My heart is broken. I dont know if i can handle another loss. Her warning to all parents. The sting operation targeting porch pirates. Stealing holiday packages. Police teaming up with amazon, placing decoy packages with gps trackers inside. Thieves caught in the act minutes after the trap was laid. Dr. Christine blasey ford breaking her silence for the First Time Since that dramatic testimony before congress. Why she is speaking out now. The moment between santa and a very special little boy that may bring you to tears. Good evening, everyone. Another ally of President Trump is implicating his campaign in the illegal payment of hush money to women who claimed to have had affairs with him. That bombshell following today attorney, Michael Cohen, was sentenced to three years in prison for his part in those payoffs and other crimes. Cohens story now backed by someone else close to the president who is also now cooperating with prosecutors. Our Pete Williams joins us with details. Pete, good evening. Reporter lester, the same prosecutors who charged Michael Cohen with violating Campaign Laws by arranging to pay hush money to two women today announced a deal with that other man involved in those payments. They both now say it was done to influence the election, despite President Trumps insistence that it was not. The man who once said hed take a bullet for donald trump is now preparing to spend his mid 50s in prison. Michael cohen headed to federal court in manhattan with his wife, daughter, and son hoping hed get credit for cooperating with federal prosecutors. But they said his help was grudging and they pushed for a tough sentence for his own tax and bank fraud and for his role in arranging hush money payments to two women who claimed they had affairs with donald trump, allegations he and his aides have denied. Speaking about trump, cohen told the judge, it was my own weakness and a Blind Loyalty to this man that led me to choose a path of darkness over light. I felt it was my duty to cover up his dirty deeds rather than to listen to my own inner voice and my moral compass. But the judge said cohen sought to profit from his association with trump and committed a smorgasbord of criminal conduct. Sentence, three years in federal prison. In a dramatic legal development, federal prosecutors announced they will not file charges against the third person, along with trump and cohen, who played a role in the hush money payments, david pecker, publisher of the National Enquirer whose company wrote the check to karen mcdougal. Say his company admitted the purpose was to suppress the womans story so as to prevent it from influencing the election. The weight of the evidence against mr. Trump is starting to build. Its not just mr. Cohen, its also this company. They agreed the president directed these payments and did so to influence the election. Reporter the payment was illegal because federal law bars corporations from giving money directly to a candidates campaign. With time off for good behavior, cohen, 52 years old, will ultimately serve at least 2 1 2 years behind bars. A huge fall for the man who was once so close to donald trump. I think that there is also a lot of anger and upset and hurt for what this is going to do to his life and what this will mean for his future and for the future of his family as well. Reporter the judge ordered cohen to report to prison march 6th, and in the meantime, he might continue cooperating with Robert Muellers investigators. Pete williams, nbc news, washington. This is Peter Alexander at e white house. Lawyer, michael cohetake over house investigations in january quickly pounced. What it means is that the president s personal lawyer is going to go to jail, in part for the commission of offenses that were coordinated and directed by the president of the united states. Reporter tonight, republicans argue cohens crimes, including Campaign Finance violations, have little to do with russia. Any time a former lawyer of yours goes to jail, its probably not a good day. But i have yet to see any evidence coming from mr. Cohen of collusion, and thats what started the Mueller Investigation to begin with. Reporter its been a complicated relationship. Mr. Trump just last year praising his trusted attorney. Michael cohen is a very talented lawyer, hes a good lawyer in my firm reporter days ago mocking cohen. Hes a weak person, and not a very smart person. Reporter cohens adviser, lanny davis, tonight. The next chapter is for Michael Cohen, when mr. Mueller is finished doing his work, to tell all the truth and all the facts about donald trump, probably in front of a congressional committee. Reporter including cohens account of hush money payments to Stormy Daniels and karen mcdougal. The president s explanations evolving. First pleading ignorance. Did you know about the 130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels . No. Reporter then this last summer. Did you know about the payments . Later on, i knew. Later on. Reporter this week describing the money as a simple private transaction. As for any political peril facing the president , overnight President Trump said he wasnt concerned that he could be impeached because he