Fort Bragg soldier’s trial Dec. 7; dismissal motion expected next month

(The Center Square) - One week after polls closed in California, several matchups in redrawn congressional districts have yet to be determined.

The passage of Proposition 50 in California altered several districts to favor Democrats in election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Despite that, several Republican incumbents have secured the lead in races and are projected to move on to the Nov. 3 general election, while their opponents have yet to be determined. Under California law, the top two vote getters in each race in the June 2 primary, regardless of party affiliation, will advance.

Here is an update on results in the districts affected by Proposition 50, the congressional redistricting measure. Reported by the California Secretary of State's Office, the results are from 12:19 p.m. Pacific time Tuesday with 100 percent of precincts partially reporting.

District 45

Former Cerritos Mayor Chuong Vo, a Republican, was projected to secure a position against incumbent U.S. Rep. Derek Tran, D-Orange, in California’s newly redrawn 45th congressional district.

Vo secured 15.5% of the vote in California’s open primary, trailing Tran who held on to 53.4% of the vote, according to the California Secretary of State’s website reported on Tuesday. The 45th District encompasses Little Saigon, a large Vietnamese community that has been crucial to Orange County's political and cultural life. The community is in cities such as Westminster and Garden Grove.

Vo did not respond to The Center Square’s request for comments on his projected advancement to the Nov. 3 general election. He posted a video to social media thanking supporters and calling on help to win the November election.

“I’m the only candidate that can beat the incumbent,” Vo said. “We’re going to battle it out, and I can’t wait.”

Vo has focused his campaign on public safety issues. He pushed for increasing penalties on fentanyl trafficking and supporting federal agents providing law enforcement in the community.

“I’ll always back law enforcement and work to strengthen trust with standards that work for both local and federal authorities: body-worn cameras, de-escalation training, and proven community-policing tactics,” Vo’s website reads.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee slammed Vo on his policies and urged supporters to avoid voting for him.

“Chuong Vo has fully aligned himself with reckless Republicans’ agenda, defending the same extreme policies that are driving up costs, threatening healthcare, and hurting families across Southern California,” the DCCC wrote on social media.

Meanwhile, Chi "Charlie" Nguyen, another Republican, is closely trailing Vo with 11.8% of the vote. If Nguyen passes Vo, he will go up against Tran instead in November.

District 22

The 22nd Congressional District race in California's Central Valley remains hotly contested. Incumbent U.S. Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, swiftly secured the lead and is projected to head to the general election in November. As of Tuesday afternoon, he had 41.9% of the vote.

Meanwhile, a fierce competition is on between Democrats Randy Villegas and Jasmeet Bains to determine who will face Valadao in November. Villegas, a teacher and business owner, held a lead with 31.4% of the vote while Bains, an Assembly member, had 26.8%. That's with 72% of total votes counted.

Villegas and Bains did not respond to The Center Square’s requests for comments.

In a post on social media, Villegas said he was confident in his campaign.

“Working families across the Central Valley are ready for a new type of leadership in Congress – one that prioritizes people over corporate interests,” Villegas wrote.

Villegas has repeatedly criticized Bains for corporate and political action committee donations to her campaign. Bains received a $1,000 contribution in March from the Democratic Majority for Israel PAC and a $5,000 contribution from an OB-GYN PAC.

Bains, a physician, has focused her campaign on lowering healthcare costs and touted her record of capping insulin costs in California.

“In Congress, she’ll fight to protect Medicare and Medicaid from devastating cuts, expand access to quality, affordable health care, and ensure seniors, working families and rural Californians can count on the care they deserve,” Bains’ website reads.

Several analysts have said the race between Bains and Villegas could go to a runoff in order to determine who will head to the general election against Valadao.

District 40

Incumbent U.S. Reps. Ken Calvert and Young Kim both hold leads in California’s 40th District. Calvert held the lead with 35.4% of the vote followed by Kim with 21.1% of the vote. Both are Republicans.

Calvert is projected to head to the general election in November. Kim appears likely to be his opponent.

If both Kim and Calvert end up in the general election, it would lock out Democrats out of the general election, despite District 40 being redrawn as part of an effort to pick up five new Democratic seats.

Esther Kim-Varet, a Democrat, held 16.3% of the vote on Tuesday with 77% of votes in. Lisa Ramirez, an immigration attorney, followed with 13.6% of the vote.

Ramirez called for patience as results come in and to wait for remaining counts to continue. She said the district needs representation that will fight back against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.

“It is a war against our businesses and business communities,” Ramirez told The Center Square. “It’s really an attack on our community.”

California’s 40th Congressional District race could also head to a runoff election if there isn't certainty over who will face Calvert.

For more updates on races, visit thecentersquare.com/california.

(The Center Square) – DeCarlos Brown Jr., the suspect in the stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail, says he has been misdiagnosed with schizophrenia and lawmen refuse to investigate his contention “someone has full access to my body, and they are controlling me wrongfully.”

Judge Kenneth Bell, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, instead on Tuesday said a “preponderance of evidence” shows Brown is suffering from a mental disease and unfit for his federal trial for at least four months. The North Carolina murder case against him already is in a six months wait until an Oct. 27 hearing.

