An Atlanta native has been handed a federal prison sentence exceeding 16 years for her role in orchestrating a massive $10 million fraud against Amazon, as disclosed by the Justice Department on Wednesday.

The US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia revealed that Brittany Hudson has been sentenced to 16 years and three months in prison. Her conviction stems from exploiting a business relationship with Amazon to carry out the elaborate fraud.

In March, Hudson faced conviction on 30 felony charges, including wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, and a charge related to forging a federal judge’s signature.

“Hudson and her accomplice devised a grand scheme to defraud Amazon out of nearly $10 million, executing their plan within a few short months,” explained US Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg.

“While on bond, Hudson attempted to deceive yet another company by forging a federal judge’s signature, showing a blatant disregard for the law. The substantial sentence handed down today, with no chance of parole, ensures she is held accountable for her criminal activity.”

From January 2022 to June 2022, Hudson and her partner, Kayricka Wortham, defrauded Amazon using a scheme that involved bogus vendors and invoices that they created in Amazon’s vendor system, according to the DOJ announcement.

Wortham and another co-conspirator at Amazon approved the fake vendor profiles, which allowed them to submit invoices.

Hudson and Wortham then submitted over 1,000 fictitious invoices, falsely claiming the phony vendors had provided goods and services to Amazon. Wortham would approve the invoices, which led to Amazon transferring about $9.4 million to bank accounts that she, Hudson and their co-conspirators controlled.

Hudson and Wortham used the fraudulent funds to buy expensive real estate, including a nearly $1 million home in Smyrna, and luxury vehicles, including a 2019 Lamborghini Urus, a 2021 Dodge Durango, a 2022 Tesla Model X, a 2018 Porsche Panamera, and a Kawasaki ZX636 motorcycle.

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The two faced federal fraud charges related to the scheme in September 2022. While they were out on bond, they attempted to defraud a franchising company by entering into an agreement to open a hookah lounge in Midtown Atlanta and falsely claimed their criminal charges had been dismissed.

Those actions resulted in the revocation of their pretrial release.

To support that claim, they emailed counterfeit court documents that contained the forged signatures of former Chief US District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. and Cobb County Magistrate Judge Norman L. Barnett, who was a prosecutor in the case.

Hudson also emailed fake financial statements with inflated account balances to secure the deal.

“The sentencing in this case brings a brazen fraud operation to its inevitable conclusion — years behind bars for the criminals involved,” said Rob Donovan, special agent in charge of the US Secret Service Atlanta Field Office.

“Our office remains steadfast in our commitment to uncover fraud, protect victims and work with our partners at the US Attorney’s Office to bring criminals like this to justice.”

In addition to her prison sentence, Hudson was ordered to pay $9,469,731 in restitution to Amazon, while the court entered a forfeiture money judgment of $7,859,136 and ordered Hudson to forfeit her residence in Smyrna and money seized from her bank account as fraudulent proceeds of her scheme.

Wortham was sentenced to 16 years in prison in June 2023 and was sentenced to an additional year in March 2026 after pleading guilty to forging the signature of a federal judge.

She was also ordered to pay $9,469,731 in restitution and forfeited over $3 million, the Smyrna home and vehicles.

A clash has erupted in a historic city as a millionaire property developer battles with local residents who want his enormous mansion demolished, citing a lack of planning permission.

Situated on the outskirts of Bath, this sprawling estate is currently under construction and is rumored to be the most substantial new residence built in the area within the last century.

Furious locals assert that the mansion is considerably taller and covers a greater area than what was initially sanctioned by the city council.

As the mansion nears its final stages, an application has been submitted to retroactively secure planning approval, aiming to legitimize alterations from the original designs.

Despite strong opposition from over 100 local residents, who label the structure as ‘monstrous,’ there are concerns that Bath and North East Somerset Council’s delayed response might hinder any effective intervention.

They claim the recent series of events underscores how multi-millionaires find, as well as use and abuse, loopholes during the planning process. 

Developers claimed they tried ‘to keep the building as low as’ possible and said they felt its height was ‘similar to the approved plans’ in documents relating to the latest proposal.

Mr Thomas Worrall, a director of TKB Property Developments and TK Building Company Ltd, is listed as the applicant of the plans.

Bath and North East Somerset Council declined to comment, adding enforcement action would only be ‘considered’ after the fresh application had been determined.

Tavis Hamilton, 48, who lives next door and has spent a decade battling developers, estimated the ‘mega home’ to be worth £3million upon completion.

‘It is enormous and dwarfs all the cottages,’ he said. ‘You could fit around 24 of the other cottages into the footprint.

‘It has been built for the last three years, but it has now been topped out so you can see the full height and scale.

‘It just shows how unfair the process is. It seems if you put the wrong guttering on your house or use the incorrect glazing, the council jump on you for enforcement.

