News Nearby: Woman Evicted Despite Protests

Each Saturday, Melrose Patch will run a round-up with links to stories from surrounding communities that are of interest to Melrosians.

MALDEN—Attempts by housing advocates to block the eviction of a Malden woman failed Monday, though protesters vowed to now take their grievances downtown, straight to the corporate offices of mortgage owner Fannie Mae.

Anywhere from 40 to 50 protesters were on the street at the demonstration's height. Ultimately, witnesses reported that constables entered the property from its rear entrance, where they asked activists to retrieve the home's occupant, Rose Kyeswa, “to talk.”

When the activists left the property, the constables shut the door and changed the locks, witnesses said. Some protesters situated at the front door attempted to physically hold it open, though the door was slammed shut and police interceded.

WAKEFIELD—A Wakefield man is facing up to 20 years in jail after an indictment by the U.S. Department of Justice for allegedly defrauding about 150 people out of more than $350k in a fake fee-collecting scheme.

Federal investigators say that Jamon Caswell, 33, of Wakefield, Lawrence Amirto, 58, of Boca Raton, Fla., and William Totaro, 60, of Pompano Beach, Fla., were indicted on charges of conspiracy and mail fraud related to an advanced fee scheme for a non-existant credit repair service.

MEDFORD—Abdul Jabar Mohamed, 28, was arraigned in his hospital bed Wednesday and ordered held on $100,000 bail on charges that he caused an early morning fire that caused over $4 million damages in Roxbury Monday, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley said in a press release.

READING—While none of the officials who spoke at Tuesday’s community discussion claimed that Reading does not have a drug issue, two suggested that Reading’s issue may not be the drugs themselves.

The town's students are under a lot of pressure to succeed, according to the superintendent, and seek some kind of release—which can be drugs or alcohol.