UPDATE: Suspect killed in Hacienda Heights deputy-involved shooting


HACIENDA HEIGHTS >> Sheriff’s deputies shot and killed an armed man in Hacienda Heights late Thursday after he fled from police in Downey earlier in the day, officials said.
The incident unfolded about 10:50 p.m. in the 15600 block of Windrush Drive, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
Prior to the fatal shooting, Downey police officers responded to a disturbance in their city about 1 p.m., according to deputy Trina Schrader of the sheriff’s Information Bureau. Someone reported a person was armed with both a knife and a gun and was threatening to kill family members.
When officers arrived, the suspect fled on a motorcycle, initiating a chase. The fleeing suspect managed to escape police on the southbound 5 Freeway, Schrader said.
Police learned the suspect’s identity and his home address in Hacienda Heights as the chase continued, officials said.
An unmarked police vehicle watched the home on Windrush Drive and saw the suspect walk toward the residence, officials said. When officers approached the man, he warned the officers he was armed with a gun.
“The suspect began to reach for the handgun that was in his pocket. The deputies deployed less-than-lethal weapons in a continued effort to gain compliance,” Schrader said. “The suspect armed himself with the handgun, and a deputy-involved shooting occurred.”
Paramedics pronounced the suspect dead at the scene.
His identity was not available pending notification of family members, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said. He was described as a man in his 60s.
Investigators recovered the suspect’s handgun, Schrader said. No deputies were hurt.
Anyone with information can reach the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Hacienda Heights man found shot to death inside car identified


HACIENDA HEIGHTS >> Officials have identified a Hacienda Heights man who was found shot to death behind the steering wheel of a car in a shopping center parking lot on Saturday morning.
Isidrio Marquez Jr., 29, died after he was discovered unconscious in his car, suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body, just after 8 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot in the 15800 block of Gale Avenue, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Investigator Rudy Molano said.
The death was first reported to authorities as a “person not breathing,” according to Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez of the Los Angeles County sheriff’s Information Bureau. Authorities soon discovered that discovered Marquez had been shot, and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
No information regarding the circumstances, shooter or motive in the slaying was available.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Man shot to death in Hacienda Heights


HACIENDA HEIGHTS >> Homicide detectives are seeking clues in the slaying of a man found shot to death inside a car in Hacienda Heights on Saturday morning, authorities said.
The deadly shooting was first reported about 8:10 a.m. in a shopping center parking lot in the 15800 block of Gale Avenue, just east of Hacienda Boulevard, according to Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez of the Los Angeles County sheriff’s Information Bureau.
Someone called 911 to report a “person not breathing,” she said in a written statement.
“When deputies arrived, they found the victim seated in the driver seat of a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper torso,” Navarro-Suarez said.
Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
His identity was not available pending positive identification and notification of his family, coroner’s officials said.
No suspect description was available, nor were further details regarding the circumstances or of the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Fire shuts down 60 Freeway in Hacienda Heights


HACIENDA HEIGHTS >> A fire engulfed a big rig and spread to a hillside, prompting the closure of the 60 Freeway before firefighters got it under control, authorities said.
The fire was first reported as a flaming big rig about 4:30 p.m. alongside the eastbound 60 Freeway near Crossroads Parkway, according to California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles County Fire Department officials.
The flames destroyed the truck and spread to brush on a hillside next to the freeway before firefighters attacked it both on the ground and from aircraft.
The fire scorched about half an acre of brush before firefighters declared it “under control” at 5:25 p.m,, fire department Dispatch Supervisor Melanie Flores said.
Authorities initially shut down all lanes of the 60 in both directions as they responded to the fire.
The westbound lanes were reopened within an hour, and only the two right-hand lanes of the eastbound 60 Freeway remained closed Thursday evening.
No injuries were reported, Flores said.

