Crime & Arrests

As President Trump's administration faces a whole brouhaha over newly released details in the disputed "Epstein Files" over the last week ... we're getting a peek at Jeffrey Epstein's one-time girlfriend and co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell warming the track at the Florida penitentiary where she's doing time.

Check out these pics and video ... Maxwell's getting some brisk outdoor exercise at FCI Tallahassee, where she's currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, with lots and lots of barbed wire as a backdrop.

Maxwell was accused of soliciting and grooming minors for abuse and sex crimes from 1994 to 2004 ... and was convicted on 5 counts, including sex trafficking of a minor in December 2021. She was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison about 6 months later.

It's been decades since Dwyane Wade's mom was in prison, but he just revealed to TMZ Sports he still has all the notes she sent him from her time behind bars ... and he still reads them to this day.

The NBA legend opened up to us about being pen pals with Jolinda Wade while she was incarcerated earlier in his life, and he explained why it was super important to both of them to keep in contact despite her situation.

He told us he wanted to let her know "we wasn't judging her. We wasn't pointing fingers at her. We just loved her and we just wanted her to come home to us."

D.L. Hughley says President Trump's attempt to downplay the Jeffrey Epstein controversy seems to implicate Trump ... and he's calling for the Epstein files to be released so folks can see who was hanging out with the pedophile.

The comedian joined us Tuesday on "TMZ Live" and ripped into Trump for even associating with Epstein back in the day ... and he says if Trump has nothing to hide, it should be a no-brainer to release the files.

Trump promised to release the files if he was elected to a second term ... but earlier this month the DOJ and FBI sent out a memo saying there was no "little black book," that Epstein killed himself in jail, and that no one else in the case would be prosecuted.

Columbus Short and his wife Aida are hurtling towards a divorce after they separately filed legal docs accusing the other of domestic violence ... TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell us Columbus is telling people close to him that he's going to be filing for divorce ... because he feels there's no going back after the latest batch of alarming allegations.

We broke the stories ... Columbus secured a temporary restraining order against Aida last week after claiming she kicked and threw a 10-week-old puppy, before busting his eye open and drawing blood, leading to her arrest. Aida then filed for her own TRO, claiming Columbus choked her ... and she included alleged injury photos in her filing.

The woman who Quinshon Judkins allegedly roughed up earlier this month told cops she had "visible bruises" and "was still in pain" several days after the incident, new 911 audio reveals.

In the call, which TMZ Sports has obtained, the woman can be heard telling an officer she was at the temporary headquarters of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department on July 12, but it was closed.

She explained she wanted to report that a "high-profile male" she had been in a relationship with physically assaulted her in the early morning hours of July 8. She added she did not reach out to police that day because "I thought that we could work through it and obviously we couldn't so I'm trying to do the right thing now."

The prankster who left a bone-chilling teddy bear outside a Southern California convenience store -- sparking hysteria with its eerie faux-human-skin stitching -- has been arrested ... after he tipped off authorities himself.

Hector Corona Villanueva was arrested and booked Monday on suspicion of filing a false emergency report himself and planting fake evidence to make it appear real, according to a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department news release.

The department said incidents like this waste valuable emergency resources and put the public at risk, potentially delaying response times to real emergencies.

Diddy is already attempting to rehabilitate himself -- he's enrolling in self-improvement programs while in federal lockup to address his drug use and violence against women.

Sources close to the situation tell TMZ ... Diddy is in the STOP Program, a course the feds offer inmates focused on preventing sexual assault, domestic and dating violence.

We're also told he is undergoing therapy, and is in the Dr. Harry K. Wexler drug abuse program.

Ex-MLB pitcher Daniel Serafini -- the Minnesota Twins' first-round pick in the 1992 draft -- was found guilty of murder on Monday.

According to the Placer County District Attorney's Office, the baseball player was also convicted of attempted murder and first-degree burglary following a jury trial.

The charges stemmed from allegations that Serafini had brutally attacked his in-laws, Gary Spohr and Wendy Wood, during a 2021 incident in Tahoe City.

5:10 PM PT -- A judge granted Aida's request for a temporary restraining order but denied her request for temporary sole custody of their two children.

Columbus Short's wife says he's been roughing her up for years ... and she's got photos of her alleged injuries.

Aida Abramyan-Short beelined it to court Monday and filed for a temporary restraining order against the actor, claiming he got violent with her as recently as last week ... on the same day he claims she busted his eye open and abused a 10-week-old puppy.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Aida claims she was doing laundry July 7 while Columbus was boozing ... and she says he snapped at her and then put his hands on her.

Sam Haskell Jr. -- the accused wife-murderer and son of legendary TV agent Sam Haskell -- left a suicide note referencing his children, but there's a twist ... TMZ has learned.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... before taking his own life at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles last Saturday, Haskell left behind a note proclaiming he would miss his 3 best friends -- his children.

What's interesting ... Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman told us Haskell had purchased a one-way plane ticket for himself to Japan with his girlfriend before he was arrested, so there's evidence he was going to abandon his kids.

7/14/2025 3:00 PM PT -- The judge just granted Katy's permanent restraining order.

Katy Perry is seeking court-ordered protection from a homeless man she claims keeps showing up to her home uninvited ... and her security team believes the guy won't take "no" for an answer.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Katy filed a temporary restraining order against a 43-year-old man named Ross Elliott Hedrick. She says he's a transient and has twice visited her property in Santa Barbara, California.

Katy filed the TRO on June 18 ... and in her request, she also seeks protection for Orlando Bloom, noting he is her "partner" who lives with her. As we first reported, Katy and Orlando have since split.

