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DOJ opens probe into prestigious college over alleged discrimination favoring minority students
The Department of Justice launched an investigation on Monday into the College of William & Mary to determine whether certain scholarships and student benefits at the Virginia-based public research institution include unlawful race-based criteria, adding to the Trump administration's targeting of educational institutions across the country.
The DOJ's Civil Rights Division announced it was opening a compliance review for the college's potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.
"Awarding scholarships or offering coveted opportunities to students based on the color of their skin is illegal and offends the guarantees of our color-blind Constitution," Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said in a statement.
"We will find out if scholarships or other student benefits at William & Mary favor applicants of certain races. The Department will not turn a blind eye to race-based preferences, however they are packaged or portrayed by universities," she continued.
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The "W&M Scholars" program for first-year undergraduate students includes a scholarship that covers at least the full cost of in-state tuition and fees.
While the scholarship is not limited to any particular race, the DOJ said in a notice letter to the institution that applicants with an "interest in diverse people and perspectives" receive "top consideration." William & Mary's website lists that consideration alongside academic ability and potential and first-generation or limited-income status.
The W&M School of Education's need-based Martha L. Muguira Fellowship for graduate students gives a "preference" to Hispanic or Latino women, who have financial need, according to the DOJ. The W&M School of Education's doctoral-level Holmes Scholars program was described by the DOJ as giving "future education leaders of color" mentorship, access to job fairs and position announcements, as well as national-level professional development benefits, including policy and advocacy training and opportunities to present their research. William & Mary's current website describes Holmes Scholars as students "from traditionally under-represented backgrounds."
The DOJ said the W&M Law School offers the Lemon Legal Scholars Program. The DOJ said W&M Law offers up to five full scholarships covering tuition and fees that appear to be exclusively for HBCU graduates. William & Mary's current website, however, says the law school "will award at least five full scholarships" to HBCU graduates admitted to its J.D. program.
Recipients of this scholarship also receive networking opportunities, one-on-one academic advising regarding course load and bar exam preparation, as well as access to special events with W&M Law School faculty, senior administrators and alumni.
The law school also advertises the "Reaching Back Scholarship," which is a need-based scholarship that has a "preference" for HBCU graduates or those "who contribute to the diversity" of W&M Law School, the DOJ said.
Some programs at the institution were established to deal with the legacy of slavery and racial discrimination at William & Mary.
The DOJ urged William & Mary to hand over certain documents and information by September 8 as part of the compliance review. The department said it wants to secure compliance by "informal voluntary means" but may take formal action such as proceedings that could result in the termination of federal financial assistance if it deems such a move necessary.
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Responding to the federal probe, William & Mary said in a statement that it is "committed to nondiscriminatory learning environments across our campus and complying with all state and federal laws."
The DOJ's Civil Rights Division said it had not reached any conclusions about the subject matter of the investigation.
This is just the latest effort by the Trump administration to target educational institutions across the nation for issues such as race-based admissions and scholarships, diversity, equity and inclusion programs and alleged antisemitism on campus.
Virginia man acquitted by insanity in killing flees US during 48-hour mental hospital pass
A Virginia man found not guilty by reason of insanity in a 2019 killing fled the United States on a one-way flight to Tajikistan while on an approved 48-hour pass from a state mental health facility, according to court records.
Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda left the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute (NVMHI) on July 6 for an authorized 48-hour pass. He was required to return two days later, but he never did, FOX 5 reported, citing court documents.
Instead, Toshpulodzoda traveled to Washington Dulles International Airport and boarded a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul before continuing to Dushanbe, Tajikistan, court documents show.
"The Acquittee failed to return to NVMHI on July 8, 2026, as required," the filing states.
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Toshpulodzoda was committed to the custody of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services in 2022 after being found not guilty by reason of insanity in the death of his landlord, Mohammad Hemmatian, according to FOX 5.
His departure came shortly after a judge determined he remained mentally ill and needed inpatient treatment.
"On June 29, 2026, this Court found that the Acquittee remained mentally ill and in need of inpatient hospitalization," court documents state.
Despite that finding, Virginia law allows mental health facilities to grant certain committed patients unaccompanied community visits lasting up to 48 hours, according to FOX 5.
NVMHI authorized Toshpulodzoda to leave on July 6. Court records show he left the approved placement and headed to Dulles instead of returning to the facility.