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Former Pico Rivera nightclub owner sentenced for laundering drug money

"The Pico Rivera nightclub owner Edgar Fragoso, right, 38, leaving Edward Roybal Federal Building after his arraignment where he pleaded not guilty to eight counts federal indictments in downtown Los Angeles Friday, March 13, 2015. The Pico Rivera nightclub owner is accused of laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars as part of a drug trafficking ring operating in the U.S. and Mexico (Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News)"

“Pico Rivera nightclub owner Edgar Fragoso, right, 38, leaving Edward Roybal Federal Building after his arraignment in downtown Los Angeles Friday, March 13, 2015.  (Photo by Walt Mancini/Pasadena Star-News)”

LOS ANGELES >> The owner of nightclubs in Pico Rivera and Moreno Valley who admitted laundering drug money for foreign drug traffickers through his businesses received a two-year prison sentence on Thursday, officials said.
Edgar Fragoso, 39, of Hacienda Heights was sentenced to 24 months in custody, with one year to be served behind bars, and another year of home detention, U.S. DOJ spokesman Thom Mrozek said. U.S. District Judge George Wu also ordered Fragoso to pay a $14,000 fine and agreed to give up his liquor license.
Fragoso owned the El Rodeo nightclubs, formerly at 8825 Washington Blvd., as well as another location in Moreno Valley.
Fragoso agreed to plead guilty in August of 2015 to a single count of money laundering.
Prosecutors allege Fragoso laundered more than $35,000 from methamphetamine sales for a drug dealer operating out of Mexico, and also collected $200,000 in payments from undercover federal agents posing as members of a drug-trafficking organization, according to the indictment.
Prior to reaching a plea deal, Fragoso was initially indicted on one count of conspiracy to launder money and seven counts of money laundering. He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges at his arraignment in March of 2015.
All but the single count of money laundering was dismissed under the plea arrangement.
If convicted as charged, Fragoso could have faced up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the eight counts on which he was indicted.
The two-year sentence handed down Thursday was only a fraction of the 25 years in prison Fragoso could have faced as a maximum penalty.
The reasoning behind the sentence was unclear Friday, as the sentencing memorandum in the case had been filed under seal, Mrozek said.
fragoso2

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Hacienda Heights man dies after motorcycle collides with pickup truck in La Habra


LA HABRA >> A La Habra man died late Friday following a crash between his motorcycle and a pickup truck on Harbor Boulevard in a La Habra, police said.
Dominic Alvarez, 26, died at Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Anta less than three hours after the crash, which took place at 9:02 p.m. on Harbor Boulevard, just south of Whittier Boulevard, according to Orange County coroner’s records.
He was riding a motorcycle was involved in a collision with a pickup truck, La Habra police Sgt. Jeff Baylos said.
Two women who were riding as passengers in the pickup truck were treated for apparently minor injuries, officials said. The driver of the pickup, described only as male, was unhurt.
The cause and circumstances of the crash remained under investigation, officials said.
Anyone with information was urged to contact the La Habra Police Department’s Traffic Unit at 562-383-4300.

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UPDATED: Teenage boy suspected in Hacienda Heights armed robbery


HACIENDA HEIGHTS >> Deputies arrested a teen Sunday after he allegedly robbed a fruit vendor at gunpoint outside a Hacienda Heights diner before being involved in a hit-and-run car crash minutes later.
The robbery took place about 12:25 p.m. in the parking lot of Denny’s, 1150 S, 7th Ave., Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Rico Sandoval said.
The 16-year-old suspect approached a vendor selling fruit, brandished a handgun and demanded money, the sergeant said.
After obtaining the cash, the robber got into a light-colored sedan and drove off.
Shortly after the robbery, deputies discovered an abandoned car matching the basic description of the car used in the robbery about 3 miles away in the area of Fairgrove and Broadmoor avenues in an unincorporated county area just outside of La Puente, officials said. It had crashed into a wall, and four people were seen running away.
All four were eventually found and detained during an hour-long search of the surrounding neighborhoods, official said. The 16-year-old boy was identified as the robbery suspect.
A handgun was recovered from inside the car, Sandoval added. Deputies also recovered some, but not all, of the suspected stolen money.
The other three people detained after fleeing from the car were not ultimately arrested, as they were not linked to the robbery, he said.