says he hasnt done anything wrong, telling reuters, i think that the people would revolt if that happened. Lester . Peter alexander at the white house, thanks. Now to the growing terror manhunt overseas after a gunman opened fire in a crowd at a worldfamous christmas market. The eiffel tower in paris going dark just moments ago to honor the victims. As that hunt for a radicalized killer expands, Richard Engel is in strasbourg, france, tonight. Reporter tonight French Police are imposing a nationwide dragnet the shooter they say who opened fire at the strasbourg christmas market, killing at least two people and injuring more than a dozen. Elizabeth osterwich from los angeles was in the market. She says people went from shopping to panic in a split second. They were just looking over their shoulder, sort of in a state of confusion, running from all directions. Reporter tonight, Police Identified the alleged shooter as cherif chekatt, 29yearold career criminal, born in france. 27 convictions for theft and violence. Police say he became an islamic extremist in prison and was on a terrorist watch list before tuesdays nightmare. Police tell us the gunman first opened fire on them, that they were the targets. Police returned fire, injuring the suspect, who then hijacked a taxi in this area and made his escape. Police today cordoned off chekatts home. Officers raided his apartment yesterday to arrest him for burglary. He wasnt there. Instead, they say with the heat closing in, he attacked. And today the victims were mourned. Moments of silence across france, and here in the city that calls itself the capital of christmas. Police tell us they believe chekatt was inspired by isis but that they have no evidence he was directed by the group. Richard engel in france. Now to the dramatic power struggle. The leader of one of americas closest allies hanging in the balance after a stunning move against her by her own party. Nbcs kelly kobier is in london plunged deep into brexit uncertainty. Reporter tonight a close call for british Prime Minister teresa may. The parliament does have confidence reporter surviving after members own party tried to topple her in a noconfidence vote. This has been a long and challenging day. But at the end of it, im pleased to he backing of my colleagues. Reporter the leader of americas closest ally has been under fire for weeks. Just contemptuous reporter lawmakers and the public remain deeply divided after the uk voted to divorce from the european union, brexit. Some still want to have close ties with europe, while some who support brexit are unhappy with the separation deal the Prime Minister negotiated with european leaders. Yesterday the Prime Minister admitted she doesnt have the votes in parliament to pass that brexit deal, and the deadline is now three months away. Lester . Kelly kobier in london, thanks. There is late news tonight about that massive cyber attack directed against Popular Hotel chains. U. S. Officials now believe china is a leading suspect. The latest effort in what appears to be a massive effort to collect information on every single american. Heres tom costello. Reporter it was a historic hack. 500 million names, emails, addresses, credit card numbers, even passport numbers from Starwood Hotel customers. The secretary of state suggests china is a top suspect. Theyre conducting espionage and influence operations here in the united states. The latest was the marriott, 500 million guests there have their security breached. Reporter china has been blamed for an escalating series of megahacks, including government personnel records, insurance companies, telecom giants, military contractors. What were dealing with is really Covert Intelligence activity thats aimed at private companies. Reporter the goal, say intelligence veterans, to collect data and build a file on nearly every single american, identifying then spying on am corporations, the government, or military. Your personal information that was stolen in this hack may not be of any value to the chinese right now, but it could be of value five or ten years down the line. Reporter meanwhile, tensions are still high as the clock ticks down on the trade war truce. Complicating matters, a Chinese Telecom executive arrested in canada, now released on bail as the Chinese Government demands her return. The u. S. Requested Meng Wanzhous arrest for violating sanctions against iran, though President Trump has suggested he could intervene on her behalf if it helps the trade talks. Tom costello, thanks. Stark warning from the cdc. The opioid fentanyl has surpassed heroin as the deadliest drug in america for the first time ever. Our katie beck spoke with a mother who never imagined the anguish it would cause her family. Reporter brandon wentz, elected mayor of mt. Carbon at 22 years old, proud to serve his tiny eastern pennsylvania town deep in coal country. To be the mayor for brandon, it was all about giving back to his community. He was very proud of his achievement. Reporter a promising future cut short. Two years after his victory, his mother would find brandon alone in his room, dead from a fentanyl overdose. Its been a very difficult year. A lot of emotions