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Airline records attached to the court filing show a Turkish Airlines itinerary from Dulles to Istanbul and then to Dushanbe.
FOX 5 reported that Toshpulodzoda had previously been allowed to travel to Washington, D.C., in 2024 to obtain a passport, with support from the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
After Toshpulodzoda failed to return, NVMHI placed him on escape status, revoked his pass and issued a facility warrant.
Virginia State Police and federal authorities were notified, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued an alert in case he attempted to return to the United States.
A bench warrant was later issued for his arrest, according to FOX 5.
"Abdulloi Toshpulodzoda was found by clinicians to be insane at the time he killed Mohammad Hemmatian – a legal finding that means the Commonwealth would be unable to secure a conviction at trial," the Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney’s office said in a statement.
"Following that 2022 finding, prosecutors have opposed his release at annual review hearings, including in June of this year, where a judge ordered that he continue to be confined in a state behavioral health facility. A bench warrant was issued immediately following notice that he had escaped custody, so if he enters the U.S., he will be arrested and brought to Virginia."
The Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney’s office, the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute and Turkish Airlines could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.
Saints first-round pick Jordyn Tyson could miss 2 months with hamstring injury from training camp
Jordyn Tyson’s start to his NFL career is not going according to plan.
The New Orleans Saints receiver, who went in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, could miss the next two months after suffering a hamstring injury during training camp, according to NFL Network.
The 22-year-old Arizona State product, whom the Saints took eighth overall back in April, suffered the injury during last Thursday’s joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Saints head coach Kellen Moore, who enters his second season leading the franchise, said one day later that the injury could force Tyson to be sidelined through the start of the season. Now, if the current timeline remains, Tyson is looking at potentially missing at least five games.
There were also reports Tyson sought multiple opinions on his hamstring injury, leading to discourse on social media among football fans worried he would be missing more than just a few practices.
A two-month timeline would mean a return near Week 6, where the Saints would travel to MetLife Stadium to face the New York Giants. Then, they travel overseas for a game in Paris as part of the NFL’s International Games.
Tyson did have hamstring issues while starring for the Sun Devils, but Moore refuted speculation that this injury was comparable.
"I think my understanding of this one, any player that was put in his situation where your foot slips and you get shoved from behind, this has nothing to do with Jordyn's history," Moore explained, per ESPN. "Any player in that situation probably has the same diagnosis coming out of this."
Moore added that Tyson, who had practiced every day in training camp before the injury, was having a good time getting acclimated to his new team.
"He's played really good football," Moore said. "Inevitably, this is the unfortunate part of what preseason and training camp football is. We've already had a few of these guys, that you just have something that comes up and ... we'll just work through it.
"He'll be fine. We'll get through this, and he'll be good to go."
Moore is charged with continuing the positive football that came in the second half of last season for the Saints, particularly when Tyler Shough, the team’s second-round draft choice a year ago, was named the starting quarterback.
Now, as Shough had a full offseason to prepare as the team’s starter moving forward, the Saints did a great job adding offensive weapons for him to work with.
One of them was Tyson, who hit the prospect radar for NFL scouts with a breakout 1,101-yard performance in 2024. He dealt with hamstring problems in 2025, which led to just nine games on the field for Arizona State. However, he tallied 61 catches for 711 yards and eight touchdowns over that span.
New Orleans also locked in top receiver Chris Olave on an extension before the start of the season, while adding Travis Etienne Jr. this offseason on a four-year, $48 million contract. Alvin Kamara returns to the fold as well, providing a dynamic duo in the backfield.
But Tyson’s priorities will be on recovery now, as the Saints hope to have their first-round pick back on the field soon with the regular season a few weeks away.
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One of world’s oldest orca whales found with possible shotgun wounds as officials launch investigation
The mysterious wounds found on one of the world's oldest orcas have triggered an investigation in Spain and raised questions about whether someone took aim at the famed killer whale amid years of tense encounters between orcas and boats.
Toñi, the oldest known Iberian orca, surfaced in the Strait of Gibraltar with multiple fresh marks across her dorsal fin and back that conservationists believe were caused by shotgun pellets. The injuries were not visible in photographs taken just weeks earlier.
