Records show suspended Jefferson County probate judge spent millions on PR firms, advertising, personal expenses while court fell behind

WBRC obtained financial records showing the court’s public archival fund was used to pay a political consulting firm nearly half a million dollars, buy radio advertising, and reimburse the judge personally

By Jonathan Hardison and Morgan Hightower 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - While patients allegedly sat in hospital beds waiting for mental health hearings that never came, and families watched their loved ones’ estates stall in a courthouse backlog, Jefferson County Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard was spending public money on items at least one of her predecessors said that money was never intended for.

Suspended Judge Yashiba Blanchard appears in court for alleged judicial ethics violations.(WBRC)

The records — bank statements, check registers, and contracts covering May 2024 through June 2026 — show the Jefferson County Probate Court’s Archival Discretionary Fund was used to pay a political communications firm nearly half a million dollars, purchase tens of thousands of dollars in radio and broadcast advertising, and reimburse Blanchard personally for expenses that included a gala ticket, a catering bill, and a Zoom subscription.

Blanchard took office in January 2025, so these financial records cover a period that begins before her tenure.

Blanchard was suspended in May 2026 after the Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC) filed a 120-page complaint against her. She faces trial before the Court of the Judiciary — a nine-member panel with the authority to remove her from the bench — currently scheduled for November 2026. Her attorney, Emory Anthony, has said she denies the allegations.

The state’s Department of Examiners of Public Accounts confirmed in July 2026 that it is conducting an audit of the Jefferson County Probate Court, both the Birmingham and Bessemer divisions. That audit began in March 2026 — two months before Blanchard was suspended.

A fund built on fees from everyday residents

To understand why these records matter, it helps to understand the source of the money.

Under Alabama law, every time a Jefferson County resident records a property document at the probate court — a deed, a mortgage, a lien — they pay an $11 special indexing and filing fee on top of standard recording costs. That money flows directly into the Archival Discretionary Fund, which the judge of probate controls. The law says it is to be used for salaries of judicial assistants and for improving the office’s indexing, recording, archiving, and retrieval systems.

Former Jefferson County Probate Judge Alan King helped write that law. He lobbied for and helped pass the 2012 legislation that created the fund, and he oversaw it until he left office in 2020.

“It was created to safeguard our millions of records, deeds, other real estate records, marriage licenses, judicial records for future generations,” King told WBRC.

King said that during his tenure, every expenditure from the fund went through a review process, despite the law not requiring oversight and giving the probate judge discretion over the spending of the funds.

“Everything that was ever spent out of these funds was approved by the county attorney’s office in advance, and also, by the state auditor’s office,” he said. “All those proceeds that I used were all approved in advance, and then I oversaw the expenditures.”

When Blanchard took office on January 20, 2025, the Bessemer division’s Archival Discretionary Fund held $5.9 million. The Birmingham division’s account held approximately $1.38 million. Combined, the office she inherited had roughly $7.3 million in public funds under her control.

By the time she was suspended 16 months later, the Birmingham account had dropped to approximately $250,000 — a decline of more than $1.1 million. The Bessemer account had grown to a peak of nearly $6.5 million by December 2025, then fallen to under $1 million by May 2026.

The single largest vendor in the financial records is CBG Strategies LLC, a communications and consulting firm.

According to contracts and check registers obtained by WBRC, CBG Strategies was paid at least $192,000 under a 2025 agreement before Blanchard signed a new contract with the firm on January 5, 2026. That new contract, which runs through December 2026, is valued at $440,200, billed at $115,050 per quarter.

Date	Payee	Memo	Payment	Archival Discretionary Fund
3/27/25	CBG Strategies, LLC	Consulting Services	$67,500.00	Birmingham
5/9/25	CBG Strategies, LLC	Direct Mail, Reimbursement	$31,301.69	Birmingham
10/20/25	CBG Strategies, LLC	Consulting Services	$76,559.80	Birmingham
12/11/25	CBG Strategies, LLC	Consulting Services	$17,000.00	Birmingham
1/15/26	CBG Strategies, LLC	Consulting Services	$115,050.00	Birmingham
1/15/26	CBG Strategies, LLC	Consulting Services	$60,252.00	Birmingham
5/12/26	CBG Strategies, LLC	Direct Mail	$22,331.50	Birmingham
5/29/25	CBG Strategies, LLC	Consulting Services	$67,500.00	Bessemer
3/24/26	CBG Strategies, LLC	Inv#1364 &1371; Feb 2026 Mailer/Consulting Service Quarter 2 payment	$157,713.00	Bessemer
5/12/26	CBG Strategies, LLC	Direct Mail	$22,331.50	Bessemer

According to the contract, the firm manages the court’s Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts, writes press releases, handles media inquiries, develops “talking points for court leadership,” plans community events, and provides what the contract calls an “onsite administrative coordinator” — a person physically working inside the courthouse every day.

In total, CBG Strategies received at least $637,000 from the Archival Discretionary Fund across 2025 and 2026, based on the records reviewed by WBRC.

