U.S. Courts

Man who left wallet in bank robbery pleads guilty

Kansas City man who left his wallet on the counter during bank robbery pleads not guilty. A Kansas City man who left his wallet on the counter of a bank he was robbing has pleaded guilty in federal court. Albert Perkins, 40, admitted Thursday that he stole more than $3,100 from First Federal Bank in Kansas City on May 7. Prosecutors said that after he ordered a teller to give him all the $100 bills, he placed his wallet on the counter and handed her a plastic bag.
 

Al-Qaida suspect promises NY trial boycott

U.S.-trained scientist and al-Qaida suspect says she's innocent and will boycott NY trial. A U.S.-trained scientist accused of shooting at FBI agents and helping al-Qaida vowed Thursday to boycott her January trial.
 

Ask AP: Shuttle complexity, credit union agency

AP answers your questions on the news, from space shuttle complexity to a credit union agency. A space shuttle is no tinker toy. But is it the most complex machine ever built?
 

Senate confirms long-stalled Obama judicial pick

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Democratic-led U.S. Senate, having smashed through a Republican wall of opposition, confirmed on Thursday U.S. President Barack Obama's first and longest-stalled judicial nominee.
 

NYC model who married doorman sues upscale co-op

NYC foot model sues upscale apartment co-op, claiming mistreatment after marrying doorman. A foot model in New York City is suing her upscale apartment building, claiming the co-op board is trying to force her out because she married its former doorman.
 

Philip Morris hit with record 300 million dollar fine

A Florida jury has ordered tobacco giant Philip Morris to pay almost 300 million dollars (200 million euros) in damages to a former smoker -- the largest fine ever in such a case, lawyers said.
 

Wesley Snipes appeals 3 tax convictions in Georgia

Actor Wesley Snipes to appeal 3 tax convictions to federal appeals court in Atlanta. Actor Wesley Snipes is set to ask a federal appeals panel to overturn his three federal tax convictions.
 

NYC model who married doorman sues upscale co-op

NYC foot model sues upscale apartment co-op, claiming mistreatment after marrying doorman. A foot model in New York City is suing her upscale apartment building, claiming the co-op board is trying to force her out because she married its former doorman.
 

Feds seek $631K verdict against ex-Steeler Blount

Feds seeking $631,000 judgment against ex-Steelers player Mel Blount for IRS debts. Federal attorneys want a judge to declare that Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Famer Mel Blount owes more than $631,000 in back taxes, interest and penalties.
 

Wesley Snipes appeals 3 tax convictions in Georgia

Actor Wesley Snipes appeals 3 tax convictions, prison sentence to federal court in Georgia. Wesley Snipes' attorneys asked a federal appeals court Friday to review an "unreasonable" three-year prison sentence for the film star, who was convicted a year ago on federal tax charges.
 

Indy man convicted of killing 7 gets life sentence

Indianapolis man convicted in slayings of 7 gets life sentence, compares self to Christ. An Indianapolis man convicted of killing three children and four adults during a home invasion robbery three years ago has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.
 

13 charged with mortgage and loan fraud in Oregon

13 charged with mortgage and loan fraud arising from collapse of Oregon development company. A federal grand jury in Eugene has indicted 13 people on mortgage and loan fraud charges arising from the collapse of a central Oregon development company.
 

Ask AP: Shuttle complexity, credit union agency

AP answers your questions on the news, from space shuttle complexity to a credit union agency. A space shuttle is no tinker toy. But is it the most complex machine ever built?
 

Judge orders settlement meeting in Cintas case

Federal judge in Oklahoma orders another settlement meeting in Cintas wrongful death lawsuit. Cintas Corp. and the widow of a former employee who is suing the company will have another chance to settle her 2007 wrongful death lawsuit against the nation's largest uniform supplier.
 

Wrongfully convicted NYC man freed after 17 years

Prison official: Man released after 17 years in prison on now-overturned NYC murder conviction. A prison system official says a New York City man is free after spending nearly two decades behind bars for murder before a judge declared him innocent.
 

Lawyer: Ohio's legal injection a human experiment

Lawyer: Ohio's new lethal-injection plan amounts to asking court to approve human experiment. An attorney for a condemned killer says Ohio's new lethal-injection plan is so untested it would amount to human experimentation if used for the first time next month.
 

Lesbian US war deserter wins stay of deportation

Canadian court orders refugee board to reconsider case of lesbian deserter from US army. A lesbian who deserted the U.S. military and fled to Canada must be given another chance to plead her case for refugee status, Canada's Federal Court ruled Friday.
 

Leader of Sears Tower plot sentenced to 13 years

A US federal judge sentenced the leader of a plot to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago to 13 years in prison Friday, far less than the 70 years sought by prosecutors.
 

Leader of Sears Tower plot sentenced to 13 years

A US federal judge sentenced the leader of a plot to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago to 13 years in prison Friday, far less than the 70 years sought by prosecutors.
 

Ala. court says woman can't claim $41.8M jackpot

Alabama Supreme Court rules woman can't claim $41.8 million jackpot from bingo machine. The Alabama Supreme Court says a woman who thought she had hit a jackpot worth almost $42 million at the Victoryland electronic bingo center will end up empty handed. The court ruled Friday that an electronic bingo machine that showed Sherry Knowles had won $41.8 million obviously malfunctioned and that she was actually due no more than $2 from the operation in Macon County.