(Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office)

The suspect in a Jamestown homicide has been captured following a manhunt in South Carolina.

Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis announced the arrest of 34-year old Michael Burham Wednesday afternoon.

Lewis said a 9-1-1 call received Wednesday afternoon from a citizen who spotted Burham on their property led to law enforcement searching the area and taking Burham into custody just after 5:00 p.m.

Burham is a suspect in the death of 34-year old Kala Hodgkin at 125 William Street. He’s also the suspect in the kidnapping of a couple from Pennsylvania that involved the couple driving Burham to North Charleston, South Carolina. He is also wanted on rape charges from a previous case.

The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office will continue to assist the FBI with this case.

North Charleston Police in South Carolina put out a notice to the public to be on the look out for 34-year Michael Burham after police were in contact with two people who said Burham kidnapped them from their home in Pennsylvania.

Jamestown Police are looking for Burham in connection with the death of Kala Hodgkin at 125 William Street on May 11.

Jamestown Police are working with Pennsylvania State Police, authorities in North Charleston, South Carolina, and the FBI regarding the Michael Burham case.

Burham is still considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with any information regarding Burham is still asked to contact the Jamestown Police Department immediately at 716-483-7537 or the anonymous tip line at 716-483-8477. All calls and tips will be kept confidential.

Anthony Neubauer

A Falconer man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for a kidnapping that resulted in a death.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Adler said according to the complaint, on May 27, 2014, 36-year old Anthony Neubauer kidnapped an individual identified as J.A. and transported them from New York to Pennsylvania, resulting in the death of J.A.

Neubauer was arraigned Friday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah McCarthy and is being held pending a detention hearing on Tuesday, March 28.

The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison.

According to the Jamestown Post-Journal, the initials “J.A.” and the date of the kidnapping match the disappearance of Joseph D. Anthony, who was last seen May 27, 2014, in the 700 block of East Second Street in Jamestown.

The Post-Journal reported that the FBI executed a federal search warrant near Sugar Grove, Pennsylvania but there was no comment on the subject of the warrant nor if anything was recovered.

Anthony Neubauer was more recently the victim of a shooting at The Bullfrog Hotel on November 30, 2019.

No charges were filed in that case. Former Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings stated in February 2020 that with attempts to interview Neubauer through his attorney were unsuccessful, JPD ended its investigation and turned the matter over to the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office.

As part of Identity Theft Awareness Week, the Division is offering tips on how to avoid being a victim of a skimming scam where thieves place “skimming” devices at ATMs, gas station pumps and other unattended payment terminals to steal card information.

Scammers place these hidden devices over or inside card reading machines at legitimate retailers to directly copy card and PIN information, and then use the stolen data to withdraw funds, make illicit purchases or commit other forms of fraud.

According to the FBI, it is estimated that skimming costs financial institutions and consumers more than $1 billion each year.

Tips to help spot a potential skimming scam include:
– Inspect the card reading machine for an overlay device. Check for unusual set-ups including abnormal bulkiness, any residues, different color, material or shape. Check to see if it’s loose around the card reader. If it moves, consider using another machine.
– Check the keypad. Thieves may place a phony keypad overlay to store keystrokes. If the buttons look or feel different, don’t use it.
– Choose your ATM location wisely. Machines located inside banks or indoor locations are much more secure than an ATM located on the street where anyone can access it.
– Look for any hidden cameras. Thieves often place cameras near the vicinity in order to record PIN numbers. The camera may be mounted at the top or in the ceiling of a terminal. Protect yourself by shielding the PIN pad when entering a PIN number. Use your hand and/or body to cover your PIN when you type it in.
– Review your bank and credit card statements regularly. Victims are often unaware of fraudulent charges or activities until the next attempted purchase or account review. It’s important to frequently monitor your accounts for unauthorized charges.

The Consumer Assistance Helpline is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 1-800-697-1220. Consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.

Letitia James, Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump has withdrawn his lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The withdrawal came in a brief document filed Friday morning with U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks.

Middlebrooks had warned Trump’s legal team the day before that the lawsuit appeared to verge on frivolous.

Trump’s lawsuit against the Attorney General had sought to shield Trump’s revocable trust from James, who has an ongoing $250 million civil suit that alleges fraudulent conduct at the Trump Organization. James has accused Trump and his family members of “grossly” inflating the former president’s net worth by billions of dollars and of cheating lenders and others with false and misleading financial statements.
Trump, who has denied the allegations, has called the investigation by James, a politically motivated “witch hunt.”

On Thursday, Middlebrooks ordered Trump and his attorney Alina Habba to pay fines of nearly $1 million after determining that Trump’s 2022 lawsuit against Hillary Clinton was frivolous litigation meant only to “seek revenge.”

Trump had sued Clinton in March 2022, for allegedly “acting in concert” with top FBI leadership to invent what became known as the Russia investigation into interference in the 2016 election. Trump had argued that the Russia probe was “prolonged and exacerbated by the presence of a small faction of Clinton loyalists who were well-positioned within the Department of Justice.” Middlebrooks dismissed the lawsuit this past September.

In his Thursday opinion, the judge also cautioned Trump’s attorneys that they could face sanctions over their lawsuit against James.

In the opinion, Middlebrooks called Trump “a prolific and sophisticated litigant who is repeatedly using the courts to seek revenge on political adversaries.”

Jamestown Police

The vandalism was discovered and reported on Sunday and has since been cleaned off by the Jamestown Parks Department.

This incident follows the theft of one of the tableau statues back in early May that still has not been recovered. Anyone with information on either case is asked to contact Jamestown Police or the anonymous tips line at 716 483 Tips (8477).