King, who wrote the law that created the fund, said that kind of spending was never what the legislation intended.

“That was not the intent of the legislation,” he said. “It’s up to each person, whether they’re a probate judge, circuit judge, mayor, to run their own campaign. To use personal or county funds for basically their own personal campaign purpose, is incredible to me. I’m astounded that the money was allegedly spent in that way.”

The second major consulting firm in the records is Greene Consulting Group LLC, based in Huntsville.

Greene Consulting was brought on to provide election-related services — voter education, poll worker training, election communications, and what the contract describes as an “Elections Operations Modernization Initiative.” The firm’s principal is Samuel T. Greene, whose business contact listed on invoices is a personal Gmail address.

Greene Consulting signed a contract with Blanchard on January 5, 2026 — the same day as the CBG contract — for $350,000 per year, billed at $87,500 per quarter, plus a $35,000 upfront retainer.

But something unusual appears on the signature page of that contract. A handwritten notation reads: “voided terminated at Date 1/13/2026.” The contract, in other words, appears to have been canceled just eight days after it was signed.

Despite that notation, the financial records show that on February 5, 2026, the Bessemer Archival Discretionary Fund paid Greene Consulting Group $124,500.

Date	Payee	Memo	Payment	Archival Discretionary Fund
7/2/25	Greene Consulting Group, LLC	Professional Services	$31,250.00	Birmingham
9/22/25	Greene Consulting Group, LLC	Consulting - Yashiba Blanchard	$62,500.00	Birmingham
12/22/25	Greene Consulting Group, LLC	Consulting	$31,250.00	Birmingham
12/22/25	Greene Consulting Group, LLC	Professional Services	$17,500.00	Birmingham
1/14/26	Greene Consulting Group, LLC	Deposit-Staff for Additional Services and Support	$35,000.00	Birmingham
4/16/26	Greene Consulting Group, LLC	Consulting	$135,431.00	Birmingham
2/5/26	Greene Consulting Group, LLC	Consultant Pay, Executive Dashboard Summary, Staff Travel Reimbursement	$124,500.00	Bessemer
2/18/26	Greene Consulting Group, LLC	Project Manager-Elections Communications/Voter Education Coordinator	$24,000.00	Bessemer

The invoice submitted for that payment — dated January 30, 2026 — lists $100,000 for “1st Quarter Consultant Pay” and $22,000 for an “Executive Dashboard Summary.” The Executive Dashboard Summary itself is a single page of narrative describing vague “foundational infrastructure” work with no measurable outcomes, no attendance data, and no deliverables.

Greene Consulting had also been paid under a prior contract in 2025 — records show payments of $31,250, $62,500, $31,250, and $17,500 before the January 2026 contract was ever signed. That prior contract has not been produced in the records request.

In total, Greene Consulting Group received at least $461,000 from the Archival Discretionary Fund, based on the records reviewed by WBRC.

Advertising buys, gala tickets, and a catering bill

Beyond the consulting contracts, the financial records contain a series of expenditures that raise questions about whether public archival funds were used for appropriate purposes.

Broadcast advertising: The records show the court paid Summit Media — a radio and digital advertising company — $53,875 on February 12, 2026. The memo line says the expense is for “Order 673217, 673219, 673223, 673225A.” The court also paid Richardson Broadcasting Corporation a total of approximately $49,500 across multiple payments in 2025 and 2026, with invoices described as “advertising.” Cumulus Media was paid $19,250 for a :30 commercial on Talk 99.5 Radio in March 2026. Courtney French Broadcasting was paid $20,000 between February and March 2026 for radio broadcast, and commercial spots.

Promotional merchandise: The court paid JJ’s T-Shirts & Team approximately $9,629 for shirts, and Superior Promos Inc. approximately $10,273 for promotional products — both categorized as miscellaneous office expenses.

Photography: A vendor called The Price Approach Photography was paid at least $7,650 across nine separate transactions. Memo descriptions on the checks include “headshots,” “event photography,” “Judge Blanchard - Biography,” and “photos for Judge Knox.”

Personal reimbursements to Blanchard: The records show Blanchard herself was reimbursed or paid directly more than 25 times over 16 months, with individual payments ranging from $36.73 to $4,585.09. Among the items: a Zoom subscription ($159.90), a catering bill from “The Happy Catering” ($249.25), a payment described as a “2025 Foundation Gala” ($550), and multiple travel advances to cities including Chicago, Salt Lake City, and San Antonio.

Community event sponsorships: The records show two payments of $3,500 each to “Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies” for what is described as a “Sistah Strut Sponsorship,” a $1,500 payment to “Men of Powderly” with the memo “Donation - Yashiba,” a $1,500 payment to “Pinktopps Inc.” explicitly labeled as a “Donation,” and a $1,000 payment to “The A List Network LLC” for a “Gala Sponsorship.”

The law establishing the Archival Discretionary Fund does not list community event sponsorships or donations among its authorized uses.