Bell ordered Brown into the custody of the attorney general for hospitalization and “treatment in a suitable facility and for further evaluation to determine whether the defendant can attain, or has attained, competency to proceed.”

Russ Ferguson, federal prosecuting attorney, agreed to the competency hearing request by Brown’s lawyers.

Zarutska, 23, died Aug. 22 by stabbing. Chilling video released by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department of the Charlotte Area Transit System surveillance footage shows Brown and Zarutska in the last moments of her life.

Brown faces a first-degree murder charge from the state, and a federal charge of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system. He had been arrested 14 times previously including for assault, armed robbery and felony larceny.

Zarutska and her family had fled worn-torn Ukraine.

The tragedy became national news with the video release. It’s become a campaign point in the U.S. Senate race between Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley, focal point for legislation on the state and federal levels, even part of an infamous blunder for U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross, D-N.C.

And in February it was part of the 108-minute State of the Union address from second-term Republican President Donald Trump.

“Last summer, 23-year-old Iryna was riding home on the train when a deranged monster, who had been arrested over a dozen times and was released through no cash bail, stood up and viciously slashed a knife through her neck and body,” Trump said, acknowledging her mother Anya as his guest in the gallery. “No one will ever forget – there were people on that train, no one will ever forget the expression of terror on Iryna's face as she looked up at her attacker in the last seconds of her life. She died instantly.

“She had escaped a brutal war only to be slain by a hardened criminal set free to kill in America, came in through open borders.”

There's been no evidence Brown has ever been out of America, much less entered at the border. He was born in Charlotte and graduated from West Charlotte High.

“We have made incredible strides, yet dangerous repeat offenders continue to be released by pro-crime Democrat politicians again and again,” Trump said.

He told her mother, members of Congress and the nation, “Mrs. Zarutska, tonight, I promise you we will ensure justice for your magnificent daughter Iryna. I'm asking this Congress to pass tough legislation to ensure that violent and dangerous repeat offenders are put behind bars and, importantly, that they stay there.”

His release in January by a magistrate triggered the General Assembly in Raleigh to create Iryna’s Law. Multiple congressmen also called for her removal as an adjudicator.

Iryna's Law requires consideration of full criminal history by judges and magistrates before setting a suspect’s pretrial release conditions. Violent offenses draw stricter conditions.

There is an expected increase in mental health evaluations coming because of the new law.

The law ended the unwritten moratorium on the death penalty as well. Those convicted could be eligible for punishment by death should the aggravating factor of a crime being on public transportation be involved.

Death penalty appeals will no longer wait indefinitely; rather, they must be heard within two years of filing. Continuances are only in the case of extenuating circumstances.

World Cup 2026 scam guide: What fans need to know before they buy

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is kicking off across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The event has fueled intense worldwide excitement. In the first two weeks of the sales window alone, FIFA received more than 150 million ticket requests.

The fraud operations targeting the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been running since August 2025. Cybersecurity researchers’ analysis of the structure and scope of this scam found that more than 4,300 fraudulent domains are impersonating FIFA’s official web presence. The sites were registered months in advance and kept dormant until demand peaked. At the center of these operations is a cyberattacker called Ghost Stadium, which built a pixel-perfect clone of FIFA’s website, including a working authentication flow, with more than 300 active phishing sites focused specifically on premium and hospitality tickets. The scale was significant enough that the FBI published a formal public service announcement in late May 2026, with the FTC issuing guidance around it the same week.

FIFA’s own ticket practices have also been called into question recently. In late May 2026, attorneys general of New York and New Jersey launched a formal investigation into FIFA's ticket practices, subpoenaing the organization over allegations of “artificially inflating prices” and “misleading fans.” Thousands of tickets were suddenly available one week from kickoff, with FIFA itself accused of offloading unsold inventory on resellers such as SeatGeek.

Together, these circumstances create a perfect storm for both confusion and fraud. Consumers might find it increasingly difficult to determine the actual and reasonable cost of a ticket and aren’t sure which online platforms to trust for valid tickets and merchandise. Meanwhile, for over a year, fraudsters have been carefully setting the stage to take advantage of these conditions. Not all of the scammers’ strategies are new, but all are increasingly polished and more difficult to detect.

Quick Facts: What You Need to Know

• Cybersecurity researchers have identified more than 4,300 fraudulent domains impersonating FIFA’s official site, many of which were registered since August 2025.
• In late May 2026, the FBI issued a formal warning about fake FIFA websites designed to steal financial and personal data.
• Current scam strategies include fake tickets, counterfeit hospitality packages, fraudulent rentals, fake merchandise, a fictitious “World Cup Visa,” and fraudulent crypto tokens.
• AI tools are making it increasingly difficult to distinguish fraudulent sites and products from authentic ones.
• Legitimate FIFA tickets are delivered through the FIFA app, not paper tickets or screenshots.
• On Location is FIFA’s official hospitality provider. Any hospitality offer not traceable to On Location or its published sales agents could be fraudulent.
• The World Cup doesn’t have an official token, coin, or fan currency.
• Attending the World Cup doesn’t require a special visa. Each of the three host countries (United States, Canada, Mexico) has its own entry requirements, and a match ticket doesn’t guarantee border entry.
• FIFA’s own recent ticket practices have been called into question recently, which means that it’s increasingly difficult to determine the reasonable price of an authentic ticket and whether a seller is legitimate.

