According to this story, the CEO of United Health Care, Brian Thompson, was walking through Manhattan on his way to conference when a masked gunman fired multiple shots from a 9 mm handgun, striking Mr. Thompson from behind and killing him. The suspect fled the scene and remains at large at the time of this writing. Authorities believe the shooter was specifically targeting Thompson, a belief reinforced by the discovery that shell casings at the scene were inscribed with the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose.” Police were able to obtain surveillance footage showing an image of the suspect from a local hostel. Thompson’s wife reported that he had received threats recently, but did not offer specifics. In addition to his wife, Thompson leaves behind two sons. Read on more for more criminal law news.
Overdoses Down. According to this report from the Associated Press, drug overdose deaths in America decreased 14% from June 2023 to June 2024. This follows a smaller decrease in drug overdose deaths the year before. Overdose deaths had been rising for decades before this decline. Public health experts are unsure as to the cause of the decline, but some possible factors include the increased availability of overdose treatment drugs like Naloxone, opioid disorder treatment drugs like Buprenorphine, and other harm reduction measures. North Carolina and Ohio were identified as the states with the most significant decreases in deaths, although the report cautions that North Carolina may be underreporting overdoses due to staff shortages at the Office of the State Medical Examiner. The report also notes that five states have seen increases in overdoses, and that overdose deaths among Black and Native American populations have grown.
Medellin Cartel Leader Released. Fabio Ochoa Vásquez was released from federal prison on Tuesday after serving a 25-year sentence for charges related to drug smuggling. He will now face deportation proceedings and will likely be returned to Columbia. A retired prosecutor who was involved in the case commented that federal authorities were unable to seize all of the proceeds from the international drug smuggling operation and that Ochoa “won’t be retiring as a poor man, that’s for sure.” The 67-year-old Ochoa was indeed named in a 1987 issue of Forbes magazine’s list of billionaires.
Accused Detective Found Dead of Apparent Suicide. An ex-detective with the Topeka, Kansas police department was scheduled to be tried in federal court this week on charges relating to alleged sexual abuse of vulnerable women in the community. The two victims in the case claim that Roger Golubski tormented them and other women for decades. The prosecution was expected to call seven other women to corroborate the victims’ accounts of harassment and abuse. When Golubski failed to appear in court Monday morning, the judge issued an order for his arrest. When law enforcement arrived at Golubski’s home, they found the 71-year-old dead from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot. The local prosecutor is investigating the integrity of convictions stemming from the man’s 35-year career at the police department. At least one person has been exonerated from a double homicide conviction investigated by Golubski. The AP has more on the story, here.
Infamous Prison Closed. A federal prison so notorious for mistreatment of female inmates that inmates and prison employees nicknamed the facility “the rape club” has been ordered permanently shuttered by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (“FBP”). The Federal Correction Institution in Dublin, California, was shut down on a temporary basis seven months ago in response to claims of abuse, understaffing issues, and deteriorating infrastructure. Hundreds of current and former inmates have filed suit against the FBP in connection with abuse allegedly suffered while at the facility. The story is another in a long-running series of investigations by the AP into the federal prison system.
Coffey Plea. Former Granville County deputy Chad Coffey entered a guilty plea this week to obstruction of justice and was sentenced to time served. Coffey was previously convicted by a jury of 12 counts of felony obstruction of justice in 2022 and sentenced to prison before the Court of Appeals vacated his convictions this year based on a fatally flawed indictment (discussed by Joe Hyde here). WRAL reports that the conditions of his plea bargain include permanent surrender of his law enforcement officer certification. Coffey worked for former Granville County Sheriff Brindell Wilkins, who was also charged with felony offenses and whose convictions were also set aside in State v. Wilkins, ___ N.C. App. ___; 907 S.E.2d 74 (Sept. 17, 2024); temp. stay allowed, ___ N.C. ___, 905 S.E.2d 900 (Oct. 7, 2024). According to the story, misconduct among members of the department’s drug squad (of which Coffey was a member) forced the local district attorney to drop hundreds of drug prosecutions.
Pie Theft. The BBC notes that Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks was expecting the 2,500 pies he and his staff made to be delivered to a Christmas market in Northern England this week. Instead, the refrigerated van containing the desserts (valued at around £25,000) was stolen. Pleas from the chef for the culprits to donate the treats went unheeded. Police recovered the van later this week with the pies still intact. Sadly, the food had not been kept refrigerated and the pies were unsalvageable. A spokesperson for the North Yorkshire police remarked that officers were “just as sad as everyone else to hear that the tasty pies have sadly perished.” So far, the suspects remain at large.
Bah Humbug. Sticking with England, this story reports on the vandalism of a gravestone marking the grave of Ebenezer Scrooge in Shewsbury. The fictional character was of course based on the famous Charles Dickens novel A Christmas Carol, and the gravestone was used as a prop in a 1984 film of the same name. Local residents kept the prop in place following the completion of the film and it became a popular local landmark for residents and tourists alike. Town officials are considering the feasibility of repairing or replacing the iconic tombstone. A local town clerk indicated spectral punishment would be appropriate for the culprits, stating her desire that “the ghosts of past, present, and future visit them in the middle of the night” soon.
I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing weekend. I can be reached as always at dixon@sog.unc.edu.