King said the fund’s purpose was always narrow and specific.

“It was created to safeguard our millions of records,” he said. “That was the intent.”

Context: A court already under fire

All this spending was happening as the Jefferson County Probate Court was, by the Judicial Inquiry Commission’s (JIC) account, failing at its core mission.

The JIC complaint, filed in May 2026, alleges Blanchard did not hear a single involuntary commitment hearing for the first nine months of her term — leaving the other probate judge to handle all of them. When she did begin hearing cases, she capped her docket at four cases per day and six commitment hearings per month — handling only about 20% of the county’s caseload while the other judge absorbed the rest.

The complaint describes a patient who remained hospitalized through Thanksgiving because Blanchard canceled her hearing to attend a meeting — and only held the hearing after the hospital sent three requests explaining the patient was “lying in bed crying and upset.”

Meanwhile, dozens of estate and conservatorship cases sat without rulings for months or years. Families paid mounting attorney fees. In at least two cases, immigration authorities dismissed filings for delay, forcing families to refile and pay fees again.

The complaint also alleges Blanchard retaliated against staff, intimidated attorneys, filed an unsupported State Bar complaint against a lawyer (which was dismissed), and filed a police report against two attorneys, resulting in their photographs being shared with courthouse security.

What comes next

Blanchard’s trial before the Court of the Judiciary is expected in November 2026. Dozens of witnesses are anticipated. If found guilty of violating the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics, she could be censured, suspended without pay, or removed from the bench entirely.

The state audit of the Jefferson County Probate Court — covering both the Birmingham and Bessemer divisions — is ongoing. The Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts has not said when it will conclude or whether it has flagged any specific transactions.

WBRC has submitted additional public records requests for contracts, competitive bid documentation, and authorization records related to the transactions identified in this report.

CBG Strategies declined comment on its contract and work with the Probate Judge’s office.

We reached out to Blanchard’s attorney, Emory Anthony, for comment on the financial records.

We also reached out to Greene Consulting Group and are waiting for a reply. 

Full Article & Source:
Records show suspended Jefferson County probate judge spent millions on PR firms, advertising, personal expenses while court fell behind 

See Also:
State auditors make routine probe of probate court spending as judge fights for her job

Suspended judge spent more than $1 million on PR firms and radio ads from discretionary fund

Suspended Alabama probate judge denies all accusations of bullying and other misconduct

Horrifying details released in case against suspended Jefferson County Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard

Suspended Jefferson County probate judge accused of election interference in new lawsuit

Jefferson County judge suspended, complaint says she called herself “ultimate authority”

Glamorous judge accused of bullying, intimidation and delaying cases so she could take her DOGS for a walk 

Trusted caregivers accused in elder exploitation case tied to more than $659K, 2 homes - NBC 15

The allegations read like an elder exploitation nightmare: dozens of checks, two iPhones, and two Satsuma homes, all tied to one victim. 

In an NBC 15 exclusive interview, Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said the investigation began after the victim's daughter noticed unusual activity in her father's financial accounts — a discovery that investigators say uncovered a years-long scheme targeting an elderly Mobile County man. 

"The investigation began November of last year when a family member of the victim came forward with what they saw some inconsistencies in his financial accounts," Burch told NBC 15. "The Sheriff's Office launched an investigation." 

Court records show three people — Nora Powe Hobden, Melissa Lynn Hobden and Michael Lewis Crouch — are facing felony charges tied to allegations they stole checks, property and personal information from Tom Baxter. 

The largest accusation is against Melissa Hobden. Criminal complaints filed in Mobile County District Court allege she took and cashed 35 checks belonging to Baxter, totaling $371,980. She is charged with first-degree financial exploitation of an elderly person and first-degree theft of property connected to those checks. 

But the allegations go beyond checks. 

Investigators also accuse Melissa Hobden of forcing Baxter to sign over two Satsuma properties: one at 13165 Williams Ave., valued in the complaint at $88,000, and another at 5515 Darring St., valued at $105,000. Separate theft charges were filed over each property. 

Mobile County property records reviewed by NBC 15 show the Darring Street property has been in Melissa Hobden's name since 2022. A current property record lists her as the owner of 5515 Darring St. and shows a 2026 appraised value of $160,800. 

NBC 15 also confirmed both Melissa Hobden and Michael Crouch list the Darring Street address in jail booking records — the same address investigators say was taken from Baxter. 

Melissa Hobden is also charged with identity theft. According to investigators, she used Baxter's identifying and banking information to purchase two iPhone 17s under his name and had the phones shipped to her address.

Nora Hobden is accused in separate complaints of unlawfully obtaining and cashing a $46,842 check belonging to Baxter. She is charged with first-degree financial exploitation of an elderly person and first-degree theft of property. 

Crouch is accused of cashing or attempting to cash checks tied to Baxter. One complaint alleges he cashed a $38,042 check. Another alleges he attempted to present a fraudulently obtained check valued at $9,450. He faces charges including first-degree theft, attempted first-degree theft and possession of a forged instrument. 