Why these scams are harder to spot

AI has become instrumental in making scams harder to identify. Cybersecurity researchers have identified scam campaigns using AI-generated product images and website clones that pull authentic branding directly from FIFA’s own servers. In other words, a fraudulent page “borrows” from and then uses the same branding and imagery as an authentic site. For example, researchers at Bitdefender noted that some scam ads for fake World Cup merchandise were polished enough to look like official marketing. Pressure tactics are one aspect of these scams that isn’t new. The site may use countdown timers that reset when you reload the page. They might also create a sense of urgency, using phrases such as “Only a few tickets left!” which appear across every scam category and yet, oddly, stock counters don’t decrease after tickets are purchased.

It’s critical to slow down and ensure a site is legitimate before purchasing tickets or merchandise. Based on the latest fraud intelligence compiled by SmartCustomer, below are six scams to watch out for.

1. Fake tickets

Quick Facts: Who’s authorized to sell World Cup tickets?

• FIFA sells primary tickets exclusively through fifa.com/tickets.
• The FIFA Resale/Exchange Marketplace is the only authorized fan-to-fan resale platform.
• All tickets are delivered digitally through the FIFA World Cup 2026 app. No physical tickets exist.

What is a fake ticket scam?

Fake ticket scams usually reach fans through three primary channels.

Fake ticket sites. Some fake ticket sites use a tactic called “typosquatting,” which involves registering domains that are similar to fifa.com but with subtle differences in the URL (for example, fiffa-dot-com, fifa-dot-city, or an alternate extension such as .live or .sale). Other fraudulent websites bear no resemblance to an official source; they are simply a convincing-looking ticket marketplace created specifically to collect payment before disappearing.

In both cases, the checkout process and confirmation email may appear legitimate. Most victims receive either a convincing-looking fake ticket that fails to scan at the venue or nothing at all once payment clears. In more sophisticated cases, scammers have duplicated real ticket QR codes, which appear to work until match day, when the seat turns out to be already occupied. Most of these sites reach buyers through paid social media ads (versus the consumer actively searching the internet), which is how a site with no history and reputation can still manage to reach a significant number of victims.

Social media sellers. Research into social media scammers found that all (100%) of them had newly created social media profiles, versus legitimate resellers that had long-term accounts. One security researcher tested a seller in a Facebook group by requesting tickets to a match between two countries that aren’t competing in the 2026 World Cup. The seller agreed to provide them without hesitation, which of course signals brazen fraud.

Sellers on popular resale platforms. This third category involves fraudsters using legitimate businesses (such as StubHub or SeatGeek) to sell tickets. Because ticket resale is legal and largely unregulated in the United States and Canada, platforms can list World Cup tickets without violating laws and FIFA can’t prevent them from doing so. FIFA’s terms of sale do however reserve the right to invalidate tickets purchased outside authorized channels.

The big risk for consumers is that the tickets may be fraudulent or nonexistent. Some resellers list “speculative tickets,” or tickets that are posted before the seller actually holds the ticket, which compounds the uncertainty. While buying from a popular ticket site with a documented guarantee can be meaningfully safer than buying from an individual on social media, it carries risks that buying directly through FIFA would prevent.

How to protect yourself: Type fifa.com/tickets directly into your browser instead of clicking a link in an ad or email. When buying from a major secondary platform, ask the seller to confirm the tickets are in their FIFA account, and look into each platform’s consumer guarantees before committing. On social platforms, check the account creation date to see how long the account has been active. Newly created accounts are a red flag.

2. Counterfeit hospitality and VIP packages

Quick Facts: Who’s authorized to sell hospitality packages?

• On Location is FIFA’s official hospitality provider for the 2026 tournament and the only entity permitted to sell official hospitality packages.
• Official packages are available at fifa.com/hospitality or through On Location’s published sales agents.
• Hospitality packages aren’t eligible for listing on the FIFA Resale Marketplace.
• All hospitality tickets and details are delivered through the FIFA World Cup 2026 app.
• As of Jan. 1, 2026, new purchases require full payment at checkout. No installment plans are available. 

What is a fake hospitality package scam?

The premium tier of World Cup fraud is particularly effective because high price points can still seem legitimate. But the FBI’s warning names hospitality packages explicitly as a target category. For example, Category 1 seats for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium are listed at nearly $33,000, which is roughly three times the previous record for a World Cup ticket. This inflated pricing creates real demand for “competitive” premium alternatives.

Ghost Stadium, the threat actor behind the largest phishing network identified so far, focuses more than 300 of its active sites specifically on the premium and hospitality tier.

