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Kingsburg PD aids FBI in online predator case – Mid Valley Times

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Kingsburg PD aids FBI in online predator case – Mid Valley Times


FRESNO – The Kingsburg Police Department was recently involved in a case with the FBI and Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to help uncover details about Thomas Henry Lopez, who has been charged with sexting two minors in Kingsburg.

A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment on Sept. 12, charging Thomas Henry Lopez, 49, of Spring, Texas, with two counts of sexual exploitation of children, one count of distribution of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct and one count of transfer of obscene material to a minor, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Lopez purported to be a 12-year-old male from Texas and requested that the victims create and then send to him still and video images of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct. While communicating with the victims, Lopez sent them images of adults and minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct as well as images of himself masturbating. 

Lopez’s case was investigated by the FBI and the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with major involvement from the Kingsburg Police Department (KPD). According to court documents, between June 2024 and July 2024, Lopez contacted two minors in California through TikTok and then communicated with them through text messages and the encrypted application JusTalk. 

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“One of the parents found some of the images and they notified us. So that’s when we started our investigation,” Lieutenant Jose Salinas from KPD said.

Investigators were able to identify Lopez by determining that he was using internet connections at his residence and at his Houston workplace, where he was the principal wells engineer for an oil and gas company when communicating with the victims. The FBI assisted the investigation by getting more information from the apps that Lopez was using to contact the victims.

Salinas explained that most of the investigation was conducted by officers with KPD since the victims were in Kingsburg. Salinas oversaw the unit that investigated the case and was able to identify two different victims in Kingsburg.

“They (the FBI) just assisted us because they have the means of helping on these kind of cases, since they cross state lines,” Salinas said. 

FBI agents arrested Lopez on Sept. 3, just as he was leaving on a work-related trip to Singapore, and numerous electronic devices were recovered during a search of his residence. He will appear before a federal magistrate judge in Houston, Texas, on Sept. 13.

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“They could still change it and bring the case back to California…At this point right now, he was arrested and booked in Houston.” Salinas said.

If convicted, Lopez faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison as well as a fine of up to $250,000 for the counts of sexual exploitation of children and a mandatory minimum of five years in prison; alternatively, he is also facing a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for distribution of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. 

 The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa. If convicted of the transfer of obscene material to a minor count, Lopez also faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. 

These guidelines take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. 

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For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education. Anyone who may have any more information on this case can reach out to the number 559-897-2931.

“I’m sure he didn’t do it just to these kids here,” Salinas said. “If there’s any other victims or people that may have been in contact with this guy – get a hold of us.”



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Miami, FL

Ex-con lists $138M in luxury penthouses, including Miami trophy condo

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Ex-con lists 8M in luxury penthouses, including Miami trophy condo


A former attorney-turned-investor who spent nearly three years in prison for defrauding the government is selling two luxury penthouses in Miami and New York for a combined $138 million. 

William Duker is seeking $78 million for his three-story unit in Miami’s Apogee complex at 800 South Pointe Drive, the New York Post reported. The price amounts to $8,667 per square foot of indoor space. The home, which spans floors 22 through 24, includes about 9,000 square feet of indoor living space and 10,600 square feet of wraparound terraces, according to a news release. It has five bedrooms, four bathrooms, three half-baths and a private rooftop pool. 

Dora Puig of Luxe Living Realty and Carlo Gambino of Douglas Elliman Florida have the listing. 

Duker bought the unit as a concrete shell for $16 million, or $1,778 per square foot of indoor space, in 2008 and spent five years building it out. He first listed the penthouse for $65 million a decade ago. 

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800 South Pointe Drive (380Production)

The investor is also selling his penthouse in New York City’s Tribeca for $59.5 million. The 7,500-square-foot unit in the Sky Lofts at 145 Hudson Street has four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms with a 4,500-square-foot wraparound terrace, the outlet said. Duker bought the penthouse for $30.5 million in 2009 from developer Stanley Scott.

