Archdiocese of Los Angeles launches new program to aid migrant community
MONDAY, JULY 28-AUGUST 03, 2025
State attorney general seeks to take control of LA County juvenile halls
By Joe Taglieri joet@beaconmedianews.com By
CaliforniaAttorney General Rob Bonta on Wednesdayaskeda court approve his request for the state to take control of Los Angeles County juvenile halls.
The attorney general cited what he said were repeated operational failures at Los Padrinos and Barry J. Nidorf juvenile halls, leading to his court petition to establish a receivership for the county’s problematic juvenile detention system.
Bonta made the announcement during a news conference in downtown LA, where he noted ongoing issues at the county’s juvenile detention facilities such as youthon-youth violence, drug overdoses and insufficient staffing.
“For the first time in my office’s history, we are asking a court to place the subject of a pattern-andpractice investigation into receivership,” Bonta said in a statement. “This drastic step to divest Los Angeles County of control over its juvenile halls is a last resort — and the only option left to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the youth currently in its care.”
Bonta’s court petition filed Wednesday in LA Superior Court seeks the appointment of a receiver to oversee the operation of the juvenile halls. The attorney general accused the county of failing to comply with court judgments and orders dating back to 2021 that pertain to management of the facilities. LA County remains out of compliance with 75% of the court judgment provisions, according to the AG’s office.
“For four-and-a-half years, we’ve moved aggressively to bring the county
into compliance with our judgment — and we’ve been met with glacial progress that has too often looked like one step forward and two steps back,” Bonta said. “Enough is enough. These young people deserve better, and my office will not stop until they get it.
A receivership is the best and only option to turn Los Angeles County juvenile halls around, and we believe the court will agree.”
A receivership would turn over control of the juvenile halls to a court-appointed officer, or receiver.
In a statement Wednesday, the county Probation Department acknowledged the problems at the juvenile halls, but officials were “deeply concerned” with alleged “misleading information” in the attorney general’s court filing.
“The department fully acknowledges many of the issues raised by Attorney General Bonta regarding juvenile halls in our county,” Probation Department
officials said. “However, we are deeply concerned with some of the misleading information expressed in the attorney general’s filing. We are further concerned with his request seeking expansive authority through an expedited court process — despite its far-reaching implications and intent.
“Further, Chief Probation Officer Guillermo Viera Rosa has taken aggressive and direct steps to address several of the deficiencies that have plagued the Probation department for decades, particularly around the juvenile halls,” the statement continued.
“Since his appointment, the chief has worked to stabilize staffing, improve safety protocols including to curb the introduction of dangerous contraband into facilities, increase accountability for staff misconduct, bring fidelity to our internal investigative processes, expand access to medical and mental health services, and realign the juvenile
system — all of this despite long-standing bureaucratic and regulatory roadblocks.
“Our hope is that a receivership structure, should it be approved, be used as a collaborative tool to help remove obstacles—not as an isolating mechanism that sidelines the people and systems committed to improvements and reform,” probation officials said.
LA County supervisors voiced support for the receivership.
“We have spent years trying to improve conditions, exhausted every tool at the County level, and still, we are failing these young people,” Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose District 4 includes Los Padrinos, said in a statement. “I stand ready to do everything I can to help receivership succeed and I urge our county leadership, our chief probation officer, and our county lawyers to stay at the table to shape a process that helps
Federalprosecutors and defense attorneys agreed in court papers filed last week that former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do should have to pay between $800,000 to just over $878,000 in restitution for his bribery scheme.
Do, who was sentenced to five years in federal prison last month and is expected to begin serving his term in midAugust, will face a restitution hearing Aug. 11 before U.S. District Judge James Selna, who will determine how much the defendant owes the government.
Federal prosecutors argued that Do should repay $868,612 for the money he and his family took in the scheme, plus $9,618.80 in legal fees for the county, for a total of $878,230.80.
recipient of the bribes.
“In this case, defendant used his position as supervisor for the county of Orange to steer millions of dollars in contracts to his co- conspirators, in exchange for more than a half million dollars in bribes,” prosecutors said in a brief.
“From 2021 to 2023, defendant steered and voted in favor of more than $10 million worth of county contracts and grants to his co-conspirator’s organizations, including Viet America Society, a nonprofit that was supposed to provide meal services to the elderly and disabled, among other services.”
Do’s attorneys argue their client should repay at most $802,692, receiving credit for some of the work Do’s daughter, Rhiannon, did for the Viet America Society, the
Rhiannon Do will benefit from a diversion program as part of her father’s plea deal. She was paid $8,000 monthly between September 2021 and February 2024, for a total of $224,000, prosecutors said.
