Mother allegedly told her preteen daughters to hide stepdad's sexual abuse — or they'd be 'financially screwed'



A Utah mother is accused of instructing her young daughters to cover up their stepfather's alleged sexual assaults against them.

Randi Heather Norris was arrested around 6:40 p.m. Wednesday, according to Utah County Jail records. Norris, 39, faces charges of tampering with a witness, child abuse with injury — intentional or knowing, and obstruction of justice.

'Sexually abusing three of her daughters, all of which were age 13 or younger at the time of the abuse.'

The Springville Police Department said they received a report from the Division of Child and Family Services of reported child sexual abuse.

KTVX-TV reported that law enforcement interviewed the alleged victim, who reported several incidents of child sexual abuse by her stepfather – 39-year-old Jason Wong. She allegedly told police she informed her mother — Norris — about the sexual abuse.

“The victim stated that [Norris’] response was that it was up to the victim to decide if she wanted to report it, but that if she did they would be ‘financially screwed.’ The victim also disclosed overhearing Randi and Jason tell her younger sibling to lie to the police about the sexual abuse that was happening to her for the same reason,” the affidavit of probable cause read.

Investigators reportedly interviewed Norris, who told police that she knew Wong was “sexually abusing three of her daughters, all of which were age 13 or younger at the time of the abuse.”

In April, Norris' 11-year-old daughter reported a separate incident of sexual abuse by Wong, and while she gave some details, she later said none of the allegations happened.

“Investigators learned the victim did this after being instructed to do so by Randi and Jason,” the probable cause statement stated.

Norris and Wong allegedly began a romantic relationship in November 2014.

The Daily Mail reported that the couple are both employed at Smith's Food and Drug Stores in Springville. Norris reportedly is a cashier, and Wong is a dairy manager.

The Daily Mail said Springville police did not provide a comment to the outlet.

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Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO involved in 'violent' international sex trafficking operation using male models: Feds



A former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO was arrested Tuesday for his alleged participation in an international sex trafficking operation using male models, according to federal prosecutors.

Mike Jeffries, 80, along with his "romantic partner" Matthew Smith and business associate James Jacobson are accused of recruiting the models for the operation. The three defendants were charged with sex trafficking and interstate prostitution.

The suspects reportedly hired a 'secret staff' to maintain events where alleged victims would be provided drugs and alcohol to make it easier to coerce them into sexual activity.

Breon Peace — the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York — said at a news conference in Brooklyn, “To anyone who thinks they can exploit and coerce others by using this so-called casting couch system, this case should serve as a warning: prepare to trade that couch for a bed in federal prison.”

Peace said Jeffries, while he was CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch from 1992 to 2014, used “his power, his wealth, and his influence to traffic men for his own sexual pleasure and that of his romantic partner, Smith.”

Brad Edwards — a civil lawyer representing some of the alleged victims — proclaimed: "These arrests are a huge first step towards obtaining justice for the many victims who were exploited and abused through this sex trafficking scheme that operated for many years under the legitimate cover Abercrombie provided."

The indictment claims that Jeffries and Smith used Jacobsen as well as employees, contractors, and security professionals to run an operation "dedicated to fulfilling their sexual desires and ensuring that their international sex trafficking and prostitution business was kept secret."

The former retail executive and Smith relied on their vast financial resources, Jeffries' power as the CEO of Abercrombie, and numerous people, including Jacobson and a network of employees, contractors, and security professionals, to run a business "that was dedicated to fulfilling their sexual desires and ensuring that their international sex trafficking and prostitution business was kept secret," the indictment alleges.

Peace said the models were told they needed to comply with sexual demands or their modeling careers could suffer. According to the feds, Jeffries and Smith would forcefully subject the alleged victims to violent sexual contact.

Peace said the international sex trafficking operation lasted from at least 2008 until 2015 and allegedly required millions of dollars to support its massive infrastructure to maintain secrecy.

Federal prosecutors identified 15 victims of the sex trafficking operation, but Peace said there are "dozens and dozens" of potential victims.

