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3 L.A. County residents stole over $2.5 million in Target gift cards

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:16 GMT

Three L.A. County residents were found guilty of laundering over $2.5 million in Target gift cards.The trio was identified as:- Blade Bai, 35, of El Monte- Bowen Hu, 28, of Hacienda Heights- Tairan Shi, 29, of Diamond BarAfter a 10-day trial, all three were found guilty Tuesday of scamming victims into buying gift cards under the false pretense of resolving various financial problems, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.Between June 2019 and Nov. 2020, prosecutors estimate over $2.5 million worth of gift cards were laundered.The scheme involved overseas scammers calling victims and persuading them to buy one or more Target gift cards to rectify nonexistent issues.Some victims received calls from the suspects posing as law enforcement officers or government employees claiming the victims’ identities had been stolen or warrants were issued for their arrest. Others were sent fake tech support emails claiming issues with the victims’ financial accounts. In order to resolve these pro...

Oakland A’s lose franchise-record 109th game of season, but Esteury Ruiz’s pursuit of stolen base mark on the horizon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:16 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS — The A’s set an Oakland franchise record on Tuesday night by losing their 109th game of the season, but with five games remaining there’s still one record chase that can help the team head into the winter on a positive note.Outfielder Esteury Ruiz is on the brink of tying Kenny Lofton’s American League single-season record for stolen bases by a rookie.Ruiz remained at 65 stolen bases after grounding into a double play, striking out and fouling out in the A’s 11-3 loss to the Twins on a rainy night at Target Field.The entire A’s offense had a rough night against Twins starter Bailey Ober and three relievers. Former Twin Brent Rooker and Nick Allen had two hits each for the A’s, who were held to eight hits and struck out 15 times. Every A’s starter except Allen struck out as the A’s fell to 22-54 on the road and 48-109 overall. They entered the game tied with the 1979 team for the most losses in a season since the franchise ...

Millbrae man convicted of helping 'Boogaloo' murder officer in Oakland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:16 GMT

(KRON) -- A Millbrae man who had a "bloodlust for police" and joined a right-wing extremist group known as "Boogaloo" is facing a life prison sentence, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. A jury convicted Robert Alvin Justus, Jr., 33, of aiding and abetting the murder of Protective Services Officer Dave Patrick Underwood during a drive-by shooting in Oakland. Underwood was murdered on May 29, 2020 while he was guarding the Ronald V. Dellums U.S. Courthouse.The verdict follows a two-week trial before Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.The evidence at trial established that Justus was the driver of the vehicle from which Steven Carrillo, 35, of Santa Cruz, fired the gunshots that killed Underwood and wounded a second officer.The trial evidence demonstrated that Justus parked a white Ford Econoline van directly across the street from the federal courthouse on Jefferson Street. Officer Underwood and his partner that evening stood guard to protect the building. The passenger-side sliding door op...

Driver dies after crashing into tomato harvester east of Gilroy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:16 GMT

(BCN) -- A 78-year-old Santa Clara man died Tuesday morning after the car he was driving collided with a tomato harvester that was trying to cross state Highway 152 east of Gilroy, according to the California Highway Patrol. The man, whose name wasn't released, was driving east in a 2021 Toyota RAV4 east of Canada Road at about 7:30 a.m. when he collided with the front of the harvester and then came to a stop in a nearby field, according to the CHP. Alameda Sheriff’s Office confirms report of kidnapping is unfounded A good Samaritan stopped to help and call 911 but the man was declared dead at the scene after emergency medical personnel arrived.His passenger, a 76-year-old Santa Clara woman, was taken to Natividad Medical Center with major injuries, CHP officials said. The 22-year-old Coalinga man driving the harvester wasn't hurt in the crash. No arrests were made and CHP officials said it didn't appear as if drug or alcohol impairment were factors in the collision.Copyright © 20...

An Abe Lincoln photo made during his 1858 ascendancy has been donated to his museum in Springfield

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:16 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — During his momentous U.S. Senate campaign against Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham Lincoln sat for a photograph after politicking in western Illinois and presented one of the copies to a man severely injured while testing a cannon for Lincoln’s campaign rally. As a small measure of compassion, Lincoln presented one version of the image to the injured man, Charles Lame, who overcame a deadly infection in an arm torn up by the blast with the help of flesh-eating maggots. The tale provides an unlikely, ghastly background to the original 1858 ambrotype created during the future nation-saving Civil War president’s ascendancy, an image which the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has added to its collection, officials said Tuesday. “Original images of Abraham Lincoln are extraordinarily rare, and images with a fascinating back story like this are even more rare,” said Christina Shutt, executive director of the library and museum. “Lincoln...

