LOS ANGELES — Peter Cullen, the Canadian voice actor whose deep, commanding baritone gave life to Optimus Prime across four decades of the “Transformers” franchise, has died. He was 85.

Cullen died Wednesday, Aug. 26, at his home in Los Angeles, his agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. A cause of death was not disclosed.

In a statement shared with media outlets, Cullen’s family described his passing as peaceful. “Peter Cullen passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family,” the family said, adding that he remained “held in the hearts of his many friends and countless fans worldwide.” The family asked that his legacy be honored through community service and by leading others “with compassion, integrity, and loyalty,” echoing a phrase Cullen often repeated throughout his life: “be strong enough to be gentle.”

A voice that defined a generation of heroes

Born in Montreal in 1941, Cullen built a prolific career as a voice actor whose credits numbered in the hundreds, spanning cartoons, films, television series and video games. But he remained best known, above all else, for originating and sustaining the voice of Optimus Prime, leader of the heroic Autobots, across nearly every iteration of the “Transformers” franchise since its debut.

Cullen first voiced the character in the original 1984 animated series “The Transformers,” which chronicled the war between the Autobots and the villainous Decepticons and helped launch one of the most enduring toy and media franchises in entertainment history. He went on to voice Optimus Prime in all five mainline live-action “Transformers” films directed by Michael Bay, as well as in “Bumblebee” and “Rise of the Beasts,” alongside numerous animated series and video games spanning decades.

How Optimus Prime found his voice

Cullen frequently credited his older brother, Larry, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1968, as the inspiration behind the character’s distinctive tone. Speaking to Reading Eagle in 2008, in comments later cited by Variety, Cullen described drawing directly from his brother’s bearing as a returning veteran. “It was his tone of voice and delivery as a leader, his control,” Cullen said, describing the qualities that shaped his approach to the role.

That connection to his brother’s military service became central to how Cullen understood the character over the following decades, describing Optimus Prime as embodying a calmness paired with strength, honor and dignity that he associated with the Marines.

A near-miss with a modern reboot

Cullen’s hold on the role nearly slipped away when Bay began developing the 2007 live-action film reboot of the franchise. According to commentary Bay recorded for the first film, his original choice to voice Optimus Prime was actor Liam Neeson, and animators at Industrial Light & Magic were initially instructed to use Neeson’s voice as a reference point while building the character. Producers ultimately pushed back on that decision and insisted Cullen return to reprise the role he had originated more than two decades earlier, a choice that cemented his status as the definitive voice of the character for a new generation of moviegoers.

Beyond the Autobots

While Optimus Prime remained his signature role, Cullen’s career extended far beyond the “Transformers” universe. He voiced Eeyore in dozens of “Winnie the Pooh” projects for Disney, bringing his distinctive voice to one of children’s entertainment’s most recognizable, if melancholy, characters. He also voiced King Kong in the 1976 remake of the classic monster film and created the unsettling clicking sounds made by the title creature in 1987’s “Predator,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Cullen’s other credits included voicing the villain Venger in the early-1980s animated series “Dungeons & Dragons,” the character K.A.R.R. on “Knight Rider” in both 1982 and a 2009 revival, and roles across a wide range of classic animated series including “Snorks,” “Rainbow Brite” and “BraveStarr.” He also became closely associated with Cartoon Network’s Toonami programming block beginning in 1997, where he provided narration and promotional voiceover work until the block’s initial run ended in 2008. More recently, Cullen lent his voice to the animated superhero series “Invincible.”

Recognition within his industry

Cullen’s performance during the first season of the 2010-2013 animated series “Transformers: Prime” earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination, formal recognition of a role he had already come to define across multiple generations of fans. He was honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX in Hollywood in September 2014, cementing his place among the industry’s recognized talents despite working primarily behind a microphone rather than in front of a camera.

A legacy that outlasted expectations

Despite spending decades intertwined with a single character, Cullen said in a 2014 interview with Reading Eagle that he never assumed the role would become a lifelong fixture of his career. Yet Optimus Prime remained a constant presence across his professional life, from the character’s death and eventual return in the franchise’s earliest years to his continued voice work in modern “Transformers” projects released as recently as this decade.