The orca, known as Toñi, was spotted this week with marks Spanish officials described as compatible with possible pellet shots, according to Spain's Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO).
The ministry said it learned of Toñi's injuries on Aug. 11, after receiving information from marine conservation group WeWhale, which operates in the area with government authorization.
Officials opened preliminary investigative proceedings the next day to determine what happened and potentially identify those responsible.
While Spanish authorities have stopped short of concluding that Toñi was shot, conservation groups WeWhale and Iberian Orca Guardians said their teams believe the appearance, number and distribution of the wounds point to a shotgun discharge.
The groups said the injuries appeared suddenly. They had photographed and observed Toñi only weeks earlier, when the wounds were not present.
WeWhale said its team counted roughly 10 apparent pellet impacts on the left side of her dorsal fin. At least two or three projectiles appear to have passed straight through the fin, while others may still be lodged inside, according to the group.
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At an estimated 60 years old, Toñi could face added risks from the injuries. WeWhale said the fin has a rich blood supply and helps the animal regulate its body temperature, meaning the wounds could lead to tissue damage, swelling or infection. If pellets remain lodged inside, the group warned that an infection could, in the worst case, become life-threatening.
For now, however, there are encouraging signs. WeWhale said Toñi appears to be swimming and hunting normally, and its team will continue watching her closely.
"We know Toñi. We were with her a few weeks ago and these wounds were not there," Janek Andre, founder and president of WeWhale and the Iberian Orca Guardians Foundation, said in a statement.
Andre said the groups are now seeing "multiple impact wounds" across the animal's dorsal fin and back that they believe are consistent with a shotgun blast.
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"If someone has deliberately fired a shotgun at her, this is not only an act of extreme cruelty against an individual animal," Andre said. "It is an attack on one of the last remaining members of a critically endangered population."
Toñi, also known as "La Abuela," or "the grandmother," is the oldest known member of the Iberian orca population, according to the conservation groups. Her population in the Strait of Gibraltar and Gulf of Cádiz is classified as vulnerable under Spain's Catalog of Endangered Species.
The stakes for anyone found responsible could be steep. Spanish law prohibits killing, capturing, pursuing or disturbing protected species, and violations of regulations protecting the orcas can carry penalties of up to 2 million euros, equivalent to about $2.3 million, along with potential criminal liability, according to MITECO.
The ministry's General Directorate of Biodiversity, Forests and Desertification is investigating the incident.
The investigation comes amid years of documented interactions between Iberian orcas and boats off the Iberian Peninsula.
Since 2020, orcas in the region have repeatedly interacted with vessels in Atlantic waters, prompting Spanish authorities to issue guidance aimed at protecting boaters, vessels and the animals. Officials advise sailors not to use deterrent measures that could kill, injure or disturb the cetaceans.
WeWhale said the apparent shooting should not be viewed as an acceptable response to those encounters.
"There has been enormous public discussion about Iberian orcas and their interactions with vessels," Andre said. "Whatever someone's opinion about those interactions may be, shooting at these animals can never be an acceptable response."
The conservation groups said they are preserving their original photographs and observational records and will continue monitoring Toñi's physical condition and behavior as the government investigation moves forward.
Authorities have not announced a suspect or identified anyone who may be responsible for the injuries.
Stephen A Smith goes off on national Black journalists organization after 'personal hit job' against him
ESPN host and political commentator Stephen A. Smith targeted the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) for what he called a "personal hit job" against him in a lengthy rant during his show on Monday.
Smith's comments came after the NABJ gave him a "Thumbs Down" award at the group's Saturday night gala in Atlanta over what it characterized as his repeated disparagement of prominent Black women.
The sports host felt personally offended by the decision, calling out the moment as a spectacular lack of journalism from a journalism organization.
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"The reality is that it was a personal hit job," Smith said. "We can sit up there and lollygag around and act like we don't know any better. It was a personal hit job. Which, by the way, usually doesn't phase me. I know you think something phases me, just because you see me commenting on it. No, I'm in this business. I have a platform. I can comment about anything I want to, and I will continue to do so."
"That's not what this is," he added. "This is different. This is a journalism organization that didn't engage in journalism when it came to critiquing me. Disparaging Black women is a very incendiary thing to say. If you felt that adamant about it, [NABJ] President [Errin] Haines, how come I never got a call?"
