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Investor ordered to pay SEC $8.3M for defrauding Hmong-American investors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:24 GMT

An unregistered investment advisor has been ordered to pay $8.3 million to the Securities and Exchange Commission for an alleged Ponzi scheme involving unsophisticated Hmong-American investors in Minnesota and Wisconsin.Kay Yang of Mequon, Wis., raised at least $16.5 million from 70 people between 2017 and 2021, according to an SEC complaint filed last year in U.S. District Court in Wisconsin.She was supposed to use the money for foreign currency exchange trading and other investments but instead spent much of it at casinos and on luxury goods and travel.In 2020, Wisconsin regulators ordered Yang to return $17 million to her investors, but she never paid, according to a judge’s order this week in the SEC case.What’s more, Yang went on to raise millions more from the same Hmong-American communities for a new venture also focused on foreign currency exchanges, using offshore bank and brokerage accounts. The SEC isn’t sure whether that venture is legitimate or not.Yang, who never...

St. Paul man put on probation for setting Lunds & Byerly’s fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:24 GMT

A St. Paul man who set a fire outside the downtown St. Paul Lund’s & Byerly’s last year — a blaze that caused over half a million dollars in damage and closed the store for three days — was sentenced Friday to three years of probation.Timothy John Arsenal, 37, pleaded guilty in January to a starting a recycling bin on fire, which quickly spread and caused extensive damage to the grocery store’s facade and canopy.Timothy John Arsenal (Courtesy of Ramsey County sheriff’s office)Two days after the March 29 fire, Arsenal kicked out a glass window at a Green Line station at Fairview and University avenues and threw a trash can lid at a moving train, according to a criminal complaint in that case charging him with first-degree criminal damage to property.St. Paul police issued a pickup-and-hold for Arsenal and Metro Transit police arrested him April 1, 2022.At the time, Arsenal was a three-time convicted felon on probation until October 2024. He was civil...

Jury selection begins May 1 in Schoharie limo crash trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:24 GMT

SCHOHARIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- As the Schoharie limousine crash trial approaches, NEWS10 is taking a closer look at what it could look like and how long the process might take. NEWS10's Trishna Begam spoke with lawyers and family members of the victims to learn how they've been preparing.The case against limo operator Nauman Hussain could take up the entire month of May, according to his attorney. The families impacted by the tragedy have been waiting for more than four years. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "Very happy that the process is moving forward," Kevin Cushing said. "We are not looking to get closure; we are looking to get justice."The courtroom inside the Schoharie County Courthouse is ready for Monday, May 1 as a pool of 1,500 potential jurors are considered."Obviously, we need to weed out the people who knew about the case and have formed an opinion," defense attorney Lee Kindlon said. "Schoharie is a small county...

St. Louis County mail theft arrest sheds light on stolen check scheme

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- A St. Louis County man pled guilty to buying and then re-selling checks stolen from U.S. Postal Service boxes. The investigation into the federal crime is shining new light on a scheme that touches anyone who uses the mail.Dennis Cooperwood Jr., 19, admitted to one felony count of possession of stolen mail Friday. He had 179 business and personal checks that had been removed from mail collection boxes. Top Story: Targeted attack claims life of St. Louis skateboarder St. Louis County officers were on patrol in the Spanish Lake area on April 12. They saw several people standing next to a car stopped in the middle of the road. Officers eventually stopped the vehicle after it drove off.They found Cooperwood in the vehicle's back seat. He was wearing a shoulder bag that had a gun and the blank checks in it. He told the officers that he buys stolen checks for $5 to $10 each. Then he scratches writing off each check to resell them for $20 to $25.Cooperwood is facing up to f...

Police arrest man accused in MetroLink train shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:24 GMT

ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ill. - Police have arrested a man accused of firing shots in a MetroLink train shooting earlier this month. John F. Goliday, 57, is behind bars just one day after the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department announced he was wanted in the investigation. Top Story: Targeted attack claims life of St. Louis skateboarder Goliday is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and booked into jail on a $100,000 bond. A 911 caller told dispatchers that shots were fired at around 9 p.m. on April 13 on the train near a MetroLink stop in East St. Louis, Illinois. The train was headed east, away from a St. Louis Cardinals game. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW When officers arrived on the scene, they found one man with a he...