At the time of his death, Cullen had no upcoming projects listed on his public filmography, though several new “Transformers” projects remain in development, including a reported crossover with the “G.I. Joe” franchise and a live-action feature set outside the continuity of the existing film series — projects that, had Optimus Prime been featured, industry observers widely expected Cullen would have been asked to reprise once again.

A loss felt across generations

News of Cullen’s death arrived just days after the deaths of country music icon Dolly Parton and actor Tim Curry, adding to what has already been a difficult stretch for the entertainment industry this week. For fans who grew up with the “Transformers” franchise across its many iterations, Cullen’s voice remained a constant throughout, a steady and reassuring presence that outlasted changing animation styles, film reboots and generational shifts in how the Autobots and their world were brought to the screen.

A car parked in the driveway may look perfectly safe, but every day it sits outside, it is exposed to conditions that can slowly wear it down.

Sunlight fades paint, bird droppings and tree sap can etch the finish, dust builds up on the surface, and harsh weather can take a toll on everything from exterior trim to the interior. Most of this damage happens gradually, which makes it easy to overlook until the repair or replacement bill arrives.

A car cover offers a simple way to reduce that everyday exposure. Beyond keeping a vehicle cleaner, the right cover can help preserve its appearance, reduce maintenance demands, and protect components that can be expensive to restore.

Here’s how a car cover can help save money on vehicle maintenance while keeping a vehicle looking its best.

1. Paint Protection Reduces the Need for Expensive Detailing and Repairs

Repainting a vehicle can be a costly repair, especially when the damage affects a larger or more visible area. The price of repainting a single panel depends on factors such as the vehicle, paint finish, and the shop performing the work. Full resprays cost considerably more. Most paint damage doesn’t happen in accidents; it accumulates from daily exposure to UV radiation, bird droppings, tree sap, industrial fallout, and airborne debris.

UV damage is a gradual problem that is easy to overlook. Constant sun exposure breaks down clear coat, fades paint, and oxidizes the surface over years. Oxidized paint often needs more than a thorough wash to recover its appearance. Treatment may include machine polishing, wet sanding, or repainting.

A car cover blocks UV exposure entirely when the car is parked. It also stops bird droppings and tree sap from making contact in the first place. Both are acidic. Both cause permanent clear coat etching if left on the surface long enough. Removing these contaminants after they cause damage can be costly, whereas preventing contact with a cover is a much simpler solution.

Seal Skin Covers offers vehicle covers designed to help protect parked vehicles from outdoor elements that can contribute to paint and surface damage.

Over time, this can mean less need for paint correction, fewer professional detailing appointments, and a finish that maintains its depth and gloss for longer.

2. Interior Protection Delays Costly Upholstery and Dash Repairs

The same UV rays that fade exterior paint cook the interior. Leather cracks, plastics become brittle and discolor, dashboards warp and fade, and steering wheels degrade noticeably faster in vehicles that sit in direct sunlight regularly.

Leather seat repairs and full upholstery replacement are expensive. A dashboard replacement or professional re-dye on a damaged leather interior can run into thousands of dollars on higher-end vehicles. Preventing that damage from accumulating in the first place is considerably cheaper.

A good car cover, particularly one used in combination with a windshield sunshade, significantly reduces the solar heat and UV exposure the interior receives. Cooler interior temperatures during parking also reduce strain on door and window seals, which can become brittle and fail when repeatedly exposed to extreme heat cycles.

3. Protecting Trim and Rubber Components Avoids Premature Replacement

Exterior trim, rubber door seals, window moldings, and weatherstripping all degrade from UV and heat exposure. Plastic cladding fades and becomes chalky. Rubber seals dry out, crack, and eventually leak. Replacing door seals or window trim adds up quickly, especially on vehicles where these components are model-specific and not cheap to source.

Trim restoration products help, but they’re a reactive measure. A cover reduces the exposure that makes restoration necessary in the first place.

4. Reduced Washing Frequency Lowers Water and Product Costs

An uncovered car parked outdoors accumulates dust, pollen, and environmental contamination every day. In high-pollen seasons or near construction activity, the surface can need washing multiple times per week to stay clean.

