 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The FBI announced the arrest of a Russian man who, along with co-conspirators, sought to release malware at a Las Vegas company in an effort to extract sensitive data and extort ransom money.
Egor Igorevich Kruichkov, 27, was charged in a complaint with one count of conspiracy to intentionally cause damage to a protected computer. He was arrested August 22 at a Monrovia residence after FBI agents in Vegas learned of the suspect’s travel plans to Los Angeles, according to Laura Eimiller of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. He made an initial appearance in federal court August 24. U.S. Magistrate Judge Alexander F. MacKinnon ordered Kriuchkov detained pending trial. The criminal complaint alleges from July 15, 2020, to August 22 Kruichkov and his co-conspirators sought to hire an employee of the unnamed company to infect the company’s network to steal the data. “After the malware was introduced, Kriuchkov and his co-conspirators would extract data from the network and then threaten to make the information public, unless the company paid their ransom demand,” according to the Department of Justice in a written statement. After entering the US with his passport and tourist visa, Kruichkov spoke with the employee multiple times to discuss the conspiracy and promised the employee $1 million upon successful deployment of the malware, the Department of Justice said. Kruichkov drove from Reno Nevada to Los Angeles after being contacted by the FBI. He then asked an acquaintance to purchase an airline ticket for him to flee the country. “Agents located his vehicle at a residence in the city of Monrovia and he was taken into custody by agents with the assistance of officers with the Monrovia Police Department. Kriuchkov made an initial appearance in federal court on Monday and was remanded to federal custody pending trial,” Eimiller said.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Homicide detectives are again asking for public assistance in identifying the gunman who killed an 18-year-old in a friend’s garage. Oscar Garcia, 18, was shot and killed in a garage in the 100 block of West Cypress Street April 22, 2017 by a still-unidentified shooter. A 17-year-old boy was also hit by gunfire, but survived. A teen girl escaped injury. The gunman is a Hispanic male 20 to 25 years, stands 6 feet tall, has a medium build, light skin, has black hair and brown eyes. A $20,000 rewards is offered to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect. The three teens were in a detached garage when the gunman approached and stood at the doorway and pointed a gun at the teens. There was a brief verbal exchange and gunfire erupted.
The shooting was reportedly unprovoked. Anyone with information on the gunman is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The county DA slapped a capital murder charge against the domestic violence suspect who rapped about killing and burying his girlfriend. Robert Anthony Camou, 27, faces one count of murder with a special circumstance allegation of killing a witness and an allegation that he was out on bail when he committed the crime, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The case against Camou, originally filed May 29, also charged him with one felony count each of first-degree burglary, person present; injuring a girlfriend; and assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury. The charges also include one misdemeanor count of battery. While investigators have searched for the missing 31-year-old Amanda Custer, Deputy District Attorney Melanie Drew alleges Custer was killed by Camou on or about July 29.
The May 29 charges stem from an incident when Camou allegedly strangled Custer and threatened her with a stun gun. Custer fled to a neighbor’s home where she was chased inside by Camou who also attacked the resident within for intervening. If convicted as charged, Camou faces life in prison without parole. A decision to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date, Santiago said. Custer’s body has yet to be found.  IMAGE/KTLA News. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Homicide Investigators believe the suspect seen allegedly kidnapping his girlfriend July 29 from her Monrovia home may have driven to the mountains above Claremont just hours after a domestic attack. The suspect, 27-year-old Robert Anthony Camou, was witnessed taking Amanda Custer, 31, from her Monrovia home around 8:15 a.m. July 29. Sheriff’s Homicide detectives state Camou’s 2017 four-door Toyota Prius was seen north on Padua Road in Claremont heading to Mt. Baldy. “Anyone on or off road, in the area of Mount Baldy (Mount Baldy Road, Glendora Ridge Road, Glendora Mountain Road) on Monday July 29, 2019, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., that observed suspect Camou, victim Custer and/or the Toyota Prius, are encouraged to contact Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. Police entered the home where the attack occurred July 29 and reportedly found blood inside. Camou was found around 2:45 a.m. the following day, sleeping in his Prius parked at South Hill Street and West Second Street in Downtown Los Angeles. He was arrested after an hours-long standoff -- Custer was nowhere to be found.  PHOTO/Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Camou is being held without bail on unrelated burglary and domestic violence charges, the Sheriff’s Department said.
In a bizarre twist, a video surfaced of Camou rapping at an L.A. club. In the song, Camou spoke of killing a woman and burying her in dirt. He mentioned police were looking for him before exiting off screen. “Although the extent of Victim Custer’s injuries are unknown, Homicide Detectives believe she may be in grave danger,” the Sheriff’s Department said. Anyone who has seen Custer or knows her whereabouts is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).  PHOTO/Courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Sheriff’s deputies, Los Angeles Police and crisis negotiators are attempting to have an accused domestic violence and kidnapping suspect peacefully surrender from inside his Prius.
The grey Prius used in the July 29 kidnapping is parked at South Hill Street and West Second Street in Downtown Los Angeles. It was found parked with a sleeping suspect inside since 2:45 a.m., authorities said. 27-year-old Robert Anthony Camou is believed to be barricaded within. “Officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, however he refused to exit the vehicle. Due to the nature of the crimes the suspect is wanted for, LAPD SWAT resources have been deployed to the scene,” according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPD has hard closures along 1st Street, 2nd Street, 3rd Street and Broadway. Camou is Accused of injuring and kidnapping 31-year-old Amanda Custer. Monrovia Police we’re called to the 600 block of Vaquero Drive around 8:15 a.m. Monday and found blood at the scene. Authorities believe a domestic violence incident occurred, but do not yet know whose blood was found. Camou and Custer are or were dating and have a history of domestic violence. Custer was reportedly seen being placed into the rear hatch of the grey Prius. It is unclear if she is in tthe barricaded Prius.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Authorities across the country are investigating the overseas source of an emailed bomb threat Thursday. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Police Chief Dario Robinson revealed the campus received a similar threat. A Monrovia business also received the e-mailed threat. “UPD are in touch with local and fed authorities and are conducting sweeps of campus buildings as a precautionary measure,” Robinson said. “The campus remains open and finals will continue as scheduled.” WTC Consulting, 222 E. Huntington Dr., in Monrovia received an emailed threat around Noon Thursday. The business was evacuated as a precaution and nearby businesses were evacuated, according to Monrovia officials.
The author of the e-mail said an explosive device was planted inside the targeted business. A supposed accomplice would detonate the device and wound anyone in the business unless $20,000 in Bitcoin was not delivered.  PHOTO/Courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The mother and daughter found slain in their Monrovia apartment December 5 were strangled to death, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner said.
In addition to the strangulation, 17-year-old Kelsey Meza suffered blunt head trauma, the coroner said. The mother and daughter were found slain in their apartment in the 800 block of West Colorado Boulevard around 1:30 p.m. Monrovia officers made the discovery after responding to a call of an assault that occurred there, according to Lt. Derrick Alfred of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. An unknown caller phoned Alhambra Police about the assault. The call was then transferred to the Monrovia Police Department, which responded and found an open window. Officers entered through the window and found the females dead. Nimrod Perez Guerrero, 33, is being sought by detectives as the possible murder suspect and is considered armed and dangerous. Perez Guerrero may be driving a grey 2014 Toyota Rav4 with license plate 7FPB132. Anyone who know’s Perez Guerrero’s whereabouts is urged to call Homicide detectives at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). |
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