(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today that a Dominican Republic resident who was illegally living in Perth Amboy, New Jersey pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of money laundering conspiracy in connection with a grandparent fraud scheme.  

Thirty-three-year-old Elvys Nicanor Nunez Valerio pleaded guilty to one count on Monday. 

The court was advised in connection with the guilty plea that Valerio was a participant in a sophisticated grandparent fraud scheme that operated out of the Dominican Republic in which an organized crime group impersonating a grandchild, or other close relative, in a crisis contacted elderly victims and asked for immediate financial assistance. 

The scammers arranged for a rideshare driver to pick up money from the elderly relative and deliver that cash to a member of the criminal group.

Portions of the money were then deposited into bank accounts or sent back to the Dominican Republic via money transfer services.

Valerio’s role in this conspiracy was to receive the fraud proceeds from the rideshare drivers, to launder the money further, and to ultimately transfer the money to the Dominican Republic. 

An elderly resident of the Western District of Pennsylvania was contacted as part of the grandparent scheme on July 12th, 2025 and he was deceived into providing $10,000 to a rideshare driver who came to his home to pick up the funds.  

The victim’s family subsequently learned of the fraud and contacted the Pennsylvania State Police.

The victim was still in contact with the scammer, and that scammer instructed the victim to pay another $12,000 so that his daughter could be released from jail.

A driver picked up the second package and the package did not contain any fraud proceeds.

The Pennsylvania State Police initiated a traffic stop on the rideshare driver, and that driver was an unknowing participant in this fraud.

Authorities allowed the driver to deliver the package to its destination address that was located in Harrisburg.

The driver provided the second package to Valerio, and Valerio was stopped by the Pennsylvania State Police before he was able to drive away. 

A search of the vehicle resulted in the second package’s recovery as well as fraud proceeds that were associated with the first package.

Further investigation revealed that Valerio was involved in the larger conspiracy, and he had traveled around the country participating in this fraud.

Activity in a bank account in Valerio’s name was determined to be consistent with involvement in this scheme, including, over 40 cash deposits totaling more than $65,000 between January and July of 2025.

The financial records also showed the payments to and from other members of the conspiracy as well as transfers of the fraud proceeds to the Dominican Republic.

Valerio’s sentencing is scheduled for December 1st, 2026, and he could face a total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both, provided by the law. 

(File Photo of a Road Work Ahead Sign)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that restrictions on Interstate 79 in Marshall Township and Franklin Park Borough in Allegheny County will continue next week, Monday and Wednesday, September 21st and September 23rd, weather permitting.

The following restrictions are expected to occur between 7:00 PM and 6:00 AM each night for deck placement work, according to the schedule listed below courtesy of a release from PennDOT District 11:

Monday, September 21st

• Southbound I-79 will be reduced to a single-lane of traffic between the off and on-ramps at the Route 910/Wexford (Exit 73) interchange.

Wednesday, September 23rd

• I-79 will be reduced to a single-lane of traffic in both directions between the off and on-ramps at the Route 910/Wexford (Exit 73) interchange.

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The father of a 10-year-old boy whose mother has been missing from the area of Washington D.C. for almost two weeks was in court yesterday afternoon after police arrested him in Brighton Township on a parole violation Saturday morning. 

Russell Ashford was supposed to have a hearing so he could be transported back to the D.C. area, but Pennsylvania State Police filed charges against him for illegal gun possession just 30 minutes before the hearing started.

Ashford is the father of a 10-year-old boy, whose mother, Antoinette Forbes, has been missing since September 4th.

Ashford was convicted in 2021 for assaulting Forbes because he punched her more than a dozen times. 

He was arrested on Saturday in Brighton Township for violating parole on that case and he is in the Beaver County Jail.

According to Beaver County District Attorney Nate Bible, license plate readers tracked him from Washington, D.C. back to Western Pennsylvania. 

Police stated that a woman who was his girlfriend, said that in June of 2025, Ashford was moving out of his apartment at Bridgewater Crossing and was going to Washington, D.C.

She confirmed that Ashford brought guns to her home and she didn’t think anything of it, because Ashford told her that he was retired from either the FBI or the CIA.

Police took seven of the guns of Ashford from that woman’s home and they were two pistols, two shotguns and three rifles.

This case now has to be tried in Beaver County before Ashford can be transported to the area of Washington D.C. on the probation violation charge.

Ashford has not been charged in the disappearance of Forbes.

Ashford is scheduled to go back to court for a preliminary hearing on September 28th on the gun charges.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner joins immigrant rights supporters as they demonstrate during a May Day rally outside the federal courthouse in Philadelphia, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A federal judge referred Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner to the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday for investigation into whether he broke the law while overseeing a post-conviction case.

U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond disqualified Krasner and Assistant DA Matthew Stiegler from participating in the case involving Dennis Johnson, who is seeking to have his second-degree murder conviction overturned.

Diamond also took the unusual step of recommending that the DOJ investigate whether Krasner committed any crimes, including perjury and obstruction of justice, according to court documents.

In a memorandum referring the matter for “investigation and other appropriate action” the judge said “troubling” activity by Krasner and Stiegler was uncovered during recent evidentiary hearings into how the DA’s office handled the Johnson case.

