Los Angeles, Ca
Narcos' money launderer busted trying to steal $150,000 in DEA undercover funds
A 49-year-old man who laundered millions of dollars in narcotics-related funds from the U.S. to international drug trafficking organizations and who attempted to steal nearly $200,000 from the Drug Enforcement Administration has been sentenced to more than 7 years in prison, federal officials announced last week.
In a news release, officials at the U.S. Department of Justice say Daniel Shaun Zilke, also known as “The Englishman,” oversaw the large money-laundering conspiracy on behalf of drug traffickers for several years.
An investigation into Zilke began in late 2015 when he was contacted by an undercover DEA agent.
During the course of that relationship, the 43-year-old told the federal agent that he had a European client who needed hundreds of millions of dollars moved to Mexico and that he could utilize the bank account of a charity in Dallas, Texas to help launder the funds.
“The undercover agent agreed to assist Zilke by allowing him to use bank accounts associated with cash-intensive businesses,” the release details. “Subsequently, Zilke and his associates arranged numerous pickups of large sums of cash from drug traffickers in cities all over the country.”
At “The Englishman’s” direction, funds were deposited into various accounts, including one in the name of a purported charity called Peace Through Water Foundation and another controlled by a man in Pico Rivera.
Prosecutors said that Zilke and his co-conspirators were paid a percentage of the amounts moved through their respective accounts.
In 2019, the 43-year-old became cooperating individual for the DEA, offering to expose the money laundering organization and took $200,000 of government money to be delivered to 63-year-old Dallas resident Jeffrey Mark Thompson.
“The intent was for Thompson to launder the money through his bank accounts and return the money to DEA undercover accounts,” the release stated. “However, approximately two weeks after the cash delivery, Zilke returned to Thompson’s residence and took back $150,000 without telling the DEA agents.”
Officials said he repeatedly lied and made excuses for why it was taking so long to receive the wire transfer for the entire $200,000.
Zilke, who has been in custody since May 2023, pleaded guilty in December of that year to conspiracy to aid and abet drug distribution, conspiracy to launder money and obstruction of an official government proceeding for stealing and attempting to cover up the theft of $150,000 in undercover DEA funds.
The 43-year-old, who was most recently a resident of Mexico City, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison, fined $50,000 and ordered to $150,000 in restitution to the DEA.
Two other convictions in this case include Gustavo Adolfo Aldana-Martinez, 58, of Pico Rivera, who is serving four years after a jury convicted him in Dec. 2023 for money laundering and conspiracy to conceal drug proceeds.
Thompson was another conviction. He pled guilty in Nov. 2023 to conspiracy to aid and abet drug distribution, money laundering conspiracy and concealment money laundering of drug trafficking proceeds. The 63-year-old is awaiting sentencing and faces up to life in prison.
Los Angeles, Ca
Pasadena motorist knocked unconscious in unprovoked assault after other driver flashes high beams at him
A motorist was rendered unconscious after what authorities are calling an unprovoked attack that occurred after another driver flashed their high beams at him, authorities say.
According to the Pasadena Police Department, the victim, a 63-year-old man, was driving northbound on Raymond Avenue near Washington Boulevard when a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction flashed him around 1 a.m. Saturday.
“The victim reported that he was driving northbound on Raymond Avenue from Washington Boulevard when he observed a vehicle traveling southbound flashing its high beams at him,” a Pasadena Police Department spokesperson confirmed to KTLA. “The victim stated he stopped his vehicle and exited. He was then assaulted by an unknown suspect. The assault was unprovoked.”
The attack left the man unconscious and with a three-inch deep laceration to his head, police added. Upon regaining consciousness, the man transported himself to Huntington Hospital, and it was around 1:20 a.m. when police responded there to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon and began their investigation.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the victim told police that, due to his injuries, he was not able to provide a description of a suspect, vehicle or the weapon used, nor was he able to tell police the exact location where the assault occurred, although it was confirmed to be somewhere near Raymond Avenue and Washington Boulevard. La Pintoresca Park is located near that intersection.
No further details were immediately available.
Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to contact the Pasadena Police Department right away.
Sofia Pop Perez contributed to this report.
Los Angeles, Ca
Woman killed by driver while crossing PCH in Long Beach
A woman was struck and killed by a driver while crossing the street on Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach.
On June 3, the female pedestrian was using the crosswalk at Pacific Coast Highway and Pacific Avenue around 4:50 a.m.
She had walked against a red light and was hit by a 19-year-old driver in a Chevy sedan, Long Beach police said.
Despite lifesaving efforts, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.
“At this time, impaired driving, distracted driving and excessive speed are not believed to be a factor in this collision,” police said.
The woman’s name is being withheld pending identification by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information on the incident is asked to call Detective Joseph Johnson at 562-570-7355.
Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
Los Angeles, Ca
Man wanted for deadly Los Angeles road rage shooting extradited from Mexico
A man wanted for a deadly road rage shooting in Los Angeles was arrested and extradited from Mexico after fleeing the U.S. in 2024.
The suspect was identified as Christian Rojas, 21, of Bellflower, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Authorities had been searching for him since the deadly incident on October 10, 2024.
Rojas and a second suspect, Joshua Rojas Sr., 47, of Downey, were driving on the northbound 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights around 4 p.m. when they became involved in an altercation with another driver that escalated into a shooting.
Video of the tense confrontation showed the suspects, who were driving a Dodge Durango SUV, opening fire on two men in a Cadillac sedan.
The shooting forced the victim to pull over abruptly. That’s when a suspect ran up to the Cadillac, opened the passenger-side door and fired several shots at close range.
In a panic, the Cadillac driver tried to escape by making a sudden U-turn and driving against oncoming traffic. He eventually crashed head-on into several vehicles.
The suspects ditched their SUV and fled toward a freeway exit on foot. The Cadillac driver was left with serious injuries and his passenger was killed. Their identities were not released.
The incident caused a miles-long backup that left thousands of motorists stranded on the freeway for hours and authorities worked to clear the scene.
Following an extensive investigation, detectives identified the two men as the suspects involved.
Joshua Rojas Sr. was arrested in San Bernardino on October 22, 2024, on a murder charge. He remains in custody awaiting trial.
Meanwhile, Christian Rojas had fled the U.S. and was hiding in Mexico, detectives said. A $4.3 million bail warrant was issued for his arrest.
“Through a coordinated international effort, investigators determined that Rojas was living in Palomo de Arriba, Mexico,” CHP officials said. “The U.S. Marshals Service worked with Mexican state police to locate and arrest him on the outstanding warrant.”
On June 2, 2026, Christian was arrested and extradited to the U.S. to face a murder charge.
“This arrest demonstrates that time and distance will not shield violent offenders from justice,” said CHP Southern Division Chief Chris Margaris. “For nearly two years, our detectives remained relentless in their pursuit of those responsible for this senseless act of violence. Through exceptional collaboration with the United States Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners in Mexico, we located and apprehended this suspect and brought him back to face the charges. We remain committed to protecting the public, supporting victims and their families, and holding violent criminals accountable wherever they may try to hide.”
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