‘But you can build this enormous structure without the right planning permission and no enforcement is carried out until it is too late.’

The 48-year-old, who lives with his partner Charlotte Bolton and daughter, explained permission had initially been granted for a low-lying single-storey building located on the lane of traditional Georgian properties. 

The proposed property was meant to be built into the hillside; however, when construction workers hit groundwater, they backfilled the hole with concrete, he said.

As such, the plans have materialised into a home which he describes as ‘significantly higher’ than what was proposed.

The plot was originally sold for £1million with planning, and locals believe another million may have been spent on excavation. 

A survey carried out by enforcement teams confirmed several deviations from approved plans, including the building being higher and larger than proposed.

It also found construction had not taken place in the spot approved in previously outlined proposals.  

Since 2007, the property has had several different owners and planning applications, each looking to increase its height and prominence, locals said.  

Meanwhile, more than 70 residents attended a recent site meeting over the issue, as over 100 lodged objections to the seven-bedroom home as construction continues. 

Mr Hamilton believes the latest application was lodged as part of a ‘wider game to avoid enforcement action’ as he insists a cease order should be applied to the site. 

‘The changes are so significant and widespread that all the rest of the drawings from roof light location also require total update,’ he said. ‘A cease order needs to be applied to all works on site whilst a detailed new planning application is submitted.’

He also argued that if it had been put in place when concerns were first raised years ago, the issue could have been resolved before the concrete pad was poured. 

‘This could have been resolved then, reducing the damage that will now be more difficult and costly to rectify,’ he added.

He also argued that the ‘significant’ deviations from the original plans set a damaging precedent for the future of the area.  

Locals said the orientation, siting, height, volume, footprint and surrounding landscaping all ‘significantly’ deviate from the original plans and would set a damaging precedent in the area.

‘They have just pushed on and built whatever they wanted, with a slap-dash, ill-considered, gung-ho approach with total disregard to the approved plans,’ he said. 

‘It has been incredibly stressful, but you feel powerless. People are just upset by the long history – they apply for one thing and end up with another.’

And while pictures of the site indicate developers still have some work to do on the property, such as a skylight, its height and shape have been fully formed.  

‘You can see the impact and size and how it sits with the plot as soon as you come down the lane,’ Mr Hamilton added.

‘It is hugely overbearing on the access and completely changes the character of the lane and the listed church.

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‘Some want to see it just torn down. It is an extreme measure and I don’t know if Bath and North East Somerset would ever enforce that. But it would be lovely to see it just built as it should have been. Lack of enforcement has just let it go too far.’

He explained the main source of anger was its increase in height and massing with it growing from a five-bedroom to a seven-bedroom property.

It comes after another ‘monster mansion’ was built on the other side of Mr Hamilton and his family’s home.

Now, as a result of this recent structure, he claims that he is ‘sandwiched between two of the largest single residences built in Bath in about 100 years’.

Locals said the original developer won permission to build the biggest property allowed on the plot – despite several objections – and then put it straight on the market.

It was then bought by a wealthy individual who submitted three or four more applications to make it higher and more prominent. Then it was again sold to another wealthy individual about three years ago, who has continued with construction.

On the council website, one local expressed their fury at the number of bedrooms being increased from five to seven. 

‘It was already noted as the largest house ever approved by the council, and now apparently will include seven bedrooms,’ they wrote in their objection.

‘It is completely out of keeping with other properties on Bailbrook Lane, one of which is the historic tin church, a listed heritage building.

‘The sheer volume of variations demonstrates that the developer has treated the formal planning approval as a mere box-ticking exercise.’

They argued that retrospective permission should only be given to rectify ‘unforeseen’ or ‘genuinely minor’ adjustments. 

They argued approving the ‘extensive list’ of changes would set a ‘dangerous precedent ‘.

Local ward district councillor Joanna Wright supported residents’ calls for enforcement action, describing the situation as ‘outrageous’. She said: ‘They got planning permission in 2013, and they haven’t built it to that plan. They keep extending it and changing who owns it,’ she said.

She added she has again written to enforcement and planning, lambasting it as an example of wealthy developers knowing how to ‘play the game’.

‘I understand the anger local residents feel about the whole process,’ she said. ‘They are told they cannot do things, and that is the end of it. 

‘Yet this developer ignores all that; they know the process, so they keep carrying on and jumping through all the hoops to get what they want.’

She decried the behaviour of the developers as ‘outrageous’, pointing out the ‘vast’ building would be taller and bigger than the neighbouring Grade-II listed church.  

‘It is a very narrow single-track road. This has had a huge impact on the neighbours,’ she said, explaining other homeowners have now been told they can’t have extensions due to the impact on the area’s heritage.

‘They should be made to tear it down,’ she said. ‘It is one rule for a wealthy person – they get what they want by playing the system – and another for everyone else.’