That included allegedly pressuring staffers to lie to Diamond in court and threatening “consequences” for those who did not follow Krasner’s orders, the judge wrote.

“I have thus reluctantly concluded that Philadelphia’s highest law enforcement official and one of his top assistants may have violated the law,” Diamond said.

Krasner said in a statement that he “respectfully and vigorously” disagrees with the decision.

“I look forward to appealing to the higher court as soon as the law allows,” Krasner said, adding that he could not comment further because the case is pending.

Stiegler did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania also did not immediately reply to inquiries seeking details about the potential investigation.

Johnson was convicted in 2009 of killing Kenyatta Smith. In 2022 the DA’s office made a court filing stating that Johnson was entitled to habeas relief based on ineffective assistance of counsel.

Court documents show that DA employees told Krasner the case should be directed to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office due to potential conflicts of interest involving Stiegler. Krasner opposed the move, saying he needed to stay involved to “protect the office,” according to the documents.

Johnson’s petition remains on hold. Diamond said the DA’s office could continue to handle the case moving forward, but it is not immediately clear which prosecutor might take it on.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Ambridge, PA) A ribbon cutting occurred on Tuesday to celebrate New Alliance Federal Credit Union’s recent expansion and renovation of its Ambridge branch at the company’s Ambridge location on Merchant Street. 

New Alliance Federal Credit Union has served the community in Ambridge for over 80 years.

Attendees had the opportunity to meet the team of New Alliance Federal Credit Union, enjoy refreshments and community activities, and see a premiere of its new “Strength Starts Here” campaign video which featured Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith, who also joined the celebration.

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll recognized 30 PennDOT employees at a ceremony yesterday for their outstanding performance with PennDOT’s highest recognition, the Star of Excellence Award. 

Local winners Nicole Haney, Ashley Parello, and Michael Zimmerman were honored that afternoon at an awards luncheon at the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg.

Those employees were from PennDOT District 11, which represents Allegheny, Beaver, and Lawrence counties and they were among the rest of the honorees.

Haney was nominated by Harrisburg’s Communications Office and Parello and Zimmerman were recognized by PennDOT District 11.

According to a release from PennDOT District 11, here is more information about the PennDOT District 11 employees that earned the Star of Excellence Award:

Nicole Haney, Press Officer
 

Nicole has a unique position where she develops and coordinates special community involvement programs, specifically where significant community impacts are likely to occur, and she works with District staff to evaluate the effects of proposed projects on the local community. She has served as the primary contact for legislators in the District and has coordinated District Right-to-Know requests. Along with this, Nicole assists the District Press Office by building solid relationships with media outlets and for internal communications. She has also assisted neighboring districts in an acting capacity, performing those duties with the highest level of professionalism and capability. She is recognized for her calm and professional demeaner in any situation, always ready to assist the department’s various business areas.
 

Ashley Parello, P.E., Bridge Inspection Supervisor
 

Ashley’s role as the Bridge Inspection Supervisor has proven to be exemplary and vital to the district. Although newer to her position, her quick acclimation to the duties, mixed with her attention to detail and leadership skills have contributed to her earned respect among her peers. Through the process of learning various procedures for her role, Ashley has taken current standards and enhanced the tracking systems to increase efficiency and work production. Had it not been for Ashley’s thorough work behavior, emergency repairs needed on a major bridge structure would not have been recognized. Due to her immediate thinking, a larger issue was revealed early enough to allow the district to assemble a solution that would impact the public minimally, while keeping the region safe. In addition to this, her ability to foster and maintain positive working relationships with the department’s industry partners is extremely impressive. Ashley has done a fantastic job managing field inspections and has taken the position to a new level. 

 

 

Michael Zimmerman, P.E., Beaver County Maintenance Manager
 

Mikes performance as the Beaver County Maintenance Manager has been instrumental in the success of what was once a failing county maintenance organization. Under Mikes leadership, the county management team began working toward a common goal of completing cycle maintenance activities, county crews have expressed a complete change in atmosphere, staff are showing more pride and ambition to complete new tasks, suppliers who previously were reluctant to bid work with PennDOT are now working with the county, and previous vacancies are now filled. His hands-on approach to customer service and excellent communication skills have allowed him to develop successful and positive relationships county-wide. Mike brought his geotechnical skills to the county and started an in-house geotechnical crew to perform slide repairs with department forces. This not only brought monetary savings to the county but also led to higher morale with the crews. Mike is widely recognized for turning around Beaver County. 

(File Photo of Handcuffs)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Mercer County, PA) A fugitive is now in custody months after he shot at a car at a Speedway gas station in New Brighton and held someone at gunpoint. 

According to the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force says that Jalen Sims of New Brighton was arrested on Saturday in Sharon over in Mercer County. 

Sims was charged with attempted homicide and other charges back in June, after he shot at a vehicle with two people inside at the Speedway gas station on Fifth Street on June 21st in what Beaver County district attorney Nate Bible described as called a “complete act of violence.” 

The bullet hit just above the windshield of the vehicle, but it did not go through it.

There were no reported injuries.  

Sims was also wanted on a federal arrest warrant because he violated conditions of supervised release related to a 2021 charge of conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act robbery.