Soldier raped children who were sleeping at GA base, feds say, & 5 more cases
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Thousands of legal cases reach U.S. courts every year. From accusations of mistreatment in prisons to fraud to sexual abuse and beyond, here are some of the latest from across the country.
Man sex trafficked autistic teen who was rescued at Florida motel, feds say
In Florida, Terrance Vertrone Alwayne Lowder III was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being accused of sex trafficking an autistic teenager, according to federal prosecutors. The 16-year-old was rescued from a motel after a tip-off led authorities to her location, prosecutors say. Lowder pleaded guilty to several charges, including conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. | Published Sept. 8 | Read More
‘You are evil.’ GirlsDoPorn owner sex trafficked hundreds of women, feds say
Michael Pratt, the owner of GirlsDoPorn, was sentenced to 27 years in prison in California over sex trafficking hundreds of women, federal prosecutors say. Pratt’s operation involved luring women into pornography through deceit and coercion, with the content later shared online, according to prosecutors. The court heard from several victims who detailed exploitation and harm they suffered, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. | Published Sept. 9 | Read More
Woman kicked out of Uber was then sexually assaulted in Sacramento, lawsuit says
A lawsuit in California says an Uber driver abandoned a 23-year-old woman near a gas station, where she was later sexually assaulted. The woman, who was intoxicated, was left without her phone or keys and was taken to an apartment where she said the assault occurred, according to the lawsuit. The woman is suing Uber for negligence, saying the company failed to ensure her safety. | Published Sept. 10 | Read More
Soldier raped children who were sleeping in their beds at Georgia base, feds say
In Georgia, former U.S. Army soldier Austin Michael Burak received two life sentences after being convicted of sexually abusing two boys at Fort Stewart, federal prosecutors say. The assaults occurred in 2017, and additional witnesses testified about Burak’s history of being accused of abuse, according to prosecutors The case was investigated by the FBI and the Army Criminal Investigation Division. | Published Sept. 10 | Read More
Church leaders used ‘extreme control’ to steal millions from veterans, feds say
Federal prosecutors say leaders of the House of Prayer Christian Churches of America manipulated congregants, including military members, to steal millions through fraud schemes. The leaders are accused of using indoctrination and control tactics to exploit veterans’ benefits and commit bank fraud. The indictment names several leaders, including the founder, “Rony Denis,” whose real identity remains unclear, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia. | Published Sept. 11 | Read More
Threats to beat and kill Marjorie Taylor Greene get man prison sentence, feds say
Garry Lebron Hayes from Tennessee was sentenced to two years in prison over leaving threatening voicemails for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, federal prosecutors say. Hayes threatened violence against Greene and also left a menacing message for Sen. Tim Scott, according to news reports and court filings. At sentencing, the court emphasized the need to protect society from individuals who threaten public officials. | Published Sept. 12 | Read More
McClatchy News continues to follow lawsuits and legal cases from around the country. Check back for more legal stories.
This story was originally published September 15, 2025 at 6:04 AM with the headline "Soldier raped children who were sleeping at GA base, feds say, & 5 more cases."
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