By Steve Neavling

A Florida man accused of opening fire at ATF agents and police officers during a high-speed chase in January 2022 has been charged with armed robbery, armed carjacking and attempting to murder federal agents, the Justice Department announced Wednesday. 

Francisco Cabrera, 28, of Dover, was wanted for allegedly robbing two smoke shops and a gas station in the Tampa Bay area during a five-day period in January 2022. During the robberies, he’s accused of pointing a loaded pistol at the victims. 

On Jan. 19, 2022, Cabrera allegedly carjacked a victim at gunpoint at a gas station. 

That same day, ATF agents and Lakeland police officers spotted Cabrera and attempted to pull him over. He fled and exceeded 100 miles per hour in heavy midday traffic, including on Interstate 4, according to the indictment. 

Cabrera fired multiple shots from his driver side window at agents and officers who were pursuing him. ATF agents fired back, striking Cabrera and ending the pursuit. 

No one else was injured by gunfire. 

Cabrera also has been charged in state court with attempted murder of local law enforcement officers. 

If convicted on the federal charges, Cabrera faces between 28 years and life in prison.

Ronnell Watson, via Instagram

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

A reputed gang member accused of ambushing an FBI agent and shooting him in the back in broad daylight in Brooklyn was found guilty by a jury Wednesday.

After three hours of deliberations, Ronell Watson was found guilty on charges of attempted murder of a federal officer, assault of a federal officer and possessing and discharging a firearm, New York Post reports.

The reputed Crips gangbanger was accused of shooting FBI Special Agent Christopher Harper, who was parked in a car in front of Watson’s house in Brooklyn. Moments after Harper was shot in the back, he was heard telling an NYPD office, “I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die.”

Harper survived the shooting and learned about the verdict a few minutes after the jury delivered it. He pumped his fists but declined to comment.

Defense attorney Michelle Gelernt claims his client panicked when he saw a strange car with tinted windows quickly approaching him.

“Ronell Watson was no assassin,” she said. “He’s just as afraid of agent Harper as agent Harper is of him.”

Watson faces up to life behind bars when sentenced.

Carl Wiley, 50.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

A Texas man who shot at a Border Patrol agent has been sentenced to more than 47 years in federal prison.

A jury found Carl Wayne Wiley, 50, guilty of attempted murder and other charges, Breitbart reports. 

Wiley, who had been wanted on state charges in Texas, was fleeing Border Patrol agents in a vehicle in June 2014. After crashing into a tree, Wiley took off on foot.

As one agent pursued him, Wiley opened fire. He also was accused of shooting at a group of agents.

Wiley eventually dropped his weapon and was arrested.

Steve Neavling

A cruise ship worker is accused of trying to throw a passenger into the water after raping her, Fox News reports.

The FBI said 28-year-old Ketut Pujayasa was arrested Sunday after the Holland America Line vessel returned to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.

The 31-year-old victim said she was attacked in her stateroom.

“[The woman] then continued to fight for her life by all means available including striking Pujayasa’s exposed genitals as well as utilizing a corkscrew in an attempt to stab him,” agents said Pujayasa told them.

Pujayasa is accused of trying to throw her from a balcony before she managed to escape while they were in international waters off the coast of Honduras.

Howie Carr 

Whitey Bulger, you wanted to kill me, but I’m still alive.

And you’re dead. You’re not going to last long in a real prison, you bully, you coward.

I heard you’ve told some of the guards down at Plymouth you would have killed me for sure but you were concerned about blowback on your brother, who by the way didn’t show up one single day at your trial.

First you were going to blow me up with plastic explosives you got from one of your crooked FBI agents. Then you sent out Kevin Weeks with a rifle.

Your edge was always that you had the cops, and you had the pols, and the rest of us didn’t. It was a machine, as Joe Murray used to say. He couldn’t go up against the machine and neither could I.

To read more click here.

Steve Neavling

A Homeland Security agent is recovering after he and five local law enforcement officials were wounded during a shootout Friday in suburban Sacramento, the Associated Press reports.

The agent was hospitalized in serious condition this weekend after he was shot in the leg.  Four of the officers were wounded by shrapnel  and were treated and released.  Another officer suffered a jaw wound.

The suspect, Nathan Duran, 32, is accused of attempted murder after he triggered an hour-along standoff that forced the evacuation of nearby homes.

The agent, whose name wasn’t released, was chasing Duran on foot when the suspect shot him.

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diagram of car bomb

A suburban Chicago terrorism suspect is expected to be charged today with trying to solicit the murder of an FBI agent, the Associated Press reports.

Adel Daoud, who is accused of attempting to ignite what he thought was a car bomb outside of a downtown Chicago bar, is expected to plead not guilty.

Investigators allege Daoud was attempting to have an undercover FBI agent killed while behind bars in 2012.

Steve Neavling

An unarmed Canadian border guard shot in the neck while monitoring the crossing north of Seattle is expected to fully recover, the Associated Press reports.

In the meantime, investigators are trying to determine why Andrew Michael Crews, a 32-year-old tattoo artist from Seattle, shot the guard and then committed suicide by turning the gun on himself, the AP reported.

His stepfather told the AP that Crews texted his mom that he loved her and was sorry a few hours before the shooting.

Investigators are baffled.

“The current evidence clearly indicates that prior to taking his own life, Mr. Crews deliberately fired at the victim,” said Superintendent Kevin Hackett of the British Columbia homicide investigative team handling the probe. “There is no evidence, however, to suggest the victim was specifically targeted.”