The Jamestown Justice Coalition is planning a “Hate Has No Home Here” rally at 11am, Saturday, July 10th at Dow Park as a response to the incident.

Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings stands with other local, state and federal officials on June 19 to provide details of a major meth trafficking investigation and 18 subsequent arrests.

JAMESTOWN – A joint effort by local, state, and federal authorities has led to the arrest of 18 individuals involved with allegedly trafficking and selling methamphetamine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Karaszewski was in Jamestown Tuesday to announce details of Operation Meltdown.  He was joined by representatives from the Jamestown Police Department, the Town Of Ellicott Police, the New York State Police, the FBI and the ATF.

Karaszewski said the investigation began in November 2017 when it was learned individuals were using the U.S. Post Office to ship methamphetamine from California to Fredonia. The drug, which was described as 97 percent pure, originated from Mexico. Once in Fredonia, the drug was then distributed throughout Chautauqua County, including here in Jamestown. In all about seven pounds of the drug, with an estimated street value of $300,000, made its way into  the area during the past seven months.

The individuals who were arrested in Operation Meltdown, a joint investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in Chautauqua County, NY.

Karaszewski said the drugs were sent to the home of 27-year-old Jamell Trapp and Marcus Bowman of Fredonia. The two men were arrested on Monday and charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Also arrested on federal charges of possession with intent to distribute were 44 year-old Danny Michael III; 23 year-old Alexis Hall, 29 year-old Andrew Bennett, 49 year-old Searcy Fields, 29 year-old Jacob Motherwell, 33 year-old Michael Davis, and 38 year-old Stacie Yancer, all of Jamestown, and 29 year-old Destiny Hare of Randolph.

Six other Jamestown area residents were also arrested on state charges of conspiracy to distribute of methamphetamine. They were 22 year-old Evan Motherwell, 50 year-old Tina Motherwell, 50, 37 year-old Joey Weise, 45 year-old Christina Dean, 25 year-old Jarred Dean, and 42 year-old Richard Dean.

Jamestown Police Chief Harry Snellings acknowledged that several of the names on the list are repeat offenders, but added that for those now facing federal charges, there’s a strong likelihood they wont be back on the streets any time soon.

All individuals are being held to await further court proceedings.

James Caloren

FALCONER – The Town of Ellicott Police Department is announcing the arrest of a Falconer man following an investigation into an alleged threat made on social media.

According to a media release from Ellicott Police, on Feb. 28 the police department received information about what it refers to as “an alarming Facebook Post regarding doing terrible violence.” Specific details of the post were not revealed, but police say it was posted on the Facebook account of 36-year-old James Caloren.

Ellicott Police conducted an investigation, which lead to a search warrant being issued by The Ellicott Town Court for a storage unit that was rented by Caloren. Police say Caloren was found to be in possession of an AK47 Assault Rifle, a sawed off 16ga shot gun, a 308cal Rifle, a 12ga shot gun, a large amount of ammo, and several other weapons.

Caloren had multiple prior Felony convictions and as a result, was not permitted to possess any firearms.

An arrest warrant was issued for Caloren and he was located arrested. He was charged with 5 Felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon.

Caloren was arraingned in Ellicott Town Court and sent to the Chautauqua County Jail.

The FBI and ATF are assisting in the case and Federal Charges are expected.

James Chapman

BUFFALO – A Jamestown man faces federal charges involving sex trafficking and production and distribution of child pornography following a joint-investigation by the FBI and Jamestown Police Department.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Buffalo, 37-year-old James Chapman was indicted this week by a federal grand jury after the investigation found he attempted to coerce minors into prostitution and sexual activities.

According to federal officials, Chapman allegedly attempted to coerce a minor to engage in prostitution and sexual activity between Nov. 24 and Nov. 25, 2014. On the same dates, he recruited two minors to engage in a commercial sex act. The minors were both 16 years old at the time of the incident.  Between December 2016 and April 2017, Chapman is also accused of distributing child pornography depicting the two minors. He also allegedly coerced yet another minor to engage in “sexually explicit conduct for the purposes of producing a visual depiction.”

Chapman is accused of using a Facebook account under the name “Perverted Doe” that contained images of child porn. Investigators say he also used the online alias of Fatz Guy and Perverted Doe.

During the investigation, federal prosecutors say Chapman reportedly made a false statement to the FBI in January of this year.

Chapman was arraigned Thursday in Federal Court in Buffalo on a 14-count indictment that includes charges of enticement of a minor; sex trafficking of a minor; production, distribution, possession and receipt of child pornography.

The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life and a $250,000 fine.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about Chapman’s contact with minors is urged to call the FBI Buffalo office at 716-856-7800 and to press zero (0) and to ask to speak with an agent.

Ryan Percey

FALCONER – A Falconer man has been charged after he was found to be allegedly making methamphetamine in a room at the Budget Inn motel in the village.

Police say 35 year-old Ryan Percey was arrested and taken into custody on Tuesday after executing a search warrant around 7:30 p.m. at the motel, located at 214 E. Main St. in Falconer.

According to the Post-Journal, police went to the motel after getting a complaint of “an awful smell of chemicals” coming from a room.

When they got inside the room, police found Percey and a 15-year-old male, along with a “quantity of methamphetamine” and drug paraphernalia, including several hypodermic needles.

Percey was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminal using drug paraphernalia, criminal using a hypodermic instrument, and endangering the welfare of a child.

He was arraigned in Ellicott Town Court and sent to Chautauqua County Jail.

The investigation was conducted by the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, Ellicott Police Department, State Police, city SWAT Team, and FBI.