Taken together, the complaints describe hundreds of thousands of dollars in checks, real estate and other property allegedly taken or targeted. Some of the charges involve the same alleged conduct under different criminal counts, meaning the court filings do not represent a final loss total. 

But in his exclusive interview with NBC 15, Burch said detectives believe they're still uncovering the full scope of the alleged scheme.

Source:
Trusted caregivers accused in elder exploitation case tied to more than $659K, 2 homes - NBC 15 

Caregiver accused of stealing thousands from elderly Idaho Falls man to buy drugs

by Trey Baylor

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Richard Dee Bierma Jr., 42, is accused of stealing $5,784 from an elderly Idaho Falls man.
• Bierma faces charges including exploitation of a vulnerable adult and grand theft.
• He allegedly used the funds to buy drugs; a preliminary hearing is set for July 29.

IDAHO FALLS — Richard Dee Bierma Jr., 42, has been accused of stealing thousands from the elderly man he lived with and cared for.

Bierma has been charged with one count of exploitation of a vulnerable adult over $1,000, one charge of criminal possession of a financial transaction card and one charge of grand theft.

Court documents say the 73-year-old victim reported to police that $5,784 was taken from his bank account and that there were 12 unauthorized withdrawals from an ATM at U.S. Bank on 1st Street in Idaho Falls.

Officers obtained a warrant to access bank records and video footage, but could only verify that $5,120 was part of the unauthorized withdrawals.

In surveillance footage from February, officers observed what appeared to be the same man accessing the victim's account at the ATM each time, documents report.

The victim identified the man in the video as Bierma, the man who'd been living with him.

The victim confirmed to police officers that he had never given Bierma permission to have or use his credit or debit cards.

Bierma was detained and taken to the Idaho Falls Police Department for questioning, documents report.

During interviews, Bierma told police that he drove the victim around and picked up his groceries. As a general rule, he said he'd never given Bierma permission to make withdrawals from an ATM, but that he would drive the victim to the bank and the victim would make withdrawals, police said.

Bierma later confessed to police that he withdrew the funds to pay for drugs, according to court records. But Bierma claimed the victim was aware of it and had given him permission.

Bierma did admit to being the one shown in photos and videos at the ATM, according to police.

Bierma has been appointed a public defender. The Idaho State Public Defender's Office does not comment on active cases.

Bierma is set to appear in court for his preliminary hearing July 29.

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.

Full Article & Source:
Caregiver accused of stealing thousands from elderly Idaho Falls man to buy drugs  

AG: Upstate nursing assistant accused of stealing from vulnerable adult

By Lorenza Medley

OCONEE COUNTY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that an Upstate nursing assistant has been charged with stealing from a vulnerable adult.

A release from Attorney General Wilson states that 31-year-old Constanza Athena Tate, of Anderson, has been charged with:

• Exploitation of a vulnerable adult
• Financial card fraud, valued at more than $500 in a six-month period

Constanza Athena Tate(Oconee County Detention Center)

The release states that a joint investigation by the Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit and the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office found that Tate knowingly and willfully exploited a vulnerable adult.

According to investigators, Tate was employed as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Seneca Health and Rehabilitation Center, where the victim resided.

On Nov. 3, 2025, Tate fraudulently used the victim’s credit card number without permission. Investigators determined that Tate used the card number for purchases totaling more than $500 for her own personal gain.

The release states that the victim qualified as a vulnerable adult under South Carolina law during the period of the alleged misconduct.

Seneca Health and Rehabilitation Center reported the suspected financial exploitation to law enforcement and fully cooperated throughout the investigation, according to the release.

For both charges, Tate could face up to 5 years in prison. The exploitation charge carries a fine of up to $5,000. The fraud charge carries a fine of up to $3,000, according to the release.

Tate was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center on Friday, the release said. 

Full Article & Source:
AG: Upstate nursing assistant accused of stealing from vulnerable adult 

Texans Lose Millions to Crypto Scams

Written by Jake Lehrer 

Just the other day, I had a text warning me to pay a fine or else I was in trouble. The number, of course, looked like a randomly generated Facebook password. Over time, I’ve learned to ignore certain calls, delete certain texts, and yes, although this may sound rude, hang up on the A.I. trying to sell me health insurance.

Scams have always existed since people could deceive each other, and it just keeps evolving with new technology. In a surprising report by the FBI, cryptocurrency crimes are on the rise, and taking billions of dollars from consumers all around the nation. Texas was second in the nation for the amount of money lost to cryptocurrency scams in 2025.

According to an FBI report, in 2025, Texas consumers lost 1 billion in cryptocurrency fraud scams. $56 million of that was attributed to scammers having consumers deposit cash in cryptocurrency kiosks. That $56 million belonged to a total 1200 Texans scammed out of a significant amount of cash.

Those interviewed about the scams report that they deposited thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. One person reportedly put in around $100,000. Completely losing their money. Only a few were able to recover theirs.

