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Mother said Josh Powell threatened her
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- A former Wyoming police officer was sentenced to 15 years in prison for kidnapping a motorist in a plot to extort money from Wal-Mart, officials said.
Highway Patrol trooper Franklin Ryle Jr. pleaded guilty to federal charges that while on duty in January he falsely arrested and kidnapped a Wal-Mart truck driver. He intended to kill the driver then stage an accident with the truck that would either injure Ryle or kill Ryle's wife, the U.S. Justice Department said in a release Friday.
Ryle intended to then seek monetary damages from Wal-Mart, the department said. After attempting to involve his unwitting wife in the plan, Ryle abandoned the scheme and released the driver when he realized the truck was equipped with a GPS unit.
"This officer abandoned his law enforcement role and engaged in a bizarre scheme to target innocent victims for his own personal gain. Officers who abuse their power in this way will be prosecuted to the fullest extent the law allows," Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez said.
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| Additional U.S. News Stories | |
TACOMA, Wash., Feb. 9 (UPI) --
The mother of Josh Powell, who killed himself and his sons in a fire in Washington state, said in divorce papers he exhibited disturbing behavior as a teenager.
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NEW YORK, Feb. 9 (UPI) --
Macaulay Culkin is in "perfectly good health," his publicist said after the former child star was photographed looking gaunt and disheveled in New York.
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (UPI) --
President Obama hailed a $25 billion agreement among 49 states, the U.S. government and the five biggest mortgage servicers.
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XINXIANG CITY, China, Feb. 9 (UPI) --
A set of parents in China said they expected a large baby, but they were shocked when their son came out weighing a potentially record-setting 15 1/2 pounds.
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