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Federal officials dismiss indictment against man who jumped from Alexandria building

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Federal officials have dismissed the charges against an Alexandria, Virginia, man who jumped from his 15th floor balcony to his death to avoid being arrested by FBI agents last week.

According to official documents, Shawn Steven Harris was facing federal wire fraud charges after committing financial crimes against at least four women he was dating.

The indictment said Harris operated a romance fraud scheme from the fall of 2019 through 2021, targeting women he met online and using seven fake identities.

Although he was never a federal employee, Harris carried out the scheme all while claiming to work for the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Treasury Department and the CIA.

“Harris falsely represented to Victim 1 that he had held various federal jobs — previously with the U.S. Treasury Department and U.S. State Department, then with the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, and lastly with the Central Intelligence Agency,” court documents read.

Harris convinced the women he dated to let him use their credit cards for what he said were “government-related purchases,” and that, in turn, he promised they would be reimbursed and be provided with lavish gifts.

“Harris took money from his victims with false promises that such monies would be reimbursed by Harris and/or the United States government,” the documents read.

Promises made to the women suggested they’d be paid back with pets, student loan payments, houses, cars, or in installments. None, of course, were paid back.

In one case, Harris bilked a woman out of $15,000, using her credit card to buy electronics, food delivery and ride share services, and a subscription to the Only Fans adult website.

When the FBI arrived at Harris’ upscale high-rise apartment complex Friday morning to arrest him, he jumped off the balcony to his death.

A Northern Va. police department celebrates 250 years of the Marines with cake and a sword

The U.S. will turn 250 years old in July but one of its military branches is already celebrating that milestone this month. The Alexandria Police Department held a traditional Marine birthday celebration complete with cake and swords. Since 1921, the Marines have had a specific order on how to celebrate the Corps’ birthday. Of course, it involved a traditional birthday cake with a globe and anchor decoration but they cut the cake with a Marine officer’s Mameluke sword.
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