Kyle Bradish goes 8 innings and Gunnar Henderson homers to lead Orioles past Nationals 1-0

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:16 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — Rookie Gunnar Henderson homered, Kyle Bradish had another dominant start and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Washington Nationals 1-0 on Tuesday night, hours after the team announced that Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson died.“I think a lot of guys tonight played with a heavy heart,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “He’s an icon in this game and an icon in this city. There’s not many of those.”Entering the night, Baltimore held a 2 1/2-game lead over second-place Tampa Bay in the AL East. The Orioles have five games remaining and hold the tiebreaker over the Rays.Bradish (12-7) allowed three hits, struck out four batters and had a pair of walks over a season-high eight innings. He has thrown at least six inning innings in his last eight starts and is 6-1 since Aug. 1.Washington was shut out by Baltimore for the third consecutive time this season.“I felt good,” Bradish said. “Being able to complete that eighth was big. The bullpen is beat up. ...

Philadelphia Phillies clinch NL wild-card berth, head to postseason for second straight year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:16 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The National League champion Philadelphia Phillies clinched a wild-card berth, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 in 10 innings on Tuesday night on Johan Rojas’ RBI single that set off a wild celebration in the outfield.Rojas’ single off Pirates reliever David Bednar (3-3) scored pinch-runner Cristian Pache and sent the crowd of more than 30,000 fans into a frenzy. “Phillies CLINCHED Wild Card” flashed on the scoreboard and the Phillies mobbed each other in celebration.Jeff Hoffman (5-2) tossed a scoreless 10th for the win.The Phillies were set for another wild clubhouse bash after clinching series victories in the NL Division Series and NLCS at home last season. They lost the World Series to Houston in six games last year and carried the weight of unfinished business into this year.Step 1, complete.Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds hit a solo shot in the seventh and Henry Davis hit one off All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel that tied the game at 2 in the eighth...

Tackling remains touchy issue for No. 8 USC after struggling in road opener

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:16 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California’s defensive performance in a 42-28 win at Arizona State on Saturday brought back a lot of the concerns about the unit from last season.There was sloppy tackling and a lack of situational awareness on critical plays. There was fourth-quarter yardage allowed, 125 yards worth this time. And there was a general sense that if not for some timely takeaways and sacks, plus the Caleb Williams-led offense there to help out, things could have been a whole lot worse for the eighth-ranked Trojans.“I think there’s always concerns,” defensive coordinator Alex Grinch said Tuesday. “There’s concerns when the scoreboard says 28 at the end of the game, and that’s no disrespect to the opponent.”But Grinch and his players believe USC (4-0, 2-0 Pac-12) is in a much better place than it was a year ago when the defense eventually buckled in the conference championship game with a spot in the College Football Playoff on the line.“Percentage-wise, again, I would say th...

La madre de Angus Cloud revela las últimas palabras que él le dijo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:16 GMT

(CNN) — Las últimas palabras de Angus Cloud, estrella de “Euphoria”, a su madre estuvieron llenas de amor.“Te quiero, mamá. Eres la mejor”, le dijo el difunto actor a Lisa Cloud, su madre, la noche de su muerte, según le relató ella a la revisa People. “Te veré en la mañana”, añadió él.Lisa Cloud, y otras personas cercanas a él hablaron con la publicación sobre sus últimos días.Cloud murió en julio de una sobredosis accidental. Tenía 25 años.Cloud, a quien su familia y amigos de la infancia conocían como “Conor”, fue encontrado inconsciente por su madre en su casa del norte de California. A pesar de intentar resucitar a su hijo, Lisa Cloud dijo que no pudo lograr que respondiera.El emotivo homenaje de Zendaya para Angus Cloud, su compañero en “Euphoria”“Estaba llamando entre gritos a mi vecino porque no quería dejarlo solo mientras llamaba al 911, y seguí así hasta que se lo llevaron”, recordó. “Yo l...

Jets sign veteran Siemian to their practice squad. Kaepernick reaches out for an opportunity

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:16 GMT

The New York Jets signed veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian to the practice squad Tuesday, giving them an experienced backup to embattled starter Zach Wilson. The team announced the move after the 31-year-old Siemian passed a physical at the Jets’ practice facility in Florham Park, New Jersey.Wilson has struggled since taking over for Aaron Rodgers, who tore his left Achilles tendon four snaps into his debut with New York. Wilson has two touchdown passes and four interceptions with a 52.4 percent completion rate and is averaging just 5.6 yards per pass.Several names had been mentioned as potential pickups for the Jets. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick wrote a letter to New York general manager Joe Douglas asking the team to consider signing him to the practice squad. The letter, dated Sept. 21, was released on social media by rapper J. Cole. A person close to Kaepernick, speaking on condition of anonymity because it’s a private matter, confirmed to the A...