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Texas man indicted for exploiting California minors on social media
HOUSTON, Texas — A Texas man was indicted on federal charges last week for allegedly exploiting two California minors through social media, according to the United States Department of Justice.
Thomas Henry Lopez, 49, of Spring, faces two counts of sexual exploitation of children, one count of distributing child pornography, and one count of transferring obscene material to a minor.
According to court documents, Lopez contacted two California minors via TikTok between June and July 2024, then moved communications to text messages and the encrypted app JusTalk. Posing as a 12-year-old boy, Lopez allegedly solicited sexually explicit images from the victims and sent them pornographic content.
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Investigators traced Lopez’s internet activity to his home and workplace, where he served as principal wells engineer for an oil and gas company. FBI agents arrested Lopez on Sept. 3 at Houston’s airport as he prepared to depart for a work trip to Singapore.
The parents of both the children have been interviewed and advised of the crime and arrest.
The case, investigated by the FBI and the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation.
If convicted, Lopez faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison for the sexual exploitation charges. The distribution charge carries a five-year minimum and up to 20 years, while the obscene material charge has a maximum 10-year sentence. Each count also includes potential fines up to $250,000.
Lopez is scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate judge in Houston on Sept. 13.
Dallas, TX
McAllen Welcomes Texas Hockey | Dallas Stars
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Miami, FL
Pair arrested in connection with armed home invasion robbery in Miami, cops say
MIAMI — Two men have been arrested in connection with an armed home invasion robbery in Miami last month in which investigators say masked suspects entered a home, pointed a gun at a victim and repeatedly demanded money before searching the residence.
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Miami police identified the suspects as 25-year-old Earl Gerry Baldwin and 21-year-old Zakis Kawone James, both of Miami-Dade.
According to arrest reports, officers responded to the home on April 4 after the victim reported that two masked men had entered the residence and robbed him at gunpoint.
The report states that he victim told investigators he was in the kitchen when two men wearing ski masks entered through an unlocked front door.
Police said shortly after, one of the intruders allegedly pointed a handgun at the victim and demanded cash, repeatedly asking, “Where’s the money?” as the two men searched the home.
Investigators said the gunman took the victim’s iPhone 16 Pro Max while both suspects searched bedrooms for money. The victim told police the suspects also asked about his younger brother before continuing their search.
According to the reports, the gunman kept the victim at gunpoint while the other suspect ransacked rooms throughout the home. After failing to find any money, the men left the victim inside his mother’s bedroom, closed the door and fled, investigators said.
Authorities said the victim then ran to a neighbor’s home and called police.
Detectives said surveillance footage obtained from nearby locations showed a silver Chevrolet Trailblazer parked near the home before the robbery.
According to the reports, video showed two suspects exiting the SUV and walking toward the residence before entering the home. Minutes later, the pair were seen running from the property and getting back into the vehicle, which drove away.
Investigators said license plate reader data identified the SUV and showed it traveling through Miami shortly after the robbery. Historical reader data and GPS records linked the vehicle to a residence in the 700 block of Northwest 65th Street, according to the reports.
Detectives said additional surveillance footage later captured Baldwin inside the SUV while wearing clothing matching what was seen during the robbery.
Investigators said they also identified him during a separate contact on May 15 and later obtained cellphone records and location data that allegedly placed his phone in the area of the robbery and traveling with the SUV before and after the crime.
According to James’ arrest report, detectives identified him through surveillance footage, a resident database search and facial recognition software.
Investigators also obtained surveillance footage showing James making a purchase at a Walmart in Miami Gardens after the robbery using a debit card in his name, the report states.
Police said cellphone data associated with James’ phone also placed him at the robbery scene and traveling with the SUV throughout the day.
On Thursday, detectives executed a search warrant at the Northwest 65th Street residence and took both men into custody, according to the reports.
