Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES – Four men are slated to appear in court this month on a one-count indictment in which they are accused of conspiring to launder proceeds of wire fraud that were stored on Target gift cards.
Chinese nationals Bowen Hu, a 26-year-old Hacienda Heights man, and Tairan Shi, a 27-year-old Diamond Bar man, were arrested September 28, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. U.S. citizen and 33-year-old El Monte man Blade Bai and Chinese national Yan Fu, a 58-year-old Chino Hills man, were previously issued a summons to appear in federal court after having been arrested November 17, 2020. Bai pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering having been named in a criminal information filing. All four men are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. “The indictment alleges that Bai, Hu and Shi obtained more than 5,000 gift cards from a group that called itself the “Magic Lamp” and sold gift card information via an online messenger application,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in a written statement. Investigators estimate the four men laundered more than $2.5 million in gift cards from June 2019 to November 2020. The four men often targeted, no pun intended, older adults across the U.S. and induced them to purchase the gift cards based on various fraud schemes, including posing as government officials demanding the purchase of gift cards to resolve an issue; and tech support scams, in which victims pay a substantial amount through gift cards to fix a computer issue, or be granted account access, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Bai, Hu and Shi oversaw the distribution of the gift cards to “runners,” whom included Fu. The cards were used primarily on Los Angeles and Orange counties to buy electronics, more gift cards and other items, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Bai, Hu and Shi obtained gift card numbers from the Magic Lamp, often the same day the victims purchased the cards, and Fu travelled to up to 17 Target stores in a single day to buy the merchandise. Bai resold the merchandise and used some of the cash to pay the Magic Lamp, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. “This case offers an important reminder to consumers that gift cards are for presents to friends and loved ones – they should never be used for payments to any government or corporate entity,” said Acting United States Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison in a written statement. “Don’t be fooled by callers claiming to be with a government agency, a bank or any other institution demanding that you purchase gift cards. There is no reason to purchase a gift card to resolve a problem with an account, your Social Security number or a supposed criminal case,” Wilkison added. All four men face a statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison if convicted as charged. This case was investigated by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. Countless other local agencies across the U.S. assisted with the investigation, including the Brea Police Department, Fontana Police Department and Gardena Police Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor VERNON - Investigators helped recover a stolen military Humvee that was taken from a National Guard Armory in Bell.
A community tip overnight, in addition to information developed by the FBI, helped lead to the abandoned $120,000 Humvee found under a freeway overpass near South Downey Road and Bandini Boulevard in Vernon January 20, according to Laura Eimiller, spokeswoman for the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “The vehicle was processed for evidence by our Evidence Response Team and returned to the custody of the military,” Eimiller told SGV CityWatch. The FBI, Los Angeles Police Major Crimea Task Force and military police arrived to the scene around 6 a.m., according to Vernon Police radio traffic. The Humvee was reported stolen January 15 from the armory around 8:15 a.m. The vehicle was upgraded to combat-ready and had received upgrades, the FBI said. A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person, or group responsible for the theft. Anyone who can help identify the suspect is urged to call 310-477-6565. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A military Humvee considered upgraded to combat-ready was reported stolen Friday, the FBI said.
The $120,000 vehicle was stolen around 8:15 a.m. from the National Guard Armory in Bell January 15. A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the Humvee’s recovery, according to the FBI. “The vehicle has four doors and is green camouflage in color. The bumper number is #40BSBHQ6; the Administrative # is WV57TO-HQ06/M1165A1; and the registration number is NZ311R. The Battalion number, 40TH BSB, can also be seen on the vehicle,” according to the FBI in a written statement. A theft from a military facility - government property - violates federal law and carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, according to the FBI. Anyone with information leading to the Humvee’s recovery is urged to call the FBI Los Angeles Field Office at 323-477-6565. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A Pomona man was arrested November 9 after fleeing police while driving a Humvee stolen from an Upland Army Reserve facility.
Armando Garcia, 29, a parolee convicted in 2019 in state court on theft and burglary charges, was named Friday in a criminal complaint filed in United States District Court. Garcia allegedly stole the semi-armored Humvee midday Monday before Pomona officers found the unlicensed vehicle, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Garcia was charged with theft of government property. Garcia refused to stop and led officers on a four-minute chase, driving at excessive speed, running red lights, stop signs, failing to signal for turns and driving in opposing lanes, according to the criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court. Garcia eventually stopped in a residential neighborhood on East Kingsley Avenue and was taken into custody. Inside the Humvee, valued at more than $200,000, was a large pair of bolt cutters and a cut army-approved padlock. The latter is fixed with a steel wire to prevent turning of the steering wheel, the criminal complaint stated. If convicted as charged, Garcia faces a possible statutory maximum of 10 years in federal prison. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Two charges were filed Monday against the man authorities accuse of leading them on a reckless chase in a hearse with a dead body inside. James Juarez, 25, was charged with one count each of fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle while driving recklessly and driving or taking a vehicle without consent, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Juarez faces a possible maximum of more than three years in state prison if convicted as charged, Santiago said. A black 2017 Lincoln Navigator was stolen outside St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, 778 S. Rosemead Blvd., February 26. The driver arrived to take one body into the church and left the SUV running, authorities said. The SUV was already gone when the driver exited the church. Itwas spotted near 23rd and Figueroa Streets around 7:30 a.m. in Los Angeles February 27. Juarez allegedly fled LAPD officers who attempted to stop him.
