K&R database cleanup: handoff bundle
Self-contained bundle to continue the case-summary enrichment pass (70/256 done). sources/ holds the 364 .txt dossiers; scripts use relative paths. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_018FJRciSWZc9HftS2edbzBf
This commit is contained in:
Claude Opus 4.8
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Teen Crypto Crime: Two Students Charged in Arizona Home Invasion Targeting $66M – Business Sandesh
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Teen Crypto Crime: Two Students Charged in Arizona Home Invasion Targeting $66M
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Business Sandesh ␍
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␍
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␍
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February 9, 2026 ␍
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Business, Cryptocurrency News, Latest News, Tech
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Two California high school students, aged 16 and 17, have been arrested and charged with multiple felonies following a violent home invasion in Scottsdale, Arizona, on January 31, 2026, authorities say was motivated by an attempt to steal approximately $66 million in cryptocurrency.
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The suspects, identified as Jackson Sullivan (17, from San Luis Obispo) and Skylar LaPaille (16, from Morro Bay), allegedly posed as FedEx delivery drivers to gain entry into a home in the Sweetwater Ranch community. According to court documents and reports from FOX 10 Phoenix, The Block, and other sources, they forcibly entered, restrained two adults with duct tape, assaulted them, and demanded access to cryptocurrency wallets or transfers. Police recovered items including zip ties, tape, disguises, and a 3D-printed firearm (non-functional or unloaded) from the scene.
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The attempt failed when the victims resisted or denied holding crypto, prompting the teens to flee; officers arrived after a resident contacted authorities. The suspects were arrested shortly after. Investigations revealed they drove over 600 miles from California, allegedly recruited and extorted via the encrypted Signal app by unknown individuals (“Red” and “8”), who provided the target’s address, $1,000 for supplies, and instructions. One suspect’s mother reportedly tipped off police after discovering related messages.
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Each teen faces up to eight felony charges, including second-degree burglary, aggravated robbery/assault, kidnapping, possession of burglary tools, fraudulent schemes, criminal impersonation, and felony flight. They are being charged as adults and held in Arizona (some reports note $50,000 bail with ankle monitors in certain accounts).
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No cryptocurrency was stolen, as the victims reportedly had none or refused access. This “wrench attack”—physical coercion to access digital wallets—highlights a rising trend of crypto-related physical crimes, with over 60 similar incidents reported in 2025 alone, blending cyber motives with real-world violence.
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The case underscores severe security risks for high-net-worth crypto holders, especially those with visible or leaked holdings. Experts urge anonymity, avoiding social media disclosures, hardware wallet security, and multi-signature setups to mitigate “physical theft” threats. Authorities continue probing potential additional accomplices behind the orchestration. As crypto wealth grows, such hybrid crimes are prompting increased law enforcement focus on bridging digital and physical investigations.
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About us␍
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SLO County teens hoped to steal $66 million in bitcoin in AZ home invasion, police say
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Who is Abdul El-Sayed?
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The San Luis Obispo County high-schoolers accused of a botched home invasion in Arizona were allegedly after more than $60 million in cryptocurrency as part of an extortion scheme, according to court documents.
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Jackson Sullivan, 17 of San Luis Obispo, and Skylar LaPaille, 16 of Morro Bay, were arrested on Saturday, Jan. 31, in Scottsdale after police said they posed as delivery drivers, forced entry into a home, restrained the residents using duct tape and then fled when police arrived.
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On Thursday, more details about the wild crime came out in court documents obtained by The Tribune and first reported by Fox 10 Phoenix.
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The documents revealed that LaPaille apparently told police in an interview following his arrest that the two boys had met recently and had been extorted over the Signal app by two subjects known as "Red" and "8" into traveling to Arizona to commit the alleged crimes.
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The boys were believed to be in pursuit of about $66 million in cryptocurrency, the court documents said.
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The Tribune is naming the the two high school students because Scottsdale Police previously said they are slated to be tried as adults.
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San Luis Coastal school district assistant superintendent of educational services Lisa Yamashita confirmed to The Tribune that Sullivan is a student at San Luis Obispo High School, while LaPaille attends Pacific Beach High School.
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They each face eight felonies, including second-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools, aggravated robbery, fraudulent schemes and artifices, two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of kidnapping, according to the documents. Sullivan faces an additional felony charge of unlawful flight from law enforcement.
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Court documents reveal new details from scene of home invasion
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The two teenagers allegedly posed as delivery service employees on Saturday morning to gain access to a home in the 9800 block of Windrose Drive in Scottsdale, a news release from the Scottsdale Police Department said.
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According to court documents, one of the victims told police that two people arrived at the home with a box and a dolly, claiming to be delivery drivers.
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When the victim answered the door, the two reportedly forced their way into the home, threw the male victim to the ground and then restrained him and a second victim with duct tape, the documents said.
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One of the suspects then "demanded" that the male victim allow them to access his bitcoin, the documents said. When the male victim said he didn't have bitcoin, the suspect allegedly forced his head into the ground.
