Coordinator of the March 2, 2021, smuggling incident that resulted in thirteen fatalities near Holtville, California, pleads guilty in court today. Jose Cruz Noguez confessed that he and his co-conspirators smuggled a large number of undocumented migrants into the United States by loading them into modified SUVs and breaching the international boundary fence between Mexico and the United States.
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Gaslamp Quarter St. Patrick’s Day Celebration 2023
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in style with the Gaslamp Quarter St. Patrick's Day Celebration 2023. Enjoy bar crawls, festivals, restaurant specials and much more with your fellow leprechauns.
read moreSan Diego Sheriff's Department Releases Video of Deputy-Involved Shooting
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department has released video footage of a deputy-involved shooting that occurred on March 10, 2023. The incident is currently under investigation by the San Diego Police Department, the District Attorney's Office, CLERB, the FBI, and the United States Attorney's Office.
read moreNarcotrafficker Pleads Guilty to International Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy
Raul Flores-Hernandez, aka El Tio, 70, was found guilty of international cocaine trafficking conspiracy. Flores-Hernandez, led a drug-trafficking organization based in Mexico’s Jalisco State that trafficked cocaine from South America to Mexico for subsequent importation into the United States.
read moreRomanian Citizen Arrested and Charged In $5 Million Covid Relief Fraud
Constantin Sandu of Romania was arrested and charged in a federal complaint for masterminding a scheme to steal more than $5 million in California unemployment insurance benefits intended to help workers impacted by the pandemic. The arrest was made after the Romanian suspect was found to have conspired with 214 unnamed Romanian co-conspirators across California and in Romania to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars in California unemployment insurance benefits.
read moreFormer Wells Fargo Personal Banker Sentenced for Money Laundering and Bank Fraud
Leopoldo Lora-Aguilera, a former Wells Fargo personal banker, was sentenced to 33 months in custody for money laundering conspiracy and bank fraud. Aguilera was involved in an international money laundering organization based in Tijuana, Mexico which laundered funds in excess of $12.5 million dollars before being disrupted by the FBI. Aguilera abused his position by opening and using bank accounts with false identities to wire transfer millions of dollars to Mexico, in exchange for cash payments from the criminal organization. The FBI investigation linked these funds to the sale of narcotics by a Mexican drug cartel; Melisa Valdivia Diaz, Alma Leticia Murillo Valdivia and Jorge Alberto Ortiz Borrego have also been arrested for participating in the scheme
read more17th Annual San Diego County High School Mock Trial Competition Brings 700+ Students to Court
Over 755 San Diego County high school students competed in the 17th annual San Diego County High School Mock Trial Competition, marking it the largest competition to date. Students tackled a criminal trial scenario, arguing pretrial issues involving the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure. The competition aims to give students hands-on experience in learning about the law and the Constitution, with state and federal judges volunteering their time during the trials and attorneys coaching the high school students. The winner will go on to represent San Diego County in the Statewide Mock Trial Competition next month.
read moreFour Men Arrested for Attempted Murder and Weapons Charges in San Diego
San Diego Police Department arrested four men involved in an attempted murder and weapons trafficking case in southeastern San Diego. Three of the suspects were responsible for attempted murder while the fourth was involved in weapons trafficking. The defendants are expected to be arraigned on Friday, February 17.
read moreThree San Diego Residents Sentenced for Conspiring to Kidnap a Former Business Associate with Intent to Intimidate or Murder
Three San Diego residents have been sentenced for conspiring to kidnap their former business associate with the intent to intimidate or murder him. The defendants, Salam Razuki, Sylvia Gonzales, and Elizabeth Juarez, were sentenced to prison terms of 84 and 46 months for their involvement. The victim was to be taken to Mexico to prevent their ongoing business disputes from resulting in monetary judgments against the defendants. The plan was thwarted when the person solicited to commit the crime alerted the FBI, and subsequent planning meetings were recorded. The defendants were found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
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