A covered car stays significantly cleaner between washes. Fewer washes means less water consumption, less wear on the paint surface from repeated wash contact, fewer detailing product purchases, and fewer trips to a professional car wash. Over the course of a year, the difference in wash frequency adds up to a measurable saving in both cost and time.

There’s also a paint longevity angle. Every wash introduces some level of surface contact and micro-abrasion, even with quality products and technique. Reducing wash frequency reduces cumulative paint wear.

5. Hail and Weather Protection Avoids Insurance Claims and Deductibles

This is where a car cover can deliver its most significant single-incident financial benefit. Hail damage is among the most common weather-related insurance claims for vehicles. Moderate hail damage can lead to significant repair costs, with the final price depending on the severity of the dents and the vehicle involved. Making a claim can come with out-of-pocket costs, possible premium increases, and the inconvenience of being without the vehicle during repairs.

Pickup trucks face many of the same weather-related risks, but their open beds also leave cargo exposed to rain, snow, UV rays, and debris. A truck cap can help protect the bed and its contents from the elements while providing additional enclosed storage, making it a practical addition for truck owners who regularly park their vehicles outdoors.

A hail-rated car cover, specifically one with padded multi-layer construction designed for impact absorption, provides meaningful protection against moderate hail events. It won’t stop baseball-sized hail from causing damage, but it reduces or eliminates the denting and paint damage from the smaller-diameter hail that causes the majority of insurance claims.

The cost of even a premium hail-protection cover is a fraction of a typical deductible, let alone the potential rate impact of filing a claim.

6. Better Resale Value Is Money Saved at the End of Ownership

Every dollar of maintenance avoided and damage prevented during ownership shows up in the vehicle’s condition at resale time. Buyers pay more for vehicles with paint in good condition, clean interiors, and intact trim. Dealers factor paint and interior condition directly into trade-in valuations.

A car that has been kept under cover throughout ownership will typically show less paint fade, fewer clear coat defects, better interior condition, and more supple rubber than a comparable vehicle that has sat uncovered in similar conditions. That difference translates directly to a higher private sale price or trade-in offer.

The key areas where a car cover can help cut maintenance costs include:

• Fewer paint correction and detailing sessions needed
• Avoided resprays from UV oxidation or etching damage
• Delayed or avoided interior upholstery and dashboard repairs
• Extended life of rubber seals, trim, and weatherstripping
• Lower annual washing costs and product spend
• Potentially avoided hail damage claims and deductibles
• Higher resale or trade-in value at the end of ownership

The cover itself is a one-time purchase. The savings accumulate every year it’s in use.

Final Thoughts

A car cover may not look like a major investment, but its value becomes clearer when the small costs of vehicle upkeep start adding up. Reducing washing, paint correction, weather-related damage, and interior wear can add up to meaningful savings throughout the vehicle’s ownership. Instead of waiting for sun, storms, dirt, or debris to create an expensive problem, covering the vehicle is a simple way to protect its condition and keep more money in your pocket.

Author Bio

Mark Adams is a content writer and automotive research specialist at Seal Skin Covers, specializing in vehicle and outdoor protection solutions. He focuses on helping readers safeguard their investments through practical care tips, storage advice, and product insights. With a strong interest in automobiles and vehicle maintenance, Mark enjoys exploring ways to extend the life and performance of cars, trucks, and recreational vehicles.

Andre Medina
Investor Relations Director

Hello, everyone. I’m Andre Medina, IR Director at Patria, and welcome to the Sixth edition of our Pax Talks. Today to discuss Patria’s role in building the data center infrastructure in Latin America.

This will be a panel discussion. So you’re welcome to submit your questions. We’ll try to get through as many as we can. And before we start, I have to read our forward-looking statements.

So I would like to remind everyone that today’s call may include forward-looking statements, which are uncertain, do not guarantee future performance and undue reliance should not be based on them. Patria assumes no obligation and does not intend to update any such forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on current management expectations and involves risks, including those discussed in the Risk Factors section of our latest Form 20-F annual report.

