12 charged in nationwide cellphone fraud scheme which caused million dollar losses

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Those arrested today were allegedly part of a fraud network operating in New York, the Dominican Republic and the Darknet. Their activities left a trail of unsuspecting victims across the United States and cost businesses significant losses. They traveled to 30 states to obtain cellphones that were later sold through fencing operations in the Bronx,” said Angel M. Melendez, special agent in charge of HSI New York.  “Telecommunications fraud is a huge business and where there is a profit to be made by criminals, HSI’s longstanding El Dorado Task Force will follow the money to bring those perpetrators to justice

Read More from The Department of Homeland Security Here

New technology keeping deputies safer using cellular connection

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In just the blink of an eye a police officer can be put into a life or death situation and a radio is typically their only way of communication.

The Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Department has recently given its deputies special smart phones and watches as a way to stay connected.

The phones and watches are part of “First Net” which gives the devices priority when the network is congested. It’s all to help send information, pictures and a GPS location much more quickly in a time of crisis.

“With a push of the button of this watch, our staff can immediately contact 911, leave an open line for 911 if they’re fighting or struggling with somebody,” said Hillsdale County Sheriff Deputy Tim Parker. “911 can hear everything that is going on unlike having a phone and having to hold it up.”

John Wilmer has been a Hillsdale County Sheriff Deputy for more than two decades. He’s feeling safer on patrol only being armed with a new smart phone and watch for a couple days.

“Usually we have our chest mics and we are attempting to communicate, it’s broken, it’s hard, sometimes you lose your gear during a struggle and lose the ability to even radio for help,” said Wilmer.

Read More from WILX 10 News Here

Court documents: Teens forced to kneel execution style before shootings

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Two teens were forced to kneel on the ground execution-style before they were shot point-blank, according to newly-released court documents detailing the grisly double-slaying.

The papers detail the harrowing final moments before a 15-year-old and 16-year-old were killed.

The bodies of Derek Greer and Natalie Cano-Partida were left along Old Pueblo Road during the March shootings. According to court papers obtained by 11 News, the two Coronado High School students had been shot several times. Shell casings littered the scene.

Over the following weeks, 10 people would be arrested in connection to the shootings.

Read More from KKTV News 11 Here

APNewsBreak: Google Clarifies Location-tracking Policy

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Google has revised an erroneous description on its website of how its “Location History” setting works, clarifying that it continues to track users even if they’ve disabled the setting.

The change came three days after an Associated Press investigation revealed that several Google apps and websites store user location even if users have turned off Location History. Google has not changed its location-tracking practice in that regard.

But its help page for the Location History setting now states: “This setting does not affect other location services on your device.” It also acknowledges that “some location data may be saved as part of your activity on other services, like Search and Maps.”

Previously, the page stated: “With Location History off, the places you go are no longer stored.”

The AP observed that the change occurred midday Thursday, a finding confirmed by Internet Archive snapshots taken earlier in the day.

The AP investigation found that even with Location History turned off, Google stores user location when, for instance, the Google Maps app is opened, or when users conduct Google searches that aren’t related to location. Automated searches of the local weather on some Android phones also store the phone’s whereabouts.

Read More from Wireless Week Here

Detective testifies police seized phone concerned alleged rapist was deleting evidence

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The detective who seized the cell phone of a suspected serial rapist testified Wednesday that he took the smart phone because police were concerned the suspect might be deleting evidence.

And prosecutors argue that any evidence gleaned from the phone was secured only after properly securing a search warrant.

Northampton County Judge Stephen Baratta heard testimony Wednesday as defense attorneys for alleged rapist Seth Mull are trying to suppress evidence gathered by investigators in connection to three alleged attacks that occurred in Northampton County last year.

Mull faces a plethora of charges for allegedly imprisoning, drugging and raping four women over a roughly eight-week span at two hotels in Bethlehem, one in Hanover Township and one in Philadelphia. Prosecutors have asked to consolidate the Philadelphia case with the three cases in Northampton County.

Read More from WFMZ News Here