Ross Cristantiello

Maynard

Staff Writer at Boston.com

Reporter, @BostonDotCom. @EmersonCollege alum

Articles

Judge orders Tufts student to be freed from ICE detention, returned to Mass.

5 days ago | boston.com | Ross Cristantiello

A federal judge in Vermont ordered Friday that the Trump administration release Rümeysa Öztürk, the Tufts University student who was arrested by ICE agents in Somerville in March. She has been confined in an ICE detention center in Louisiana for about six weeks, and will now be free to return to Massachusetts and continue her studies under certain supervision requirements. Judge William K.
West Bridgewater man who lived at daycare sentenced to 5 years for child porn

6 days ago | boston.com | Ross Cristantiello

A West Bridgewater man who pleaded guilty to child porn charges last year was sentenced to five years in prison Wednesday. Juan Levano, 24, was found to have rented a room in the same building as a residential daycare before his arrest. Levano was first taken into custody in 2023. Authorities identified him through his use of an online messaging app used for the trafficking of child porn, according to U.S. Attorney Leah Foley’s office.
Moulton takes aim at Hegseth

6 days ago | boston.com | Ross Cristantiello

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has had no shortage of critics during his first few months on the job. This list unsurprisingly includes many Democrats, but one Massachusetts lawmaker appears to be particularly incensed. Rep. Seth Moulton is emerging as one of Hegseth’s most vocal detractors, calling for his resignation and warning repeatedly that Hegseth’s inexperience could have dire consequences for the country.
Former Cambridge city councilor charged with kidnapping

1 week ago | boston.com | Ross Cristantiello

Former Cambridge City Councilor Nadeem Mazen was arrested last month and now faces charges of kidnapping, intimidating a witness, and destruction of property, according to a police report and court records. Cambridge Police officers responded to the Holiday Inn Express on Monsignor O’Brien Highway for a report of a disturbance April 16. Officers found Mazen climbing over a fence that surrounded an electrical transformer area that was off-limits to the public, police said.
Former Emmanuel admissions official allegedly also approached 13-year-old 'for some fun'

1 week ago | boston.com | Ross Cristantiello

A former assistant admissions director at Emmanuel College who allegedly propositioned a prospective student for sex is facing new accusations that he tried a similar tactic with a 13-year-old. Jacob Henriques, 29, of Boston was arrested last week and charged with one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor. Prosecutors say he used his position to gain access to the personal information of a 17-year-old and that he offered to pay her for “some fun” after she toured Emmanuel.
Warren pushes investigation into Trump family crypto deal

1 week ago | boston.com | Ross Cristantiello

Sen. Elizabeth Warren is urging a federal watchdog to investigate a recently announced deal between a Trump-backed cryptocurrency company and an investment firm tied to the government of the United Arab Emirates. Warren and Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon sent a letter to Jamieson Greer, acting director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, on Monday outlining their concerns.
'The Mighty Quinn' battled brain cancer twice. Now it's his father's turn.

1 week ago | boston.com | Ross Cristantiello

Monday, March 31, was a good day for the Waters family of Weymouth. At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Quinn, 9, received a clean brain scan. For much of Quinn’s young life he has battled medulloblastoma. The first diagnosis came a day after his third birthday in 2019. As he was confined inside, scores of community members came by his window to wish him well.
Watchdog finds evidence of possible corruption by nonprofit working to revitalize JP

1 week ago | boston.com | Ross Cristantiello

Boston’s independent watchdog agency recently investigated a nonprofit that is part of the city’s Main Streets initiative and found evidence of the potential misuse of federal funds. This evidence included altered bank statements that show discrepancies of tens of thousands of dollars. The investigation, conducted by the Boston Finance Commission, looked into the finances of the Jamaica Plain-based Three Squares Main Street program.
Some city councilors worry about 'lack of transparency' around free museum program

1 week ago | boston.com | Ross Cristantiello

Some Boston City Council members are questioning the transparency of the Wu administration after it became clear that a handful of local museums were allowed to forgo their contributions to the city’s Payment of Lieu of Tax (PILOT) program. All six of those institutions are participants in the Boston Family Days program, a city-led effort that offers free admission to cultural institutions for school-aged children and their families.
Watch: Here's what Healey had to say about Trump's first 100 days at Dem. governors town hall

2 weeks ago | boston.com | Ross Cristantiello

To mark the 100th day of President Donald Trump’s second term, the left-leaning media outlet MeidasTouch convened a virtual town hall featuring some of the Democratic state governors who have been outspoken in their distaste for new federal policies. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey was joined by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.