Baldwin was transported to the Miami Police Department’s robbery office, where he was advised of his Miranda rights and invoked them, according to his arrest report.
James waived his Miranda rights and provided a statement to detectives, according to his arrest report. Details of the statement were redacted from the publicly released report.
Jail records show both men are each facing one count of armed robbery with home invasion.
As of Friday, both were being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where their bonds were listed as “to be set.”
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
Atlanta, GA
World Cup now just weeks away. Is Atlanta prepared for the tournament?
Meet the USMNT players headed to the 2026 World Cup
United States men’s national soccer team has officially unveiled its 2026 FIFA World Cup roster, featuring a mix of veteran stars and rising young talent ahead of the tournament.
The FIFA 2026 World Cup is just weeks away, and as teams begin to set up camp across North America ahead of the first matches, host cities are putting the final touches on their preparations.
Eight tournament matches will be played in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, referred to as “Atlanta Stadium” for the duration of the tournament. The venue sits in the heart of the city’s entertainment district, and fans will be able to watch the world’s best soccer players from the group stage all the way to the semifinal.
In a recent study from Action Network, Atlanta was ranked fifth overall for World Cup fan experience during this year’s tournament, citing the city’s walkability around the stadium and time from the airport to the venue. It ranked second among United States host cities, just behind Seattle.
But from road infrastructure to public transportation to hotels, it looks like Atlanta may not quite be ready for the soccer rush to begin in June. Here’s how parts of the city have prepared for the World Cup.
FBI will back up Atlanta Police, partner agencies during tournament
During a press conference on May 28, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Atlanta Office outlined their preparations for the tournament, and where their expertise could be needed.
Special Agents said the FBI SWAT teams would “maintain a high level of visibility” throughout the tournament, and fans should not be alarmed to see them around the stadium and at fan events as a precautionary measure.
Agents said there are “no known threats” to the tournament in Atlanta, but fans are encouraged to keep an eye out for suspicious behavior. The FBI also noted that human trafficking can take place during large events, like the World Cup, and the agency will have task forces working during the tournament period and throughout the summer.
FBI agents from across the state have been pulled into Atlanta to support the World Cup operations, and other agents could be requested throughout the southeast if an attack or threat were to occur, the Special Agents said.
Drones will also be prohibited from the area around the stadium and fan events, agents said. The “no drone zone” means unauthorized drones could be brought down.
MARTA prices will remain low, but safety benchmarks not yet met
The MARTA train and bus system, Atlanta’s public transportation, will not raise prices for their normal passes during the World Cup. The decision was made as public transportation officials in other states faced backlash for their exorbitant train fees during the period of the tournament.
A Breeze pass, which can be purchased online ahead of match day, will cost $2.50 one way to Mercedes-Benz, no different than any other day in Atlanta.
There are multiple MARTA stations near the stadium, including the newly-named Sports, Entertainment, and Convention District Station just steps away from Mercedes-Benz, the Georgia World Congress Center, State Farm Arena, Centennial Yards, the College Football Hall of Fame, the CNN Center, Centennial Park, the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola.
Spectators hoping to use MARTA for a match day can use a physical bank card, a mobile wallet, a virtual Breeze card, a physical Breeze card or cash to pay for their ride at any MARTA station. Many fans, both local and from out-of-town, are expected to rely on the MARTA system for their primary transportation in and around the stadium.
However, some MARTA upgrades that were intended to be complete by the World Cup may come up short, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported earlier this week.
As of May 26, the new trains developed by a Swiss manufacturer had not met the full suite of safety checks to be operational within 30 days, after the World Cup begins in Atlanta, the outlet reported. Interim General Manager and CEO Jonathan Hunt said in an interview that he believes MARTA will still be able to meet the June 4 safety deadline, but he was willing to delay signing off on the new trains if they were not deemed 100% safe for passengers. More safety screenings took place this week.