The scam works like this: A consumer such as yourself gets a phone call from someone claiming they are from the police, bank, sheriff’s office, state agency, or other, and say that you either missed jury duty and have to pay a fine, or have an outstanding balance on an account, need to pay a toll violation, or whatever they can use that seems serious enough that you need to pay immediatly or risk consequences.

Scammers will provide documents and files that seem legitimate to trick consumers. They might even have personal info that they’ve gathered from the dark web. Once a consumer believes them, scammers direct their victims to withdraw cash and say they need to pay at a specific kiosk. They might even claim it is the official payment center for whoever they are impersonating.

These kiosks, found in convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, and other businesses, are cryptocurrency kiosks. They look like ATMs, and you can find them where you might find most ATMs.

If a consumer has not yet realized they are being scammed, they are directed to deposit the money, and their “fine” is covered. The cash is converted into cryptocurrency and goes to different digital wallets. Scammers will have the money bounce around with legitimate funds to look legitimate and avoid detection. After about 36-48 hours, consumers have no hope of recovering, and the money is lost.

Cryptocurrency kiosks are designed to allow people to convert cash into cryptocurrency. There are reportedly 4000 around the state of Texas, although with a lack of state oversight, it is not clear how many there actually are. Those who use crypto have digital wallets. Once cash is deposited, the consumer enters their digital wallet address.

While this seems a legitimate way for consumers of digital currency to transfer their hard cash for bitcoin, these cryptocurrency kiosks have become a staple for scammers, since these kiosks are not regulated by the state.

According to the Texas Tribune, in an article interviewing people who had been scammed, “Cryptocurrency is increasingly preferred by scammers because it is not subject to the same banking laws as traditional currency — especially in how it can be transferred internationally, where most scammers are based, according to law enforcement.”

Crystal Intelligence, a company that assists law enforcement with crypto fraud crimes, states that in Texas, “transmission of virtual currency alone is not money transmission.”

Additional crypto fraud crimes involve “investment schemes where victims buy fraudulent cryptocurrencies or use crypto to invest in fake businesses.” Or, scammers will build relationships or friendships with people online before attempting to scam them out of money.

There are mixed solutions proposed by Texas Legislators. While some seek to ban the kiosks altogether, others are skeptical about the state interfering in something that deals with the market.

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows has charged the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee in the Texas House to consider legislation on: “Fraud and Financial Exploitation of Elderly and Vulnerable Texans: Examine trends related to the crimes of fraud, financial exploitation, and abuse targeting elderly and vulnerable Texans, including crimes involving telecommunications and emerging technologies “

Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has charged the Business and Commerce Committee of the Texas Senate to look into “Fostering Financial Technology Innovation: Evaluate the future of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency in the state of Texas and assess Texas’s coordination with federal rules. Assess how the state’s financial regulatory agencies respond to emerging financial technologies and business models, while prioritizing the protection of consumers. Examine the prevalence of virtual currency kiosks in Texas and make recommendations to support their use while protecting vulnerable Texans from scams.”

Texas has no regulatory oversight for crypto kiosk stands around the state. With a lack of an enforcement policy, Texas officials who can enforce cryptocurrency crimes are not trained to. There is a policy on market frameworks for cryptocurrency in the state of Texas. Texas has even bought a cryptocurrency reserve. But when it comes to fraud, Texas falls behind other states in meaningful legislation to protect consumers, especially from cryptocurrency kiosk scams.

There is federal legislation that has already been passed to regulate the crypto market, with another bill in the U.S. Senate that would aid in market regulation of cryptocurrency. But state agencies will still be responsible for enforcing cryptocurrency laws.

Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center states that the machines are mostly used for scams. Different Texas departments and legislators acknowledge they need better oversight regulations, while some local officials around the state would prefer Texas to ban these kiosks completely, as other states have done.

According to the FBI: “In 2025, the IC3 received more than 13,400 complaints reporting the use of cryptocurrency kiosks, with losses over $388 million — a 23% increase in complaints and a 58% increase in losses from 2024. More than half of the complaints involved individuals over 50, with losses over $302 million.”

It is important to report scams. Many do not report out of feeling embarrassed for being tricked. But we should not have that type of culture. Reportedly, 1 in 4 people have been scammed in their lifetime. Scammers target everyone, and they get more advanced in tricking us by the day. They will provide documents that look real, reveal they know personal information, and can make phone numbers look legitimate. People of all ages need to be vigilant against scammers.

According to News From the States: “No bank or government agency, including a court, police department, or licensing board, will ask for cryptocurrency or request payment through a crypto kiosk. If asked to do so, contact your local authorities.”

Lastly, if you are not sure if a phone call, text, or email is legitimate or not, contact the official offices (courts, police departments, DMVs, etc.) the person claims to represent.

