Latest news with #Smith&Wesson
Business Insider
04-07-2025
- Business Insider
I've watched Sean Combs get acquitted twice. Over 24 years, his recklessness and eye for star lawyers never changed.
Back in 2001, he was "Puffy." For two months, Sean "Puffy" Combs strode through a dense press scrum and into his Manhattan guns and bribery trial wearing a different crisp, shiny suit each day. I remember neckties and matching pocket squares. And one morning, before the judge took the bench, he sat at the defense table, arms outstretched, as defense attorneys Johnnie Cochrane and Ben Brafman sat on either side, affixing his cufflinks. "If it doesn't make sense, you must find for the defense," the late Cochrane, a dapper dresser best known for his defense of OJ Simpson six years earlier, quipped for reporters. I covered that state-level case for the New York Post, watching as Combs, then 31, won a full acquittal after his lawyers convinced a jury that he did not fire a bullet from a 9mm semiautomatic Smith & Wesson into the ceiling of a Times Square nightclub. Jurors also acquitted him of offering his chauffeur $50,000 to take the rap for another gun found under the seat of the Lincoln Navigator he shared with then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez. Combs had faced up to 15 years in prison in that case. "This has changed me and matured me," he promised after the happy outcome, saying he had given up nightclubbing in favor of church-going. On Wednesday, 24 years later, I watched as a senior correspondent for Business Insider as a very different-looking Combs won surprise acquittals on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges in a federal courthouse barely a block south of where the prior trial was held. A jury found him guilty of lesser Mann Act charges related to transporting his victims for prostitution. This Combs — now "Diddy" — remains in custody, as he has for the past 10 months. Each day of the trial, he was escorted into the courtroom by federal marshals, wearing jail-approved khakis and a rotation of five thin, blandly colored sweaters over white collared shirts. His hair is mostly gray now, deprived by his jailers of the "Just For Men" brand dye that one of his personal assistants testified he kept in his toiletry bag. A quarter century ago, Sean "Puffy" Combs exuded swagger in court — even something approaching menace. "I'm a human being," I remember him saying as he glowered at me in the hallway once, unhappy about his coverage. But Sean "Diddy" Combs could be Puffy's pleasant uncle, passing out Post-it notes full of advice and encouragement from his seat at the defense table like so many half-wrapped Jolly Roger candies. "GREAT JOB!!!" read a note I once saw him hand lead attorney Marc Agnifilo. Each morning and again at day's end, Diddy greeted most of his nine lawyers with hugs and fist bumps. Puffy, circa 2001, was too aloof to be a hugger of attorneys — not until the verdict, when Combs, Brafman, and Cochran leaned in for a euphoric, seated embrace. But there are throughlines linking then and now. For both trials, an international press corps was drawn, moth-to-flame, by the certainty of a celebrity defendant and the hope that a still-bigger celebrity might steal the show. J-Lo had been briefly in custody soon after the nightclub shooting, after a stolen gun was found inside her and Combs' chauffeured car. She was not charged, and while she testified at Combs' grand jury, neither side called her as a trial witness. This time around, Kanye, too, disappointed; his cameo appearance at Combs' courthouse last month was over in a blink, 30 minutes tops. He was turned away from the courtroom by federal marshals, and Combs, like many in the press, didn't even see him. Combs' recklessness is another parallel. His lawyers acknowledged in closing arguments last week that Combs used drugs and committed domestic violence. Federal agents testified at trial that they seized three AR-15 rifles with defaced serial numbers when search warrants were executed at Combs' homes in March, 2024, at a time when prosecutors allege he knew he was under investigation. Combs was not charged for the weapons, and maintained through his lawyer that the guns belonged to his security guards. "His brazenness is unmatched," lead prosecutor Maurene Comey told US District Judge Arun Subramanian during successful arguments against bail on Wednesday. "He's an extremely violent man with an extraordinarily dangerous temper, who has shown no remorse and no regret for his violence toward multiple victims," she said. There was reckless behavior the last time Combs was arrested, too. An evening of clubbing