Crime & Arrests

Diddy's alleged mule, Brendan Paul, is off the hook in his felony drug case in Florida ... because all the charges have been dropped, TMZ has confirmed.

State prosecutors officially dismissed the charges against Paul Tuesday because he completed a pretrial diversion program ... according to his attorney, Brian Bieber.

Meanwhile, federal sources tell TMZ ... Paul did NOT strike a deal with federal prosecutors in the Diddy case.

5:07 PM PT -- Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Megan Thee Stallion's legal team has more proof connecting Tory and the blogger who's been bashing MTS. We're told they've obtained financial records of a handful of payments Tory's father allegedly made to Elizabeth Milagro Cooper between October 2020 and March 2022, and totaling $3,000.

We're told Megan's attorneys will bringing receipts to court ... for the restraining order case, and also for the lawsuit she filed against Cooper.

Tory Lanez being in prison isn't stopping his harassment of Megan Thee Stallion ... at least according to her, so, now she's back in court to battle him once again.

Megan filed a request for a restraining order Tuesday, detailing for the judge several months of abuse she's endured from Tory ... who, of course, is serving a 10-year sentence in California for shooting at Megan's feet back in 2020.

According to the docs, Megan says Tory's got an army of bloggers who he employs to spread defamatory statements about her -- including a woman named Elizabeth Milagro Cooper, who Meg actually sued a couple months ago.

James Kennedy is breaking his silence after domestic violence arrest ... saying he's going to take time off from work to focus on himself.

In a statement posted on his Instagram on Tuesday ... the "Vanderpump Rules" alum says, "I am committed to making meaningful changes in my life. I am taking time to focus on my sobriety, personal growth, and being present for my loved ones."

James adds ... "Navigating challenging moments is not easy, but I am determined to learn, grow, and move forward with the incredible support system around me."

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced Tuesday Luigi Mangione has been charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

It's unusual to be charged with first-degree murder in the state of New York -- the charge is usually reserved for cases involving the killing of law enforcement officers, serial killers, and for acts of terrorism. Mangione had been facing a preliminary charge of second-degree murder after he was arrested last week.

First-degree murder sentences typically involve life without parole due to the element of premeditated intent. In contrast, second-degree murder might result in a 15-year-to-life sentence, where parole might be an eventual possibility.

Anna Duggar has kept herself under the radar for the past two years since her husband Josh was sentenced to a stiff prison term for possessing child porn -- but she's now resurfaced, looking happier than ever -- and still wearing her wedding ring.

Check out video obtained by TMZ ... Anna seems at ease as she walks from her parked vehicle with a young woman to watch one of her sons play basketball at his school in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

As you can see, Anna flashes her wedding band while adjusting her coat, indicating she's still got Josh's back despite him serving a 12-year sentence in federal prison.

3:27 PM PT -- Nima Momeni's attorney Bradford Cohen tells TMZ … Momeni will be appealing, and "We believe there is enough error during the trial to afford him a good chance at a retrial."

Cohen asserts the state's attorney had to "overcharge the defendant" due to rampant crime in San Francisco, saying ... "It's disappointing that after seeing a video in which it proved that the state's witness, Bo Mohazzabi, was a liar, and additionally showed what appears to be Bob Lee holding a knife and snorting a substance off of it, that they came back with 2nd-degree murder."

San Francisco jurors found the man accused of killing the founder of Cash App guilty of murder Tuesday ... following a 6-week trial featuring conflicting testimony about drugs and revenge.

Nima Momeni was found guilty of second-degree murder after the jury deliberated for 7 days. The jury reached the verdict Monday night, but it was not read in court until this morning.

The founder of Cash App, 43-year-old Bob Lee, was stabbed to death in April 2023 under the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. He was stabbed 3 times, including through his heart, with a paring knife ... and he managed to call 911 before he died later in a hospital.

Chris Zylka -- the actor/model who was engaged to Paris Hilton -- has turned himself in to cops in Ohio after allegedly fighting off officers last week who attempted to arrest him.

