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70-year-old man arrested for fraudulently obtaining $3 million in COVID business loans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:39 GMT

A man from Marina del Ray was arrested after allegedly obtaining $3 million in COVID-19 era business loans fraudulently, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. Investigators working on the case discovered that he secured loans for shell companies, not active business establishments.Mark Farag Shehata, 70, was arrested on Monday by federal agents in relation to the federal grand jury indictment. Shehata was arraigned in a U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles late Monday afternoon and plead not guilty to seven counts of wire fraud, officials said. California lawyer to plead guilty in multi-million fraud scheme Shehata, who is also known as “Samy Farag,” “Mark Farag,” and “Mark Fshehata,” is set to appear in court again on July 24. His bail is set at $500,000.According to the federal grand jury indictment, Shehata had four registered limited liability companies, or LLCs, and allegedly submitted at least seven fraudulent loan applications under the Paycheck Protection Program.T...

8 people shot at party in Carson, 2 remain hospitalized in critical condition 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:39 GMT

Authorities are investigating after eight people were shot at a house party in Carson overnight. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, a shooting took place at a gathering at a home in the 1500 block of Abila Street around midnight on Saturday. A female teenager was shot in a car, while the other victims were struck on the sidewalk or in the roadway, investigators said.Police say that civilian drivers transported victims to local hospitals and that all the victims were between 16 and 24 years old.Six victims were said to be in stable condition, with one being released from the hospital, LASD officials said at a press conference on Saturday afternoon. Two of the victims remain in critical condition, but are expected to recover.Neighbors say at least 50 teens were attending a pool party at the house on Abila Street at the end of the cul-de-sac off Martin Street. Witnesses told KTLA that they heard gunshots and saw two men flee the area in a car. Authorit...

US Open in LA turns into a quiet major with limited crowds and tough walk

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:39 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — This U.S. Open is not to be mistaken as “Golf, But Louder” on so many levels.Mostly the loud part.Bringing the second-oldest championship in golf to Los Angeles Country Club — so exclusive that some Angelenos don't know it's there — was always going to come with a cost. It's a small footprint in the rotation of U.S. Open courses, meaning a small crowd compared with the likes of Oakmont or Pinehurst No. 2.The North course is magnificent, even if it doesn't look to be a traditional U.S. Open. With a blazing sun in the forecast for the weekend, the players likely will get what they've been expecting since they arrived — firm, fast and demanding.Missing is the noise.Defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick discovered as much when he made his first hole-in-one as a professional on Friday at the par-3 15th hole.“I wish it would have been louder,” Fitzpatrick said. “I wish it was a few more people. But, yeah, I’m surprised there’s not been as many people out as I thought this...

After 29 Years on Death Row, Barry Jones Was Dumped at a Bus Station. But He Was Finally Free.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:39 GMT

Barry Jones rarely dared to imagine his release from death row. Sometimes, when he was feeling low, his paralegal, whom he called Ms. Jennifer, tried to buoy his spirits by promising that one day his legal team would drive up in the “habeas van” to the desert prison in Florence, Arizona, honking and celebrating, ready to take him home. It was never going to be like that, of course. But neither could they have predicted where Jones would find himself on June 15, in his first moments of freedom after 29 years: alone at a Del Taco near the bus station, being told he could not use the phone.The previous 24 hours had gone mostly according to plan. He’d spent Wednesday giving away most of his things to friends and neighbors on death row. The next morning, around 4:30 a.m., Jones ate some instant oatmeal for breakfast and prepared to leave his cell for the last time. He boarded a van for the ride down to Tucson, the sprawling prison complex fading from view behind him. By 9:30 he’d arrived...

Herta wins pole as repaved track produces eventful qualifying day at Road America

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:39 GMT

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (AP) — The venue that bills itself as “America’s National Park of Speed” is delivering faster times after its first repaving in nearly three decades.It’s also producing a bit more frustration.Colton Herta of Andretti Autosport earned the pole position for Sunday’s IndyCar Series race at Road America by posting a fastest lap of 1 minute, 40.1945 seconds on this 14-turn, 4.014-mile road course. That’s over 4 1/2 seconds faster than the time Alexander Rossi ran to earn the pole for last year’s event.Pato O’Ward qualified second and was followed in order by points leader Alex Palou, defending Road America champion Josef Newgarden and Rossi.Yet even Herta acknowledged afterward the challenges caused by this sprawling Wisconsin course’s first repaving since 1995. Drivers have discovered they’re in serious trouble if they go even slightly off course.“For me, it’s a very strange feeling at the wheel,” Herta said. “I think it shows by how many guys ...

