Parolee from Monterey Park sentenced again for ID theft

LOS ANGELS — A federal judge Monday sentenced a Monterey Park man who was already on parole for identity theft to 8 years in prison in connection with another identity theft case, officials said.
Robert Delgado, 40, pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, U.S. Attorney’s spokesman Thom Mrozek said in a written statement. He also admitted participating in a scheme in which he and others used other people’s information to obtain credit at stores and make purchases.
When arrested on March 8, Delgado was trying to hide a computer hard drive that contained personal information for more than 300,000 people, computer images used create copies of credit cards, computer images used to create DMV documents and ID cards and scanned checks in the names of other people, Mrozek said.
“Authorities are continuing to investigate how Delgado came into possession of the 300,000 identity profiles,” he said.
Three other men involved in the fraud have also been guilty and are awaiting sentencing, officials said.
Officials learned of the fraud after a victim reported to the U.S. Post Office that his mail had been put on a vacation hold without his permission, and there were fraudulent charges on his Lowe’s store credit card, which was managed by GE Moneybank, Mrozek said.
“Delgado’s telephone records showed that he had called GE Moneybank’s automated service line, which allows callers to check their available credit, 350 times in three months, even though he did not have a Lowe’s account,” Mrozek added.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

West Covina woman gets 9-years in prison for $7 million Ponzi scheme

LOS ANGELES — A West Covina woman received a 9-year prison sentence Monday for running a Ponzi scheme in which she defrauded about 150 victims out of nearly $7 million, authorities said Tuesday.
Guadalupe Valencia, 47, was sentenced by United States District Judge S. James Otero and ordered to pay $5.2 million in restitution, U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman Thom Mrozek said in a written statement.
She pleaded guilty last December to two counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud and two counts of tax fraud.
Through offices of a Downey companies she called Real Estate & Loan Consultants and R.E. Equity Group, Inc., Valencia solicited investments from investors promising large and timely returns, Mrozek said.
“Beginning in 2001 and continuing through 2009, Valencia promoted two types of investment pools, with one purportedly funding loans to purchase real estate, and a second purporting to fund short-term loans to businesses,” Mrozek said.
“Valencia admitted that she falsely told investors that their investments were fully secured, backed by deeds of trust on valuable real estate, as well as promissory notes that equaled ‘money-back guarantees,'” he said.
“When she pleaded guilty, Valencia admitted that the investments she promoted did not generate any profits and that she used newer investor funds to pay investors,” Mrozek said. “Further, Valencia admitted that she had provided the victims with worthless promissory notes she had created.”
Valencia stole $6.9 million dollars, and paid $1.7 million of the money back to investors, officials said.
The investigation was carried out by the IRS and the FBI.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Arcadia burglary suspects arrested after chase

Arcadia police jailed three burglary suspects after a high-speed chase on the 210 Freeway that ended in a crash in Covina, authorities said.
A resident of the 00 block of East Forest Avenue in Arcadia called police about 11:30 a.m. to report a break-in, Arcadia police Sgt. Tom Le Veque said.
“A neighbor saw a guy come out of the driveway carrying a television,” he said.
The man then got into a car with two other people inside.
Officers found a car matching the description at Colorado Boulevard and First Avenue and tried to pull it over, the sergeant said, but the vehicle sped away instead, leading police on a chase onto the eastbound 210 Freeway.
The chase reached speeds of more than 100 mph before the fleeing sedan crashed on the Citrus Avenue offramp, officials said.
One suspect was arrested at the scene of the crash, while two others fled on foot and were captured by officers nearby, Le Veque said. Their names were not immediately available.
None of the three suspects appeared to have suffered any serious injuries, he added.
The men were expected to be booked on suspicion of burglary, police said, and the driver of the car also was expected to be booked on suspicion of evading police.
The chase lasted less than 10 minutes altogether.
President Barack Obama’s visit to the Southland Tuesday delayed the response of a police helicopter during the chase, officials said.
Because of the presidential visit, the department’s helicopter was grounded to keep the airspace clear, Le Veque said. A police helicopter announced it was ready to respond to the chase just as it concluded.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Fire causes about $150,000 in damage to Arcadia garage, cars

ARCADIA — A large residential garage and two cars parked inside it went up in flames Tuesday in a fire on Maylflower Avenue, authorities said.
Firefighters responded to the fire about 7:20 a.m. in the 1400 block of South Mayflower Avenue, Arcadia Fire Department spokeswoman Beth Stogner said.
They extinguished the flames in about 30 minutes and prevented the fire from spreading from the detached garage to the home, Stogner said.
The damage to the garage and it’s contents — two cars and a workshop — was estimated at about $150,000, officials said.
Nearby residents reported hearing explosions in the fire, which investigators suspected was the tires of the cars popping, and several propane tanks stored inside the garage exploding from the heat, Stogner said.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation, she said, however there were no initial signs of a crime.
Firefighters from Arcadia, Monrovia and Glendale responded to the fire.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Stolen wedding album returned to Covina couple