between dealing with the first holidays right after losing brandon. Reporter now shes telling his story, because the crisis is getting worse. A new report issued by the cdc says fentanyl now replaces heroin as the deadliest drug in america. The potent opioid responsible for more than 18,000 deaths in 2016 and 29 of all Overdose Deaths, up from 4 in 2011. In each year from 2013 to 2016, the rate of fentanyl Overdose Deaths rose 113 per year. This epidemic reporter two weeks before brandons death, President Donald Trump declared the Opioid Crisis a Public Health emergency. Still, his mother says she never imagined it would take her son. And worries every day about the younger brother he left behind. I think he has seen how much my heart has been broken. I dont know if i can handle another loss. Reporter warning against a deadly drug taking more lives than ever before. Katie beck, nbc news. There is breaking news from West Virginia tonight after a tense waiting game for families praying that rescue teams could pull off a Daring Mission for three people trapped in a mine thousands of feet underground. Theres late word that they have all been found alive. Nbcs Kevin Tibbles is there. Reporter tonight jubilation in coal country as three young people missing since saturday were found alive in an abandoned cody beverly, kayla williams, Erika Treadway have been found alive in the mine. They had been pumping out walte and pumping out air in an effort to find them. West virginia coal country is rugged, remote, and knows disaster. 29 local miners lost their lives underground near here just eight years ago. Family members say the group entered the mine looking for copper wire they could later sell. Tonight as they celebrated im going to give her a hug and tell her how much i love her. Reporter in a region that has known its fair share of tragedy, tonight relief. Kevin tibbles, whitesville, West Virginia. It has been nearly three weeks since a colorado mom was last seen on thanksgiving. Tonight her mother is speaking out as were learning new details about how her fiance is cooperating with police. Heres nbcs joe friar. Reporter tonight Kelsey Berreths mother issues a new plea, hoping for her daughters safe return. I cant think of anywhere shes ever gone that she hasnt told me, this is the plan. Shes safe, doesnt take risks. Its just not in her character to do something to just take off and be gone. Reporter Surveillance Video shows berreth shopping with her daughter on thanksgiving, the last known day she was seen publicly. Her mother says she spoke with berreth twice that day. Her voice was fine, she was yeah, she was it was a normal day for her. Reporter kelseys fiance, patrick frazee, said he saw her that afternoon when he picked up their daughter. Jeremy lowe is frazees attorney. I have no reason to believe that he is a suspect and the police have not isolated him as a suspect in this case. Reporter he says frazee released his phone to investigators and offered a dna cheek swab. Police confirm hes cooperating. I couldnt ask for a better daughter. Reporter it was kelseys mom who first reported her missing ten days after thanksgiving. I still know somebody knows where shes at. Somebody has seen her. Reporter tonight police say this remains a missing persons case. A growing mystery around the sudden disappearance of a young mother. Joe friar, nbc news, woodland park, colorado. Ight after this. Thanks to our amazing cells. Like you, your cells get hungry. Feed them. With centrum silver. Specially crafted for adults 50 . So you can be awesome, daily. Centrum. Feed your cells today. Werck against a growing rash of porch pirates. Were talking about the thieves who steal holiday packages right off your front porch. A Police Department is teaming up with amazon, trying to catch crooks in the act. Wait till you see what happened. Heres nbcs miguel almaguer. Reporter just in time for the holidays, tonight police are warning, porch pirates are on the prowl. But in jersey city, stoop surfers are about to get taken. This package, a decoy planted with a gps device so police can track it. Took three minutes. We put it down, and we probably didnt get a mile out of the area until we got a transmission from our detective stating the package is on the move. Reporter working with amazon, police in jersey city installed doorbell cameras, planted dummy packages, and tracked them. The explosion in online shopping, which could ring up 124 billion in november and december, is fueling the nationwide problem. An estimated 1 in 12 americans has had a package stolen from their home. To protect yourself, ask for a text alert when your package gets dropped off. Or buy a Security Camera like porch. Even that advice doesnt always work. In this season of giving, criminals keep taking. Miguel almaguer, nbc news. Coming up, the sweet spill on the road that caused candy chaos. Anging from a manual to an electric toothbrush. But my hygienist said going electric could lead to way cleaner teeth. She said, get the one inspired by dentists, with a round brush head. Go pro with oralb. Oralbs gentle rounded brush head removes more plaque along the gum line. For cleaner teeth and healthier gums. And unlike sonicare, oralb is the First Electric toothbrush br and accepted by the adaalb for its effectiveness and safety. What an amazing clean ill only use an oralb brush like a pro. You might or joints. Hing for your heart. But do you take something for your brain. With an ingredient originally discovered in jellyfish, prevagen has been shown in Clinical Trials to improve shortterm memory. Prevagen. Healthier brain. Better life. Bike, wheels, saddle. 