Crime & Arrests

Megan Thee Stallion's lawyers are going to pay Tory Lanez a visit in prison ... because a judge just ordered him to sit for a deposition in a lawsuit she filed.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Tory's attempt to dodge the deposition was denied.

Megan is suing blogger Milagro Cooper for an alleged online campaign to spread misinformation about her in the wake of Tory's conviction in the case about shooting her ... and Megan’s lawyers want to grill Tory under oath.

Joe Giudice says money goes a long way at Fort Dix -- the minimum-security prison where Diddy’s now doing time -- and it can make life a whole lot easier behind bars.

The former reality star -- who did hard time there from 2016 to 2019 -- tells TMZ inmates are “all about money,” and says Diddy could even dodge certain responsibilities if he’s willing to cough up some cash … like his new gig in the laundry room.

Joe says he used to pay other inmates to do the chores he didn’t want to do -- including prison work -- and claims Diddy could easily slide someone a few bucks to mark him as showing up for his job.

John Salley is certain Chauncey Billups didn't help rig card games to make the mob money ... saying this week he's "100 percent" sure his good friend was framed.

The NBA legend didn't make many bones about it during an airport chat on Thursday ... insisting there's just no way the suspended Portland Trail Blazers head coach knew of any kind of illegal activity at poker games he attended.

"You think Chauncey's got time to make [an X-ray] table?" Salley said. "Like, 'Hmm, we're going to make this table and we're going to go --?' No."

Sean "Diddy" Combs is all checked in at his new home for the next two-and-a-half years ... TMZ has learned he's begun serving his federal prison sentence.

Law enforcement sources tell us Diddy was transferred to FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey early Thursday morning and began the check-in process. Remember, this is the prison he requested to serve his time at after Judge Arun Subramanian sentenced him to 50 months in prison.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons ultimately granted Diddy's request.

"Family Matters" star Darius McCrary has officially landed in a Michigan jail after being extradited from California ... and here's his fresh mug shot.

According to online records ... the former sitcom actor was booked into Oakland County Jail near the Detroit metro area on Wednesday night.

In the new photo ... Darius is seen in a blue jumpsuit, staring blankly into the camera.

4:17 PM PT -- DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino tells TMZ ... "Today, justice has been delivered. While the arrest of these five individuals will not bring back the lives lost, we hope it brings some measure of closure to the families who continue to grieve the loss of their loved ones."

He continued ... "These arrests serve as a stark reminder of the dangers that social media can pose, and of the predators who hide behind social media applications, looking to exploit our youth and sell their fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills through digital connections. Whether you deal on the screens or in our streets, the DEA and our law enforcement partners remain committed to targeting those responsible. This is a fight to save lives."

The death of Robert De Niro's 19-year-old grandson Leandro Anthony De Niro-Rodriguez is allegedly linked to a criminal network that targeted teens and adults living in New York City ... this according to federal prosecutors.

Five alleged drug suppliers arrested in the case -- Bruce "Tea" Epperson, Eddie Barreto, Grant "Dizzy" McIver, John "John John" Nicolas and Roy Nicolas -- were purportedly wrapped up in a drug distribution ring that also involved 2 other unnamed drug dealers who helped distribute their supplies. One of the unnamed dealers allegedly sold Leandro the lethal batch of drugs that took his life.

The unnamed dealer allegedly DM'd back and forth with someone the documents refer to as "Victim 3" -- reportedly Leandro -- about providing him with fentanyl pills after the overdose death of another alleged victim.

Rosie O'Donnell says she's worried about her daughter Chelsea's safety when she's in prison ... but, at least for now, her accommodations at a Wisconsin jail seem easy enough to handle.

Marinette County Assistant Jail Administrator Jake Roberts tells TMZ ... Chelsea's housed in general population -- where she and the other inmates have dayroom time -- time in a shared common area outside of cells where they eat foods like chicken patties, tacos, pizza and rice -- from 6 AM to 10 PM.

Roberts tells us inmates have access to games -- with the ability to buy Phase 1, Uno, chess and checkers -- a TV, phones on the wall, a kiosk to send out messages and video visits ... so, she's got a line to the world outside. She's also able to see visitors.

4:17 PM PT -- DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino tells TMZ ... "Today, justice has been delivered. While the arrest of these five individuals will not bring back the lives lost, we hope it brings some measure of closure to the families who continue to grieve the loss of their loved ones."

He continued ... "These arrests serve as a stark reminder of the dangers that social media can pose, and of the predators who hide behind social media applications, looking to exploit our youth and sell their fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills through digital connections. Whether you deal on the screens or in our streets, the DEA and our law enforcement partners remain committed to targeting those responsible. This is a fight to save lives."