I also note that those statements on this call do not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase an interest in any Patria fund.

Okay. With that cleared, I’m very happy to have with us Cristiano Souza and Rodrigo Abbud. Cristiano, who will lead the questions is the founder and CIO of Zeno Equity Partners, a London-based equity investor focused on concentrated, long-term-oriented global equity strategy. Prior to founding Zeno in 2023, Cristiano was a senior partner at Dynamo Administração de Recursos where he spent 30 years.

And on the other side of the table, we have Rodrigo, who is Patria’s operating partner for digital infrastructure sector, an electrical engineer

Parent activists say Meta’s $17 billion settlement in a child social media addiction lawsuit is “peanuts,” and more needs to be done to protect children on social media.

Activist Cheryl Brown lost her daughter, McKenna, to cyberbullying and sexual harassment and is now leading the charge to hold Meta accountable for how it treats young users.

She told FOX Business in an interview that while Meta agreed to make some changes following the lawsuit, the issue still requires an act of Congress.

“It’s a step in the right direction. It’s peanuts in the scheme of things, and it certainly does not bring McKenna back or the other kids that have been lost,” Brown told Fox.

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A computer screen displays the Meta logo while a mobile phone in the foreground shows Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg. Meta will lay off around 8,000 workers, the company said in a memo to employees.  (Arda Kucukkaya/Anadolu via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“There are some positives,” she added, noting the ban on children under 13 accessing Meta’s platforms as well as Instagram being turned off for teens overnight.

Brown went on to call on Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg to help parents in their push for reform. She referenced reports that Zuckerberg had told others at Meta that he wished the issue had been solved by Congress before the lawsuit became necessary.

Brown and other parents have joined under the banner ParentsSOS to push Congress to pass the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which she said has much broader protections for kids.

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BRAZIL – 2023/10/23: In this photo illustration, the Instagram logo is displayed on a smartphone screen. (Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images / Getty Images)

She said Meta’s current changes are too focused on parental tools and don’t force the company to change the fundamental ways their platforms interact with children.

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KOSA passed the Senate in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote last year, but still has not made it through the House.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg wore a pair of Meta Ray-Ban Display AI smart glasses during the Meta Connect event on Sept. 17, 2025, in Menlo Park, California. Meta introduced its first smart glasses featuring a built-in display as part of its expanding we (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“The fact that it’s not passed yet is asinine, honestly,” Brown stated.

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“It’s gonna take something tragic happening to someone’s kid before they finally open their eyes and realize that this is a hugely pervasive and preventable problem,” she said.

Plug-in solar panels have gone on sale in the UK for the first time, with Argos this week becoming the first major retailer to stock the DIY systems, giving households that cannot fit rooftop panels a route to generating their own electricity.

Amazon, Currys, B&Q and Screwfix are expected to follow within the coming weeks, with prices starting at about £400 to £500 depending on the capacity of the system. The kits are aimed squarely at people living in flats or rented homes without access to a roof, a group that has so far been shut out of home solar power.

The devices are already popular in Spain and Germany, where they are known as Balkonkraftwerk, or balcony power plant, because they can be plugged into a standard wall socket to generate power from a balcony, terrace, shed roof or any other outdoor space. Ministers say around 500,000 systems were installed in Germany last year alone.

Sales in Great Britain became lawful from Thursday under a government change to plug and socket safety regulations, and the government says a typical household could save up to £110 a year on its electricity bill.

The solar power flows directly into the property’s electrical circuit to run appliances, reducing the amount of electricity a household needs to buy from the grid. Each system must be registered so that Great Britain’s National Energy System Operator can gauge how the cumulative effect of the panels could cut the need for gas-fired power or imports.

At 800 watts, the systems going on sale are about a fifth of the size of a typical residential rooftop set-up, so they will not generate enough energy to power a whole home. They sit at the entry level of a market in which rooftop installations reached their highest level in more than seven years as energy costs pushed households towards generating their own power.

Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary, said: “Plug-in solar is a simple, affordable way for households to take control of their energy bills and start saving straight away.”

Graham Biggart, the managing director for Argos, said: “By making this technology more accessible, we’re putting more power in the hands of our customers and helping them explore practical ways to manage energy use at home.”