The delivery mechanism for this type of scam mirrors standard ticket fraud. The checkout process and confirmation email are convincing, Consumers don’t know they received a cloned or invalid QR code until they get to the venue. In some cases, buyers receive what appears to be a complete hospitality package confirmation with booking details and catering confirmations, only to find no reservation exists when they arrive.

How to protect yourself: The full list of authorized global sales agents is published at onlocationexp.com/fifaworldcup/sales-agents. If a seller isn’t on that list and can’t be verified through On Location directly, they have no legitimate connection to the official program. Packages can also be purchased at fifa.com/hospitality or by calling On Location at their customer service number.

3. Fraudulent travel and accommodations

Quick Facts: What do we know about travel for the World Cup?

• FIFA hasn’t designated an official accommodation partner.
• Each of the 16 host cities has official Fan Zones with free public programming as part of the tournament.
• The tournament spans three countries with entirely separate booking markets and pricing levels. Cancellation norms also vary.
• Booking platforms that hold payment in escrow until check-in offer the strongest consumer protection available for short-term rentals.

What is a fraudulent accommodation scam?

In April 2026, Booking.com confirmed a data breach that exposed customer reservation details including names, email addresses, phone numbers, travel dates, and property specifics. Criminals are now using those real details to impersonate hotels and contact travelers requesting payment through external channels. Because the message includes accurate reservation information, it’s nearly indistinguishable from legitimate communication from the property.

Beyond that breach, the broader accommodation fraud patterns are consistent with what we see around any major international event. Scammers create short-term rental listings for properties they don’t control, using a real building as cover where no rental arrangement exists. Cloned hotel booking sites capture payment details and deposits before going dark. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has flagged nonexistent short-term rentals as a specific category of active fraud around the tournament. Secondary host cities like Guadalajara and Monterrey, where inventory is tighter and international visitors are less familiar with local conditions, are expected to be particularly affected.

The FTC documented nearly 65,000 rental scam reports between January 2020 and June 2025, with a median loss per victim of $1,000 in ordinary conditions. A confirmed data breach combined with a global demand surge makes the current environment significantly harder to navigate.

In large host cities in the U.S., midrange hotels that normally run $150 to $250 per night are expected to reach $300 to $500 on match days, with budget options still running $120 to $200. This surge in pricing pushes fans toward unfamiliar listings and unverified sellers.

How to protect yourself: Book through accommodation sites with documented buyer protections and payment held in escrow until check-in (for example, Airbnb or Vrbo, or direct hotel bookings). Pay by credit card. If you receive a message requiring payment through an external channel (such as wire transfer or Zelle), do an independent search for the phone number instead of using the one provided in the message and call the property directly. The Booking.com breach means that a message containing accurate reservation details doesn’t necessarily prove it’s legitimate.

If accommodations in host cities are priced beyond your budget, consider staying in a nearby city and commuting to the game. For example, fans attending games in Santa Clara, California, can stay in neighboring cities such as San Jose or Campbell. If you’re following a team whose knockout stage location hasn’t been confirmed yet, search for bookings with flexible cancellation policies.

4. Counterfeit merchandise

Quick Facts: Who is authorized to sell official merchandise?

• The official FIFA Store is at store.fifa.com.
• Fanatics is the official retail partner for licensed World Cup merchandise.
• Adidas is the official on-field apparel provider.
• Official merchandise carries holographic licensing tags and official logos. Adidas advises consumers to look for these tags and logos before purchasing from any non-official source.

What is a counterfeit merchandise scam?

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement seized more than 276,000 counterfeit sports-related items valued at over $33 million last year. They have warned that similar activity will increase ahead of and throughout the World Cup event. But in addition to counterfeit jersey stores, SmartCustomer documented several more specific patterns outlined below.

Fake Panini sticker stores. Panini is the licensed producer of World Cup collectibles, including the official sticker album. Scammers have built lookalike Panini storefronts selling “official” pre-orders with countdowns and scarcity messaging. Some of these fakes contain obvious errors, such as “WordCup” instead of “World Cup,” while still replicating Panini's branding convincingly enough to collect payment.

Quiz funnels using LEGO branding. Fake sites run quiz-style contests promising “exclusive edition World Cup rewards.” The quiz harvests contact information, then routes the consumer toward a subscription billing flow disguised as a shipping fee for the “prize.” LEGO doesn’t run quiz funnels; its World Cup activity runs through LEGO.com and physical retail stores.

Merchandise stores advertising discounts of 80% or more. Check Point identified a malicious domain (fifaofficialstore-dot-shop) that used professional design and FIFA’s official branding and advertising World Cup jerseys and souvenirs at “up to 80% off” with free shipping. This example serves as a reminder that suspiciously large discounts on “official” merchandise are likely a red flag.

How to protect yourself: Buy from the FIFA Store, Fanatics, or Adidas directly. Because official jerseys and merchandise have holographic licensing tags, look for those tags before purchasing anything. If you find a site you believe is fraudulent, report it at ic3.gov and reportfraud.ftc.gov.

5. The fake World Cup visa

Quick Facts: Do I need a World Cup visa?