Two years after the death of Robert De Niro's 19-year-old grandson, Leandro Anthony De Niro-Rodriguez, the family is still searching for answers ... now authorities have made 5 more arrests in the case, TMZ has learned.

Leandro was found dead on July 2, 2023 from what was reportedly determined to be an accidental drug overdose. According to People, a DEA official told the outlet the suspects taken into custody in New York are being charged with death resulting from the sale of narcotics.

The 5 men were charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death, NBC 4 New York reports.

Luigi Mangione is keeping himself going behind bars thanks to some surprising ladies -- Taylor Swift and Charli XCX.

In a new fan letter circulating online, which we authenticated, Luigi explained he recently downloaded their music to his prison tablet at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center -- even admitting he’d never really listened to them before, but decided to give it a shot after a fake list of his "favorite artists" went viral.

Turns out, the alleged murderer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson actually tried out Taylor’s "cardigan" while walking laps on the tier... until another inmate, known as "King," caught wind of it.

12:08 PM PT -- According to court documents TMZ Sports has obtained, Ryan Kesler is accused of engaging in "sexual contact with a 16-year-old child" on January 1.

The docs state the alleged victim was "physically helpless" during the incident.

Former NHL center Ryan Kesler has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of criminal sexual conduct ... but the former first-round draft pick is adamantly denying any wrongdoing.

Kesler entered a not guilty plea to the two counts on Monday ... after the charges were officially filed against him on October 23 in Bloomfield Hills, MI. Not much is known about the alleged wrongdoing ... other than it was reported to cops on January 2.

According to an Orchard Lake Police Department press release, bond for Kesler was set at $50,000 ... which he later posted.

NFL legend Adrian Peterson was seen slumped over at the wheel of his SUV on Sunday morning, just minutes before he was arrested for DWI.

The former Minnesota Vikings star was spotted dozing off in the driver's seat of his ride while he was at a Sugar Land, Texas gas station. A witness who photographed the former footballer at the scene tells TMZ Sports the 40-year-old's engine was still running while he was asleep, and his phone was still in his hand.

Law enforcement sources confirmed to us officers did, indeed, find Peterson in that manner.

Tyler Robinson -- the 22-year-old who prosecutors say murdered Charlie Kirk -- just scored a small legal victory in court ... and it's all about optics.

The judge in his murder case just ruled in favor of Robinson's motion to wear street clothes at trial ... instead of appearing in jail garb.

Robinson's lawyers argued jurors might potentially view him as guilty if they saw him in a jail jumpsuit.

Gilbert Arenas is setting the record straight -- insisting he did not snitch on Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier before their arrests ... saying their situation is on a "whole different level."

Arenas openly trolled Billups and Rozier after the NBA coach and Miami Heat player were busted by the FBI as part of a gambling investigation last week ... but he's adamant his antics were not an admission of a role in the whole scandal.

One example of Arenas' humor was a post on Instagram, where he was spotted carrying an "informant lunch" -- implying he ratted on Billups and Rozier.

10/27 8:30 AM PT -- A YouTube spokesperson tells TMZ ... "We terminated the channel @mrcraftypants for violations of our creator responsibility policy."

A popular YouTuber known as "Mr. Crafty Pants" has been arrested after allegedly possessing and trading disturbing sexual images of children online ... according to reports.

Authorities say Michael David Booth, who has nearly 600,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel, was taken into custody last week after allegedly sharing explicit photos of minors through the social media app Kik, Wave News reported.

According to an arrest report, obtained by the outlet, Booth allegedly had six explicit images, including three showing children under 12, he is accused of sharing more than 15 times at the beginning of August.

Adrian Peterson has been arrested after allegedly driving while under the influence ... TMZ has learned.

According to online records, Peterson was arrested in Sugar Land, Texas around 10 AM local time Sunday. He was booked on one charge of DWI and one charge of unlawful carrying of a weapon.

This is Peterson's second DWI arrest this year after he was popped in Minnesota back in April shortly after the Vikings draft day party when a police officer claimed they saw him going 83 in a 55 MPH zone at just after 3 AM.

Mark Sanchez is grieving the loss of his former teammate Nick Mangold ... sharing a heartfelt post to social media amid his own legal woes.

The former Jets quarterback posted to X hours after news broke that his former center passed away from kidney disease ... writing the world lost a very good football player -- and an even better man.

Sanchez believes his pal will end up in the NFL's Hall of Fame eventually ... but, adds his legacy will be so much larger than that -- 'cause he made a lasting impact on so many others.