Smith speculated that the award was focused on his past criticism of high-profile Black female political figures like Texas Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett. He also revealed that he reached out to Haines regarding the organization's allegations to potentially discuss their differences, a conversation that ultimately went nowhere.
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"Do you know what she said to me, ladies and gentlemen? She'd rather have a private off-the-air conversation first," he said. "Oh, really? So you can go on a public platform, denigrate me, make these accusations against me without calling. But when I challenge you to come on here face to face and have a conversation with me, now we want a private conversation before. Nah, I will never speak to her because the deed is done."
However, Smith clarified that he still plans to support NABJ, remarking that he owes his career to an "NABJ job fair" over 30 years ago.
"This is not about the NABJ. This is not an indictment against them. It certainly isn't an indictment against the sports task force filled with a bunch of my brothers that I will always be there for," he said. "And it certainly isn't something that should be held against aspiring journalists and those already in the business who aspire to rise higher. I'm always here. But those few board members who made this decision, it was wrong. It was grossly unfair. And more importantly, it was self-defeating."
An editor for the conservative watchdog, the Media Research Center, told Fox News Digital Sunday that the award reflected what he viewed as a broader disconnect between journalism organizations and the public.
"This charade is further proof these so-called journalist trade groups are an absolute scam. They exist to keep Woke 1 alive, and illuminate the reality elitist journalists are wildly disconnected from the rest of the country," NewsBusters Managing Editor Curtis Houck said.
"Stephen A. Smith was exactly right to eviscerate them. Smith is known as someone who can be a bloviator, but he also calls out all sides if he feels they did something wrong. It's a lesson those in the NABJ should take a page from instead of masquerading as clownish activists," he added.
Fox News Digital reached out to NABJ for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
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A video of the NABJ presentation was shared by Washington Association of Black Journalists President Phil Lewis on X Sunday.
"Smith has established a recurring public pattern of disparaging commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports, and media," the award presentation said.
"Such commentary reinforces harmful narratives, undermines the fair and respectful representation of Black women in public discourse, and stands in direct conflict with NABJ’s longstanding commitment to accurate, responsible, and inclusive portrayals of Black communities," it continued.
Newly released data shows which American cities have the most passionate fanbases in the NFL
It's an age-old question that's divided sports fans for decades: which city or team has the most passionate fanbases?
There are several obvious contenders, cities that have the reputation for caring "more" about their team than others. Particularly in the NFL. The Philadelphia Eagles come to mind, with that city's fans infamous for maybe caring a bit, too, much. New York and Boston too, with the East Coast mindset and dedication to sports.
Then there is Chicago Bears fans, who pack the old, outdated Soldier Field, even in frigid temperatures, to watch a their team, despite years of futility. Then there's the South, particularly Texas, where football reaches extreme levels of importance and high school teams have 20,000+ seat stadiums.
Well, Nielsen, the company mostly known for measuring television ratings, attempted to answer this question once and for all. The company released a new "Local NFL fandom index" report on Monday, tracking all 30 NFL markets by eight key metrics to determine which are the most invested in their teams.
Those metrics include "apparel purchases, general interest levels, live event attendance, betting intent, social media engagement, radio listenership, streaming habits, and linear TV viewership." What "general interest levels" measure is not clear, nor is how they weighted those metrics to calculate their rankings.
But what is clear is that the smaller- or mid-market teams enjoy the highest level of fan engagement and interest, which isn't too surprising given some obvious advantages they have over larger cities. Here's how Nielsen ranked the 30 markets and the "average index" based on their chosen factors.
There are several interesting data points here, and Nielsen did provide a bit of background data that demonstrates how factors can influence the rankings.
First, the small markets dominate in part because there's less competition. Fewer entertainment options, particularly in fall and winter in the upper Midwest, lead to more focused interest on the local NFL team. Nielsen, in its report, says cities like Cincinnati, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland achieved their scores thanks to the number of fans listening on local radio, watching on television, or attending games, relative to the size of their markets.
Local television viewership in Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, as well as Green Bay, Buffalo, and Kansas City, is unsurprisingly higher than in the larger markets. They also called out Detroit and Green Bay for both ranking in the top five in merchandise purchases. No doubt helped by the Lions recent success, and Green Bay's consistent track record.