How much a household saves will depend on how much power each system generates, which will vary with the orientation of the panel and the weather on any given day. It will also depend on whether the electricity is used while it is being generated, perhaps by running washing machines or dishwashers during sunny spells, because the new product rules do not extend to plug-in batteries that would store surplus power for later.

Consumer groups have urged buyers to check their circumstances before spending. Emily Seymour, energy editor at the consumer group Which?, said: “These smaller systems will generate less electricity than conventional rooftop solar and won’t be suitable for every home. People may need planning permission or the consent of the building owner before going ahead, so it will be important to check your own circumstances before making a purchase.

“There are also important safety considerations, particularly around the suitability of older electrical systems, the safe mounting of panels and the potential for people to use products or equipment incorrectly.”

Joanna O’Loan, a manager at Energy Saving Trust, said: “While the savings will vary from home to home, plug-in solar panels will give more people greater control over their energy use and costs. As these products become more widely available, access to clear and reliable information is essential to help people make informed choices that are right for their home and budget.”

For smaller firms the immediate significance sits on the retail side, where five of the country’s biggest retailers are preparing shelf space for a product category that was not lawful in Britain a week ago. The consent question also puts landlords and building owners in the conversation from the start, since tenants may need their agreement before mounting panels. The launch lands with energy costs still high on the political agenda, and while Ofgem’s cut to the price cap in April offered households some relief, ministers are presenting plug-in solar as a way for consumers to claw back a little more.

Amy Ingham

Amy Ingham is a reporter at Business Matters, covering UK business news with a focus on breaking news, business policy, late payments and insolvency. She joined the magazine in 2026 after completing the NCTJ Diploma in Journalism at Harlow College’s journalism school. Her recent reporting includes British Steel’s nationalisation and its impact on SME suppliers, the decline in late payments by large firms, and Insolvency Service director disqualifications. Reach her at aingham@cbmeg.co.uk.

Burger King is giving its chicken nuggets a makeover after customers told the fast-food chain the product was falling short.

The company said it received thousands of calls, texts and comments from guests earlier this year criticizing its nuggets as “rubbery,” “dry” and “disappointing,” prompting Burger King to rethink the item.

The revamped nuggets, along with a refreshed lineup of dipping sauces, will be available beginning Sept. 1, according to the company.

“We take Guest feedback seriously, and when we received thousands of texts, calls and comments telling us our nuggets needed a total overhaul, we listened,” said Amy Alarcon, head chef for Burger King U.S. and Canada.

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Alarcon said Burger King evaluated the chicken, breading and sauces as part of the overhaul and brought customers into the testing process, including children the company described as some of its toughest critics.

For consumers, the changes extend beyond the nuggets themselves.

Burger King is also updating three of its established dipping sauces — Honey Mustard, Buffalo and Sweet & Sour — while adding a limited-time Special Savory Sauce.

In this photo illustration, a Whopper meal is seen at a Burger King restaurant on Oct. 25, 2024, in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

The new sauce combines creamy, tangy and mildly spicy flavors with BBQ seasoning, ketchup, garlic, onion and black pepper, Burger King said.

The nugget revamp is the latest example of Burger King leaning on direct customer feedback as it looks to improve both its menu and restaurant experience.

Pedestrians walk past a Burger King in Spain. (Xavi Lopez/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Earlier this year, the chain launched a listening initiative designed to give customers a more direct way to weigh in on the brand. Burger King has since pointed to that feedback while rolling out changes to products, including its signature Whopper, and other aspects of the guest experience.

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Burger King, founded in 1954, operates more than 19,000 restaurants in more than 120 countries and U.S. territories. Nearly all of its restaurants are operated by independent franchisees.

Greater New York Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Jaffe, a founder and legal counsel for the Multicultural Business Coalition that is involved in suing over New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s controversial plans to open government-linked grocery stores in the Big Apple, described the initiative as “disastrous” for business owners, slamming the Democratic socialist’s administration as “heartless.”

“Government should not be in the business of taking out private enterprise. That is not what America’s about,” Jaffe told Fox News Digital during an interview on Tuesday.

