![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-300x200.jpg "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
The world’s largest cryptocurrency by market cap, Bitcoin, dropped to $52,000 amid a market sell-off on Monday.
The price of the digital asset dropped significantly by 13 per cent in 24 hours.
The cryptocurrency dipped from $60,752 on August 4, to $52,312 on August 5, according to CoinMarketCap, a price-tracking website for crypto assets.
Similarly, the price of other cryptocurrencies also experienced a downswing. The price of Ethereum fell from $2,905 on August 4 to $2,261 on August 5 — a decline of 22.46 per cent in 24 hours.
CoinMarketCap also said the global cryptocurrency market cap shrank to $1.85 trillion, after recording a reduction of over $184.39 billion or 14.06 per cent in the last 24 hours.
Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency by market cap, dropped to $52,000 amid a market sell-off on Monday.
The price of the digital asset fell by 13 per cent in just 24 hours.
Bitcoin declined from $60,752 on August 4 to $52,312 on August 5, according to CoinMarketCap, a price-tracking website for crypto assets.
Similarly, other cryptocurrencies experienced a downswing. The price of Ethereum fell from $2,905 on August 4 to $2,261 on August 5, a decline of 22.46 per cent in 24 hours.
CoinMarketCap also reported that the global cryptocurrency market cap shrank to $1.85 trillion, losing over $184.39 billion, or 14.06 per cent, in the last 24 hours.
A report by the Economic Times stated that the dramatic drop was attributed to a hasty sell-off by investors due to geopolitical tensions, fears of a U.S. recession, and the global impact of the Yen’s appreciation following the Bank of Japan’s decision to raise interest rates to 0.25 per cent and reduce bond purchases.
On March 19, Standard Chartered Plc raised its 2024 forecast for Bitcoin (BTC) from $100,000 to $150,000.
Standard Chartered also predicted that BTC would reach an all-time high of $250,000 by 2025 before settling around $200,000.
On March 11, Bitcoin crossed $71,000 for the first time in two years.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Is Anthony Odiong still a priest after life in prison sentence over rape?")