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On the other hand, larger markets, or those with a substantial transplant population, do not fare nearly as well. NFL teams in Miami, LA, San Francisco, Tampa, and New York have stiff competition for outside entertainment, have large communities from other parts of the country, and are loaded with teams in other sports.
For all the , often deservedly, negative aspects of their reputation, kudos to Philadelphia Eagles fans. Even with the distractions that come in a large market, Philly ranks among the top five fanbases. Nielsen reported that it does not lead "a single metric outright," but landed in the top five in "five of the eight questions the index tracks."
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What is also interesting is the importance of winning. Boston would probably rank lower, if the Patriots weren't as good. Similarly, Kansas City outpaces other similar markets because the Chiefs are Super Bowl contenders every year, thanks to Patrick Mahomes. Buffalo too, obviously has a passionate fanbase, but tops the list likely thanks to their run of playoff appearances with Josh Allen.
And thanks to this ranking, they may not have Super Bowl-winning bragging rights, but the Bills Mafia can now at least say they're the best fans in the NFL and bring some data to back it up.
Man calls 911 after girlfriend found dead in motel, police allegedly uncover disturbing videos on his phone
A Missouri man called 911 after his girlfriend died at a motel, but investigators say a disturbing discovery soon turned the case into a homicide investigation.
Nicholas Ayres, 35, is now charged with second-degree felony murder and first-degree domestic assault in the death of 37-year-old Destiny Dunn, according to Columbia Police and Boone County jail records.
The investigation began around 3:22 p.m. on Aug. 12, when Ayres called 911 and told a dispatcher that Dunn was lying down, might have a heartbeat and appeared "red and blue," according to a probable cause statement (PCS) reviewed by Fox News Digital.
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Ayres told the dispatcher the couple had gotten into an altercation while they were in the shower and claimed Dunn fell after he got out, the court document states.
But as the dispatcher pressed him about Dunn's condition, Ayres allegedly acknowledged they had been fighting and that she was bruised.
"It looks like I f---ing beat her up and I promise to God I didn't do it," Ayres allegedly told the dispatcher, according to the PCS. The dispatcher then instructed him on performing chest compressions.
Officers arrived about a minute later and found Dunn dead, according to the affidavit. Investigators described bruising across her body, including severe bruising to her neck and face, as well as swollen and discolored eyelids.
Police quickly began piecing together what allegedly happened inside the motel room. Neighbors who shared a wall told investigators they had heard what sounded like a physical altercation around 11 a.m. that morning, according to the court filing.
Ayres was taken into custody. During a post-Miranda interview, he allegedly admitted having physical altercations with Dunn on Aug. 11 and Aug. 12, but characterized them as accidental and told investigators he "does not beat women," the affidavit alleges.
Then investigators searched the motel room.
Police said they found Ayres' cellphone, and its contents allegedly provided a disturbing timeline stretching from the days before Dunn's death into her final hours.
One video recorded Aug. 10 showed Dunn without bruising on her face, according to the affidavit. Another recording from later that night allegedly showed Ayres repeatedly assaulting her for more than a minute.
In that video, investigators allege Ayres could be heard telling Dunn to "clean up her mess" as sounds of slapping and punching were captured. Near the end, police said Ayres appeared to grab Dunn by the hair and punch her in the face, knocking her down.
By the afternoon of Aug. 12, the recordings allegedly painted a far more dire picture.
At 12:06 p.m., police said a photo showed Dunn lying in a bathtub wearing only a shirt. A five-second video recorded at the same time allegedly showed her barely moving.
Two minutes later, another video allegedly captured Ayres pacing between the motel room and bathroom while a woman could be heard groaning. About a minute into the recording, investigators say Ayres told Dunn he was "really calling 911."
"I have to because I'm not going down for manslaughter," he allegedly said, according to the affidavit.
But the 911 call that followed did not bring police rushing to the motel.
At 12:21 p.m., just 13 minutes after the video, Ayres called 911 and told dispatchers the call was accidental, according to the probable cause statement. He verified his name, phone number and location before disconnecting.
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It would be roughly three more hours before the 3:22 p.m. call that brought officers to Dunn.
Police also photographed what the affidavit described as defensive wounds on Ayres' left wrist and torso.