The FBI has a fact sheet on how to prevent yourself from getting scammed, or how to identify if you or others are being scammed out of money:

“Spotting Indicators of Cryptocurrency Kiosk Scam

• Individuals reporting unsolicited contact and conversations by email, social media applications, or phone with individuals offering services or requesting payments in cryptocurrency,
• Individuals in possession of QR code documentation that they cannot explain or make themselves,
• Individuals making large cash withdrawals, especially for the first time, and requesting currency in large bill denominations,
• Individuals exhibiting confusion or nervous behavior when asked general questions about the purpose of a cash withdrawal, needing to pay a large expense in cash, or having a new financial advisor who requires cash,
• Individuals taking large sums of cash to a location with a cryptocurrency kiosk,
• Individuals talking on cell phones and exhibiting signs of confusion while making cash withdrawals from a financial institution or attempting to operate a cryptocurrency kiosk, and
• Individuals lingering at cryptocurrency kiosks and/or aiding individuals operating the kiosk.

Tips for Protecting Yourself

• Do not send payment to someone you have only spoken to online, even if you believe you have established a relationship with the individual.
• Do not follow instructions from someone you have never met to scan a QR code and send payment via a cryptocurrency kiosk.
• Do not respond to a caller who claims to be a representative of a company and who requests personal information or demands cryptocurrency. Contact the entity directly for verification.
• Do not respond to a caller from an unknown telephone number who identifies as a person you know and requests cryptocurrency.
• Practice caution when an entity states they can only accept cryptocurrency and identifies as the government, law enforcement, a legal office, or a utility company. No legitimate law enforcement or government official will call to demand payment via a cryptocurrency kiosk.
• If you are using a cryptocurrency kiosk and the kiosk operator calls you to explain that your transactions are consistent with fraud and advises you to stop sending money, you should stop or cancel the transaction.
• If you send funds via a cryptocurrency kiosk, be sure to keep any receipts or cryptocurrency transaction documentation.

Report It

If you believe you have been the victim of a scam involving a cryptocurrency kiosk, in addition to filing police reports with your local police department, file a complaint with the IC3 at www.ic3.gov. Please provide the following information, if available.

1. The transaction ID (TXID), wallet address where funds were sent, and location of the cryptocurrency kiosk.
2. Any information related to the subject, such as phone numbers, email addresses, domains, or aliases.
3. A description of the scam.”

By Jake Lehrer
Staff Writer

Full Article & Source:
Texans Lose Millions to Crypto Scams 

Violent Elder Abuse Attack on Sleeping Homeless Man in Arroyo Grande Park

 

Author: District Attorney
Date: 7/15/2026 10:12 AM

District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that Boaz Winslow Brigham and Malachy Damien Hayes, both residents of Arroyo Grande, were sentenced for the brutal and unprovoked attack on a sleeping homeless man in the middle of the night in March 2026.

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Boaz Winslow Brigham (21) and Malachy Damien Hayes (18) were sentenced on July 13, 2026, in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court after each admitted to violently attacking an elderly, homeless man as he slept in a public park in Arroyo Grande. Brigham pleaded guilty and Hayes pleaded no contest to felony elder abuse, and each admitted a great-bodily-injury enhancement and multiple aggravating factors. The enhancement makes the crime a serious and violent felony - a strike - under California's Three Strikes law.

The shocking crime was committed at approximately 1:30 in the morning while the homeless victim slept in a park under an outdoor picnic area that was under video surveillance. According to police reports and surveillance video reviewed during the investigation, at approximately 1:30 a.m. on March 20, 2026, Hayes and Brigham walked together to Elm Street Park, where the victim, Douglas Mark, was asleep in the park gazebo.

Surveillance footage showed Hayes approach Mr. Mark as he slept, stand over him, and urinate on him until Mr. Mark awoke. Mr. Mark told officers he was roused by liquid splashing on his face and body. As Mr. Mark struggled to his feet, Hayes advanced on him and began punching him in the head and face. Brigham then walked into view and joined the attack, with the two continuing to punch and kick Mr. Mark in the head, face, and body while he lay on the ground - all while Brigham continuously video-recorded the assault on his cell phone.

The force of the beating was such that Hayes' shoe flew off his foot as he kicked Mr. Mark in the head; Hayes paused to retrieve and put the shoe back on before returning to kick Mr. Mark in the head again.  Brigham also returned to kick Mr. Mark in the head a second time. Officers later observed what appeared to be dried blood on Hayes' shoe and knuckles, as well as swelling consistent with a hematoma on Brigham's hand, injuries consistent with repeatedly striking the victim. 

Records recovered from the defendants' phones further show that during and after the attack, the two young men could be heard laughing, egging each other on, and celebrating the assault - including high-fiving one another afterward - and that they later shared video of the incident with others through Snapchat, boasting about what they had done.

The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office argued for the maximum sentence available under California law: seven years in state prison. However, after considering and following the sentencing factors published in the Rules of Court, the San Luis Obispo County Probation Department recommended probation with one year in County Jail rather than a state prison commitment.

Judge Crystal T. Seiler considered the arguments of counsel, the Probation Department's reports, letters submitted on the defendants' behalf, and the victim's statement to the court before ruling.