Bath and North East Somerset Council declined to comment. 

It is understood that the retrospective planning application is currently being determined. Only if the application is refused will the council consider formal enforcement action.

In its design and access statement, the agent for the applicant said they purchased the site with the planning and technical details already produced.

They added: ‘This was then amended to allow for a more realistic and practical build.’

They said changes from the original plans included new basement areas, amendments to roofs and window and widening access.

In documents relating to the latest proposal, the applicant wrote: ‘All of these amendments were decided based on the structure and practical aspect of building the single storey elements.

‘As they were first designed, they would not have stable foundations and could not be built in made up ground. The amendments were necessary at the time of construction to allow for a safer build.’

They said the water on the site was ‘constant’ at the lower basement level, causing the ground to be saturated. 

‘The only way that could be stabilised was to stop where they did and fill it with hardcore,’ they added. ‘So this then gave a solid base for the concrete pour.

‘There came to light after engineering details were done some of the suggestions did not practically work, or could physically be done.

‘So the ideas to extend the basement and some of the internal levels were taken.

‘We have tried to keep the building as low as we could, and we feel that the overall height of the building is similar to the approved plans.’

They argued the scale and overall size of the property had ‘hardly changed from the initial approved plans’, adding the overall look was ‘the same’.  

‘We have tried to make sure the heights are not over the approved plan even if adjusted due to the build.’

Planning agents representing Mr Worrall have been approached for comment.

A seemingly routine eviction took a dangerous turn when an Oklahoma man reportedly unleashed a homemade flamethrower against deputies, with a car-battery device hazardously situated in his apartment. This tense encounter, captured on body-camera footage, reveals the dramatic escalation.

Footage released by the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office shows deputies forcefully entering the dim, disorderly apartment in Oklahoma City on August 11. The occupant, Darron Dunn, 61, had allegedly barricaded the entrance, thwarting initial entry attempts.

Arriving to execute an eviction order around midday, deputies found an obstructed entryway. Housing Authority personnel managed to unlock the door, only to discover impediments like cables and an electric wheelchair positioned strategically behind it.

Once inside, one deputy spotted Dunn in a bedroom. According to the incident report, Dunn wasted no time in attacking, spraying an aerosol can towards the deputy and a Housing Authority security officer before allegedly setting it ablaze, heightening the chaos of the situation.

The bodycam video showed a bright orange flash as the burst of fire filled the doorway.

“Back up!” an officer can be heard yelling as deputies retreated.

Authorities said the deputy felt the “extreme heat” from the flames. The sheriff’s office said the fire traveled about 15 feet in the deputy’s direction.

But the flames were only the start.

As deputies backed out, officers spotted a car battery with wires attached near Dunn, and another wired device near the front door. The video captured the growing alarm inside the apartment.

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“He’s got it hooked up to the battery!” one officer shouted.

“Everybody out! Improvised device! Get out!” another could be heard yelling.

According to the incident report, the device consisted of rows of butane lighter-fluid and carburetor-cleaner aerosol cans taped together with bare wires attached. 

Deputies evacuated residents from the third floor and nearby levels while the sheriff’s tactical team and bomb squad responded.

Officers later disabled the wires connected to the cans and safely removed Dunn from the apartment in his wheelchair, authorities said.

A spokesperson for the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office told News Media that bomb technicians determined the wired aerosol-can device was unlikely to explode as configured. The spokesperson said it could have sparked or heated up if the bare wires touched the car-battery terminal, but technicians did not believe it would detonate.

Dunn was taken to a VA hospital because of medical issues and stress before being placed in a mental hospital, according to the incident report.

Out-of-custody charges were filed against Dunn for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; possessing, using, manufacturing or threatening to use an incendiary device or explosives; and obstructing an officer.

The sheriff’s office spokesperson said evictions can be “so emotionally charged” and deputies sadly see volatile reactions during such calls. The spokesperson said the confrontation came four years after officers were attacked in another similar eviction-related incident.

In a separate eviction call about a year ago, the spokesperson said, a man allegedly tried to set a deputy on fire before setting himself ablaze and dying.

Norway mourns the passing of King Harald, revered for modernizing the monarchy while deftly stepping out of the shadow left by his charismatic and outgoing father. The influential monarch, who graced the throne for over 30 years, passed away at the age of 89, as announced by the royal palace amid a tumultuous period for the Norwegian royal family.

“King Harald departed peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on the morning of August 28 at 0635 local time (0435 GMT),” shared the royal palace in an official statement on its website.

As the longest-reigning monarch in Europe, King Harald was hospitalized on August 17 due to a blood infection, as reported by the palace.

Back in 2024, during a holiday in Malaysia, he faced another health scare from an infection that led to his temporary hospitalization. The Norwegian armed forces facilitated his return, after which he received a permanent pacemaker.