• A “World Cup Visa” doesn’t exist. Entry requirements are identical to any tourist visit.
• Citizens of 42 Visa Waiver Program countries apply via ESTA at esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
• All other travelers need a standard B-2 visitor visa through a U.S. embassy or consulate.
• The State Department and FIFA launched the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (FIFA PASS), which may allow ticket holders to access earlier visa interview slots.
• CBP created COMPASS, a virtual assistant built specifically for FIFA 2026 entry and documentation questions.
• A match ticket doesn’t guarantee border entry.
• A U.S. ESTA doesn’t grant entry to Canada or Mexico. Each country requires separate authorization.

What is a fake visa scam?

Fans don’t need a special visa to attend the World Cup. However, at least one site has been actively running an offer for a “Visa to the World Cup 2026 U.S.” priced at nearly $300 per person that claims a “98% success rate” and uses trust signals such as “secure process” and “fast processing.” The site targets fans who may be unfamiliar with immigration requirements.

A match ticket or FIFA confirmation email doesn’t ensure permission to cross any border. Admissibility is always decided by border officers at the point of entry.

How to protect yourself: Apply for ESTA at esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Apply for Canadian eTA at canada.ca. Check U.S. entry requirements at travel.state.gov. Any third-party site selling a “World Cup Visa” or “Event Access Permit” is fraudulent. (Note: Legitimate visa assistance services exist, but they charge a service fee for help with compiling documents; they don’t promise help for securing non-existent visas or permits.) Don’t submit payment or personal data to any site presenting itself as issuing a special World Cup entry credential.

6. World Cup crypto tokens

Quick Facts: What does FIFA actually have in crypto?

• FIFA has no official cryptocurrency, token, coin, or fan currency of any kind.
• FIFA’s only official digital collectibles are available through the FIFA Collect NFT marketplace.
• FIFA’s only blockchain-based ticket products are Right-to-Buy ticket NFTs, available exclusively through them.
• Any project using FIFA branding that doesn’t appear on FIFA’s official digital product pages has no official connection to the tournament.

What is a World Cup crypto token scam?

Crypto is currently the highest-volume scam category by number of active sites and involves two patterns.

The first pattern is explicit impersonation. Multiple sites are marketing tokens as “the official community token of the FIFA World Cup 2026” or using FIFA’s mascot and official branding to suggest a licensed connection. FIFA’s digital product ecosystem does include collectibles through the FIFA Collect NFT marketplace and Right-to-Buy ticket NFTs; however, they are within FIFA-controlled infrastructure.

The second pattern, though more openly speculative, can still be costly for consumers. Some projects don’t claim to be official products at all. They’re designed to capitalize on the excitement and momentum surrounding the tournament. In crypto, a “rug pull” refers to when early buyers sell and the price collapses, leaving later entrants with losses. Tournament excitement generates late-stage buyers and early holders profit at their expense. Regardless of whether the projects are pretending to be something they aren’t, they are deliberately designed so that most participants lose money.

Regardless of the pattern, all crypto transactions offer no chargeback mechanism once completed.

How to protect yourself: Treat any crypto project invoking World Cup branding as unverified until confirmed through FIFA’s official digital product pages at fifa.com. If it isn’t documented on that site, it’s not officially affiliated. Regardless of how they’re presented, highly speculative tokens are set up so that you are likely to lose money.

What to do if you have been scammed

If you suspect you’ve been scammed, acting quickly matters. If you wait, the options available to you narrow significantly.

Contact your bank or card issuer immediately. If you paid by credit card, request a chargeback. Provide documentation, such as the confirmation you received or a payment record. Credit card chargebacks are your strongest recovery option. Wire transfers, cryptocurrency, Zelle, Venmo, and gift cards have extremely limited recovery windows or no recovery options at all.

File a complaint with the FBI at ic3.gov. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center specifically tracks organized fraud operations. When filing, include the fraudulent domain name, a description of what happened and what information you shared, and all financial transaction details including payment method, amount, account numbers, and any cryptocurrency addresses involved.

Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. FTC reports contribute to enforcement patterns and consumer protection databases. Most victims don’t report, which is exactly what allows these operations to continue across events and cycles. Reporting does not guarantee recovery, but it helps authorities identify and dismantle the responsible networks.

Report on every platform involved. If the scammer operated through a reseller, social media platforms, or other applications, use the in-app reporting function to flag the account for the platform’s trust and safety team.

Screenshot everything before taking any cleanup action. Collect documentation before any account changes or browser clearing in case you need it for a bank dispute or your IC3 filing.

If personal data was shared, act on that separately. Personal information submitted to a fake FIFA site, including passport details or home address, may be used for follow-up phishing or identity fraud. Monitor your financial accounts closely. If you submitted passport details, contact the relevant issuing authority for guidance. The FBI warned that personal data harvested through fake FIFA sites can be used to open new accounts in a victim’s name.

Fraudsters invest considerable time and resources into appearing legitimate and trustworthy, and increasingly elaborate scams tied to the 2026 World Cup have stripped away many of the visual cues people once relied upon. FIFA’s own recent ticket practices have also been called into question recently, which means that it’s increasingly difficult to determine whether a seller is legitimate and determine the fair price of an authentic ticket. Being vigilant and proactive, and preventing others from becoming targets by reporting fraud, will help ensure the World Cup season is a time of fun and camaraderie, not fraud.