Investigators ultimately determined Dunn's death was a homicide, Columbia Police said. In the PCS, an officer alleged Ayres physically assaulted Dunn "to the point she died from her injuries."
Ayres is being held without bond, according to jail records, and is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 2.
As the criminal case moves forward, Dunn's family is remembering her as far more than the victim at the center of a homicide investigation.
Her sister, Marinah Hollon, described Dunn in a GoFundMe as a "loving, nurturing, and incredibly sweet person" and a mother whose death has left her children facing life without her.
"She had a beautiful soul and a heart that cared deeply for the people around her," Hollon wrote. "She was someone who brought love and kindness into the lives of others."
"No family should ever have to endure this kind of heartbreak," Hollon wrote.
Columbia Police said the investigation remains ongoing.
Illegal immigrant learns fate after using stolen identity to vote in US elections for decades
Carlos Felipe Jaramillo-Grajales, a criminal illegal alien from Colombia, was recently sentenced to three years behind bars for identity theft and lying about his citizenship status — a falsification that, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), he used to participate in U.S. elections over a period spanning roughly 20 years.
"Because of his fraud, he was able to obtain a driver’s license and vote in our elections," DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement.
"DHS will always fight to protect the integrity of our elections, because election security is national security. Only Americans should be electing American leaders," he continued.
His Friday sentencing comes as lawmakers in Washington, D.C. have wrestled over whether new legislation is needed to shore up voter verification that demonstrates the lengths some aliens have gone to secure state ID.
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It’s a pattern that Mullin highlighted in a letter to secretaries of state in California, New Jersey, Nevada and Pennsylvania earlier this year.
According to his findings, as many as 190,830 noncitizens registered to vote in California, for instance.
In Jaramillo-Grajales’ case, he first began the scheme by using the name, date of birth and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen to obtain a passport in March 2003. Once he had secured that credential, he used the false information to obtain a Florida driver’s license and register to vote.
He would go on to cast a ballot in the 2020 election and others, according to DHS.
Investigators also explained that he had used the stolen identity for other purposes.
"This criminal illegal alien spent years exploiting a stolen identity of a United States citizen to obtain government documents [and] claim benefits," Tim Hemker, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, said.
In one instance, Jaramillo-Grajales used his false name in June 2017 to secure lawful permanent residence for his fiancée, who later became his wife.
DHS framed Jaramillo-Grajales’s conviction as a part of a broader effort to crack down on illegal aliens fabricating information to vote or secure U.S. benefits.
The agency noted cases like that of Marian Chariton, an alien from Slovakia, who had illegally voted in the 2022 election in New Jersey after falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen. It similarly pointed to Jose Ceballos, an alien from Mexico who pleaded guilty to three counts of disorderly election for falsely claiming to be a citizen in Kansas.
"Thanks to the hard work of the men and women of HSI, along with our federal partners, this criminal is out of our communities and, at the end of his sentence, will be removed from our country," Mullin said.
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According to the Florida U.S. attorney’s office, Jaramillo-Grajales’ case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.
Penn State cocaine bust nets 14 arrests over alleged pledge coke-cutting ‘indoctrination' rituals
More than a dozen Penn Staters are charged in connection with an alleged massive cocaine distribution ring as one of the alleged ringleaders, Agostino Abbatiello, 24, of Westbury, New York remains at large.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that Abbatiello is among 14 people who are facing charges related to the coke trafficking operation where students and two off-campus fraternities were allegedly involved.
"In all, 13 defendants were Penn State University students at or around the time of the alleged conduct, in 2023 and 2024. The 14th defendant, the father of a student, is charged with tampering with evidence and hindering the investigation," the Attorney General's office said.
In the Monday announcement, the AG said suspects Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson were the main coke suppliers. They allegedly made regular trips to Philadelphia and New York to pick up "large quantities" of the illegal drug.
Members of the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities allegedly cut and packaged the coke inside their frat houses off campus and distributed it to Penn State students, investigators said.
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The AG said in addition to the charges against alleged ringleaders Abbatiello and Robinson, two more, Mohammed Hurabi and Lars Zeepvat, are charged with felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and related offenses.
Additionally, Robert Zanolla, is charged with felony conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility and related misdemeanors.
