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DTLA social media scammer gets 8 years, must repay $1.2M in fraud, sextortion spree

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:57 GMT

A Los Angeles man was sentenced to eight years in prison and was ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution after he admitted to a yearslong string of digital crimes.Amir Hossein Golshan, 25, of downtown Los Angeles pleaded guilty in July to one count each of unauthorized access to a protected computer to obtain information, wire fraud and accessing a computer to defraud and obtain value, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday.For years, Golshan used "SIM swapping" — "fraudulently inducing a carrier to reassign a cell phone number from the legitimate subscriber’s SIM card to a SIM card controlled by another without the legitimate subscriber’s authorization," as defined by the DOJ — to reset social media passwords and thus take over the account.From "at least April 2019 to February 2023," he targeted hundreds of people and their social media accounts, asking his victims' friends and family for money and demanding a ransom payment for the victim to have their accoun...

California man sentenced to prison for phoning bomb threats to Planned Parenthood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:57 GMT

A California man who phoned in bomb threats and left threatening voicemails to several Planned Parenthood offices has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. In June, Nishith Tharaka Vandebona, 34, of Oxnard, admitted to one felony count of transmitting threatening communications and one misdemeanor count of “threatened forcible intimidation regarding the obtaining and provision of reproductive health services under the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances,” according to the United States Department of Justice.He's remained in law enforcement custody since pleading guilty to the charges this summer.Vandebona, who was living in Camarillo at the time, admitted to using an anonymous phone number to leave voice messages that contained death threats to multiple Planned Parenthood offices.The threats were made in the wake of the United State Supreme Court's decision to overturn the landmark Roe V. Wade decision, which ruled that women had a constitutional right to abortion...

Matthew Allen-Winchester Dies in Motorcycle Accident on Cave Creek Road [Phoenix, AZ]

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:57 GMT

19-Year-Old Rider Fatally Struck in Motorcycle Collision near Greenway ParkwayPHOENIX, AZ (November 27, 2023) – Matthew Allen-Winchester lost his life Saturday night in a motorcycle accident on Cave Creek Road.Around 5:30 p.m., authorities were called to the scene near Greenway Parkway. According to officers, Allen-Winchester was traveling south on Cave Creek Road when his motorcycle collided with a westbound vehicle. The impact resulted in the rider being ejected onto the roadway.Paramedics arrived and transported Allen-Winchester to a nearby hospital, where he eventually succumbed to his injuries. The deceased victim was identified as 19-year-old Matthew Allen-Winchester by the Phoenix police.The driver of the involved vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. As of now, it is unclear whether the driver will face charges, and the incident is currently under investigation.In this sorrowful time, the Sweet James team would like to extend their heartf...

Bay Area restaurants: A new Clayton bar highlights local beer and wine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:57 GMT

A new beer and wine bar with a private event space debuted in Clayton last month with a definite Bay Area focus. Roadside 22, which serves wine, beer and light bites, is the brainchild of Nichole Simpson, a longtime Concord-based event planner who dreamed of opening her own place with her husband, Jim.Roadside 22 hosts a weekly special events, including live music with local musicians on Saturdays, craft fairs on Sundays and happy hour discounts on Fridays for teachers and school staff. The event space is free for local nonprofits to use for fundraising purposes, Nichole says.The 21-and-up bar highlights wine and beer from a different winery and brewery each month; this month’s featured offerings are from Sonoma’s Kosich Family Vineyards and San Francisco’s 21st Amendment Brewery. Related ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | Willow Glen’s Copita restaurant will begin serving lunch today Restaurants, Food and Drink | 7 incredible Ba...

Trump: Death threats against judge don’t justify gag order

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:57 GMT

By Kara Scannell | CNNDonald Trump urged a New York appeals court to continue to pause the gag order against him in his civil fraud trial, saying that threats to the judge and his law clerk do not “justify” limiting the former president’s constitutional right to defend himself.Lawyers for the New York attorney general’s office and the court last week urged the appeals court to put the gag order back in place following “serious and credible” threats that have inundated Judge Arthur Engoron’s chambers since the trial began in October.Trump’s attorneys wrote in a filing Monday that the former president has never threatened the judge or his principal law clerk and they can’t be held responsible for actions taken by others. They argued that Trump’s First Amendment right to criticize and call out his perception of bias by the judge and his law clerk without retribution is “essential” to maintaining public confidence in the trial.“At base, the disturbing behavior engaged in by anonymous, t...

