Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The suspect who hid away in Mexico until federal and Mexican authorities took him into custody faced arraignment on multiple murder charges Tuesday. Octavio Curiel Martinez, 38, was charged with one count each of murder, murder of a human fetus, attempted murder, shooting at an inhabited structure, assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, three misdemeanor counts each of cruelty to a child by endangering health, two counts each of assault with a firearm, injuring a spouse and child abuse, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Martinez also faced the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders and allegations of using a handgun, Santiago said. Martinez is accused of shooting and killing estranged wife Ana Nuñez, 37, and their unborn child August 29, 2018 in their El Monte home. Martinez was extradited from Mexico to the U.S. January 3 and arrested by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies. Martinez, a Mexican national, was originally arrested by Mexican police on unrelated charges May 17, 2019 in Bolanos, Jalisco, Mexico -- right where investigators believed he fled. Nuñez’s family went to her El Monte home to check on her hours after Martinez allegedly fired upon, but failed to injure a family member. She was found with multiple gunshot wounds, investigators said. Nunez and her unborn child later died at a hospital. The coroner listed her cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds of the torso. The estranged couple share additional children who were not home when the shooting took place, investigators said. A state warrant was issued for Curiel-Martinez’s arrest September 5, 2018. The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California issued a federal arrest warrant March 15, 2019 and he was federally charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, the FBI said.
The arrest and extradition was the work of the Policía Federal Ministerial, Fiscalia General de la Republica, Instituto Nacional de Migracion, the FBI’s Legal Attaché in Mexico City, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives, the El Monte Police Department and the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. The extradition was handled by prosecutors with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs. “Curiel-Martinez’s extradition was sponsored by the U.S. government’s “Project Welcome Home,” which provides funding for the transportation of FBI fugitives to the United States, where the repatriation by the host country occurs through deportation or extradition,” the FBI said. A $10,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of Curiel-Martinez, but it is unclear if anyone will claim the reward. If convicted as charged, Martinez faces a possible maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The suspect who pleaded guilty to his part in a drug trafficking conspiracy and to money laundering was sentenced to a mere 63 months in prison. Mexican national Edgar Limon, 39, was also ordered to pay a $17,500 fine for his involvement in an international narcotics network that transported 21 pounds of pure methamphetamine across the border with Mexico on behalf of a group linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Limon, the last of 22 suspects named in a 19-count indictment, pleaded guilty July 17, 2019. He is one of nine that were taken into custody pursuant to the unsealed 2017 indictment and the last of those to be sentenced. The other eight received 135-month sentences. Five other suspects, including Limon’s brother and lead suspect Jeuri Limon Elenes, remain fugitives and may be hiding in Mexico, the DOJ said. The case was the result of a two-year wiretap investigation by the Los Angeles Strike Force, comprised of members from the FBI, DEA, IRS Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshal Service and the Azusa Police Department.
The scheme involved the import of hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin into the U.S. The drugs were distributed through a network of Sinaloa Cartel associates. The domestic revenue was funneled back to Mexico, the DOJ said. The drugs were stored in stash houses across the San Gabriel Valley. Limon was in charge of one of those locations. From June 2014 to April 2016, Limon and his fellow traffickers had an agreement to distribute and process with intent to distribute, methamphetamine in the LA area. Two of these stash houses where Limon hid drugs were in El Monte and Azusa. The latter served as a distribution point for methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine, the DOJ said. The Los Angeles Strike Force seized 290 pounds of methamphetamine, 280 pounds of cocaine, 30 pounds of heroin, and 81 pounds of marijuana — a $6 million street value, the DOJ said. Limon and his fellow traffickers also conducted financial transactions in ways that concealed their illegal origins in drug trafficking, the DOJ said. Limon’s mother and cousin were charged and sentenced to 87 months in federal prison. The Los Angeles Strike Force was formed in 2014 to combat the use of the Los Angeles metro area as a hub for drug distribution across the US by Mexican cartels. The Strike Force seeks to target high-level traffickers, disrupt and dismantle drug distribution networks and money laundering activities and arrest and prosecute cartel leaders and operatives, the DOJ said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The FBI announced the extradition and arrest of a man sought in a shooting that claimed his spouse’s life and their unborn child. Octavio Curiel-Martinez, 37, was extradited from Mexico to the U.S. January 3 and arrested by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies. He awaits prosecution by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, according to a joint statement issued by the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. Curiel-Martinez, a Mexican national, was originally arrested by Mexican police on unrelated charges May 17, 2019 in Bolanos, Jalisco, Mexico -- right where investigators believed he fled after they say he killed his estranged wife, Ana Maria Nunez, 37, and their unborn child. The county DA formally requested Curiel-Martinez’s extradition and a provisional arrest warrant was issued by the Mexican government May 23, 2019. Family of Nunez went to her El Monte home August 29, 2018 to check on her welfare hours after Curiel-Martinez allegedly fired upon, but failed to injure a family member. Nunez was found with multiple gunshot wounds, investigators said. Nunez and her unborn child later died at a hospital. The coroner listed her cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds of the torso.