Live updates | Tom Kim shoots 29 to tie the lowest 9-hole score in US Open history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:39 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Follow along for live updates in the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club.___KIM TIES LOWEST 9-HOLE SCORETom Kim has tied the U.S. Open record for the lowest score over nine holes with a 6-under 29 on the front nine in the third round at Los Angeles Country Club.The 20-year-old Kim, who was born in South Korea, made six birdies and no bogeys and got to 5 under for the tournament.It was the third straight day with a scoring record. Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele each shot a U.S. Open-record 62 in the first round, which tied for the lowest round in a major, and Fowler tied the 36-hole record at 130.Others to shoot 29 over nine holes were Neal Lancaster, final round, second nine, Shinnecock Hills, 1995; Neal Lancaster, second round, second nine, Oakland Hills, 1996; Vijay Singh, second round, second nine, Olympia Fields, 2003; and Louis Oosthuizen, final round, second nine, Chambers Bay, 2015.___WHAT TO KNOW:—Wild ride puts Fowler in th...

Ronaldo hugged and Fernandes scores 2 as Portugal wins Euro qualifier

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:39 GMT

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo was hugged by a fan and Portugal smothered Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-0 for a third win in as many qualifiers for the 2024 European Championship on Saturday.Midfielder Bruno Fernandes scored twice and set up Bernardo Silva to break the deadlock in minute 44 of an evenly disputed first half.Fernandes put the result beyond doubt with goals in the 77th and stoppage time.Ronaldo, making his 199th appearance for Portugal, didn’t add to the men’s record of 122 international goals, but he featured in a touching moment when a fan rushed onto the field waving a Portuguese flag in the second half. The man gave Ronaldo a bear hug and lifted him high. Ronaldo embraced him as well, before the fan scampered off to avoid the security guards.Portugal leads Group J with nine points, two more than Slovakia, which beat Iceland 2-1.This was the third game since former Belgium coach Roberto Martínez took over following the departure of Fernando Santos after ...

Haaland scores but Norway loses to Scotland, Portugal wins in Euro qualifying

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:39 GMT

Erling Haaland scored on his return to Norway and it wasn’t enough as Scotland came back to win 2-1 on Saturday and keep a perfect record in qualifying for next year’s European Championship.Elsewhere, Bruno Fernandes scored twice in a 3-0 win for Portugal against Bosnia-Herzegovina as Cristiano Ronaldo played his 199th international game, and Belgium drew with Austria 1-1 without the injured Kevin de Bruyne.GROUP AAfter beating Norway 2-1, Scotland is the group leader with aims of qualifying for back-to-back European Championships for the first time since 1996. Haaland opened the scoring for Norway from the penalty spot in the 61st minute but when he was substituted, Scotland seized the lead with two goals in two minutes.Haaland was brought down by defender Ryan Porteous as they vied to meet an incoming cross from Alexander Sorloth. Haaland hit the resulting penalty hard into the bottom left corner for his first goal in six games for club and country since his 35th Engli...

Loyd scores 39 to lead Storm past Wings despite 41 points from Ogunbowale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:39 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jewell Loyd scored a career-high 39 points, Seattle made 17 3-pointers and the Storm defeated the Dallas Wings 109-103 on Saturday.Seattle’s victory overshadowed a career-high 41-point performance by Arike Ogunbowale of the Wings.In the final four minutes, Loyd and Ogunbowale scored 14 points each.Seattle trailed 75-74 entering the fourth quarter but quickly regained the lead early in the period and led for the final nine minutes. A three-point play by Ogunbowale drew the Wings within one point near the four-minute mark, but in the next minute-and-a-half, Loyd hit a 17-footer, Ezi Magbegor drained a 3-pointer and Loyd hit another midrange jumper to keep the Storm out in front. Loyd added a 3-pointer and went 7 of 8 from the foul line to help put the game away in the final two minutes.Loyd made 12 of 21 shots overall, including 7 of 12 3-pointers and went 8 of 10 from the free-throw line. She also had five rebounds and five assists.Magbegor made 4 of 4 3...

Lukaku equalizes for exciting Belgium in draw with Austria

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:39 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The rebuilding of Belgium looks well on track under Domenico Tedesco, even when Kevin De Bruyne does not play.For his third match in charge, the new coach fielded a very offensive team to take on Austria in a qualifier on Saturday for next year’s European Championship. Although the contest between undefeated teams in Group F ended 1-1, Belgium excited, and a determined mindset bode well.Jeremy Doku, Dodi Lukebakio and Yannick Carrasco started alongside Romelu Lukaku, who was handed the captain’s armband in the absence of the injured De Bruyne.David Alaba celebrated his 100th cap in the heart of the Austrian defense and was busy organizing the back four and intercepting Belgian passes as the hosts enjoyed most of the possession.Lukebakio was inspired and played with pace down the right side, Doku’s runs played havoc in Austria’s defensive lines, and Lukaku pressured defenders and scored Belgium’s equalizer in the 61st minute.Belgium would have deserved to ...