California
California family members plead guilty in $600M nationwide catalytic converter theft scheme
SACRAMENTO — Three members of a California family pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy for their role in a ring that shipped $600 million worth of stolen catalytic converters from California to New Jersey, federal prosecutors said.
Brothers Tou Sue Vang, 32, and Andrew Vang, 28, along with their mother, Monica Moua, 58, were part of “a national network of thieves, dealers, and processors” who provided the stolen auto anti-smog devices to a metal refinery for more than $600 million dollars, according to a statement from the U.S. attorney’s office.
Twenty-one people from California and New Jersey have been charged in the case, prosecutors said. The three Sacramento family members pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport the devices in return for more than $38 million.
Tou Sue Vang also pleaded guilty to 39 charges related to money laundering, prosecutors said.
Catalytic converters are easily stolen and contain precious metals including platinum.
“Some of these precious metals are more valuable per ounce than gold, and their value has been increasing in recent years,” the U.S. attorney’s office said. “The black-market price for catalytic converters can be above $1,000 each.”
California accounts for 37% of catalytic converter theft claims nationwide, with about 1,600 reported stolen each month, federal prosecutors said.
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The No. 8 Miami Hurricanes play against the California Golden Bears in a college football game tonight. The matchup will begin at 9:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
Miami enters this matchup with a 5-0 record, and the team is coming off a close 38-34 win against Virginia Tech. The Hurricanes almost conceded a touchdown pass in the final seconds of the game, but the pass was ruled incomplete.
During the victory, Miami accrued 508 total yards. The team’s star quarterback Cam Ward threw for 343 yards and four touchdowns, which helped the Hurricanes overcome a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Notably, Ward has thrown for 18 touchdowns and more than 1,700 yards this season, so he will look to continue his success tonight.
California enters this matchup with a 3-1 record, but the team has a 0-1 record in conference play. In their last game, California lost 14-9 against Florida State.
During the loss, California was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. The team accrued more than 400 total yards, but they missed two field goals and never scored a touchdown. The California offense will try to bounce back with a better performance tonight.
Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
Gov.Gavin Newsom is hoping his latest round of homeless encampment resolution funding will not just help clear the state’s sidewalks — but also hold cities and counties more accountable for making it happen.
Newsom on Friday doled out $130.7 million to 12 cities and six counties, aiming to clear homeless encampments and provide shelter, care and support. Among the recipients are Riverside and San Bernardino counties, Pasadena and Los Angeles cities, but missing this round was Los Angeles County.
Newsom said L.A. County’s absence is not an oversight, nor is it a political maneuver.
“A disproportionate share has gone to L.A. City and L.A. County, as well as their C.O.C. (Continuum of Care), so they’ve been well resourced,” Newsom said. “It’s not intentional. I wouldn’t read between the lines.”
L.A. County received $51 million of homelessness funding from the state in May.
Newsom said so far, the state’s $1 billion encampment resolution program has doled out more than $737 million to clear encampments across California.
As part of this latest round of funding, Newsom said he’s also stepped up accountability measures and promised to claw back funding if the cities or counties fail to meet the requirements. The new standards, he said, are essential to reduce encampments and reclaim California’s public spaces.
Related story: Newsom makes good on threats against Norwalk for its ban on homeless shelters
“We need to re-democratize our streets and do it in a compassionate way, with our values intact, support the people who are out there and the underlying causes,” Newsom said. “But, we need to take back the streets.”
Newsom said the encampment resolution program is working. Since July, 991 encampments have been removed and more than 12,000 have been removed over the past three years.
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Riverside District Attorney’s Office found faulty scales and scanners that regularly overcharged for food.
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