Stephen Hubbard, a 72-year-old American citizen, has been sentenced to six years and 10 months in a Moscow court for allegedly participating in combat alongside a Ukrainian unit against Russian forces. This is the first instance of an American being imprisoned on ‘mercenary’ charges since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Hubbard’s case highlights the escalating tensions between Russia and the West.
A former union official in Switzerland has been found guilty of detaining a gardener in a CBD hemp facility due to a disagreement over the sale price of the company. The official threatened the gardener with violence and demanded an additional payment, leading to a 13-month suspended prison sentence.
An Oklahoma man, Ryan Watson, could face up to 12 years in prison in the British overseas territory of Turks and Caicos after customs officials discovered a bag of bullets in his luggage. Despite claiming it was an accidental mistake, Watson and his wife were detained and charged with possession of ammunition. The wife has been allowed to return home after the charges were dropped against her, but Watson remains in custody. This incident highlights the strict gun laws enforced in the Turks and Caicos Islands, where the mandatory minimum prison sentence for bringing guns or ammunition is 12 years.
Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance warns that Donald Trump could risk prison time if he violates a gag order in his hush-money case and refuses to remove social media posts. Vance’s comments come as prosecutors have asked the judge to fine Trump $10,000 for contempt of court. If Trump persists in violating the order, Vance believes a fine alone may not be sufficient and custodial time could be merited. Legal analyst Andrew Weissmann also suggests the appointment of a monitor to screen Trump’s social media posts to ensure compliance with the gag order.
The US Secret Service is evaluating its response if former President Donald Trump is held in contempt or sentenced to prison in his ongoing hush money trial. While prosecutors seek a fine, the Secret Service is preparing for various scenarios. Trump faces charges of falsifying business records related to a payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The Secret Service is legally obligated to protect former presidents around the clock, which could pose challenges if Trump is incarcerated.
Former coal executive Don Blankenship, who faces a history of political losses and a prison sentence for mine safety violations, is running for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in West Virginia. His candidacy has raised concerns among Democrats, who fear his unpopularity could jeopardize their chances in a state that has become increasingly Republican in recent years. Blankenship argues that he is the true representative of West Virginians and that the Democratic Party has abandoned its traditional values. He faces competition in the primary from Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, who is endorsed by retiring Sen. Joe Manchin, and Marine veteran Zach Shrewsbury.
Nancy Gonzalez, founder of Gzuniga, received an 18-month prison sentence after admitting guilt in a wildlife trafficking scheme. The designer illegally imported handbags made from caiman and python skin, without proper authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Gonzalez’s handbags were sold to high-end retailers and celebrities, including Salma Hayek and Victoria Beckham. Despite her bankruptcy and remorseful plea, prosecutors argued for a harsher sentence due to the scale of the smuggling operation.
A South Korean man has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for killing 76 cats in one of the country’s most gruesome cases of animal cruelty in recent years. The man, who is in his 20s, was convicted of violating South Korea’s animal protection law last week, the Changwon District Court in southeastern South Korea said Tuesday. According to a court verdict seen by Associated Press, the man harbored a deep hatred for cats after they scratched his car and went on a cat-killing spree between December 2022 and September 2023. He caught stray cats and adopted others from online sites before strangling some to death and killing others with scissors. The court ruled that the prison sentence was unavoidable because he repeatedly committed ‘indescribably cruel’ crimes in a premeditated manner.