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When police arrived on scene in the middle of the incident, they said they observed a struggle occurring in the home and signs of forced entry. The two suspects allegedly fled the scene and were subsequently chased down and arrested by officers, police said.
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Inside the house, officers found the two victims restrained with duct tape, while a third victim — the one who called 911 and did not make contact with the intruders — hid in the back of the home, documents said.
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2 SLO County teens arrested in Arizona home invasion, police say
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Police also observed duct tape, zip ties, a moving dolly and UPS-style clothing littering the home and backyard, along with a 3D-printed gun that was not loaded with ammunition, documents said. Police said that they did not know if the gun worked.
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After leaving the scene, the two suspects allegedly fled in a blue vehicle with stolen license plates and drove into wrong-way traffic before pulling into a strip mall and hitting a dead end, the documents said.
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There, police conducted a high-risk stop and removed the two teenagers, identified as Sullivan and LaPaille, from the car. The boys were arrested around 11:35 a.m.
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Both were booked into the Durango Juvenile Detention Facility in Maricopa County, police said.
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Both Sullivan and LaPaille were released on deposit bonds of $50,000 with ankle monitors, the Sheriff's Office said.
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Document says teens may have been extorted
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According to the documents, LaPaille — referred to as the "co-defendant" — told police in an interview following his arrest that he first met Sullivan about a month ago and didn't know his last name. Sullivan was named in the documents as the defendant.
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LaPaille said that he was asked by Sullivan if he wanted to go to Scottsdale and tie people up to get $66 million in cryptocurrency, the documents said.
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"The defendant got the information from someone known as 'Red' and someone known as '8,' and all communications with those people were through the Signal application," police reported in the documents.
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The suspects knew the victim's name and had been given $1,000 to buy supplies, the documents said. They reportedly left California on Friday and arrived in Scottsdale around 5 a.m. Saturday.
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The boys allegedly stole a license plate off of a similar vehicle and bought supplies at Target and Home Depot. One suspect had previously purchased FedEx-style uniforms, and they had brought a "trac phone" to use to take the cryptocurrency, the documents said.
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In his interview, Lapaille denied assaulting the victims and didn't mention a gun, the documents said.
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Suspect's parent allegedly reported texts to SLO County police
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Back in SLO County, on the day of the home invasion, a parent of one of the teens found text messages on the boy's phone that detailed the crime, the documents said. The parent reported it to local law enforcement.
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The text messages included details about dressing up like delivery workers, committing a burglary and splitting the money, and included an address down the street from where the home invasion occurred, police said.
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The SLO County agency called to report the potential burglary to Scottsdale Police, according to the documents, but the report wasn't received until after the incident.
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"This case reflects the outstanding teamwork, training, and decisive action of our officers," said Scottsdale Police Chief Joe LeDuc. "They moved quickly, coordinated effectively, and brought a dangerous situation to a safe conclusion. Let this be clear. If you come to Scottsdale to commit violent crimes, our officers will find you and hold you accountable."
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'Black Mirror' Episode Comes to Life in Alleged $66 Million Crypto Theft Attempt
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‘Black Mirror’ Episode Comes to Life in Alleged $66 Million Crypto Theft Attempt
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Authorities believe the would-be alleged thieves were being extorted by mysterious figures named “Red” and “8” who communicated with them over signal.
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Kyle Torpey
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Published February 8, 2026, 1:10 pm ET
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Two teenagers have been arrested and hit with charges associated with a failed plan to steal $66 million worth of crypto assets from a home in Scottsdale, Arizona. The two teens are said to have traveled to the home from California on a more-than-600-mile road trip.
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According to FOX 10 Phoenix, investigators on the case believe the two teens, identified as Jackson Sullivan and Skylar Lapaille, were extorted into attempting the crypto theft by two other individuals, only known as “Red” and “8” on the secure and private messaging app Signal. The pair of prospective thieves was reportedly provided with the target’s information and $1,000 to put towards materials that would be used in the theft. Materials collected by law enforcement from the alleged thieves included a 3D-printed gun, although it had no associated bullets, and it was unclear if it was functional.
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Notably, the teens are said to have initially posed as delivery drivers when approaching the home, which echoes a previous $11 million crypto theft that occurred in the Mission Dolores neighborhood of San Francisco last year. Much like that case, Sullivan and Lapaille are then said to have entered the home and restrained their victims with duct tape.
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According to a report in Fox News, police were alerted to the plot by one of the teens’ mothers, who called the police after discovering related messages on her son’s phone. A person within the home during the invasion is also said to have been able to contact law enforcement for assistance. Both teens are now out on $50,000 bail with ankle monitors used to track their whereabouts.
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Due to the extortion angle, the event sounds like a real-life version of an episode of the television series Black Mirror titled “Shut Up and Dance.” In the episode, a teenager is filmed in a compromising position on his laptop by a hacker and is then coerced into completing a number of real-world tasks under the threat of a compromising video being released to his friends, family, and the rest of the world.
