury lifestyle.' Prosecutors shared how Santos and his campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, doctored donor reports to qualify for national Republican party funding. They fabricated contributions from Santos' family and falsely reported a $500,000 loan from Santos, though he had under $8,000 in his accounts. Well, darlings… The curtain falls, the spotlight dims, and the rhinestones are packed. From the halls of Congress to the chaos of cable news what a ride it's been! Was it messy? Always. Glamorous? Occasionally. Honest? I tried… most days. To my supporters: You made this wild… — George Santos (@MrSantosNY) July 24, 2025 He also stole credit card information from donors, including 'victims he knew were elderly persons suffering from cognitive impairment or decline' and made unauthorized charges to fund both campaign and personal expenses, according to the DOJ. Santos also used a fake political fundraising company to solicit tens of thousands of dollars which he spent on 'designer clothing.' During the pandemic, Santos fraudulently claimed over $24,000 in unemployment benefits while employed at an investment firm. He also submitted false congressional financial disclosures to the House. 5 Former Rep. George Santos arrives at federal court for his sentencing on April 25, 2025. AP 5 Former Rep. George Santos leaves federal court on Aug. 13, 2024. Bloomberg via Getty Images 5 Santos appears in a social media post in June 2025. George Santos/ X Santos was elected in 2022 after flipping New York's 3rd District for the GOP. His résumé was easily debunked. He falsely claimed academic degrees, Wall Street jobs and family ties to the Holocaust and 9/11. He was expelled from Congress in December 2023 after a scathing ethics report, becoming just the sixth member ever removed from the People's House. Santos has remained publicly active after his sentencing, selling video messages on Cameo and making social media posts. His tweet concluded, 'I may be leaving the stage (for now), but trust me legends never truly exit.' Unless pardoned, Santos is expected to remain incarcerated until at least early 2032. He has reportedly appealed to President Donald Trump for clemency. The White House and Santos did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.