with a gun-toting entourage nearly cost Combs his freedom and burgeoning career as a multimillionaire music and lifestyle entrepreneur. New York Supreme Court Justice Charles Solomon sentenced Combs codefendant Jamal "Shyne" Barrow to 10 years in state prison. (Barrow, then 21, had the unfortunate timing of running out of the club and into the arms of two arriving cops, a recently-fired gun still warm in his waistband.) Solomon told me Thursday that he would have sentenced Combs to three and a half years in prison and remanded him on the spot, had he been convicted of gun possession for the firearm police recovered under the front seat of the Navigator. Combs could have received more time, the now-retired judge said, given that the car had fled up Eighth Avenue with Combs and J-Lo in the back seat and the NYPD in pursuit. "Another gun came flying out the car from the back seat" during the chase, Solomon recalled. Another through-line — good lawyering. "He had Ben, one of the best criminal defense lawyers in the city, and of course Johnnie Cochrane," Solomon said of the 2001 trial. "And it worked. They certainly had enough to find him guilty," Solomon said. "That weapon in the car — there was a presumption of possession," Solomon said. "Maybe it was jury nullification, who knows." "He's a lot of things to a lot of different people. He's probably helped a lot of people make a lot of very good music, helped a lot of careers, started a lot of businesses," he added. Combs' acquittal on sex trafficking and racketeering means he no longer faces a potential life sentence. He faces anywhere from zero jail time to as much as 20 years in federal prison for the two counts he was convicted of on Wednesday: transporting two ex-girlfriends across state lines to engage in sex acts with male escorts — the so-called "freak offs" at the heart of the trial. "It's a partial win. He didn't win this case. He still faces considerable time," Solomon said. "Oh my god I certainly would," he said when asked if he'd give Combs' prison time if he were once again Combs' judge. "I would give him a lot of time," he added. "Because of what he did in the past, obviously, his background, and the violence involved here now. A leopard doesn't change his spots."
Global News
03-07-2025
- Global News
4 charged in Centennial-area drug bust: Winnipeg police
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Four people are facing drug charges, Winnipeg police say, after a home in the Centennial neighbourhood was searched late last month. Police said they searched a residence on Elgin Avenue on June 23 and seized $1,200 in cocaine and crack, BB guns in the style of Glock and Smith & Wesson firearms, drug paraphernalia and packaging materials, and $410 in cash. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The suspects — a 37-year-old man and three women between the ages of 31 and 42 — have all been charged with drug trafficking and released on undertakings.
NDTV
25-06-2025
- NDTV
4 Members Of Interstate Gang Of Arms Dealers Arrested By Manipur Police
Imphal: Manipur Police arrested four members of an inter-state gang of arms dealers and seized arms and ammunition from their possession, an officer said on Wednesday. Police cracked down on an inter-state organised gang of arms smugglers and middlemen who were smuggling unauthorised arms across different states, operating clandestinely in Imphal and arrested four persons including a member of UNLF (Pambei) on Tuesday, the officer said. Two 9 mm Smith & Wesson pistols, one 9 mm Sig Sauer pistol, one Glock 19 pistol with 2 magazines, one 7.65 mm JD Taurus pistol with magazine, one Falcon Cal 7.62 mm along with magazine, one M-20 Falcon pistol, one Keltec pistol .32 mm with 2 magazines, one Beretta pistol, Glock pistol .32, 159 number of .32 mm live ammunition and four wireless sets were seized from their possession, he said. On 24.06.2025, Manipur Police cracked down on an inter-state organised gang of arms dealers, arms smugglers and middle men who were smuggling unauthorized arms across different states, operating clandestinely in greater Imphal area and arrested the following: Somendro... — Manipur Police (@manipur_police) June 25, 2025 In a separate operation, the police on Tuesday arrested three active cadres of UNLF (Pambei) from Babupara in Imphal West district. They were involved in extortion and threatening government employees to gain contract work. Two 9 mm pistols along with magazines, one .32 pistol along with magazine and ammunition were seized from their possession. Security forces also arrested one active cadre of UNLF (Ningolmacha) involved in extortion in Thoubal district.