The five most expensive reported home sales in Fremont the week of Nov. 20

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:57 GMT

A house that sold for $1.9 million tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Fremont in the past week.In total, five residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past week, with an average price of $1.2 million. The average price per square foot ended up at $880.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of Nov. 20 even if the property may have been sold earlier.5. $670K, condominium in the 3600 block of Capitol Ave.A sale has been finalized for the condominium in the 3600 block of Capitol Ave. in Fremont. The price was $670,000 and the new owners took over the condominium in October. The condo was built in 2019 and the living area totals 728 square feet. The price per square foot ended up at $920. The condominium features one bedrooms and one bathrooms.Capitol Avenue4. $950K, detached house in the 41400 block of Beatrice StreetThe 1,050 square-foot single-family residence in th...

Prominent Bay Area lawyer hit with state bar disciplinary charges, allegations he cheated client out of hundreds of thousands

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:57 GMT

A prominent Bay Area defense attorney whose career has spanned decades has been hit with 22 disciplinary charges by the California State Bar over allegations that he cheated a client out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, charged an “unconscionable” fee and failed to disclose a conflict of interest.The move by the State Bar, announced Monday, could result in disbarment or serious discipline against David Jonathan Cohen, a Dublin-based defense lawyer who represents clients in federal and state court. Cohen’s legal work has included employment by the very organization that is now taking aim at him; the State Bar’s news release says that Cohen was “relieved” of his duties at the State Bar’s Admissions Office, and that he’s also served as a chair of the bar’s advisory commission to the California Board of Legal Specialization.The State Bar has brought in a special counsel to prosecute the case, the news release says.Cohen happens t...

Freeze Warning, Flood Advisory issued for Bay Area as rain moves in Tuesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:57 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A Frost Advisory and Freeze Warning, along with a Coastal Flood Advisory have been issued for parts of the Bay Area Tuesday, the National Weather Service said. The Frost Advisory and Freeze Warning will continue into Tuesday morning with North Bay valleys expected to see lows in the upper 20s to mid 30s.Bay Area Flood AdvisoryThe new Coastal Flood Advisory, which follows one issued for Monday, is for the San Francisco Bay and North Bay shorelines. It is set to begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday and last through 2 p.m. During that time, flooding is possible due to a "high astronomical tide and surge," the NWS said. 5-year-old who died after being swept out to sea identified Bay Area rain returns?The winter weather advisories accompany the arrival of a weather pattern that will bring rain, and more cool temperatures."Our chilly temps will be back for one more night tonight before we see a pattern change that will bring some rain, warmer overnight lows and cooler daytime...

Dublin attorney accused of misconduct by state bar

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:57 GMT

(BCN) -- The California State Bar is accusing a Dublin attorney of overcharging and taking money from incarcerated clients while being both his trustee and criminal attorney, which is a conflict he allegedly never revealed to his client. The bar announced Monday a 22-count notice of disciplinary charges, or NDC, against David Jonathan Cohen, relating to his representation of incarcerated clients. Among other allegations of wrongdoing, Cohen is accused of misappropriating no less than $276,000 from an incarcerated client, charging him what the bar said in a statement if "an unconscionable" fee of $632,000. 5-year-old who died after being swept out to sea identified It also accuses Cohen of moving funds out of a client trust account without notice and draining most of the client's $562,000 living trust account as a successor trustee, while also representing him in a criminal matter. "The Special Deputy Trial Counsel's duty is to pursue the facts of an investigation and (a notice...

Michael Penix Jr. and No. 3 Washington need the offense to start clicking again against No. 5 Oregon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:55:57 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — While he’s had one big game after another, Rome Odunze can see not all is right with the offense for No. 3 Washington.It hasn’t looked quite right since Odunze caught the winning touchdown to beat Oregon in October — the same team the Huskies will see in the Pac-12 championship game on Friday.“I think we need to clean a lot of things up,” Odunze said. “In several different moments we’re not able to execute and move the ball. It comes down to our attitude and effort on every single play and they need to improve immediately.”Ask around and you’ll get different answers from the Huskies about where things stand on the offensive side heading into a second meeting with the fifth-ranked Ducks.Odunze expressed his worries following Washington’s 24-21 win over Washington State on Saturday that completed the first 12-0 regular season in Pac-12 history even as the conference is ready to break apart. But it was also the second straight game and third in the past six that th...