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Man wounded in Hacienda Heights shooting


HACIENDA HEIGHTS >> Deputies are seeking an attacker show shot a man in the back as he walked down the street in Hacienda Heights early Thursday, officials said.
The shooting took place about 12:10 a.m. on Gale Avenue near Valencia Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Abel Moreno said.
The victim, a man in his 30s, suffered injuries not believed to be life-threatening, he said.
“He was walking on Gale. He heard what appeared to be a gunshot and felt pain to his lower back,” Moreno said.
The wounded man did not see where the shot came from and no suspect description was available, the sergeant said. The motive in the attack was unclear.
Anyone with information can reach the sheriff’s Industry Station at 626-330-3322. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Driver dies after crash in Hacienda Heights; medical issue suspected


HACIENDA HEIGHTS >> A man who died following a minor solo-vehicle traffic accident in Hacienda Heights early Saturday appeared to have suffered a medical condition prior to losing control of his minivan, officials said.
California Highway Patrol officers responded to Pepper Brook Way, at Wedgeworth Drive, just after 9 a.m., after a Toyota Sienna minivan struck a roadside sign, CHP Officer Stephan Brandt said.
The collision damage appeared minor, however the driver was in medical distress, he said.
Paramedics took the man, who was estimated to be in his 60s, to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, Los Angeles County Fire Department officials said.
The incident is being investigated by the CHP’s Santa Fe Springs area office.

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Hacienda Heights man gets 30-months in prison for father-son tax return scheme

LOS ANGELES >> A Hacienda Heights man began serving a two-and-a-half-year prison term after he was sentenced for his role in a scheme that netted more than $2.6 million in bogus tax returns using stolen identities, authorities said.
Heber Cotton, 40, pleaded guilty late last year to a count of conspiracy to defraud the federal government by obtaining the payment of fraudulent tax refunds, U.S. Department of Justice spokesman Thom Mrozek said in a written statement. U.S. District Judge Michael W. Firzgerald handed down the 30-month prison term Monday in federal court in Los Angeles.
Cotton was additionally ordered to pay $725,000 in restitution.
His father and co-conspirator, 64-year-old Adel Cotton, pleaded guilty to the same charge in 2012 and has since been sentenced to 4 years and three months in federal prison, officials said.
“This father and son pair prolifically defrauded the government and hundreds of taxpayers, earning them the significant sentences imposed by the court,” according to United States Attorney for the Central District of California Eileen M. Decker.
From December of 2008 to March of 2010, “the Cottons caused at least 275 fraudulent income tax returns to be filed with the IRS,” Mrozek said. “Those fraudulent returns sought income tax refunds totaling more than $2.6 million.”
The father and son used the names and social security numbers of victims without their knowledge to fill out fraudulent tax returns, officials said. They instructed the refund checks to be sent to addressed they controlled.
Heber Cotton admitted in court documents that he gave stolen identity information to a co-conspirator, who worked as a bank manager, who opened bank accounts with the fraudulently obtained funds, in exchange for a 20 percent cut of each refund check.
The bank manager, identified in court documents as Michael Rodriguez, managed a U.S. Bank branch inside a Tustin supermarket, Mrozek said.
He has since pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the scheme and is awaiting sentencing.
“These unscrupulous defendants, a father and son team, thought they had figured out a clever scheme to thwart the IRS and steal from American taxpayers,” IRS Criminal Investigation’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony J. Orlando added. “IRS CI has made investigating refund fraud and identity theft a top priority and we will vigorously pursue those who undermine the integrity of the U.S. tax system.”

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