This story was produced by SmartCustomer and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

(The Center Square) – Trial is set for Dec. 7 for an enlisted soldier from Fort Bragg charged with using classified information to win more than $400,000 in a prediction market across a baker's dozen bets.

It will be the first American prosecution of insider trading involving the popularly growing prediction markets. The case is being tried in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a special forces soldier, is on leave from the Army. He was released on $250,000 personal recognizance bond after his April arraignment. He pleaded not guilty to unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain; theft of nonpublic government information; commodities fraud; wire fraud; and making an unlawful monetary transaction.

Van Dyke was involved with American forces in bringing former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to New York to face charges. His lawyers plan to file a dismissal motion on July 31, saying outside the courtroom Monday to convict their client prosecutors would need to prove who in the Situation Room made the decision on Maduro.

Mark Geragos, one of Van Dyke’s lawyers, said the president – the only one who could have given the orders – would be unlikely to tell when, how and what. He called the prosecution attempt “an exercise in futility.”

Prosecutors say as part of the operation to capture Maduro, he signed a nondisclosure agreement specific to not releasing classified or sensitive information. He used what he knew to make bets on Polymarket that Maduro would be out of power by Jan. 31.

Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the entity overseeing Polymarket and other prediction markets, filed a complaint against Van Dyke. The commission says he moved $35,000 from his personal bank account to cryptocurrency exchange on Dec. 26.

The commission says between Dec. 30 and Jan. 2, he bet $32,500 in a series of bets. Most were made Jan. 2. He made $404,000 on Maduro bets, and another $5,000 on other bets involving Venezuela, said the commission complaint.

Operation Absolute Resolve, as the capture of Maduro was named, was executed Jan. 3 in Caracas, Venezuela. He was brought to New York City and faced charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.

Delcy Rodriguez was sworn in as interim president two days later. She was formerly the vice president to Maduro.

(The Center Square) – From California to Kansas to New Jersey, young Muslim men are being arrested and charged with wide ranging plans to support Islamic terrorism and kill Americans.

The arrests are being made as Congress continues to highlight ongoing Islamic terrorist threats. The U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence addressed ongoing threats pointing to three high profile Islamic terrorist attacks that occurred in March alone. 

The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security also published a “Terror Threat Snapshot” highlighting recent terrorist acts in the U.S. The majority are linked to or inspired by foreign terrorist organizations. They include those who’ve provided material support to ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS)), Hezbollah and al Queda, who received military level training from Hezbollah and al Queda, and whose stated inspiration is foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs), The Center Square reported.  

Islamic terrorist cases are being prosecuted by U.S. attorneys in at least 25 states.

The latest two are in New Jersey and Kansas. 

On Monday, a Muslim man living in Wayne, New Jersey, Mohamed Sagha, 22, was charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated FTO: ISIS. He made his initial appearance in federal court and was ordered detained. 

“As alleged, the defendant sought to support ISIS and expressed interest in violence directed at targets within the United States, including places of worship,” U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Robert Frazer said. “Those who seek to advance the objectives of foreign terrorist organizations should expect a swift and coordinated response from federal law enforcement.”

According to the complaint, over the past six months, Sagha participated in online chat groups used by ISIS supporters to discuss potential terrorist attack targets in the U.S., including places of worship. Last October, he met an undercover law enforcement official who he believed was a member of ISIS and expressed his desire to attack a National Guard location or a Jewish place of worship, sharing images and videos of potential targets near his residence, the complaint alleges. He also repeatedly expressed a desire to travel to ISIS territory in Syria, failing to do so in March, authorities said. This month, he expressed further plans, leading to his arrest. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

In another case, the FBI arrested three young men between the ages of 21 and 25 in Kansas City, Kansas, and San Diego, California. They were also charged with conspiring to provide material support to terrorism after they sent more than $2,000 to an individual they believed was a member of ISIS, authorities said. 

Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, (Kansas), Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, and Bereen Dzayee, 25, (both California) were arrested and charged in a complaint filed in the District of Kansas.

According to the charges, they bragged about committing a terrorist attack and killing U.S. service members, Jews and Americans. 

Ghafoor “exclaimed it would be ‘sick’ if his name could be written on the drone used in an attack on Americans,” authorities allege. He also said, “he has always wanted to kill a female soldier by beheading, and added, ‘I wish I could kill 300,000,000 Americans,’” according to the charges.  “Dzayee suggested that targets of drones should include U.S. Special Forces. Shamsaldeen expressed a desire to stab and injure a U.S. servicemember.”

“For years, the Department of Justice has been encouraging Americans that if they see suspicious activity, they should report it to law enforcement. That’s because long gone are the days where terrorist threats and attacks are incidents that only take place far away on foreign soil,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas Ryan Kriegshauser said. “Unfortunately, we must face the reality of bad actors living within our borders clandestinely conspiring on ways to create fear and havoc. The only way to root out and prevent terrorism plots is through collaboration among all levels of law enforcement and across jurisdictions. Collaboration is what facilitated the arrests of these three suspects.”