There’s a new 7,700 pound elephant in town at the Denver Zoo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:24 GMT

The Denver Zoo’s elephant herd has a new member, a nine-year-old youngster who joins the locals as the newest tusker in town.Our Asian elephant bachelor herd just grew about 7,700 lbs. larger with the addition of Duncan, a nine-year-old Asian elephant, who arrived this week from @houstonzoo. Duncan is already settling in and will slowly be introduced to his new herd. Learn more: https://t.co/5Zdu1Ov9WM pic.twitter.com/tX9UiQZcAb— Denver Zoo (@DenverZoo) April 28, 2023Duncan, who weighs 7,700 lbs., arrived in Denver this week. He comes from the Houston Zoo on the recommendation of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Asian Elephant Species Survival Plan, according to a Denver Zoo news release.An Asian elephant, Duncan was born on Feb. 7, 2014, to parents Shanti and Thai.“Duncan loves cantaloupe and alfalfa hay, and enjoys swimming — especially in the rain — according to his former keepers in Houston,” the release said.Denver Zoo staff said, “Dunc...

Reward for info leading to conviction in American Elm double homicide is now $5K

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:24 GMT

A reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in a double homicide at a West Highland neighborhood restaurant in Denver is now $5,000.REWARD INCREASE – Read & RT: If you have any information regarding this homicide investigation, please call @CrimeStoppersCO at 720-913-7867 — you can remain anonymous and earn a cash reward! #Denver pic.twitter.com/jPvKaC9Kfo— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) April 28, 2023The Denver Police Department and Metro Denver Crime Stoppers announced the increase on Friday.The homicides happened Monday at American Elm in the 4100 block of West 38th Avenue, police said. The bodies of Emerall Vaughn-Dahler and Ignacio “Nacho” Gutierrez Morales were found inside the restaurant. Police continue to look for a suspect, or suspects, in the ongoing case.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Aurora homicide investigators seek public’s help in locating a suspect vehicle and driver Crime and Public Safety | ...

Disneyland temporarily pauses Fantasmic show performance after massive fire breaks out

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:24 GMT

Disneyland’s Fantasmic show is expected to be paused throughout at least May 14, according to a Disneyland official.As of Friday afternoon, performance showtimes for the show have been removed from the official Disneyland app. Dragon prop catches fire during Disneyland show; Disney temporarily suspends similar fire effects globally “Performances of Fantasmic are currently paused through at least May 14. We know our guests love and miss Fantasmic and Disneyland Resort teams are working hard to assess when we can bring back an adjusted show as quickly and safely as possible.” a Disneyland official told KTLA on Friday. The nighttime show abruptly stopped on April 22 after the Maleficent dragon prop caught fire during the show’s finale. The flames first ignited from the dragon’s face before spreading to the rest of its body, videos from the scene showed.Dark smoke from the fire could be seen throughout the park and nearby parking structures. Videos from the scene captured cast members...

2 Injured in Motorcycle Crash on West Pacific Coast Highway [Harbor City, CA]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:24 GMT

Rider Critically Injured in Motorcycle Collision near Figueroa StreetHARBOR CITY, CA (April 28, 2023) – Wednesday night, two victims sustained injuries in a motorcycle crash on West Pacific Coast Highway.Police responded to the scene around 9:30 p.m., on the 1733 block of West Pacific Coast Highway just west of Figueroa Street on April 19th.At this time, the events leading up to the collision remain unclear. However, reports indicate that a vehicle ended up on its side with its driver trapped inside. In addition, a motorcyclist was found suffering from serious injuries.Responding emergency crews extricated the occupant from the vehicle. Medics then transported the vehicle occupant and the rider to a nearby hospital in critical condition.Authorities have not yet released the identities of those involved. However, an active investigation to determine further information is still currently underway.Motorcyclists rarely escape injury when an accident occurs. It is important to nev...

Abortion bans fail in conservative S. Carolina, Nebraska

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:24 GMT

By Margery A. Beck and James Pollard | Associated PressLINCOLN, Neb. — Abortion bans in Nebraska and South Carolina fell short of advancing in close votes amid heated debates among Republicans, confounding conservatives who have dominated both legislatures and further exposing the chasm on the issue of abortion within the GOP.In Nebraska, where abortion is banned after 20 weeks of pregnancy, an effort to ban abortion at about the sixth week of pregnancy fell one vote short of breaking a filibuster. Cheers erupted outside the legislative chamber as the last vote was cast, with opponents of the bill waving signs and chanting, “Whose house? Our house!”In South Carolina, lawmakers voted 22-21 to shelve a near-total abortion ban for the rest of the year. Republican Sen. Sandy Senn criticized Majority Leader Shane Massey for repeatedly “taking us off a cliff on abortion.”“The only thing that we can do when you all, you men in the chamber, metaphorically keep ...