A class-action suit, which alleges that the plan runs afoul of New York civil rights laws and the state Constitution’s equal protection clause, seeks relief and damages, while another suit explicitly calls for permanently blocking the operation of “the municipal grocery stores, in absence of undertaking necessary studies and analysis.”

The group took legal action because the “administration wasn’t listening,” Jaffe said.

“They’re embarking on a plan that will be disastrous for people that are in business and creating jobs,” Jaffe said. “And the heartless administration feels that if you can’t compete with one city-run grocery store, you shouldn’t be in business. That’s just wrong.”

BIG APPLE TARGETED IN LAWSUITS OVER MAMDANI’S GOVERNMENT GROCERY STORE PLANS

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani holds up bananas as he speaks at a food distribution center on July 27, 2026, in Brooklyn.  (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Mamdani plans to open five city-owned grocery stores, one in each borough, with the first location expected to open next year. 

“Under the model, the City will own the land and cover overhead costs like rent and construction. A private operator, selected through a request for proposals, will manage daily operations and be contractually required to pass savings directly to customers on a core basket of everyday staples,” an April press release noted.

Mamdani has said various items at the stores will be priced at 30% lower than normal retail prices.

“This core set of goods will include all fresh produce, meat and seafood along with 20 other essential items like cheese, milk and bread. Here’s how it will work: Once a month, our five city-run grocery stores will set prices for this core set of goods at 30% below typical retail prices,” he said last month.

But Jaffe argues that the mayor’s plan is not the right way to help those in need.

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“How can one store in East Harlem help feed the disadvantaged and struggling people that deserve to get nutritious food and affordable food? They can’t afford to get up to this store to buy a bag of groceries. They need to go shopping locally where they can do it quickly and conveniently. And there are so many better ways to get this done. You can use electronic debit cards. Their number, their research indicates that the average savings in this program may be $90 dollars a month. So give people who are in the target range that we should help $90 dollars a month and help support a local business,” he said.

Jaffe warned that people could purchase the discounted groceries from the government-linked stores only to turn around and resell the items, causing the municipal grocery stores to have insufficient quantities of those products in stock.

“If you study the history, I’ve never seen a government-run supermarket — whether it’s in Chicago or another country — that didn’t end up with empty shelves,” he noted. “And let me tell you why. If I wanted to buy, hypothetically, bananas, and I can get 30% off, what is to prevent me from getting all the bananas I could possibly fit in my cargo van and then selling them on the streets at 15% off? That’s American entrepreneurship. And without checks and balances, and I don’t think the city has any, this store will not even be sufficiently stocked.”

Jaffe floated the prospect of a third lawsuit.

“This is unfair competition. You might see a third lawsuit filed soon, because if any other company with unlimited resources did this to take advantage of the marketplace, it would be called anti-trust,” he asserted.

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Thirty million has been allocated for construction of the East Harlem government-linked grocery store, which is slated to open in 2029. 

Jaffe, who said he has spoken to and interviewed dozens of individuals knowledgeable about the “supermarket construction industry” who think that the store could be opened for nearer to $10 million, questioned where the remaining $20 million is going. “We have a word for it. It’s called patronage,” he said.

“If we get away with one store, what’s to stop them with their 100-year plan to make sure nobody owns a store anymore? The government owns everything,” but for those “lucky enough to be the privileged person and get a patronage job, they’ll take care of you.”

Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s office on Wednesday.

Asked about the legal challenge on Monday, Mamdani said, “I continue to be fully confident in both the legality and the importance of our initiative to deliver five city-run grocery stores, one in each borough, to the people of our city.” 

“We are talking about a reflection of a cost of living crisis that has seen grocery prices increase by about 30% over the last few years,” he added. “And we’re also talking about delivering five city-run grocery stores in a city of eight-and-a-half million people that has more than a thousand grocery stores.”

“And we’ve seen, in fact, with Essex Street Market in Manhattan” and “Moore Street Market in Brooklyn, a model where the city has subsidized groceries, and it has not had a negative effect on bodegas around them or on grocery stores around them,” he said, adding, “I’m confident both in the legality of this, that it will stand up in court, and in the importance of delivering it.”