The shooting took place in the 2700 block of Leafdale Avenue in El Monte. The estranged couple share additional children who were not home when the shooting took place, investigators said. Curiel-Martinez was charged in Los Angeles County Superior Court with two counts of murder, attempted murder, two counts of assault with a firearm, shooting at an inhabited dwelling or occupied car, two counts of corporal injury to a spouse, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, two counts of felony child endangerment and six counts of misdemeanor child endangerment, the FBI said. A state warrant was issued for Curiel-Martinez’s arrest September 5, 2018. The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California issued a federal arrest warrant March 15, 2019 and he was federally charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, the FBI said. The arrest and extradition was the work of the Policía Federal Ministerial, Fiscalia General de la Republica, Instituto Nacional de Migracion, the FBI’s Legal Attaché in Mexico City, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives, the El Monte Police Department and the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. The extradition was handled by prosecutors with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs. “Curiel-Martinez’s extradition was sponsored by the U.S. government’s “Project Welcome Home,” which provides funding for the transportation of FBI fugitives to the United States, where the repatriation by the host country occurs through deportation or extradition,” the FBI said. A $10,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of Curiel-Martinez, but it is unclear if anyone will claim the reward. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOJAVE - The remains of a man kidnapped by two Chinese nationals in San Gabriel were identified recently. Rouchen “Tony” Liao, 29, was identified by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office - Coroner Section. Liao’s remains were discovered by a hiker near Mojave in the area of Cache Creek Road and Highway 58 June 12. The manner of death is undetermined. Liao, a Santa Ana resident, was kidnapped July 16, 2018 in San Gabriel by three men and forced into a dark-colored Toyota Sienna minivan, which was followed by two suspects in a Range Rover SUV. The kidnapping occurred around 7:30 p.m. at San Gabriel Square, 140 W. Valley Blvd. Liao was possibly coaxed to the area on the premise of conducted a business deal, the FBI said. One of the three suspects was seen by witnesses to the kidnapping and was referred to as “David,” the FBI said. The U.S. Department of Justice announced in February 2019 that two Chinese nationals were indicted in Liao’s kidnapping. Guangyao Yang, 25, and Peicheng Shen, 33, were charged with kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap, attempted extortion in violation of the Hobbs Act and threat by foreign communication, the DOJ said. After Liao was kidnapped and taken to a Corona home, demands were made to deposit $2 million within three hours to several Chinese accounts. Lio’s father also received photos of his son physically retained in a closet: his arms bound behind him, his legs bound together and his eyes taped shut, investigators said. No more demands were made and nothing was ever heard from the captors again. Investigators learned Yang and Shen drove to the Mojave Desert to possibly dispose of Liao’s body two days after the kidnapping. An internet search connected to Yang revealed efforts to learn how fast a body decomposes in soil. Shen apparently had the closet where Liao was held re-carpeted, investigators said. Yang and Shen possibly fled to China. Anyone with information leading to the suspects is urged to call the FBI Los Angeles Field Office at 310-477-6565. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A man accused of seeking out ricin to use as a biological weapon pleaded guilty Monday. Steve Kim, a 41-year-old La Crescenta man, pleaded guilty to a single count of violating a federal criminal statute called prohibition with respect to biological weapons, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. An undercover FBI operative sold Kim what the latter believed to be ricin, an extremely-potent biological agent that can kill through only a few tiny grains. Kim tried to obtain the deadly biological agent over a two-month period in 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. “During negotiations with the FBI operative, Kim stated that the ricin was intended for an individual who weighed 110 pounds, according to the plea agreement,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
The operative sold Kim the fake ricin concealed in another substance for 320 Euros, (equalling $350 U.S. dollars) in bitcoin. The package was delivered to Kim’s Los Angeles workplace November 28, 2018. He was arrested after opening the package at his residence, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Kim faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in federal prison, but after pleading guilty, the government agreed that it will recommend no more than 87 months. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The FBI is offering up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of a man accused of gunning down his pregnant wife, an act which also killed his unborn child. Octavio Curiel-Martinez, 37, a Mexican national allegedly shot to death estranged wife Ana Maria Martinez, 37, in the home they shared in the 2700 block of Leafdale Avenue August 29, 2018. Hours prior, Curiel-Martinez allegedly shot at a family member multiple times, but failed to cause any injury. Family drove to check on Ana Maria’s well-being and found her shot, according to the FBI. DOWNLOAD THE WANTED FLYER>> Ana Maria and her unborn child were declared dead later at an area hospital.
