News Roundup

Published for NC Criminal Law on April 29, 2022.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department held a press conference this week saying that the department is increasing its efforts to prevent groups of people from riding bicycles, dirt bikes, and ATVs recklessly and aggressively in the Uptown area.  Officers have arrested nearly 30 people over the past two years for crimes associated with the reckless riding and Captain Bret Balamucki said that there has been a recent increase in violence by the groups.  Keep reading for more news.  Ponzi Pleas.  The Charlotte Observer reports that two men from the Charlotte area pleaded guilty this week in federal court to running a Ponzi scheme disguised as a hedge fund.  Austin Page and Brandon Teague were accused of using new client funds to pay fictitious returns to their older clients while generally squandering the assets they were entrusted to manage on exorbitant salaries for family members , luxury goods, and travel.  They were arrested by the FBI in January after spending a month in Italy as their firm D&T Investment Group crumbled. Chief Retires.  As WFMY reports, Greensboro Police Chief Brian James recently announced that he plans to retire at the end of next month.  James was sworn in as chief just prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and previously held several leadership roles in the department.  Teresa Biffle, a 27-year veteran of the GPD, will be Interim Police Chief while the city conducts a search for a replacement for Chief James. K9 Education.  WNCT reports that the Greenville Police Department Community [...]