Peace claimed Jeffries and Smith reportedly employed Jacobson as a “recruiter” to find men and pay them to engage in sex acts.

According to the indictment, Jacobson traveled throughout the U.S. and internationally to recruit men for alleged sex events. Prosecutors said Jacobson required the potential candidates to first engage in sex with him to determine if they were worthy to be passed on to Jeffries and Smith.

The alleged sex events reportedly occurred in New York, London, and Venice.

The indictment claimed that many of the alleged victims were coerced and teased with modeling opportunities.

"In exchange for providing the position of power and unfettered access to corporate funds necessary for Jeffries to sexually terrorize aspiring male models, Abercrombie knowingly and intentionally benefited and received things of value from Jeffries and his sex trafficking operation, including the value Jeffries himself brought to the brand," the lawsuit read.

Smith allegedly would personally select men to be flown to the couple’s homes in the Hamptons or to hotels around the world “to engage in commercial sex,” Peace claimed.

The suspects reportedly hired a "secret staff" to maintain events where alleged victims would be provided drugs and alcohol to make it easier to coerce them into sexual activity. The staff purportedly ensured that the alleged victims handed over their phones and signed nondisclosure agreements.

“Prosecutions like this are really impossible without the bravery of victims who are willing to report what happened to them to law enforcement,” Peace declared.

Brian Bieber — an attorney for Jeffries — told USA Today that his legal team would respond to the allegations "after the Indictment is unsealed, and when appropriate, but plan to do so in the courthouse — not the media."

Federal prosecutors stated the investigation began in January after alleged victims filed a civil lawsuit a year prior.

When the accusations first surfaced in 2023, Abercrombie & Fitch said the company was “appalled and disgusted” by the claims and would hire an outside law firm to conduct a review of the allegations.

Jeffries was known for transforming Abercrombie & Fitch into a powerhouse fashion brand. One of the plaintiffs, David Bradberry — former crewman on the reality series "Below Deck" — said Jeffries made Abercrombie successful by the "oversexualization of young men," ABC News reported.

Abercrombie & Fitch declined to provide a comment to ABC News.

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Married mother admits to sexually assaulting teen hockey players 'young enough to be her kids' during family vacation



A married mother from Minnesota has admitted to sexually assaulting two 15-year-old hockey players during a family vacation, according to authorities.

Allison Leigh Schardin, 39, was arrested Feb. 1. Schardin was charged with third- and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. On Friday, she pleaded guilty to the third-degree count and the fourth count will be dismissed under an agreement.

'You already have a 38‐year‐old woman, a female in your bed, don’t you want to do more?'

As Blaze News previously reported, Schardin allegedly was on a "staycation" with her family earlier this year at a hotel in Roseville — roughly 15 miles from her hometown of Blaine.

According to the criminal complaint obtained by Law & Crime, Schardin approached two teen boys at the hotel hot tub on Jan. 14. She allegedly began a conversation with the minors and complained about her marriage.

The second victim said Schardin was in the pool area when her husband allegedly shouted something like, “If you don’t come upstairs, our relationship is over.”

The wife reportedly disregarded her husband's words and instead asked to exchange "socials" with the victims.

Schardin purportedly contacted the first victim on Snapchat a little later that day and asked, “Can I come into your room?”

The married mom allegedly went to the boys' hotel room. They were in town from Colorado for a hockey tournament.

She told the teens they were "young enough to be her kids,” according to court documents.

Schardin reportedly began talking about "sex and stuff" and then got into bed with the two boys and asked them about their sexual experiences.

The boys said Schardin was “saying things like, ‘let’s just do more,’ ‘let’s have sex,’ ‘we’re already here,’ ‘You already have a 38‐year‐old woman, a female in your bed, don’t you want to do more?'”

In regard to the offer of sex, the first victim recalled thinking “not really” but ultimately said “sure” to Schardin because he didn’t know how to say no to her.

The criminal complaint said the first victim "was kind of uncomfortable."