Jim St. Andre and Trevor Stephens of Compass, and Adam Modlin and Andrew Nierenberg of the Modlin Group co-hold the listing. 

“I’m 72, and I’m just beginning to organize this next phase of my life,” Duker told the New York Post’s Gimme Shelter. “The last thing I need now are two apartments of this size.”

Duker’s penthouse portfolio is a far cry from the prison cells he spent 33 months in after pleading guilty in 1997 to four felony counts. While working for FDIC and Resolution Trust Corporation, Duker overcharged the government $1.4 million and was charged with making false statements and claims, mail fraud and obstructing a federal audit. In addition to his prison sentence, Duker was disbarred and fined $7,500. He paid $2.58 million covering criminal restitution and civil damages, The Real Deal previously reported. 

The judge in the case was Sonia Sotomayor, who is now a Supreme Court Justice. She said at the time that the case was difficult to reconcile because Duker helped the government recover millions of dollars even as he defrauded it, the Post reported. 

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As a lawyer, Duker helped recover money stolen during the savings and loans crisis of the 1980s and ’90s, which cost taxpayers $125 billion. 

After his stint behind bars, Duker co-founded the electronic discovery company Amici, which Xerox acquired for $174 million in 2006. 

He owns properties in Upstate New York, Manhattan, Miami, Palm Beach and Italy. He also has a 270-foot superyacht, Sybaris.  

Grace McClung

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Watch out, Ken Griffin: William Duker wants $65M for Apogee penthouse

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$30M penthouse buyer tied to FDIC scam

$15M Apogee Closing Tops Miami-Dade Weekly Condo Sales

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South Florida

$15M Apogee closing tops Miami-Dade weekly condo sales  

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Atlanta, GA

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings issued for North Georgia, metro Atlanta

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Severe Thunderstorm Warnings issued for North Georgia, metro Atlanta


 

Haralson County under Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Part of Haralson County is under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning, the National Weather Service says.

The warning will be in place until 6:15 p.m.

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Officials say a severe thunderstorm has been located near Buchanan around 5:35 p.m. The storm was moving west at 5 miles per hour.

 

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Severe Thunderstorm Warning extended for Carroll, Douglas, and Fulton

The Severe Thunderstorm Warning set to end at 5 p.m. has been extended to 5:45 p.m. by the National Weather Service.

Authorities say the storm was last located near the city of South Fulton, moving west at 5 mph.

The other Severe Thunderstorm Warnings have expired.

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Dozens of Georgia counties under Thunderstorm Watch

Dozens of counties across Georgia remain under a Thunderstorm Watch until 8 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued the watch for the following counties:

  • Banks
  • Barrow
  • Bartow
  • Butts
  • Carroll
  • Catoosa
  • Chattooga
  • Cherokee
  • Clayton
  • Cobb
  • Coweta
  • Dade
  • Dawson
  • DeKalb
  • Douglas
  • Fannin
  • Fayette
  • Floyd
  • Forsyth
  • Franklin
  • Fulton
  • Gilmer
  • Gordon
  • Gwinnett
  • Habersham
  • Hall
  • Haralson
  • Heard
  • Henry
  • Jackson
  • Lumpkin
  • Meriwether
  • Murray
  • Newton
  • Paulding
  • Pickens
  • Polk
  • Rabun
  • Rockdale
  • Spalding
  • Stephens
  • Towns
  • Troup
  • Union
  • Walker
  • Walton
  • White
  • Whitfield

Other counties in Alabama, North and South Carolina and Tennessee are also affected by the watch.

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High temperatures continue to cause concerns in Georgia

While parts of North Georgia brace for the impact of the storms and heavy winds, most of the state remains under a Heat Advisory.

Wednesday marks the third straight day of heat advisories across parts of north Georgia. While the advisory no longer includes all of metro Atlanta, it does cover North Fulton, South Fulton and several western metro counties, where it could feel as hot as 106 to 107 degrees between noon and 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service and CBS News Atlanta Next Weather meteorologist Troy Bridges. 