After shooting at a family member, Curiel-Martinez fled in a red two-door 2018 Toyota Tacoma, which features a chrome utility box in the truck’s bed. The truck features California license plate number 81718L2. Curiel-Martinez may be residing somewhere in Mexico, specifically the town of Bolanos in Jalisco, the FBI said. Martinez was charged with two counts of murder, attempted murder, two counts of assault with a firearm, shooting at an inhabited dwelling or occupied car, two counts of corporal injury to spouse, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, two counts of felony child endangerment and six counts of misdemeanor child endangerment. The estranged couple have addition children, who were not home at the time of the shooting, investigators said. A state arrest warrant was issued September 5, 2018. A federal arrest warrant followed March 15, 2019 after Curiel-Martinez was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Curiel-Martinez is about 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs 190 to 204 pounds, has brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone who knows Curiel-Martinez’s whereabouts is urged to call the local FBI field office, or the nearest consulate or American embassy. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Federal authorities announced Tuesday the arrest of 24 people indicted in a massive health care fraud scheme involving telemedicine and durable medical equipment marketing executives. The FBI and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General investigated the scheme, which involved the payment of illegal kickbacks and bribes by durable medical equipment companies in exchange for the referral of Medicare beneficiaries by medical professionals working with fraudulent telemedicine companies for back, shoulder, wrist and knee braces that are medically unnecessary, according to the Department of Justice, which is prosecuting the case. Glendora men Najib Jabbour, 47, and Darin Flashberg, 41, were both arrested Tuesday morning by FBI agents. Jabbour and Flashberg own seven durable medical equipment companies and have been indicted for alleged participation in a $34 million scheme related to their payment of kickbacks and bribes in exchange for medically unnecessary orders, the Justice Department said. Flashberg has an office in San Dimas: Flash Medical, which operates across a business complex driveway from Jabbour’s EZ Fit Medical Group, Inc. More than 80 search warrants were served in 17 federal districts. Administrative action was taken against 130 durable medical equipment companies, which submitted more than $1.7 billion in insurance claims and received more than $900 million, the Department of Justice said.
“Some of the defendants allegedly controlled an international telemarketing network that lured over hundreds of thousands of elderly and/or disabled patients into a criminal scheme that crossed borders, involving call centers in the Philippines and throughout Latin America,” the Department of Justice said. Doctors were allegedly paid to prescribe the medical equipment based on nothing more than a brief phone conversation with patients they never met, or without any patient interaction at all. The money was then laundered through international shell corporations and was then used to purchase yachts, exotic automobiles and luxury real estate in the U.S. and abroad, the Department of Justice said. An international call center was used to advertise to Medicare beneficiaries to garner patients who were “up-sold” to coerce them into accepting numerous “free or low-cost” durable medical equipment braces, despite a lack of necessity, the Justice Department said. The international call center paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to telemedicine companies to obtain the orders. The equipment was then sold to the durable medical equipment companies and Medicare was fraudulently billed, the Department of Justice said. Doctors or medical professionals who may have been involved with alleged fraudulent telemedicine and DME marketing schemes – including Video Doctor USA, AffordADoc, Web Doctors Plus, Integrated Support Plus and First Care MD – should call to report this conduct to the FBI hotline at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The U.S. Department of Justice announced two Chinese nationals have been indicted in the $2 million ransom plot involving the kidnapping and possible murder of a Santa Ana man. Guangyao Yang, 25, and Peicheng Shen, 33, have been charged with kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap, attempted extortion in violation of the Hobbs Act and threat by foreign communication, the DOJ said. “Tony” Rouchen Liao, 28, was abducted by three men in San Gabriel July 16, 2018. He was taken in a dark-colored Toyota Sienna minivan. The minivan was followed by two suspects in a Range Rover SUV. The captors demanded $2 million in exchange for Liao’s return, according to the FBI Los Angeles Field Office.
