BeaconMediaNews.com
4 December 2 - December 8, 2019
Gardena Man Convicted of Attempting to Smuggle Protected Coral Species from the United States to Mexico
- Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
SANTA ANITA ANNOUNCES 2019-20 WINTER/SPRING STAKES SCHEDULE Santa Anita Park, which will open for its 83rd Winter/Spring Meeting on Thursday, Dec. 26, has announced a complete stakes schedule through closing day, June 21. The schedule, which includes a total of 93 added money races, will be keynoted by a pair of Grade I stakes on opening day—the $300,000 Malibu, for 3-yearolds at seven furlongs and the $300,000 La Brea, for 3-year-old fillies at the same distance. The Malibu and La Brea will again be complemented on Dec. 26 by the Grade II, $200,000 San Antonio Stakes, the Grade II, $200,000 Mathis Brothers Mile and the $75,000 Lady of Shamrock Stakes.
The prestigious Grade I, $300,000 American Oaks, for 3-year-old fillies at a mile and one quarter on turf, will serve as Santa Anita’s final Grade I offering this year on Saturday, Dec. 28. The Grade I, $1 million Santa Anita Derby, which has produced a total of 18 Kentucky Derby winners and three Triple Crown Champions— Majestic Prince in 1969, Affirmed in 1978 and Justify in 2018, will be run on Saturday, April 4. First run in February, 1935, the Grade I, $600,000 Santa Anita Handicap, which was won this year by Hronis Racing’s Gift Box, will be contested for the 83rd time on Saturday, March 7.
A Gardena man was found guilty by a jury today of federal criminal charges that he attempted to smuggle live corals that are protected by an international treaty known as the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Jose Torres, 44, was found guilty of one count of attempting to illegally export wildlife, and two counts of making and submitting a false record for wildlife intended to be exported. According to the evidence presented at his three-day trial, in January 2013, a Mexican company named Gabriela Herlinda Medina asked to purchase fish and coral from Torres, who identified himself as the owner of the company Orca International. Medina decided that it did not
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want to wait for the CITES permits and requested that the coral be shipped immediately. On January 31, 2013, Torres attempted to ship the coral without the CITES permit. Reefbuilding coral are protected under CITES because of their importance to ocean ecosystems and their vulnerability. In furtherance of his scheme, Torres visited the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service district office in Torrance on January 31, 2013. During that visit, Torres made a false declaration that he was shipping 16 cartons of fish. In reality, Torres personally packed 40 boxes for shipment and he knew they contained protected coral. That night, Torres went to Los Angeles International Airport and provided to AeroMexico the false paperwork and 40 cartons to be transported
to Mexico. Fish and Wildlife Service officials inspected the cartons and seized 474 undeclared items, including many CITESprotected coral. United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II has scheduled a February 10 sentencing hearing, at which time Torres will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. United States Fish and Wildlife Service investigated this case, which was charged as part of Operation Jungle Book, a law enforcement initiative that targeted wildlife smuggling. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erik M. Silber of the Environmental and Community Safety Crimes Section and David R. Friedman of the General Crimes.
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Baldwin Park, Hawaiian Gardens, Fontana, Lakewood, San Pedro and Chula Vista. One incident allegedly took place in the Bay Area city of Vallejo. “This was an organized group that singled out older women for the sole purpose of ripping off these vulnerable victims with bogus promises of a big payday,” said United States Attorney Nick Hanna. “While law enforcement will do everything possible to bring criminals like this to justice, this case should serve as a reminder to potential victims and their family members that no one should ever pay an upfront fee in relation to any prize, sweepstakes or lottery.” “Our elderly community is often a convenient and lucrative target for con artists and, while we’ve charged some of the perpetrators in this case, we know many others are at work to take their place,” said Paul Delacourt, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Educating ourselves, as well as our aging family members and friends, is crucial so that they can take precautions and avoid victimization.” “It is important that we stop these financial predators, especially when they target elderly victims within the Spanishspeaking community,” said San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan. “I am proud of our investigators, who collaborated with local and federal law enforcement to bring down this network of thieves preying on victims in supermarket parking lots.” “Not in our city,” said Los Angeles Chief
of Police Michel Moore. “We will collaborate with our law enforcement partners at all levels and across jurisdictions to ensure this scam targeting elderly victims comes to an end.” The indictment also names defendant Lozada in a separate count charging him with possessing device-making equipment, commonly known as a credit card reader/ writer and used to replicate credit cards to commit fraud and identify theft. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, each defendant would face a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. This case is a result of a joint and continuing investigation by the FBI’s Major Theft Task Force in Los Angeles, which is comprised of FBI agents and Los Angeles Police Department detectives. San Diego County District Attorney investigators were instrumental in identifying the defendants in this case and tying the San Diego County incident to several others in California. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office provided considerable assistance during this investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ian Yanniello and Anna Farias-Eisner of the General Crimes Section.