The plan took place over 16 months, including communicating ways they could support ISIS, “including through the provision of personnel, services, and money,” according to the charges. “Through Discord chats, voice calls, and other messaging platforms, the coconspirators pledged allegiance to ISIS and its leader. The defendants exchanged messages in social media groups promoting violence in furtherance of ISIS.”

They collectively sent more than $2,000 to an individual they believed to be an ISIS member, according to an investigation conducted by FBI agents in Kansas City, San Diego, Sacramento, Newark, and Richmond and the FBI Counterterrorism Division.

“Ghafoor’s name was written on the projectile of one of the rocket-propelled grenades purportedly to be used in an attack overseas to kill U.S. servicemembers,” the DOJ said. “Shamsaldeen provided financial resources for the purpose of purchasing drones, which, in turn, were to be used to attack and kill U.S. servicemembers deployed overseas.”

They also communicated their intent to travel to fight on behalf of ISIS and even die for ISIS, according to the charges. This was as U.S. troops are continuing to fight ISIS.

Last December, the U.S. and Jordan launched attacks against 70 ISIS targets in Syria after ISIS fighters killed two U.S. troops and a U.S. civilian interpreter. Last month, U.S. and Nigerian forces killed an ISIS leader after the Trump administration deployed troops to Nigeria in response to Christian genocide occurring there, The Center Square reported.

(The Center Square) – Jing Sheng Dong, hospitalized since the bus he drove crashed on I-95 in Virginia on May 29, has exited the hospital and is being held at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.

Dong faces five counts of involuntary manslaughter and one of reckless driving in the quintuple fatal crash. The bus was operated by E&P Travel, headquartered in Kings Mountain, N.C., and carried riders from New York to North Carolina.

A family of four traveling from Massachusetts to South Carolina for a wedding were killed; a woman from Massachusetts, in the first vehicle hit by the motor coach, also lost her life. Forty-four others were injured.

The Stafford County crash involved at least eight vehicles stopped or moving slowly in a work zone. Investigators and federal officials say there was little to no evidence of braking by Dong.

Most signage in America, including electronic emergency messaging, is in English. Congressional action includes at least a half-dozen proposals related to CDL licensures. The Transportation Department in February instituted a rule requiring CDL tests to be English only.

Dong does not speak English, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said after the crash. He also said the CDL was issued by New York in 2024.

Dong immigrated from China to America and became a citizen.

(The Center Square) – The U.S.  will “respond” after President Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. Army helicopter downed over the Strait of Hormuz was shot down by Iran Monday night.

“I have just been informed by our great military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” the president wrote in a Truth Social post. “There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”

Trump didn’t indicate how the U.S. will respond or if it will be similar to responses in recent weeks, which the military claims were defensive in nature. It is unclear if the latest targeting by Iran on American forces is enough to pull the plug on the fragile ceasefire.

U.S. Central Command confirmed the Army AH-64 Apache “went down near the coast of Oman” while patrolling regional waters. Both crew members were rescued “within approximately two hours.”

The region around the Strait of Hormuz has seen its fair share of exchanges of fire between the U.S. and Iran in recent weeks, with the Islamic Republic essentially holding the vital waterway hostage since the conflict began on Feb. 28.

Trump has maintained a commitment to seeking a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, saying the U.S. could determine within a couple of days whether a deal can be struck.

Despite the U.S. and Iran exchanging fire multiple times, and the missile exchanges over the weekend between Israel and Iran, the president claims the ceasefire, which went into effect April 8, is still in effect.

Trump quashed concerns that the recent dust-up between Israel and Iran was putting the fragile ceasefire in further jeopardy.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "was hit hard by Iran, and he hit back. I can’t blame him for that. Now they’ve called it quits, so they’re going to leave each other alone for another week or something,” the president told reporters Monday evening. “They both agreed, through me to stop.”

Trump claimed once again, as he has for weeks, that a deal is on the horizon, reiterating his demand that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

“We’re in the final throes of a very good deal that will not allow, in any way or form nuclear weapons.” The president added.

Mizzou catcher Mateo Serna has opted to enter the transfer portal, according to his post on Instagram. Serna started 117 games over three seasons with the Tigers. Serna is one of three Tigers who have announced their intention to enter the portal in recent days.

Serna was a consistent bat, hitting .240 last season and .237 with nine homers and 36 RBI in 2025. His greatest strengths were his defense and ability to manage the staff. Serna was an influential piece of the team’s first SEC Tournament win in nine years when it toppled Ole Miss last month.

In addition to his three hits, Serna initiated eight ABS challenges behind the plate, getting seven of those calls overturned, often in key spots when the team needed a strike.

Utility player Tyler Macon and infielder Gehrig Goldbeck also intend to leave the program, as reported by TR Robertson and Black & Gold Fan Zone, respectively, via X.

The Tigers have begun picking up players from the portal to fill in for their departures. Black & Gold Fan Zone has confirmed two additions to the team so far via X.