The "Last Friday Night" singer claims Hedrick visited her Santa Barbara estate multiple times in May ... she says he was arrested after the first unwanted visit and then returned a week later.

12:00 PM PT -- Nathan Hochman joined us on TMZ Live to discuss the new details in the case.

7:40 AM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Sam Haskell Jr. died after slitting his wrists at Twin Towers Correctional Facility in L.A.

Sam Haskell Jr., the son of legendary TV agent Sam Haskell, killed himself in jail just 2 days before his preliminary hearing to determine if he should stand trial for allegedly dismembering his wife and killing her parents ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Haskell took his life behind bars Saturday, although the manner of death was not disclosed.

Haskell pled not guilty to murdering Mei Li Haskell and her parents, Gaoshan Li and Yanxiang Wang, back in 2023. He allegedly dismembered the bodies, stuffed them in garbage bags, and then hired 4 day laborers to take the bags to a dump site.

More details surrounding Quinshon Judkins' arrest have been revealed -- the Cleveland Browns' second-round pick is accused of punching a woman in the mouth during an argument inside a car.

According to a police report of the alleged July 7 incident, the woman -- who acknowledged they were in a romantic relationship -- stated the two landed at Fort Lauderdale International Airport for a trip ... and when she left to use the restroom while waiting at baggage claim, she returned to an upset Judkins.

The woman told cops Judkins said things like "I'm so done with you" and "Oh wow, I can't believe you" ... but she had no idea what he was talking about.

Ethan Chapin’s family is speaking out -- but they’re not joining the outrage. While other victims' families are fuming over Bryan Kohberger dodging the death penalty, the Chapins say they’re at peace with it.

Speaking to NBC News, Ethan’s dad Jim Chapin said he doesn't care what happens to Kohberger, because he’ll get what’s coming. What matters most is that he’s off the streets and can’t hurt any more kids.

Jim’s wife Stacy said their stance has shifted -- at first, it was "eye for an eye" ... but after talking with prosecutors, they felt this deal made more sense for their family.

This is a BIG DEAL ... the judge in the Menendez case says the new evidence unearthed in the murder case -- if true -- makes a compelling case to throw out their convictions ... which would mean they could be released even without a parole board hearing.

According to new court documents, obtained by TMZ, L.A. County Superior Court Judge William C. Ryan, has reviewed the 2 pieces of new evidence -- the first is a letter purporting to be from Erik Menendez to his cousin, Andy Cano, which would corroborate Cano's testimony about Jose Menendez molesting Erik.

The second piece of evidence -- a declaration from Roy Rossello, a former member of Menudo, who claims he was anally raped and orally copulated by Jose in either 1983 or 1984. This declaration, according to Menendez attorney Mark Geragos, shows the prosecution was off base in characterizing Jose as "not the kind of man" who would abuse his children. Also, the judge in the murder trial severely limited testimony about alleged sexual abuse.

"Empire" star Bryshere Gray needs mental help more than a jail sentence -- this, according to his pal Dustin "Chosen" Wilkins ... who filed a criminal complaint against him in June after the pair got into a physical altercation at a Virginia hotel.

Chosen tells TMZ he only went forward with the report because the actor is suffering from several mental health conditions that were exacerbated when he stopped taking his medications -- and was drinking on top of that -- and believed pressing charges could jumpstart getting him into treatment.

Production sources confirm to TMZ the pair were spending time together in Virginia as they prepared to work on "The Starboys" ... but Bryshere is no longer associated with the project. quite responsible when it comes to taking his meds and monitoring his alcohol intake.

However, Chosen adds Bryshere is easily sidetracked by people who don't have his best interest in mind.

Chosen describes Bryshere -- who we learned was dropped by his pubic relations agency this week -- as his "little brother" ... which is why he cares so much about what happens with him over the assault and battery charge.

Chosen tells us he would gladly have the charge dropped if Bryshere would commit to a mental health treatment plan and focus on his wellbeing.

He says he worries about the possibility of BG heading to the clink -- and even admits he regrets filing the complaint.

We broke the news -- Chosen filed a misdemeanor complaint against the actor and rapper on June 13 by bypassing police and directly working with the Chesapeake magistrate's office. A warrant for his arrest was issued ... and Bryshere was taken into custody on June 15.

Plot twist -- Chosen is the one who bonded him out within hours.

Oh -- and he wants to make it crystal clear that their quarrel did not erupt over a "payment dispute" as he wrote in his complaint. He says the situation quickly got ugly due to the state of Bryshere's mental health, and that's that.

Production sources confirm to TMZ the pair were spending time together in Virginia as they prepared to work on "The Starboy" ... but Bryshere is no longer associated with the project.

It's not clear if the "Canal Street" actor will return to the small screen anytime soon, as Chosen says he previously confessed to him he wants out of the entertainment industry because it's been so hard on him.

Chosen says he and BG do not currently aren't in contact due to the "no contact" order in place. Court documents show Chosen appeared at the Chesapeake General District Court on Monday to amend the bond provision so Bryshere could have contact with him ... but was denied.

Bryshere is due back in court at the end of the month.

We reached out to Bryshere's reps for comment ... and they say they're no longer working with him due to the state of his mental health and concerns over this legal representation.

They explain ... "Our company integrity prevents us from participating in any activity that places Mr. Gray at risk. We are not familiar with the legal representation handling Mr. Gray's criminal case in Virginia. Their representation of Mr. Gray makes us very uncomfortable, and we hope for the best outcome for Mr. Gray."