The New York Post reported, "Schadin then began sexual acts with two of the teens — while a third watched — and asked them to perform sexual acts on her."

The next day, Schardin allegedly sent text messages to the teens while they were playing in a hockey tournament. She reportedly showed up to the boys' game.

“Victim one said they all started getting nervous, and he was shaking on the bench at one point because he wanted to leave what happened the night before in the past, and she was trying to follow them, ‘it was really creepy,'” the complaint reads.

Schardin reportedly continued to send text messages to the teenagers once they returned home to Colorado. She allegedly attempted to convince one of the boys to not tell police “what happened.”

Schardin purportedly texted the first victim, "I will do or say anything you want, just don’t tell the police or report what happened.'” According to the complaint, the boy replied that "he didn’t want anything from her, that he wouldn’t report it, and that she needed to leave him alone."

The teen then blocked Schardin.

Minnesota court records reveal that Scardin's husband, Anthony Schardin, filed for divorce on Dec. 18, 2023, Heavy reported.

Schardin is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 10, 2025.

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Garth Brooks accused of rape by former makeup artist



A former makeup artist for Garth Brooks has accused the country music star of sexual assault and battery in a lawsuit.

The complaint — filed Thursday in a California state court — claims the alleged incidents of sexual abuse occurred in 2019. The makeup artist and hairstylist accused Brooks of raping her during a work trip in Los Angeles, according to CNN.

'We are very confident in our case, and over time the public will see his true character rather than his highly curated persona.'

The alleged victim — identified only as "Jane Roe" in the lawsuit — claimed that the sexual abuse left her "physically" and "emotionally injured."

The lawsuit claims the woman and Brooks traveled to Los Angeles in 2019 for a Grammys tribute to R&B singer Sam Moore. The suit alleges that only one hotel room was booked for both of them to share.

Trapped in the room

"After they arrived, suddenly Brooks appeared in the doorway to the bedroom, completely naked," the complaint read, according to Fox News. "He stood there and flexed his muscles. Ms. Roe immediately had a sick feeling in her stomach, knowing she was trapped in the room alone with Brooks, with no one to help and far away from Nashville."

The lawsuit claims that Brooks then raped her.

In the suit, the woman also accuses Brooks of repeatedly exposing his genitals and buttocks, talking about sex and sharing sexual fantasies with her, regularly changing his clothing in front of her, and sending sexually explicit text messages.

Longtime employee

The alleged victim began handling hair and makeup services for Brooks in 2017, according to the lawsuit. The woman said she was first hired in 1999 to do hair and makeup for Brooks' wife, Trisha Yearwood.

The woman's legal team said in a statement that they "applaud our client's courage in moving forward with her complaints against Garth Brooks."

"The complaint filed today demonstrates that sexual predators exist not only in corporate America, Hollywood, and in the rap and rock and roll industries but also in the world of country music," the statement read. "We encourage others who may have been victimized to contact us, as no survivor should suffer in silence."

'Hassled to no end'

Brooks vehemently denied the scathing allegations.

"For the last two months, I have been hassled to no end with threats, lies, and tragic tales of what my future would be if I did not write a check for many millions of dollars," Brooks said in a statement. "It has been like having a loaded gun waved in my face."

The award-winning country music singer continued, "Hush money, no matter how much or how little, is still hush money. In my mind, that means I am admitting to behavior I am incapable of — ugly acts no human should ever do to another."

Brooks revealed that his legal team filed a lawsuit against his accuser "nearly a month ago to speak out against extortion and defamation of character."

The "Friends in Low Places" singer said his suit was filed anonymously "for the sake of families on both sides."

Brooks contended that he would "trust the system."

"I do not fear the truth, and I am not the man they have painted me to be," Brooks concluded.

Back to work

Hours after the searing accusations were revealed, Brooks performed in Las Vegas.

After he performed at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace — where the 62-year-old country music singer has had a residency since May 2023 — Brooks penned an emotional message on social media.