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You can get comfortable doing the same with yours. Preparation h. Get comfortable with it. When viewers tune into tomorrow nights Sports Illustrated person of the year awards on our sports network, theyll hear from someone unexpected, Christine Blasey ford, the woman who accused Justice Brett kavanaugh of sexual assault. Our Stephanie Gosk explains why shes choosing now to break her silence. I am honored to speak with you from afar reporter for the First Time SinceBrett Kavanaughs bitter confirmation hearings, his accuser dr. Christine blasey ford, spoke publicly, recording a statement to introduce gymnast and larry nassar accuser Rachel Denhollander at Sports Illustrateds annual awards ceremony. Her courage inspired other survivors to end their silence. Reporter denhollander named the magazines inspiration of the year. I accept this on behalf of my sister survivors. Reporter she was is first wok to publicly accuse the former gymnastics doctor back in 2016. If the silence ends and his ability to prey on women ends, every tear will be worth it. Reporter shes never backed down. This week reacting to a report commissioned by the u. S. Olympic committee that criticizes both that organization and usa gymnastics for their handling of the nassar scandal. Little girls were not worth anything to ussc and usag. Reporter blasey ford commended her activism. We all have the power to create real change. Reporter that message resonating well beyond the world of gymnastics. Stephanie gosk, nbc news, new york. Well turn to the meltdown of a roadway. A leaky tank at a candy factory sent over a ton of chocolate flowing down the street in a town in germany. It wasnt so sweet for firefighters who had to scrape it up after it hardened on the cold pavement. Where is willy wonka when you need him . Up next, why a little boys visit with santa is striking a chord with so many. George woke up in pain. But he has plans today. So he took aleve this morning. Hey dad. 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The arrest that has hote a High End Hotel dealing with an invasion of privacy because of surveillance cameras like these. Plus, californias plan to tax your Text Messages because of an fdc decision. Next at 6. For you tonight about little boy in texas and his first visit with santa thats melting hearts and inspiring america. What do you want for christmas . Reporter theres nothing quite like meeting the man in the big red suit. But 6yearold matthew wolf needed a santa with special magic. I kind of ran up to santa, like he is blind and autistic and very interested in santa. And santa held up his hand, say no more. Reporter misty wolf watched as her son got to feel, quite literally, the spirit of christmas. Santas velvety hat and scruffy beard. One of the things santa did was said, do you want to feel anything else . Matthew said, your eyes that twinkle. Reporter matthew even got to feel a reindeer. Hes never seen a reindeer. Hes never seen a picture of a reindeer. So the thing is, let him feel one. Reporter when misty shared the moment online, the response was overwhelming. What a beautiful christmas story. Oh my heart. Reminding us the greatest gifts of all i stood there with my eyes all glassy from tears welling up inside. Reporter arent found under the christmas tree. Its definitely been a good, a very good christmas present. Thanks to our dallas station kxas for sharing this story about the true spirit of christmas. Thats nbc nightly news for this wednesday. Im lester holt. For all of us at nbc news, thank you for watching and good night. E streets of san francisco. Plus right now at 6, do you recognize this woman in the video . What officers say she did on the streets of san francisco. Plus. There are many more worthy causes right now than paying for erin per skis bad decisionmaking. He is asking for help Aaron Perskys plea from supporters. Whos watching you in your hotel room, the hightech peeping tom case that has people on edge. The news at 6 00 starts right now. Good evening, thank you so much for joining us. Im vicky nguyen in for jessica aguirre. A Popular Hotel turned into a spy den with specialized cameras and hard drives. Detectives found an intricate peeping tom setup inside multip multiple rooms in petaluma. Reporter police say a hotel guest spotted the man peeking under his door at about 10 00 last night, and immediately called management. When Police Arrived and searched the suspects third floor room, they say they discovered a recording underway. In fact, they say the man had been rolling his camera on his neighbor for five hours. Petaluma Police Lieutenant tim lyons shows us the sophisticated e 30yearold Javier Martinez of berkeley was using to