The Court found that the statutory presumption favoring state prison for a defendant who willfully inflicts great bodily injury was overcome by each defendant's youth, lack of significant prior criminal history, and willingness to accept responsibility by pleading to the charges.

The Court suspended the five-year state prison sentence for each defendant – a two-year base term on the elder abuse count plus a consecutive three-year enhancement – and instead placed both defendants on formal probation for four years, conditioned on serving 364 days in County Jail. The defendants were immediately remanded to the custody of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff to begin their jail sentence. 

As a special condition of probation, both defendants are barred from using any social media platform, including Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), Snapchat, and Reddit, for the full four-year term of their probation. Given the defendants' age and the outsized role social media plays among their peer group, compliance with this restriction is expected to be a significant challenge for both men.

At sentencing, the victim addressed the Court directly. According to the District Attorney's office, he told the Court, “For this to be considered probation is outrageous ... my eyes were filled of blood, [I] get headaches ... have a brain injury ... What if I died? My brain is broken, it doesn't work right, I don't think right ... They ruined my brain.” He also said of the defendants, “They are devoid of any conscience,” and described watching video of the attack for the first time while in Court at the sentencing hearing as “hard to believe.”

District Attorney Dan Dow issued the following statement:

"This elderly man was homeless, asleep, and completely defenseless when he was humiliated and brutally beaten, leaving him with a permanent brain injury. He was especially vulnerable, and he is entitled to protection and dignity as a human being. Our office sought a state prison sentence because this predatory, recorded attack on a sleeping victim warranted the strongest response the law allows. Although we are disappointed that probation was granted instead of prison, we respect the Court’s authority and will continue to stand with victims and advocate for firm, just consequences for violent offenders.”

Restitution to the victim remains pending; a Restitution Status Determination hearing is scheduled for both defendants on September 14, 2026, in Department 9.

This case was investigated by the Arroyo Grande Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Julie Antos. Victim Witness services have been provided by Victim Advocate Tristan Milledge and Witness Coordinator Eloiza Basinger.

Here is a copy of Boaz Brigham’s booking photo and his charging document.

Here is a copy of Malachy Damien Hayes’ booking photo and his charging document.

Please contact Assistant District Attorney Eric J. Dobroth at 805.781.5819 with any questions.
###
 

Source:
Violent Elder Abuse Attack on Sleeping Homeless Man in Arroyo Grande Park 

3 accused in elder exploitation case

By WALA Digital Staff

MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office arrested three people following a months long investigation into the alleged financial exploitation of an elderly Mobile County resident.

A third suspect is being sought.

The investigation began in November 2025 after the victim’s daughter reported concerns that her elderly father had been targeted through fraud, extortion, forgery and theft, according to the sheriff’s office.

Detectives and the agency’s Special Investigations Unit reviewed financial records, executed court-authorized subpoenas, served search warrants for electronic devices and conducted interviews with victims and witnesses. Investigators say three people allegedly worked together between 2019 and 2025 to obtain money, real property and other assets from the victim.

Authorities said about $659,314 in assets — including the estimated value of two properties — was supported by available evidence and included in the criminal charges. Investigators believe the total loss approached $1 million, but said only losses supported by evidence and within legal timeframes were charged.

The Mobile County District Attorney’s Office approved the following felony charges:

Melissa Lynn Hobden: two counts of financial exploitation of the elderly (first degree), three counts of theft of property (first degree), and one count of identity theft.

Michael Lewis Crouch: one count of theft of property (first degree), one count of attempted theft of property (first degree), and two counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument.

Nora Powe Hobden: one count of theft of property (first degree) and one count of financial exploitation of the elderly (first degree).

The sheriff’s office said its Special Operations Unit executed a residential search warrant around 6 a.m. July 15, 2026, at 5515 Darring Street in Satsuma. Deputies took Melissa Hobden and Crouch into custody without incident, authorities said.

During the search, investigators recovered multiple cell phones, a laptop, a notebook believed to contain financial records, mail, handwritten documents, legal paperwork and property deeds containing the victim’s personal identifying information, the sheriff’s office said.

Authorities said Nora Powe Hobden was arrested at a separate location on Middle Road on July 15.

Sheriff Paul Burch said the case underscores the agency’s focus on protecting vulnerable residents. “Financial crimes against our elderly citizens are among the most heartbreaking crimes we investigate because they involve the abuse of trust,” Burch said in a statement.

The investigation remains active and additional charges are possible, the sheriff’s office said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office at (251) 574-8633.

Full Article & Source:
3 accused in elder exploitation case

Mobile Alabama County Police Officer Accused of Gambling Away Most of Incapacitated Wife's Funds to Gamble at Mississippi Casinos

Written by :  Nagesh Rath 

Prichard, Alabama Police Sgt. Aaron Tucker, as well as his sister, have been removed as co-conservators of Tucker's wife. Former Saraland Police Officer Jackie Tucker was left incapacitated after being shot in the line of duty over a decade ago. 