On Instagram Brooks shared a photo of himself onstage in front of a sold-out crowd during his show with the caption: “If there was ever a night that I really needed this, TONIGHT was that night! Thank you for my life!!!!! Love, g.”

Douglas H. Wigdor — an attorney representing the woman in question — on Friday told CNN, “I cannot get into settlement discussions, but the suggestion made by Brooks that he was unwilling to pay millions is simply not true. We are very confident in our case, and over time the public will see his true character rather than his highly curated persona.”

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Michelle Obama's Get-Out-the-Vote Drive Targets Fans of Infamous Domestic Abusers

Michelle Obama's voter participation organization is spending big on Facebook ads to ensure that fans of several high-profile domestic abusers have the information they need to vote in the upcoming elections.

The post Michelle Obama's Get-Out-the-Vote Drive Targets Fans of Infamous Domestic Abusers appeared first on .

Whitlock called it: Diddy is the Jeffrey Epstein of the music industry



It gives a whole new meaning to "Bad Boy for Life."

Sean “Diddy” Combs may be adding a new moniker to his lengthy roster of aliases: the eight-digit number assigned to inmates in the federal prison system.

The rap impresario's recent indictment on sex trafficking and racketeering charges has sent shockwaves through the industry, lending credence to Blaze Media commentator Jason Whitlock's speculation that Diddy is the Jeffrey Epstein of the music biz.

After leaving office, Barack Obama was spotted hanging out with Diddy. What were the two men up to — and did it have anything to do with the 1,000 bottles of baby oil the feds seized from the latter's mansion?

Arrested on serious federal charges, the 54-year-old has been denied bail and is currently in solitary confinement at the Special Housing Unit of the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. This high-security unit is known for housing dangerous and high-profile inmates like R. Kelly, a man Diddy knows very well, disgraced crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried, and Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s right-hand woman.

The indictment accuses the once-untouchable mogul of running a “criminal enterprise” through his vast business empire, with allegations spanning sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.

Prosecutors argue that Diddy’s continued freedom jeopardizes the integrity of the case, pointing to his previous attempts to contact victims and witnesses as evidence. His legal team will appeal the bail denial before U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Carter. If the appeal fails, Diddy will remain behind bars.

And, many would argue, this is probably where he deserves to be.

Diddy’s dudes

Diddy’s ties to powerful figures in Hollywood and politics are strikingly similar to Jeffrey Epstein’s network. Whereas Epstein had a "thing" for young girls, Diddy appears to have one for young boys — specifically, up-and-coming young talent in the music industry.

www.youtube.com

For example, the resurfacing of disturbing videos showing a 15-year-old Justin Bieber speaking with Diddy raises some very serious questions. In the footage, Diddy can be heard stating, "Where we hanging out and what we’re doing we really can’t disclose. But it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream."

Or nightmare.

The 2016 Howard Stern interview with Usher revealed unsettling details about his experience living with Diddy at just 14 years old. Why, one wonders, was a 14-year-old boy residing with a grown man with no ties to his family?

Diddy’s vast network includes high-profile names like Will Smith and Ashton Kutcher, both of whom have also faced controversy in recent times. As you no doubt recall, Smith’s public image was severely damaged when he assaulted Chris Rock at the Oscars. As for Kutcher, his extremely close friendship with Danny Masterson, a Scientology nut and convicted rapist, has drawn widespread criticism and damaged his own reputation.

Then there’s Cuba Gooding Jr. Remember him? Once a Hollywood powerhouse, the actor is best known for his performances in films like "A Few Good Men" and "Jerry Maguire," where he delivered the iconic, "Show me the money!" line. Subsequent roles in "Men of Honor" and "Pearl Harbor" further solidified his status as a leading man — on screen and, it seems, in Mr. Diddy’s life.

In a recent interview with Patrick Bet-David, Gooding Jr. appeared visibly uncomfortable and evasive when questioned about the allegations surrounding the music man. His response was a jittery mess of mumbling and evasion, leading YouTube commenters to speculate that Gooding Jr. might be hiding more about the alleged criminal activities than he’s letting on. His reluctance to offer clear answers has sparked rumors about possible connections to Diddy and whether fear or complicity is driving his silence.

