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CJNG cartel leader and sister indicted in massive timeshare fraud targeting Americans

23Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

New York

CJNG cartel leader and sister indicted in massive timeshare fraud targeting Americans

BROOKLYN, NY – A senior member of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), along with his half-sister, has been indicted for orchestrating a massive international fraud scheme that targeted thousands of Americans who own timeshare properties in Mexico. According to an indictment unsealed earlier today in the Eastern District of New York, Julio Cesar Montero Pinzon — also known as "El Tarjetas," "Moreno," "El Chess," "Cesar Hernandez Jimenez," and "CH Jimenez" — and his half-sister, Griselda Margarita Arredondo Pinzon, are each charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Montero Pinzon also faces two additional charges related to supporting a foreign terrorist organization, based on his leadership role in CJNG. The defendants, both...

Nodus International Bank chairman pleads guilty in $13.6 million fraud that led to bank’s collapse

23Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Puerto Rico

Nodus International Bank chairman pleads guilty in $13.6 million fraud that led to bank’s collapse

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The former chairman of Nodus International Bank has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after federal investigators revealed a years-long scheme that led to the bank’s collapse in 2023. Juan Francisco Ramirez, 60, of Miami, Florida, admitted to conspiring with others between 2017 and 2023 to fraudulently divert more than $13.6 million from Nodus, a Puerto Rican international banking entity. The scheme violated internal bank policies and Puerto Rican law by hiding insider transactions from fellow board members and regulators, including the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of Puerto Rico (OCIF). According to court documents, Ramirez arranged for Nodus to invest more than $11 million into a Miami-based lender, knowing the mon...

Former Sanger police officer sentenced to five life terms for sexually assaulting four women

23Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

California

Former Sanger police officer sentenced to five life terms for sexually assaulting four women

SANGER, CA – A former Sanger police officer has been sentenced to five consecutive life terms after being convicted of sexually assaulting four women during his time in uniform. DeShawn Torrence, 41, was convicted in January 2025 by a federal jury in the Eastern District of California on eight counts of deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law. Five of those counts involved kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse, or attempted aggravated sexual abuse. According to trial evidence, Torrence used his authority to target women he encountered during official duties: He kidnapped a 21-year-old woman walking to a store, drove her out of town in his police car, and sexually assaulted her at an isolated location. He told her “no one is going to look for you,” and warned her...

Keyante Reed wanted in killing of Markesse Owens in Riverbank

23Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

California

Keyante Reed wanted in killing of Markesse Owens in Riverbank

RIVERBANK, CA – Authorities are searching for 19-year-old Keyante Aaron Reed, who is wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of 41-year-old Markesse W. Owens. According to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, the shooting occurred around 3:56 p.m. on September 19, 2025, in the 6100 block of Claus Road in the City of Riverbank. Deputies arrived to find Owens suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts, Owens was pronounced deceased at the scene. Deputies securing the residence found two juveniles inside the home. Both were unharmed and safely removed. The Stanislaus County Major Crimes Unit launched an investigation and identified Reed as the suspect. A warrant for murder has been issued for his arrest. His current whereabouts are unknown. Reed is ...

Man arrested after firing gun during domestic dispute with children in car, police say

23Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Wisconsin

Man arrested after firing gun during domestic dispute with children in car, police say

JANESVILLE, WI – A man is in custody after allegedly firing a gun during a domestic-related dispute inside a parked vehicle with two children in the backseat, according to the Janesville Police Department. Officers responded around 3:20 a.m. on September 23 to the 1600 block of Milton Avenue after reports of shots fired. When they arrived, a woman told police that while she was sitting in her parked vehicle, a man identified as Daniel Cordova pulled out a gun during an argument and fired a shot inside the car. Two children were in the backseat at the time, but no injuries were reported. Cordova fled before police arrived, and witnesses confirmed seeing him leave the area in another vehicle. Multiple agencies, including the City of Delavan Police Department and the Walworth County...