Stadler, the manufacturer, said in a statement to the AJC the company was “confident about meeting the service start goal in line with the testing and training protocols,” and that so far “the trains are performing as expected.”
MARTA will still be available if the new trains are not deployed before the World Cup, but it will be a major setback for the city.
Hotels, Airbnb not full during World Cup period
A report published by Airbnb and Deloitte in December found that the World Cup was expected to bring in $70 million for the accommodation sector in Atlanta.
Deloitte estimated a $23 million direct impact to the hospitality industry driven by Airbnb guests, as well as an additional $24 million in indirect financial gains and $23 million in induced gains. Rental and hotel guests were predicted to not only spend money on their stay, but also at restaurants, activities and transit.
A tracker from Airbnb published in April showed how much money a homeowner could make if they decided to rent out their space for the World Cup, predicting thousands of dollars in profits for Atlanta locals.
Instead, many Airbnb hosts are reporting open nights at their rentals, and hotels are far from full on the dates in June and July.
One Midtown hotel told 11Alive their officials had predicted $600,000 in revenue during the June portion of the World Cup, assuming their rooms would be nearly booked full. Instead, as of May 27, the hotel only has $13,000 in reservations for that time period.
One Airbnb host, who goes by “omosblack” on TikTok, said his rental is just 5 minutes away from the Atlanta Stadium, and is almost always booked no matter the time of year. He said he increased his prices “a little bit” for the World Cup, and now his place isn’t booked at all for the FIFA match days which he called “insane.” He asked other hosts in the area to weigh in from the comment section, wondering if anyone else was having the same issue. Many accounts argued the price increase would keep fans from booking his rental, but others said it was a larger issue with the overall tournament selling fewer tickets than expected.
FIFA president Gianni Infantina was forced to defend the high ticket prices earlier this spring when many soccer supporters said they would go to the World Cup if it wasn’t so expensive. Infantina said the prices were comparable to college football playoff tickets in the same cities, and that while some tickets were thousands of dollars, others were more affordable in his mind.
Now, with just weeks before the start of the tournament, ticket prices have started to come down for some matches that still have tickets left, including many in Atlanta.
‘Road work ahead? Yeah, I sure hope it does’
In the words of an iconic Vine video, Atlanta locals are hopeful that a significant amount of roadwork in the city will be wrapped up by June, but it seems unlikely.
Officials with the Georgia Department of Transportation have been adamant that many of the major road closures and resurfacing projects are unrelated to the World Cup, and therefore are on a multi-year timeline. A recent closure of a large section of I-285 forced traffic into the city and caused major backups.
Recent heavy rain has also shown weak spots in Atlanta’s road infrastructure as major sections of the Atlanta Connector flooded during rush hour traffic, and even forced the Waymo driverless car service to suspend operations as road conditions became too unsafe.
There are regular road closures around the city, and while many people may try to use public transportation instead to avoid traffic issues, some fans will still be trying to drive to the Atlanta Stadium for matches, making an already gridlocked city even worse. It’s an issue that will definitely not be corrected before the first match on June 15.
When are the World Cup matches in Atlanta?
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta Stadium) will host five group stage matches, a round of 32 match, a round of 16 match and one of the tournament’s semifinal match.
- Monday, June 15 — Spain vs Cabo Verde, Group H – Shop tickets
- Thursday, June 18 — South Africa vs Czechia, Group A – Shop tickets
- Sunday, June 21 — Spain vs Saudi Arabia, Group H – Shop tickets
- Wednesday, June 24 — Morocco vs Haiti – Shop tickets
- Saturday, June 27 — Uzbekistan vs Congo, Group K – Shop tickets
- Wednesday, July 1 — Group L winners vs third place from Group E/H/I/J/K – Shop tickets
- Tuesday, July 7 — Match 86 winners vs Match 88 winners – Shop tickets
- Wednesday, July 15 — tournament semifinal, teams TBD – Shop tickets
Irene Wright covers the FIFA World Cup as the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
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