Diddy's diary

Much like Epstein’s infamous black book, Diddy’s Rolodex was supposedly packed with high-profile names. As the New York Post reported, he forged partnerships with billionaire investor Ron Burkle and hedge fund titan Ray Dalio. Diddy’s fashion line hit Macy’s and Dillard’s, and he took major business strides with stakes in Revolt TV and beverage giant Diageo, a collaboration with Estée Lauder heir William Lauder, and he made deals with Zac Posen and Liz Claiborne. He also launched a water brand with Mark Wahlberg and partnered with Marc Benioff of Salesforce to build a marketplace for black-owned businesses.

In the early 2000s, Diddy made a bold move by cold-emailing then-Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, pitching his idea to design the team’s uniforms. Diddy's gamble paid off, linking his Sean John line with a major sports team. Cuban, known for his nonstop, left-leaning diatribes, has been unusually tight-lipped about this Diddy connection.

But, as always, there’s more.

Diddy's danger?

After leaving office, Barack Obama was spotted hanging out with Diddy. What were the two men up to — and did it have anything to do with the 1,000 bottles of baby oil the feds seized from the latter's mansion?

What we do know, however, is that Diddy didn’t act alone. He was, up until very recently, actively engaged with a network of influential figures. Like Epstein, Diddy built connections with high-profile individuals to protect his own nefarious activities. The multimillionaire's annual White Party, a magnet for the elite of American culture over the past 20-something years, only reinforced his image of invincibility.

Now, it remains to be seen whether Diddy will reveal his accomplices or follow in Epstein’s footsteps, conveniently suiciding himself before he can incriminate anyone truly powerful.

To quote Diddy's one-time protégé Shyne, who recently claimed he was his boss' "fall guy" in the 1999 nightclub shooting that landed him 10 years in lock-up: "Whatcha gonna do when s**t hits the fan, take it like a man or snitch like a b***h?"

70-year-old woman accused of tricking boy into sending her nude photos of himself, sextorting teen



An elderly woman from Tennessee is accused of sextorting a teen boy from Minnesota, according to authorities.

The Anoka County Sheriff's Office reportedly was notified of a financial sextortion plot involving a 17-year-old boy in Linwood Township on Sept. 30, 2022.

The woman allegedly threatened to share the explicit photos with his friends and family if he didn't pay her money.

The victim — now 19 years old — allegedly began communicating with an unknown woman online.

KMSP-TV reported that the boy sent nude photos of himself to the woman. The woman allegedly threatened to share the explicit photos with his friends and family if he didn't pay her money.

Authorities said the geriatric alleged sextortionist demanded he send money to her Venmo account, after which the teen purportedly sent an initial payment of $1,700.

The alleged victim ended up sending the woman a total of $2,204.54 by September 2022, according to law enforcement.

Authorities identified 70-year-old Stephanie Godby as the alleged sextortion suspect.

Law enforcement reportedly linked Godby’s birth date, social security number, phone number, and address to the Venmo account that received payments from the boy.

Police have yet to locate Godby.

Godby — of Dandridge, Tennessee — was charged in absentia with one count of coercion and one count of theft by swindle.

Law enforcement noted that there could be additional sextortion victims. Godby's Venmo account had received similar payments from people around the country, according to subpoenaed records.

According to the records, one payment sent to Godby's Venmo account had a message that read: “Leave my husband alone for good, this is all you’re getting from me.”

Detectives are still investigating the alleged sextortion scheme and are attempting to collect additional information regarding her bank account and phone records.

Law enforcement did not disclose how the alleged victim and Godby initially met.

The FBI defines financially motivated sextortion as: "When predators pose as someone else online to coerce victims into taking and sending sexually explicit photos and videos — and then immediately demand payment or threaten to release the photo to the victim’s family and friends."