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Actual air temperatures are expected to climb to around 96 degrees Wednesday afternoon, well above the typical high of 89 degrees for this time of year. 

Read more here.

 
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Warning downgraded to watch for Towns, Union, and Fannin

The Severe Thunderstorm Warning affecting parts of Towns, Union, and Fannin County in North Georgia has been canceled.

Authorities with the National Weather Service say the storm the prompted the warning has weakened to the point where it “no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.”

Instead, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for the area until 9 p.m.

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List of current Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Georgia

Here are the current storm warnings in place for Georgia.

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings

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  • Central Cherokee County until 4:45 p.m.
  • East central Carroll County, southern Douglas County, southwestern Fulton County until 5 p.m.
  • Southwestern Cobb County, central Douglas County, southwestern Fulton County until 5 p.m.
  • Southwestern Towns County, Union County, northeastern Fannin County until 5 p.m.

Flash Flood Warning

  • Northeastern Union County until 10:15 p.m.
 

Severe Thunderstorm warning in place for parts of metro Atlanta

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Carroll, Douglas, and Fulton counties until 5 p.m.

Officials say a storm with winds of up to 60 miles per hour was slowly moving near Douglasville at 4:27 p.m.

Another warning is in place for parts of Cobb, Douglas, and Fulton counties. This warning is also expected to end at 5 p.m.

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Residents should prepare for possible heavy winds, quarter-sized hail, and fallen trees.

 

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Flash flood warning issued for parts of Union County

A flash flood warning is in place for part of Union County until late Wednesday night.

The National Weather Service says the warning will remain in place for the northeastern part of the county until 10:15 p.m. after radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain in the area.

Officials estimate one to 2.5 inches of rain have already fallen and there may be one to two more inches of rainfall possible in the area.

Residents should prepare for small creeks, streams, and other areas with poor drainage to flood.

Drivers should not attempt to driver through flooded roads.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta’s new arena reaches major construction milestone

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Augusta’s new arena reaches major construction milestone


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta’s new arena has reached a major construction milestone, with the superstructure steel now complete and crews shifting focus to interior work, according to project officials.

The 10-story facility spans 900 feet and has required 18,000 yards of concrete and 440,000 man hours of labor. Seventh Street, which runs adjacent to the site, is expected to reopen next month as construction progresses.

On schedule and on budget

Brad Usry of the Augusta-Richmond Coliseum Authority said the project remains on track financially and logistically.

“We are on schedule and on budget and that’s the big thing for us,” Usry said.

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Augusta’s new arena reaches major construction milestone(WRDW/WAGT)

Usry said the finished building will offer amenities the city’s old coliseum could not, including luxury boxes, low seating, and expanded concession options.

“All the bells and whistles you get with a new arena — the premiere experiences, the luxury boxes, the low seating, the concession options beyond a piece of pizza,” Usry said.

Built to handle any show

Usry said the new arena’s infrastructure was specifically designed to support large-scale productions that exceeded the old coliseum’s capacity.

“If they’re hanging lights, if they’re hanging trapeze, if they’re hanging speakers — the shows were too much for our infrastructure,” Usry said. “This will hold any show you can bring to town.”

What’s the timeline?

Project officials are targeting a partial opening for graduation ceremonies in 2027, with full completion expected in June or July of that year.

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“We are shooting for graduation next year, 2027, to be able to facilitate that for the city of Augusta — and we are looking at a final completion for the overall project in June and July of next year,” said Branden, a project official on site.

Augusta’s new arena reaches major construction milestone
Augusta’s new arena reaches major construction milestone(WRDW/WAGT)

Usry added: “It’s going to be super nice and what Augusta deserves.”

The new arena will also serve as home to Augusta’s new hockey team. With the building now NCAA-eligible, the city will be able to bid on college sporting events for the first time.

Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.



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