Juarez was taken into custody after fleeing Los Angeles Police officers on surface streets and to the southbound 110 freeway where he crashed at Vernon Avenue around 20 minutes later. The body was still in the rear of the SUV inside a casket, authorities said. Juarez crashed into another vehicle. The collision injured one other person and caused major front end damage to the stolen Lincoln Navigator hearse. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A 25-year-old grand theft auto suspect was arrested Thursday after crashing a hearse with a dead woman inside. James Juarez was taken into custody after fleeing Los Angeles Police officers on surface streets and to the southbound 110 freeway where he crashed the SUV at Vernon Avenue around 7:50 a.m. February 27. The body was still in the rear of the SUV inside a casket, authorities said. The SUV was spotted near 23rd and Figueroa Streets around 7:30 a.m. Juarez allegedly fled LAPD officers who attempted to stop him.
Juarez crashed into another vehicle. The collision injured one other person and caused major front end damage to the stolen Lincoln Navigator hearse. The SUV was stolen outside of Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, 778 South Rosemead Blvd., around 7:45 PM February 26. The driver arrived to drop off one body at the church for a funeral and left the vehicle running. The SUV was gone when the driver exited the church, according to Deputy Tracy Koerner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A man accused of scamming eight people out of more than $100,000 after feigning injury in traffic collisions faced a judge Monday. Arcadia man Richard Henry Solis, 57, was charged with two felony counts of grand theft from an elder and six misdemeanor counts of petty theft from an elder, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Deputy District Attorney Melanie Drew alleges Solis scammed victims, who range in age from 65 to 91 years old, in the Pasadena area from September 2018 to October 2019.
Solis claimed the victims had injured him with their vehicles and asked for money for medical expenses or that he would steal their belongings, Santiago said. Solis was previously convicted of seven counts of first-degree burglary in 2006 and 2009. If convicted as charged, Solis faces a possible maximum sentence of 16 years in state prison, Santiago said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Several people in a reported stolen Toyota were taken into custody Tuesday after recklessly leading authorities across several cities, a Sheriff’s sergeant said. The pursuit was initiated by authorities with a multi-jurisdictional auto theft task force in the West Covina area September 17. The pursuit went as far south as the Pico Rivera border from the 605 freeway before deputies cancelled the chase due to unsafe speeds, according to Lt. Verlich of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Pico Rivera Station. Pico Rivera deputies first joined the pursuit at 3:35 p.m. It was unclear if the stolen vehicle investigation was conducted by the Taskforce for Regional Autotheft Prevention (TRAP). The driver, still followed by unmarked task force personnel, journeyed back north to the El Monte and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station jurisdiction before heading south on the 605 freeway again. The pursuit was witnessed by a SGV CityWatch reader as El Monte Police followed the stolen vehicle with the assistance of a helicopter.
El Monte officers were notified by the helicopter pilot at 3:43 p.m. and picked up the pursuit at Valley Boulevard and the 605 freeway after deputies decided to cancel the chase, according to Lt. Michael Buckhannon of the El Monte Police Department. Due to the driver’s reckless nature, El Monte officers ended the chase somewhere in the City of Industry at 3:57 p.m., Buckhannon said. It is unclear how many of the suspects were booked on charges and if the suspects were detained without further incident. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - An SUV stolen out of the Rose Hills Mortuary Wednesday was recovered, but not before the suspect evaded authorities up into the Azusa mountains. The chase began at 4:37 p.m. May 15 from Rose Hills, 3888 Workman Mill Rd. Sheriff’s deputies gave chase, but decided to cancel the pursuit to handle other emergency calls, according to Lt. Robert Westphal of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Pico Rivera Station. West Covina police officers soon gave chase and followed the suspect mostly north on Azusa Avenue where the suspect drove around stopped traffic by using a sidewalk and front yard.
The chase entered Azusa where the driver drove through an empty lot on the southeast corner of Foothill Boulevard and Azusa Avenue, drove over a sidewalk and accessed northbound Azusa Avenue again to the San Gabriel Mountains. In a bizarre twist, the driver used the rough right shoulder of northbound San Gabriel Canyon Road to bypass wide-open road. The SUV’s tires spun wildly over the right shoulder until the SUV became stuck on the terrain. The driver surrendered to West Covina Police without further incident. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor BALDWIN PARK – A suspect allegedly possessing stolen comic books and a stolen car was arrested Thursday morning after fleeing CHP officers at superhero speed.
Timogene David Guillen, 25, was arrested on his birthday in Bellflower on Alondra Boulevard west of Eucalyptus Avenue after stopping for officers who pursued him from Diamond Bar, said Public Information Officer Rodrigo Jimenez with the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Office. Guillen allegedly refused to stop for the CHP after he was witnessed driving at high speed on the westbound 60 freeway at Grand Avenue around 1:33 a.m. January 3. Guillen, followed by CHP cruisers and a helicopter, sped along freeways behind the wheel of a stolen Nissan Maxima, at times in excess of 130 miles per hour, according to CHP radio traffic. After transitioning to the southbound 605 freeway, Guillen exited onto Alondra Boulevard where he eventually surrendered in Bellflower. “Upon inventory of the Nissan, officers located a large quantity of collectible comic books and determined that both the comic books and the vehicle had been stolen,” Jimenez said. Guillen was booked at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles on suspicion of felony evading, possession of a stolen vehicle, grand theft and receiving stolen property. |
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