Despite health challenges in 2024, King Harald, Norway’s ceremonial leader since 1991, expressed his intent to limit official duties yet firmly ruled out stepping down, emphasizing that his commitment as king was lifelong.

MULTIPLE CHALLENGES

Harald’s death comes at a tumultuous time for the royal family.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit, married to Harald’s son Crown Prince Haakon, is facing intense scrutiny for her friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a relationship for which she has apologized.

Her son Marius Hoiby, born from a relationship predating her marriage to Haakon, was found guilty in June of ​two out of four counts of rape and one count of domestic violence and sentenced to four years in prison after a seven-week trial. Both he and the prosecution have appealed the sentence.

Two days after Marius was convicted, the palace said Mette-Marit had undergone a successful lung transplant, without specifying when the procedure took place.

After several weeks of recovery in hospital, she returned home and celebrated her silver wedding anniversary with Haakon in August.

Support for the monarchy dropped to 60% in February 2026, from 70% the previous month, according to a Norstat poll published by public broadcaster NRK, rising slightly to 64% in May.

Harald had constantly remained popular with Norwegians. According to the February poll, he was the royal who best represented the Norwegian royal family, with a note of 9.2, on a scale of 1 to 10.

A DESCENDANT OF QUEEN VICTORIA

A great-great-grandchild of Britain’s Queen Victoria, Harald acceded to the throne in 1991 and slowly introduced modern touches that brought a ceremonial post seen mainly as a symbol of national independence into the 21st century.

The popular king played a crucial role comforting the nation in times of mourning.

When far-right, anti-Islam fanatic Anders Behring Breivik killed 77 people in 2011 in Oslo and on Utoeya island, the king consoled the nation with a powerful televised speech. His voice trembling with emotion, he said that “freedom is stronger than fear.”

After floods, storms and other disasters, he would travel to the scene wearing rubber boots and a well-worn jacket to meet those who had lost homes or loved ones.

Late in life he spoke up for tolerance, declaring in a 2016 speech that Norwegians could have many backgrounds, beliefs and sexual orientations.

In November 2005, Harald and his wife, Sonja Haraldsen, invited 550 Norwegians to a ball to celebrate the centenary of the country’s independence from Sweden.

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Harald said in an interview at the time that Europe’s royal families should not be tempted to reverse moves towards openness and retreat to their palace towers.

“If you’ve opened the gate it’s very difficult to close it again,” he told Reuters. “I’m not sure I’d want to close it. So far so good, as far as I’m concerned.”

Like his father Olav, Harald was a sports and automotive enthusiast and often drove his own car, particularly to informal events.

A sailor, he captained his boat to win a world championship title and competed in several Olympics, but failed to repeat his father’s feat of winning Olympic gold.

Harald also took a great interest in the preservation of nature.

He realized a lifelong dream when, aged 76, he spent four days deep in the Amazon jungle of Brazil, living with the Yanomami people and sleeping in a hammock.

BIRTH AND REIGN

Harald’s birth on February 21, 1937, was cause for national celebration – he was the first royal heir to be born in Norway in almost 570 years.

Danish and Swedish monarchs had ruled over the Scandinavian nation for centuries, until 1905.

Just three years after Harald was born, Nazi Germany invaded the country.

King Haakon and then-Crown Prince Olav fled to Britain, where they led Norway’s government-in-exile, while the 3-year-old Harald went with his mother, Crown Princess Märtha, to neutral Sweden, then to the United States.

After living briefly at the White House, and then for five years in Bethesda, Maryland, Harald, his older sisters Ragnhild and Astrid and their mother met frequently with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whom Harald years later described as like a grandfather.

When he returned to Norway after the war ended in 1945, Harald attended state schools rather than the private lessons his father had received.

His marriage in 1968 to a commoner broke with tradition and followed a nine-year stand-off with his father that ended only after Harald threatened never to marry rather than give up Sonja.

LATER YEARS

In 1998, the king faced an unprecedented wave of public criticism over press reports that he had accepted a 4-million-crown ($400,000) yacht from a group of industrialists as a birthday present, and that palace repairs had cost the government 500 million crowns.

Around the same time, his former deputy private secretary suggested that Harald should abdicate at the egalitarian country’s normal retirement age of 67.

Opinion polls gave the king firm backing to stay on for life, however, and the criticism subsided. A year later, in another Reuters interview, Harald joked that he would remain on the throne for life unless he went mad.

“There is no tradition in Norway for that (abdication). But you never know. If you go completely bonkers,” he said. Queen Sonja laughed and said: “But who will ever tell you that?”

Harald’s son Haakon, 53, will be Norway’s fourth king since the country gained independence from Sweden in 1905, with Mette-Marit, also aged 53, as his queen.

This is a developing story