Eight more "student-aged defendants" charged are facing misdemeanors for possession and paraphernalia, the AG said. Those include Liam Smith, Michael Brogno, Kaden Howe, Connor Hurleigh, Seth Beardsley, Kyle Ridpath, Daniel Price and Charles Wiseman.
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The AG's office confirmed at least four of the men charged are current Penn State students.
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"This was a coordinated and highly-profitable drug-trafficking crew revolving around two senior members of the fraternities, other fraternity brothers, and pledges," Attorney General Sunday said. "In fact, according to the evidence uncovered, cutting and packaging cocaine was, for some pledges, an indoctrination into the fraternities."
Thomas Robinson's father, Paul Robinson is charged with felony tampering, hindering apprehension for taking steps to conceal evidence and obstructing the investigation.
Penn State University confirmed to Fox News Digital that the university has responded to the criminal allegations and announced the Delta Upsilon fraternity would be placed on interim suspension while the school investigates. It also made note that Sigma Chi is "not a recognized organization and operates outside of the University's support and oversight."
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In a statement, Penn State said in part:
"We are horrified by these serious allegations against current and former students," said Andrea Dowhower, vice president for Student Affairs. "Criminal activity, including hazing, such as this has no place at our institution, and we will cooperate with law enforcement in any way we can. We will continue to enhance our efforts around health and safety and hazing educational efforts for all our organizations."
In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, Delta Upsilon Executive Director Justin Kirk said, "The charges filed today [Monday] stem from alleged incidents that Delta Upsilon International Fraternity was previously made aware of. The individuals associated with Delta Upsilon have either been expelled, suspended or resigned. We will continue to work closely with the university on any investigative efforts."
Fox News Digital has reached out to Sigma Chi fraternity.
Oprah distances herself from Trump allies Dr Phil and Dr Oz, says they have ‘not one thing to do with me’
Talk show legend Oprah Winfrey distanced herself from Dr. Phil McGraw and Dr. Mehmet Oz, two stars she helped turn into national media personalities who have since become associated with conservative politics.
Winfrey spoke to Emmy Magazine about her career and was asked how she felt about McGraw and Oz now.
"People criticize me for Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz, because of their politics or their views," she said, recalling that during a lengthy legal battle in the late ‘90s, "Dr. Phil, he was so practical, so down-to-earth, so real. And he would ride in the car with me every morning on the way to trial, where I’m literally sitting on trial for six weeks."
McGraw and Oz have become political figures in recent years. Oz, endorsed by President Donald Trump, ran for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022 before being defeated by Sen. John Fetterman. While McGraw has not endorsed either party, he appeared at Trump’s Madison Square Garden campaign rally in October 2024, and accompanied ICE personnel during Chicago immigration raids alongside Trump border czar Tom Homan.
Oz was nominated by Trump and approved by the Senate to become Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in 2025 as the president returned to office.
"I felt that he was so instrumental in helping me. I thought, ‘Oh, you could help a lot of people. You should come on my show,’" she added.
For Dr. Oz, she recalled, "He explained practical things like colon cancer and bowel movements. I thought he had the language for explaining medical things in a way that was helpful to me. I thought it would be helpful to many other people. And that is how they ended up on the show."
"Everybody has their own path in life, and it has not one thing to do with me, and I don’t have one thing to do with them," she concluded. "At the time, the reason and intention behind me giving them their breaks was I thought they had valuable information to share that had been meaningful to me."
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ SHRUGS OFF PAST 'DEFUND THE POLICE' COMMENTS, JOKING 'WOKE 1 WAS CRAZY'
The managing editor of Media Research Center's NewsBusters, Curtis Houck, told Fox News Digital that Winfrey appears to have no qualms about engaging in politics herself.
"Oprah certainly doesn't have a problem with being friends with progressives or anyone willing to take on Trump," he said.
"Oprah wants us to feel bad for woke Prince Harry and Meghan or the woman in the Coldplay kiss cam. She herself is stuck on Woke 1," Houck added, referring to the term Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez used in an attempt to shrug off far-left identity politics as a thing of the past.
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"Oprah and her friend/CBS ‘Journalist’ Gayle King can continue promoting whatever causes they want or pal around with the Obamas, but they shouldn't be seen as non-partisan by any stretch. While I'm sure they're incredibly grateful to her, Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz should be allowed to have their own opinions and not be framed as the exclusive partisans," he concluded.