The most recent acquisition for the team is Carter DeGondea, who previously played at Georgia Southern. DeGondea, a left-handed pitcher, started 14 games last season and finished with an 8.69 ERA while striking out 57.

Another pickup is Wilfred Gonzalez from Florida Gulf Coast. He batted .323 and scored 36 runs last season for the Eagles and will have one year of eligibility remaining. He showed steady defense and led the team with 109 assists. He will look to help fill the void in the middle infield now that Macon and Blaize Ward have left.

Along with Serna, Jamal George who started 15 games, has graduated, leaving Juliomar Campos as the presumed replacement at catcher. Campos appeared in 11 games as a freshman, going 8-for-28 with one homer.

“I am forever grateful for the opportunities the University of Missouri has afforded me and will always appreciate the time I spent in Columbia,” Serna said in his post. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.

Macon came in as a middle infielder and redshirted his freshman year at Mizzou. Over the past two seasons, he has played middle infield, both corner infield spots and outfield. He played in 71 games over those two seasons and started in 56.

Macon hit .327 with an .870 OPS this season, and was a huge part of the early success of the team. In an early-season game against Mount St. Mary’s, Macon became the first player in team history to reach base in all eight of his plate appearances.

Gehrig Goldbeck, who was limited by injuries and played in only four games last season, has also opted to enter the portal. Goldbeck batted .222 with three RBI in 2026 after starting in 35 games in 2025.

(The Center Square) – Vice President JD Vance said the Department of Justice's Fraud Division will investigate allegations that Minnesota officials failed to stop widespread taxpayer-funded fraud.

Vance said in a statement that it will be "criminal" investigations.

“Minnesota state officials are not above the law, and if they facilitated fraud, lied under oath about what they knew, or harassed and intimidated whistleblowers, they must face justice,” he said.

The announcement follows Monday's release of a 205-page report from the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform that accused officials under Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison of failing to act on repeated warnings about fraud, as previously reported by The Center Square.

Federal officials estimate that failure allowed upwards of $9 billion in taxpayer monies to be stolen across multiple programs.

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., sent Vance a letter alongside the report requesting a federal review of Minnesota’s social service programs. Comer praised Vance’s decision.

“You are 100% right: Minnesota officials are not above the law,” Comer said. “The Trump administration is calling on the DOJ's Fraud Division to conduct a full criminal investigation into Governor Walz's failure to protect taxpayers. We won't stop here.”

The Walz administration and Ellison's office have previously disputed similar allegations. They did not respond to requests from The Center Square for comment.

(The Center Square) – Protesters who disrupted a Sunday worship service at Cities Church in January will not face state criminal charges, according to a decision announced last week by the St. Paul City Attorney's Office.

City Attorney Irene Kao said prosecutors reviewed video footage and other evidence related to the Jan. 18 protest before determining there was insufficient evidence “to meet that standard for criminal charges under Minnesota state statutes.”

“This decision should not be interpreted as an endorsement of unlawful behavior or public disorder,” Kao said. “The right to peacefully protest is protected, as is the right to exercise one's religious beliefs. Balancing these equally important rights is paramount to our decision today.”

Backlash to the decision came quickly.

U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, criticized the announcement in a post on social media on Monday.

“No state charges for ‘activists’ that stormed a church,” Jordan said. “No cooperation with federal immigration law. No serious investigation into the fraud until President Trump stepped in. Democrat-run Minnesota.”

The protest, which interrupted a Sunday morning service at the St. Paul church, drew national attention after demonstrators disrupted services while protesting the Jan. 7 death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good.

Video posted by Black Lives Matter Minnesota showed protesters chanting “ICE out” and “justice for Renee Good” during the service. Another video circulating on social media shows protesters calling congregants “pretend Christians” and “comfortable white people.”

Jonathan Parnell, the lead pastor of Cities Church, criticized the announcement.

“According to the St. Paul City Attorney’s logic, it is perfectly fine for agitators to invade a mosque, a cathedral, or a temple, intimidate the families and children inside, and shut down their religious gathering,” Parnell said in a statement. “Just call it a ‘protest.’”

Federal authorities have taken a far different approach than the state to the incident, bringing charges in March against dozens of people accused of participating in the protest. So far, they have charged at least 39 protesters in connection with the protest, including former CNN anchor Don Lemon.

“YOU CANNOT ATTACK A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. If you do so, you cannot hide from us—we will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you,” U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said. “This Department of Justice STANDS for Christians and all Americans of faith.”

Those charged federally face allegations of conspiracy against the right of religious freedom at a place of worship and interfering with the exercise of religious freedom at a place of worship. The charges fall under the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994, which prohibits obstruction or threats at abortion clinics and places of worship.

The federal prosecutions followed widespread calls for accountability after the incident gained national attention.

Caleb Phillips, a congregant at Cities Church, told The Center Square in an exclusive interview how the incident was for those in the church.

“The entire congregation came alive. Individuals who are planted from front to back throughout the entire place stood up,” Phillips said. “It felt like we were surrounded, because they were all throughout the congregation.”