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There is also a common Bitcoin email scam associated with this type of extortion, where the sender claims to have a video they will reveal to the world if funds are not sent to a specific Bitcoin address by a certain date. Of course, there is no actual video, and the intent is to simply scare victims into sending bitcoin.
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If you are a doxxed bitcoiner or crypto person in France.
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LEAVE. GET OUT.
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Wrench attacks everyday. My friends are affected.
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Si t’es dans le bitcoin ou crypto dont tes informations personnelles ont été divulguées en France.
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PARTEZ.
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— Joe Nakamoto ⚡️ (@JoeNakamoto) February 5, 2026
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Physical crypto thefts, often referred to as “$5 wrench attacks,” have become an increasingly prevalent issue over the past couple of years, with data indicating that 2025 was the biggest year for this type of crime on record. In the same week that this most recent notable incident occurred, celebrity gossip outlet TMZ received a ransom letter allegedly associated with the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping that demanded an undisclosed amount of bitcoin be sent to a particular address.
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Various data breaches—such as the personal data leak of individuals who purchased crypto hardware wallets from Ledger and the situation in France where a tax agent is alleged to have sold personal information of crypto holders to criminals—are becoming a serious problem when it comes to the security of digital cash that cannot be reversed by a third party once it has been sent. Of course, this irreversibility goes out the window when it comes to centrally-issued stablecoins like Tether and “decentralized finance” DeFi apps that have their own centralized safety nets for emergency situations. That said, there are also ways to distribute trust to multiple parties without giving up the financial self-sovereignty associated with bitcoin through wallets that take advantage of features like multisignature addresses.
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Correction 2/09/26: This article was updated to remove an inaccurate claim that the ransom letter sent to TMZ in association with the suspected kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie was determined to be inauthentic.
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Crime
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Cryptocurrencies
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extortion
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Copied!
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Back to School: The Best Tech to Help You Lock In
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Not all tech needs to be a distraction.
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Gadgets
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Matthew Wille
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Jul 28
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FBI Agent Accused of Stealing $1 Million in Crypto Apparently Missed the Corruption Tutorial
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Tough to get caught doing something illegal in this administration.
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Cryptocurrencies
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AJ Dellinger
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Aug 4
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Waymo Narcs on Kids Allegedly Boozing and Shooting Gel Blasters
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Cops said the kids were having "afternoon libations."
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Transportation
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Matt Novak
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Jul 8
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Scientists Find Intriguing Link Between Ozempic and Violent Behavior
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The same mechanisms that dampen people's cravings for food might also affect our tendency for violent behavior, new research suggests.
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Health
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Ed Cara
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Jun 17
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Trump Family Reportedly Made About $2.3 Billion on Crypto While Investors Lost About $2.3 Billion on Trump-Related Crypto
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It's nice and symmetrical, and also sad.
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Cryptocurrencies
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Mike Pearl
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Jun 9
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Hunter Biden’s New Crypto Obsession May Have a Depressingly Familiar Next Act
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“I believe in the meme token," Biden recently told Candace Owens.
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Cryptocurrencies
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Kyle Torpey
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Jun 7
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@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
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[
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{
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"case": 402,
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"n": 1,
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"field": "url",
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"url": "https://businesssandesh.in/teen-crypto-crime-two-students-charged-in-arizona-home-invasion-targeting-66m/",
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"host": "businesssandesh.in",
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"fetched_at": "2026-08-06T13:43:10+00:00",
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"verdict": "FETCHED",
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"method": "raw",
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"http": 200,
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"chars": 3404,
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},
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{
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"case": 402,
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"n": 2,
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"field": "url_2",
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"url": "https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/slo-county-teens-hoped-steal-021800170.html",
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"host": "yahoo.com",
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"fetched_at": "2026-08-06T13:43:12+00:00",
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"verdict": "FETCHED",
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"method": "raw",
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"http": 200,
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"chars": 6296,
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"sha256": "301e745fb2954417e9c4ea43f7a887b738c7529998df49a666289c60bea721ce",
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"final_url": null
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},
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{
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"case": 402,
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"n": 3,
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"field": "url_3",
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"url": "https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/tech/california-teens-arrested-in-scottsdale-home-invasion-over-66m-cryptocurrency-holdings/",
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"host": "bitcoinethereumnews.com",
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"fetched_at": "2026-08-06T13:43:13+00:00",
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"verdict": "BLOCKED",
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"method": "raw",
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"http": 403,
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"note": "raw request refused; try the WebFetch path, which is a model transcription and must be labelled as such"
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},
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{
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"case": 402,
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"n": 4,
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"field": "url_4",
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"url": "https://gizmodo.com/black-mirror-episode-comes-to-life-in-alleged-66-million-crypto-theft-attempt-2000719314",
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"host": "gizmodo.com",
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"fetched_at": "2026-08-06T13:43:13+00:00",
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"verdict": "FETCHED",
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"method": "raw",
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"http": 200,
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"chars": 5783,
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"sha256": "84c25ea4e24a1ae9c5f8d35e8b83a4c1ba9e084ca099e100efd058e94a78aa95",
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"final_url": null
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}
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]
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Block a user