A Mobile County Probate Judge determined that much of the money benefited her husband instead of Jackie.  A good chunk of that money was gambled away at Mississippi casinos, according to court documents. 

Court audits uncovered "numerous" red flags with the conservatorship, including the failure to report money received from fundraisers and a $343,000 Department of Justice benefit payment. The court also flagged "large amounts of cash" Aaron withdrew from the conservatorship account and checks he wrote to himself.

According to an August 6th 2025 court order, Jackie's conservatorship estate received $554,305, and by June 2022, nearly all of it had been spent.

The order also says Aaron purchased a $97,000 Mercedes Sprinter van that lacked accessibility equipment for Jackie and used conservatorship funds to buy a food truck for his "personal use."

Last year, Hartford Fire Insurance Company, which backed the conservatorship bond and paid money to Jackie's estate, was granted a $201,751 judgement against Aaron and his sister.

Hartford is now attempting to collect on its judgment. Court filings say the Prichard Police Department has not responded to the company's attempt to garnish Aaron's wages.  

The probate findings could potentially be referred to prosecutors or investigated as financial exploitation, theft or another offense.   Aaron Tucker is yet to be charged with any wrongdoing and has not publicly commented on the accusations.  

The Prichard Police Department has been under intense scrutiny over the past year.  

In 2025, the department opened an internal investigation after Prichard officer David Cunningham was arrested on kidnapping charges stemming from an incident in Mississippi. The department said it was reviewing whether Cunningham violated departmental policies, including operating a city vehicle across state lines.

Separately, local reporting has indicated that the Alabama Attorney General's Office and other law enforcement agencies have been conducting a broader public-corruption investigation involving the City of Prichard and matters connected to the police department. Public reporting has not identified all subjects or the precise scope of that investigation, and officials have released limited details.

Jackie Tucker's injuries have been described as catastrophic and permanent.  She has required years of intensive rehabilitation, ongoing medical care, and assistance with daily living.

Jackie was shot in the head on December 21, 2016 while reporting to a domestic disturbance call.  A male resident, later identified as Blake Richardson, opened fire on Tucker and another officer almost immediately upon their arrival. 

Despite the catastrophic wound, Tucker remained conscious long enough to draw her service weapon and fire back at Richardson, wounding him.  Richardson was able to flee the scene but police quickly took the wounded man into custody. He was pronounced dead after being transferred to an area hospital. 

Accounts honoring her service describe her actions after being shot as an extraordinary effort to protect herself and her fellow officer.

An attorney has now been appointed Guardian ad Litem for Jackie. 

Full Article & Source:
Mobile Alabama County Police Officer Accused of Gambling Away Most of Incapacitated Wife's Funds to Gamble at Mississippi Casinos 

One state is making it easier for grandma and grandpa to drink in their assisted living home

by Graig Graziosi

One state is making it easier for grandma and grandpa to drink in their assisted living home

Minnesota just passed a law that will make it easier for grandma and grandpa to imbibe and relax at their nursing homes and assisted living communities.

Governor Tim Walz signed the "Grandparents' Happy Hour" measure into law on Tuesday, according to CBS News.

The law will allow individuals living in assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and boarding care facilities to serve alcohol to residents during social events. The facilities have to notify the state of their intent to serve and adhere to the state's safety standards, but won't have to navigate the state's usual liquor licensing restrictions.

The law goes into effect on August 1. It's unclear how many facilities plan to implement alcohol into their social offerings.

The wording of the law makes clear that the alcohol offered is to be served, not sold, to residents; senior care facilities in Minnesota will not be turning into bars."

"[I]ntoxicating liquor may not be sold, offered for sale, or otherwise provided for any form of consideration," the law says.

While many states do allow limited service of alcohol in senior care facilities, the decision to serve largely is left to the discretion of the individual facility.

The legislation was reportedly inspired by Amira Choice, a senior living community, which offered happy hours for its seniors but couldn't legally serve alcohol because there was no apparatus in place for them to obtain a liquor license, CBS reports.

"Growing older shouldn't mean giving up the traditions and freedoms you've enjoyed your whole life," Walz said during a press event. "This law cuts unnecessary red tape so senior living communities can spend less time worrying about paperwork and more time creating opportunities for residents to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, happy hours, and everyday moments together. It's about dignity, independence, and recognizing that community is an essential part of quality care," he added.

Anita LeBrun, an 82-year-old woman who testified on behalf of the legislation, celebrated the adoption of the law.

"Today we raise our glasses, not just for happy hour, but for independence," she said. "This law affirms that living in assisted living doesn't mean giving up the everyday pleasures that help us live life on our own terms."

She said that happy hours let seniors connect, laugh, and share stories from their lives.

"It brings friends together and helps make everyday moments special," she added.

Supporters of the law argue that it will provide seniors in assisted living or nursing homes with more freedom and opportunities to socialize within their communities. 

Full Article & Source:
One state is making it easier for grandma and grandpa to drink in their assisted living home