The kidnapping occurred around 7:30 p.m. at San Gabriel Square, 140 W. Valley Blvd. Liao was potentially coaxed there on the premise of collecting a debt, investigators said. Shen was one of the suspects seen taking Liao from the San Gabriel Shopping Center, investigators said. Liao, a Chinese national who operated a Costa Mesa luxury car dealership, is believed to be dead. After Liao was kidnapped and taken to a Corona home, demands were made to deposit $2 million within three hours to several Chinese accounts. Lio’s father also received photos of his son physically retained in a closet: his arms bound behind him, his legs bound together and his eyes taped shut, investigators said. No more demands were made and nothing was ever heard from the captors again. Investigators learned Yang and Shen drove to the Mojave Desert to possibly dispose of Liao’s body two days after the kidnapping. An internet search connected to Yang revealed efforts to learn how fast a body decomposes in soil. Shen apparently had the closet where Liao was held re-carpeted, investigators said. One of the three suspects was seen by witnesses to the kidnapping and was referred to as “David,” the FBI said. An attorney for the Liao family has offered a $150,000 reward for information leading to Liao’s safe return, on top of a $25,000 reward offered by the FBI. Anyone with information leading to the suspects or Liao is urged to call the FBI Los Angeles Field Office at 310-477-6565. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A Santa Ana man was reportedly kidnapped last month in San Gabriel and the FBI is looking for him and his captors.
“Tony” Rouchen Liao, 28, was abducted by three men who fled with their victim in a dark-colored Toyota Sienna minivan July 16. The minivan was followed by two suspects in a Range Rover SUV. The captors demanded $2 million for Liao’s exchange, according to the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. The kidnapping occurred around 7:30 p.m. at San Gabriel Square, 140 W. Valley Blvd., potentially being coaxed to the area on the premise of conducted a business deal, the FBI said. Liao, a Santa Ana resident and Chinese national, works at a Costa Mesa luxury car dealership. FBI agents believe Liao is unharmed and may know his general location. One of the three suspects was seen by witnesses to the kidnapping and was referred to as “David,” the FBI said. An attorney for the Liao family has offered a $150,000 reward for information leading to Liao’s safe return, on top of a $25,000 reward offered by the FBI. The relationship between Liao and his captors is unknown. Liao is 5 feet 6 inches tall, has black hair, and weighs 130 pounds. Suspect “David” is Chinese, 35 to 40 years old, is 6 feet tall and speaks Mandarin. Anyone with information on Liao’s whereabouts is urged to call the FBI Los Angeles Field Office at 310-477-6565. Anonymous tips can be sent to tips.fbi.gov Information can also be provided at the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The infamous bank bandit known for his stylish doo has struck three more times, bringing his robbery total to six. The Twirly Head Bandit hit banks in Gardena, Norwalk and Pasadena, according to the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. The bandit previous hit banks in West Los Angeles, Culver City and Monrovia, according to Laura Eimiller, spokeswoman for the FBI Los Angeles Field Office.
The robber was given an unknown amount of cash, according to Lt. Tom Loy of the Monrovia Police Department.
The suspect fled the bank and employees locked the doors after he left, Loy said. The robber is a Black male in his mid 20s, 5-foot 10 inches to 6 feet tall and weighs 160 to 170 pounds. No suspect vehicle description was available. Anyone with information on the bandit is urged to call the FBI at 310-477-6565. |
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