A clerk at the Warren Municipal Court in Ohio tells TMZ ... Zylka surrendered Monday, and was charged with 2 felonies -- assault for elbowing an officer, and attempting to commit an offense by trying to break into a vehicle -- plus 3 misdemeanors, including disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and aggravated menacing.

As we reported last week ... police responded to a report of a man dressed in pajama pants trying to get into a woman's car in a busy intersection in Warren, Ohio. Even though it was about 32 degrees outside, the suspect was not wearing shoes or a shirt.

Prosecutors are tagging alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann with another murder, saying his 7th victim is Valerie Mack.

Heuermann was arraigned Tuesday in the Suffolk County Courthouse in New York for the slaying of Mack, a former sex worker whose body was found in November 2000.

Prosecutors had named him a suspect in her death back in June ... based on evidence cops collected at Heuermann's Long Island home.

James Kennedy was spotted helping his longtime girlfriend, Ally Lewber, load her personal items into her car just days after his arrest on misdemeanor domestic violence. Now, TMZ has learned the couple is currently spending time apart.

In photos taken Sunday outside their San Fernando Valley home, James appeared somber as he helped Ally carry a laundry hamper, suitcase, and other belongings to her car.

Sources close to the couple tell TMZ ... despite the recent situation, James and Ally are still together romantically as of now. Ally, however, has temporarily relocated to an Airbnb nearby, where she plans to stay with her family, who recently arrived in town to support her.

Rashee Rice and his family now have one less thing to stress about as the Chiefs head into the home stretch of the 2024 season ... TMZ Sports has learned the Kansas City star's mom's theft case has been dismissed.

Court documents we obtained show prosecutors in Tarrant County, Texas agreed to drop the misdemeanor case against Rice's mother, Marsha Kearney ... after she fulfilled several conditions.

According to the docs, Kearney completed a theft intervention program as well as 24 hours of community service. She also paid $125 in restitution. Court officials tell us the case is now disposed.

President-elect Donald Trump is weighing in on Luigi Mangione and his fans in the wake of the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City 2 weeks ago.

At a press conference Monday morning, Trump was asked what he thinks about the case, and the reaction to it -- including the adoration of many online for the suspected killer, Luigi Mangione, who was arrested in Pennsylvania last week.

Trump said ... "I think it's really terrible that some people seem to admire him, like him."

Kim Kardashian was a central force in getting New Jersey woman Dawn Jackson released from prison after serving 25 years for fatally stabbing a man she claims was sexually abusing her.

Our sources tell us Kim played a big role in New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy's decision to commute Jackson's sentence ... as she's been advocating for Dawn's release since 2018, when Jackson started sending Kim heartfelt letters about her case.

Jackson fatally stabbed her step-grandfather in 1999 and claims her public defender told her to plead guilty to her first-degree murder charge ... even though Jackson claimed she had been sexually abused since she was a child. Her sexual abuse testimony was never presented in court.

James Kennedy's not taking questions on his recent arrest ... keeping quiet on what exactly went down last week while out in public Sunday.

The reality TV star was leaving the Long Beach Airport after flying back from his Milwaukee gig last night when photogs caught up with him ... asking a series of questions

Watch the clip ... the interviewer asks how he's holding up, what exactly happened last Tuesday, etc. -- but, James ignores him, searching for his car instead.

James Kennedy's girlfriend is finally breaking her silence after his arrest for domestic violence ... letting fans know she needs some time, but she's alright.

Ally Lewber -- JK's longtime partner -- took to Instagram Saturday to thank everyone for reaching out to support her in the last few days.

She's quick to say she's doing fine ... but, she's also taking the time she needs -- and asking people to respect her privacy.

Daniel Penny was facing a long prison sentence last week ... but, now he's living the good life -- meeting two of the most powerful men in government on Saturday.

The Marine veteran met President-Elect Donald Trump and his future Vice President J.D. Vance ... posing for pictures with them at the Army-Navy football game in Maryland.

In the photo -- posted by one of Trump's staff members -- the three share big grins ... with Penny taking center stage in the photo between the two politicians.