AZUSA — Azusa police Tuesday returned a set of wedding photo albums to a Covina couple that had been stolen in a home break-in more than a year ago, authorities said.
Police released photos from the wedding albums last week in hopes that someone would recognize the couple pictured and help police return their wedding photos to them, Azusa police Evidence Custodian Patrick Doyle said.
The husband recognized himself and his wife in media coverage over the weekend and called investigators, Cpl. Jorge Sandoval said.
The couple was “very appreciative,” but did not want media attention, the corporal said.
They had their home in an unincorporated county area near Covina broken into in the summer of last year, Sandoval said.
A computer, which also contained some wedding photos, and other items were taken from the home, “but nothing as valuable as this,” Sandoval said of the irreplaceable photo albums.
“Apparently, those were the only photos they had,” he said. The other items stolen from their home were not recovered.
Police reached out to the public after exhausting other avenues of trying to track the couple down, Doyle said.
A man and woman have since been arrested, convicted and sentenced in connection with that break-in, as well as several others throughout the San Gabriel Valley.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Fire destroys West Covina home

WEST COVINA — A home was destroyed by fire early Tuesday, however no injuries were reported, authorities said.
The blaze was first reported about 12:45 a.m. at 2644 S. Erica Avenue, West Covina police Lt. Tommy Garcia said.
No one was home at the time, and no one was hurt, the lieutenant said.
The cause of the fire was being investigated by the West Covina Fire Department.
No further details were available.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Baldwin Park police plan checkpoint Friday

BALDWIN PARK — Police are planning a checkpoint Friday, authorities said.
The checkpoint will be held at an undisclosed time and place within the city, Baldwin Park police Officer Ted Espanto said in a written statement.
The purpose of the checkpoint, police said, is to remove impaired drivers from the road and educate the public about the consequences of drinking and driving.
Baldwin Park police last year became the target of community criticism last year from residents upset about vehicles being impounded from unlicensed but sober drivers. The outcry prompted the city to temporarily halt checkpoints and draft more lenient impound policies.
A new state law signed by the governor this year prevents police from impounding cars from unlicensed but sober motorists, provided the car can be picked up by a licensed driver with permission from the registered owner. But the law doesn’t take effect until Jan. 1.
Funding for this checkpoint is being provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety Administration through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

2 jailed, 1 sought in alleged attack outside Whittier convenience store

WHITTIER — Two teenagers were in custody Tuesday for an allegedly gang-related attack on a man at a convenience store, authorities said.
Marcos Menchaca, 18, of Whittier and a second teenage suspect whose name was not released were booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the attack, which was reported just after 7 p.m. at ampm, at the corner of Pickering Avenue and Hadley Street, Whittier police Lt. Carlos Solorza said.
The alleged victim was examined by paramedics at the scene but was not hospitalized, police said.
“The victim indicated he was assaulted by the ampm by three persons claiming they were gang members,” Solorza said.
The juvenile suspect threw a bottle at the man, striking him in the face, the lieutenant said. Menchaca allegedly slashed at the man’s back with a knife, inflicting a minor wound, and a third unidentified suspect struck the man in the back of the head with some type of wooden object.
Court information for Menchaca was not available Tuesday due to technical problems with the county booking files.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Pasadena man convicted of teenage girl’s murder

ALHAMBRA — A jury Friday convicted a Pasadena man of murdering a 16-year-old girl outside a night club with an errant bullet intended for someone else, authorities said.
John Dvon Reynolds, 24, faces a minimum of 75 years in state prison when he returns to Alhambra Superior Court for sentencing Nov. 3, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s officials said in a written statement.
He shot and killed 16-year-old Ebony Huel of Pasadena on Aug. 17, 2007, outside the Underground Club in Pasadena.
Reynolds was a paroled felon at the time of the killing, officials said.
“Reynolds fired his weapon at a man who had provided information to authorities about the defendant on a prior case,” according to the District Attorney’s Office statement. “The intended target was not injured.”
After about four hours of deliberation, the jury convicted Reynolds of first-degree murder, as well as the attempted murder of the intended target, and found true special allegations that Reynolds personally used a gun in the crime and committed the crime for the benefit of a criminal street gang.
He pleaded guilty to a count of possession of a firearm by a felon.
Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Teenage suspect jailed, another sought in fatal Norwalk stabbing

NORWALK — The fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old boy and the wounding of a 16-year-old boy Thursday is believed to have stemmed from a fight between classmates at Norwalk High School, authorities said.
One 16-year-old suspected was arrested on suspicion of the killing, and authorities continued to seek a second teenage suspect, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Guillermina Saldana said in a written statement.
Coroner’s officials did not release the name of the teen who died in the attack pending positive identification and notification of his family members.
The young suspect’s name was not released due to his age.
The stabbing took place about 3:15 p.m. Thursday in the 14000 block of Harvest Avenue, Saldana said.
“Two juveniles were walking south on Harvest Avenue when a compact vehicle with two male Hispanic juveniles drove up alongside them,” the deputy said. “The passenger got out of the vehicle, confronted the victims then stabbed them both several times. The suspect then got back into the vehicle and the driver sped away.”
The 15-year-old victim was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, Saldana said. The 16-year-old victim was hospitalized in stable condition.
“The victims attend Norwalk High School,” Saldana said. “It is believed that a verbal argument at school between the deceased victim and one of the suspects precipitated the attack.”
Information on how the suspect was arrested was not available.
He was booked on suspicion of murder and being held at a juvenile detention facility.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips can also be left anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email