According to FBI data, financially motivated sextortion victims are typically males between the ages of 14 and 17.

From October 2021 to March 2023, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations had received over 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion of minors. The sextortion schemes involved at least 12,600 victims — mostly boys — and led to at least 20 suicides.

As Blaze News reported in August, a young man from Pennsylvania allegedly believed he had met a girl online and sent her sexually explicit images of himself. However, the recipients of his photos reportedly turned out to be two Nigerian males who were financially sextorting the alleged victim — who committed suicide after not having enough money for the blackmail demand.

Blaze News previously reported about a 16-year-old Mississippi boy who committed suicide after being hoodwinked in a sextortion scheme in 2023.

In 2022, a 17-year-old Michigan boy committed suicide after falling victim to a sextortion scheme orchestrated by three Nigerian men.

South Carolina state lawmaker Rep. Brandon Guffey (R) lost his 17-year-old son, Gavin Guffey, to suicide in 2022 because of a sextortion scheme.

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1 In 10 K-12 Students Has Been Sexually Abused By A Teacher

The rate of sexual misconduct in public schools far exceeds the high-profile abuse scandals that rocked the Roman Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts of America.

WaPo Journalist Slams 'Toxic Ex' TJ Ducklo as Biden Spox Plays 'Cleanup' After Debate Disaster

One of the senior advisers counseling President Joe Biden and doing damage control in the wake of last week's horrifying debate is T.J. Ducklo, a vile misogynist best known for threatening to "destroy" a female reporter. Ducklo's ex-girlfriend, Washington Post opinion editor Alexi McCammond, taunted the disgraced Biden aide in an epic and courageous TikTok post over the weekend.

The post WaPo Journalist Slams 'Toxic Ex' TJ Ducklo as Biden Spox Plays 'Cleanup' After Debate Disaster appeared first on .

Florida pastor accused of committing horrific crimes against 2-year-old child: 'This is a monster'



A Florida pastor is facing more than a dozen felony charges after police allegedly found extremely disturbing materials on his cell phone.

On June 21, the Manatee County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of 43-year-old Jonathan Elwing, the senior pastor of Palm View Baptist Church in Palmetto, Florida.

'He went into that church professing to be a man of God, but he’s really nothing more than a liar and sexual predator.'

Police said they had received information that Elwing used cryptocurrency to purchase child sex abuse material on the internet, according to the Bradenton Herald. With that information, authorities obtained a search warrant and allegedly discovered sexually explicit images of children on his cell phone. Elwing was subsequently arrested and charged with four counts of possession of child sexual abuse images.

But the disturbing story doesn't end there.

As police continued their investigation — including a forensic search of Elwing's cell phone — police discovered images allegedly showing Elwing sexually abusing a 2-year-old child.

Investigators accused Elwing of using a photo vault app on his phone to hide the shocking material.

As a result, police filed an additional 14 charges against Elwing: two counts of capital sexual battery, six counts of production of child sexual abuse material, and six counts of possession of child sexual abuse material.

"Professing to be a man of God, a pastor, to have all these people in your congregation that trusted in you is sickening to all of us to know what his true intent was and what was he doing behind the scenes," Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said last Thursday.

Authorities, moreover, said they discovered 10 "covert" cameras in Elwing's possession, two at his home and the rest at the church where he worked. Police said they fear Elwing may have been hiding the cameras inside the church.

The investigation remains ongoing, and police said they could file additional criminal charges against Elwing.

"I can't stress this enough: This is a monster," Sheriff Wells said. "This is a man who went to great lengths to hide his true identity, to use whatever resources he could to feed this deviant behavior that he has.

"I really feel bad for his family — I feel bad for the congregation at Palm View Baptist Church," the sheriff added. "He went into that church professing to be a man of God, but he’s really nothing more than a liar and sexual predator."

Elwing is being held in the Manatee County jail without bond.

Elwing resigned his position as senior pastor at Palm View Baptist Church shortly before his arrest. The congregation of nearly 200 people is vowing to push forward through the difficult time.

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