India Today
25-06-2025
- India Today
Manipur Police cracks down on inter-state arms smuggling ring, 4 arrested
Manipur Police carried out a series of targeted operations across multiple districts and busted an interstate arms smuggling ring operating in Greater Imphal Area. The operation, aimed at curbing insurgency and organised crime in the state, resulted in the arrest of several individuals linked to militant outfits and inter-state criminal operations resulted in the seizure of a cache of illegal arms, ammunition, stolen vehicles, and fake to a press note issued by the Police Control Room, the law and order situation in the state remains normal, with security operations continuing in sensitive and fringe areas to ensure public safety. On June 24, police successfully disrupted an inter-state arms smuggling ring operating in the Greater Imphal area. Four individuals were apprehended: Siman Somendro Meitei (43), alias Pankhei@ Richard, a cadre of the proscribed UNLF (P) from Thangmeiband, Imphal West; Lanchemba Nongthomba (24) of Nongmeibung Ayangpalli, Imphal East; AK Abothe Singh (33), alias Rohit, of Singjamei Chirom Leikai, Imphal West; and Bishwanath Thokchom (21) of Kongpal Mutum Leikai, Imphal East. The group was found in possession of multiple unauthorized firearms, including pistols of Smith & Wesson, Sig Sauer, Glock, JD Taurus, Falcon, and Keltec brands, along with 159 live rounds of .32 mm ammunition, mobile phones, and wireless communication a separate operation in Babupura, Imphal West, police arrested three active UNLF (P) cadres for extorting and intimidating government employees to secure contracts. The arrested individuals have been identified as Konthoujam Opendro Singh (46), alias Ibomcha, of Mongsangei Awang Leikai; Tokpam Tomcha Singh (55) of Wangkhei Tokpam Leikai; and Keithellakpam Saratchandra Mangang (53) of Khurai Soibam Leikai Ahongei Leirak. The seizure included pistols, live ammunition, Aadhaar cards, mobile phones, Rs 3,800 in cash, and a red-and-black TVS NTORQ scooter with an active cadre of UNLF (Ningolmacha), Md Islam Khan (29), alias Atappa, was arrested from the Lilong Hangamthabi area under Lilong Police Station. He is accused of extorting money from individuals and businesses in the region. A mobile phone with a Jio SIM and an Aadhaar card were seized from another operation, Thoudam Johnjackson Singh (42), alias John, a cadre of the PREPAK (Pro) group, was arrested from his residence at Ahongsangbam Leikai, Imphal West. Police recovered a mobile phone, an Airtel SIM card, and an Aadhaar card from the to tackle vehicle-related crimes also continued, with the arrest of BM Aziz Hashmir (21) from Thoubal District for vehicle theft. A blue Honda Activa without a registration number was recovered. Road safety enforcement led to 49 traffic challans totaling 90,500, the recovery of two stolen vehicles, and the removal of tinted films from 12 ensure the uninterrupted movement of essential supplies, police confirmed the secure transit of 100 vehicles along NH-37 under strict security cover, with continued convoy protection and area domination in vulnerable light of the ongoing security concerns, the police have urged the public not to fall victim to misinformation, including rumors and fake social media content. The press note cautions that the dissemination of false audio or video content may result in legal action. Citizens are encouraged to verify information through the Central Control Room at have also reiterated their appeal for the return of looted arms, ammunition, and explosives to the nearest police station or security personnel.- EndsMust Watch
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
25-06-2025
- Business Standard
Manipur Police arrests four members of inter-state gang of arms dealers
Manipur Police arrested four members of an inter-state gang of arms dealers and seized arms and ammunition from their possession, an officer said on Wednesday. Police cracked down on an inter-state organised gang of arms smugglers and middlemen who were smuggling unauthorised arms across different states, operating clandestinely in greater Imphal area and arrested four persons including a member of UNLF (Pambei) on Tuesday, the officer said. Two 9 mm Smith & Wesson pistols, one 9 mm Sig Sauer pistol, one Glock 19 pistol with 2 magazines, one 7.65 mm JD Taurus pistol with magazine, one Falcon Cal 7.62 mm along with magazine, one M-20 Falcon pistol, one Keltec pistol .32 mm with 2 magazines, one Beretta pistol, one ?Glock pistol .32, 159 number of .32 mm live ammunition and four wireless sets were seized from their possession, he said. Meanwhile, in a separate operation, the police on Tuesday arrested three active cadres of UNLF(Pambei) from Babupara in Imphal West district. They were involved in extortion and threatening government employees to gain contract work. Two 9 mm pistols along with magazines, one .32 pistol along with magazine and ammunition were seized from their possession. Security forces also arrested one active cadre of UNLF (Ningolmacha) involved in extortion in Thoubal district. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
