Los Angeles, Ca
Oxnard man charged with smuggling 1,700 reptiles into the U.S., including in his clothes: DOJ
An Oxnard man was charged Thursday after allegedly illegally importing greater than 1,700 reptiles into the USA, together with 60 discovered hidden in his garments final month on the nation’s border with Mexico.
Jose Manuel Perez, a.ok.a. “Julio Rodriguez,” 30, was charged in a superseding indictment with one depend of conspiracy, 9 counts of smuggling items into the USA and two counts of wildlife trafficking, the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Central District of California mentioned in a information launch.
Perez is anticipated to be arraigned on Monday in U.S. District Court docket in Los Angeles.
His 25-year-old sister, Stephany Perez, can also be charged within the indictment with conspiracy and might be directed to look for an arraignment within the coming weeks, based on the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace.
The superseding indictment returned Thursday provides allegations to an indictment initially filed on Feb. 24.
The brand new allegations embrace 14 overt acts within the conspiracy cost, together with some accusing Jose Perez of crossing into the U.S. from Mexico by automobile on the San Ysidro Port of Entry on Feb. 25 with roughly 60 reptiles – together with dozens of lizards and 4 snakes – hid inside his jacket pockets, pants pockets, groin space and pant legs, the information launch states.
Perez initially denied to customs officers that he had something to declare however later informed them that “the animals had been his pets,” the indictment obtained by the Division of Justice alleges.
From January 2016 to February 2022, the Perez siblings and their co-conspirators used social media to purchase and to barter the phrases of the sale and supply of wildlife within the U.S., based on the indictment. They allegedly marketed on social media animals smuggled from Mexico into the U.S. on the market, posting pictures and video that depicted the animals being collected from the wild.
The animals – which included Yucatan field turtles, Mexican field turtles, child crocodiles and Mexican beaded lizards – allegedly had been imported into the nation from Mexico and Hong Kong with out acquiring permits required by a global treaty referred to as the Conference on the Worldwide Commerce of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace mentioned.
For the animals allegedly smuggled from Mexico, co-conspirators would retrieve the wildlife from Cuidad Juarez Worldwide Airport in Mexico and ultimately ship the animals by automobile to El Paso, Texas, the information launch says.
Perez paid his co-conspirators a “crossing payment” for every border crossing – the quantity of which relied on the variety of animals transported, the dimensions of the package deal and the danger of being detected by authorities.
On different events, Perez and a co-conspirator traveled to Mexico to buy further stay animals that had been taken from the wild in order that the animals may very well be smuggled into the U.S., based on the indictment.
As soon as the animals had been shipped to the U.S., they had been allegedly transported to Perez’s then-residence in Missouri. However after he moved to California, the wildlife was shipped to his residence in Ventura County.
Stephany Perez allegedly assisted within the unlawful wildlife smuggling enterprise, significantly throughout two prolonged durations when her brother was incarcerated within the U.S., the DOJ mentioned.
Jose Perez has been in federal custody since his arrest on Feb. 25.
If convicted of all fees, the defendants would face a statutory most sentence of 5 years in federal jail for the conspiracy cost. Jose Perez would face a statutory most sentence of 20 years in jail for every smuggling depend and 5 years in jail for every wildlife trafficking depend.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service investigated the matter with help from the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Southern District of California, U.S. Customs and Border Safety and Homeland Safety Investigations.
Los Angeles, Ca
Smoke shop in Southern California hit by vandals in bizarre incident
An investigation is underway after a smoke and vape shop in San Bernardino County was allegedly vandalized by six people, including two very young juveniles.
Deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of the vandalism at My Generation Smoke & Vape at 14666 7th Street in Victorville at around 7 p.m., officials confirmed to KTLA.
The shop’s manager, Hasan Zaqqa, explained that an adult female entered the shop to purchase some products before asking for free merchandise.
Zaqqa said that when the shop’s employees said they couldn’t give away any items for free, the woman exited the store, went to her car and reportedly told around five other people to enter the shop and confront store employees.
Security cameras captured much of the incident, including at least two children, getting out of the car, entering the store and confronting the employees. As the group was leaving, several of them pushed over display cases on the counter, while another one grabbed an item from the store and threw it.
That’s when Zaqqa said he grabbed a stick, ran out of the store and tried to get them to leave.
It appears from security footage that he was swinging the stick at the vandals’ vehicle as it drove forward and then came to another stop as everyone exited the car and headed back to the shop’s entrance where Zaqqa and another employee were seen inside.
At that point, the woman, as well as the man who had been driving the vehicle, attempted to confront the store’s employees and ultimately began smashing the shop’s doors and windows.
The suspects fled the area before deputies arrived and remain outstanding.
The relationship between the group of people who entered and allegedly vandalized the store is unknown at this time.
Los Angeles, Ca
Ohtani wins unanimous MVP after historic first season with Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers’ superstar Shohei Ohtani is the 2024 National League Most Valuable Player.
It was a unanimous decision to award the Japanese phenom the 2024 MVP, and in doing so, create another historic moment as he becomes the first full-time designated hitter to win it.
Cementing his legacy as one of the game’s greatest players, Ohtani’s first season as a member of the Dodgers will be remembered as one of the most accomplished single seasons in sports history.
He became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season, finishing with a .310 batting average, 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, and 59 stolen bases. His 1.036 OPS led the National League and was second in all of baseball behind presumptive AL MVP Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.
The Dodgers signed Ohtani to a record-setting $700 million deal last December, and he immediately delivered on his monumental contract.
In addition to his incredible regular-season numbers, Ohtani played a pivotal role in leading the Dodgers to their first World Series title since 2020. The Dodgers defeated the Yankees in five games, with Ohtani providing key hits throughout the postseason, including a home run in his first-ever playoff game.
While injuries kept him from reaching his regular season greatness, Ohtani’s still delivered playoff heroics and helped silence any remaining doubters.
His unanimous selection as NL MVP follows three previous AL MVP awards, making him the only player in MLB history to achieve such a feat across both leagues.
Francisco Lindor of the New York Mets finished second in MVP voting, while Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte placed third.
After finally making the playoffs and winning a championship in his first year with the Dodgers, Ohtani is poised to return to the mound in 2025 as the game’s most electrifying two-way player.
Los Angeles, Ca
Dodgers meet with Juan Soto but will they land the all-star slugger?
The Los Angeles Dodgers met with four-time all-star Juan Soto this week but unless the market changes the defending World Series champs may have a tough time signing the coveted free agent, KTLA’s David “Ping” Pingalore reports.
“I can confirm through sources that @juansoto25_ did meet with Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes in Orange County today,” Ping posted on his Instagram account Tuesday.
Soto is the most sought-after slugger in the free agent market with other big-payroll teams like the New York Yankees (Soto’s most recent club) and the New York Mets expected to engage in a bidding war to land the outfielder who cracked 41 homers and knocked in 109 RBI while recording a .288 batting average in 2024.
The Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies are also expected to take a shot at Soto but Ping says Los Angeles may be hampered by a hesitancy to offer a long-term deal.
“According to sources if the market weakens the @dodgers interest would only be a 1-2 year deal as Soto seeks a long-term deal for 600m,” Ping posted.
The Dodgers are very familiar with what Soto can offer a team’s offense after facing him as a member of the Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres in the National League.
Soto also played well in the World Series against the Dodgers. Despite the Yankees losing in five games Soto batted .313 and hit a home run in Game 2.
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