Court rules GEICO not responsible for $2 million judgment in Florida crash case

23Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Florida

Court rules GEICO not responsible for $2 million judgment in Florida crash case

ATLANTA, GA – The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has affirmed the district court’s entry of summary judgment in favor of GEICO Casualty Insurance Company in a bad faith lawsuit brought by Katherine Martinez. The panel, consisting of Circuit Judges Luck, Lagoa, and Abudu, held that no reasonable jury could find GEICO acted in bad faith under Florida law based on the evidence presented. Martinez was severely injured in a three-vehicle crash in Miami-Dade County on February 12, 2009. The crash occurred when a pickup truck driven by Rene Carranza rear-ended the SUV in which Martinez was a passenger, causing it to spin into the path of a northbound truck driven by Diana Guevara. Guevara was insured by GEICO with a bodily injury policy limit of $10,000 per person ...

Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office denies Nextdoor claims of officer-involved shooting

23Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

South Carolina

Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office denies Nextdoor claims of officer-involved shooting

BEAUFORT COUNTY, SC – The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has issued a statement refuting widely circulated false claims made on the Nextdoor platform regarding an alleged officer-involved shooting near Beach City Road. According to the Sheriff’s Office, a post published via the “Safety Alerts” feature on September 23 falsely claimed that a police officer had been shot and that the suspect had fled into nearby woods. Other unverified accounts referenced a possible connection to a local Walmart. Officials confirmed that no shooting occurred and no law enforcement officers have been injured. The Sheriff’s Office emphasized that in the event of any confirmed public safety threat, such as a shooting or injured officer, residents would be promptly notified through official means, ...

Tenth Circuit affirms conviction in felon-in-possession case against Eddie White Jr.

23Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Colorado

Tenth Circuit affirms conviction in felon-in-possession case against Eddie White Jr.

DENVER, CO – The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has affirmed the conviction of Eddie White Jr. in a direct criminal appeal challenging his sentence for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. File Photo (September 2025) White was convicted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas (Case No. 2:19-CR-20055-HLT-1) of violating 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). During trial, the Government presented undisputed evidence establishing the elements required for conviction. White admitted to possessing a Glock 9mm pistol but argued that his possession was under duress. The case was heard before Judges Hartz, Ebel, and Rossman, with the opinion entered for the court by Judge Ebel. The court reviewed multiple claims raised on appeal, includi...

Surveillance video released of suspects in double fatal shooting on Bissonnet Street

23Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Texas

Surveillance video released of suspects in double fatal shooting on Bissonnet Street

HOUSTON, TX – Houston Police have released surveillance video of two suspects wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of two men outside a business located in the 8900 block of Bissonnet Street. https://youtu.be/JxhmrYjeUKE?si=jm5tg97uSdD_BS1W The shooting occurred around 5:35 p.m. on September 23, 2023. According to HPD Homicide Division Sergeant C. Ponder, officers arrived at the scene and found two unresponsive males with gunshot wounds. Houston Fire Department paramedics pronounced both victims deceased. The victims have been identified as 48-year-old Desmond Moore and 30-year-old Dester Chavez. Investigators believe Moore was the intended target, while Chavez was an innocent bystander. Surveillance footage released by police shows the suspects, believed to...

Suspect charged with capital murder after fatal shooting on Unity Drive

23Sep

By Houston StringerNo Comments

Texas

Suspect charged with capital murder after fatal shooting on Unity Drive

HOUSTON, TX – Houston Police have arrested 18-year-old Henry Steven Aguilar in connection with the fatal shooting of a man found on the sidewalk in the 3400 block of Unity Drive. The incident occurred around 11:05 p.m. on September 21. Officers initially responded to a robbery and carjacking in the 6300 block of Skyline Drive, where a male victim reported his vehicle was taken by three Hispanic male suspects, one of whom was armed with a rifle. The armed suspect fled the scene in a black sedan, while the other two left in the victim’s vehicle. While investigating, officers were flagged down by a citizen who reported seeing a man lying on the sidewalk nearby. Officers found a 25-year-old male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by Housto...