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When asked if there was anything he could do to aid bodega owners who think that they will lose income, Mamdani replied, “Absolutely. What we can do is continue with our approach citywide of looking for ways to cut costs and cut the regulations that so many bodegueros as well as grocery store owners have to jump through in order to do their work.”

An Atlanta woman who participated in a scheme that defrauded Amazon out of nearly $10 million was sentenced to over 16 years in federal prison on Wednesday, the Justice Department announced.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia said in a release that Brittany Hudson was sentenced to 16 years and three months in federal prison after she and her partner used a business relationship with Amazon to defraud the e-commerce giant.

Hudson was convicted in March of 30 felony offenses that involved wire fraud, money laundering, related conspiracy charges and a count related to the forgery of a federal judge’s signature.

“Hudson and her partner engineered a massive fraud scheme against Amazon, stealing nearly $10 million in just a few months,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Hudson then showed utter contempt for the law by forging a federal judge’s signature in a failed effort to defraud another company while out on bond. Today’s significant sentence, which must be served without the possibility of parole, holds her accountable for her crime spree.”

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MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 15: Two Amazon delivery vans, on 15 November, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. U.S. e-commerce giant Amazon is considering job cuts among its corporate and technology workforce of up to 10,000 employees. The layoffs are equivalent to 0 (Alejandro Martinez Velez/Europa Press via Getty Images / Getty Images)

From January 2022 to June 2022, Hudson and her partner, Kayricka Wortham, defrauded Amazon using a scheme that involved bogus vendors and invoices that they created in Amazon’s vendor system, according to the DOJ announcement. Wortham and another co-conspirator at Amazon approved the fake vendor profiles, which allowed them to submit invoices.

Hudson and Wortham then submitted over 1,000 fictitious invoices, falsely claiming the phony vendors had provided goods and services to Amazon. Wortham would approve the invoices, which led to Amazon transferring about $9.4 million to bank accounts that she, Hudson and their co-conspirators controlled.

Hudson and Wortham used the fraudulent funds to buy expensive real estate, including a nearly $1 million home in Smyrna, as well as luxury vehicles including a 2019 Lamborghini Urus, a 2021 Dodge Durango, a 2022 Tesla Model X, a 2018 Porsche Panamera, and a Kawasaki ZX636 motorcycle.

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Brittany Hudson and Kayricka Wortham forfeited the nearly $1 million home in Smyrna, Ga., they bought with funds derived from their Amazon fraud scheme. (U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia / Fox News)

The two faced federal fraud charges related to the scheme in September 2022. While they were out on bond, they attempted to defraud a franchising company by entering into an agreement to open a hookah lounge in Midtown Atlanta and falsely claimed their criminal charges had been dismissed. Those actions resulted in the revocation of their pretrial release.

To support that claim, they emailed counterfeit court documents that contained the forged signatures of former Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. and Cobb County Magistrate Judge Norman L. Barnett, who was a prosecutor in the case. Hudson also emailed fake financial statements with inflated account balances to secure the deal.

“The sentencing in this case brings a brazen fraud operation to its inevitable conclusion – years behind bars for the criminals involved,” said Rob Donovan, special agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Field Office. “Our office remains steadfast in our commitment to uncover fraud, protect victims, and work with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring criminals like this to justice.”

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In addition to her prison sentence, Hudson was ordered to pay $9,469,731.45 in restitution to Amazon, while the court entered a forfeiture money judgment of $7,859,135.54 and ordered Hudson to forfeit her residence in Smyrna and money seized from her bank account as fraudulent proceeds of her scheme.

Brittany Hudson and Kayricka Wortham were convicted of defrauding Amazon. Each was sentenced to prison time, as well as paying restitution and forfeiting luxury cars and property obtained with the fraudulent funds. (U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia / Fox News)

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Wortham was sentenced to 16 years in prison in June 2023, and was sentenced to an additional year in March 2026 after pleading guilty to forging the signature of a federal judge. She was also ordered to pay $9,469,731.45 in restitution, and forfeited over $3 million, the Smyrna home and vehicles.