In July 2023, $381,500 from the society was put in escrow so Rhiannon Do could Attorneys agree Do’s restitution should
Alex Villanueva announces 2026 campaign for old job
The Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey. | Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles County Probation Department
Ex-OC Supervisor Andrew Do. | Photo courtesy of Supervisor Andrew Do/Facebook
TArchdiocese of Los Angeles launches new program to aid migrant community
heArchdioceseof
Los Angeles Wednesday launched a new program to help immigrants facing hardship due to recent immigration enforcement actions in the region.
At a news conference held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in South L.A., Archbishop José H. Gomez introduced the Family Assistance Program, which received an initial $50,000 donation from developer Rick Caruso.
The program aims to help Archdiocese parishes provide meals, groceries and medicine to families impacted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. The Cardinal McIntyre Fund will oversee distribution of the aid.
“Many of our friends and
family, our neighbors and fellow parishioners are afraid and anxious,” Gomez said.
“These are good hardworking men and women. People of faith; people who have been in this country for a long time and are making important contributions to our economy.”
“Now, they are afraid to go to work or be seen in public in fear that they will be arrested,” he added.
Gomez said the Archdiocese is working with Los Angeles city officials to help migrants, and he urged federal lawmakers to reform the nation’s immigration system.
Caruso, a former mayoral candidate who ran against Karen Bass in 2022, said he
ensure the kids who are not only in our custody but are in our care get the help and support they need.”
Supervisor Kathryn Barger said the was “not surprised” by receivership request.
“In truth, this moment has been a long time coming,” Barger said in a statement. “For years, I have voiced my concerns about the deepening dysfunction within the department — some of it fueled by the Board of Supervisors’ micromanagement. Today’s action is a direct repudiation of our board’s ability to effectively oversee this department. ...
“If a state receivership is what it takes to finally deliver those reforms and bring long overdue stability, then I welcome this intervention,” Barger added.
Supervisor Hilda Solis said receivership is “an important and necessary step to safeguard the well-being of the youth” detained at county facilities.
“Late last year, I co-led the emergency proclamation for our juvenile system
— an urgent measure aimed at confronting the decadeslong, systemic problems within our Probation Department, as well as the challenges from Los Padrinos,” Solis said in a statement. “I stand by that decision and know that the county is committed to working collaboratively with the attorney general to ensure the safety of our youth. We must face this crisis with urgency, transparency, and a shared commitment to doing better for those entrusted to our care.”
Problem have persisted at Los Padrinos since its 2023 reopening to house youth transferred from two facilities that state regulators declared unsuitable for youth detention. State regulators have also declared Los Padrinos unsuitable, but the Downey facility continues to operate because the county does not have anywhere else available to house youth detainees.
In May, an LA juvenile court judge approved the Probation Department’s plan to reduce the number of detainees at Los Padrinos.
In March, 30 county
By City News Service
and his wife felt compelled to help during such a difficult time for migrant families.
“We’re going to open up with a $50,000 gift to this fund to help those who are in need, and there will be a matching gift for another $50,000 once we get that number,” Caruso said.
He cited his family’s immigrant background as motivation.
“What we have today are thousands of people who are waking up everyday with fear,” Caruso said. “They’re worried about sending their children to school. They may have lost somebody who was taken because of these raids, and can no longer pay for rent or pay for food.”
He said the goal of the program is to prevent vulnerable families from becoming homeless. Donations can be made to lacatholics.org/immigrantsupport.
Juvenile halls
probation officers faced criminal charges stemming from allegations officers staged and stood idly by during fights involving youths.
Earlier this month, an outside contractor was accused of bringing Xanax pills into the facility. Downey resident Alejandro Lopez, 21, an employee of the nonprofit Student Nest, was charged with one felony count each of bringing or sending a controlled substance into a juvenile hall or camp and possession for sale of a designated controlled substance, authorities said.
Prosecutors also allege that Lopez induced a Los Padrinos “young adult ward,” who was also charged with a felony, to participate in the scheme, according to the LA County District Attorney’s Office.
Two days after Lopez’s arrest, at least nine people, including one youth detainee, were hospitalized after exposure to an unknown substance at Los Padrinos.
Last week, another contract worker was detained
after trying to bring a concealed knife into the facility.
The employee, who was hired through Apple One to work with the county Department of Youth Development, was escorted from the premises and ordered not to return while the matter was investigated. A search of his belongings also revealed a canister of pepper spray.
Both the spray and the knife were seized as evidence. The employee’s name was not released.
Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said the state attorney general’s receivership request indicates “how deeply broken our juvenile probation facility operations have become” and accused union leaders who represent probation officers of “blocking reform at every turn.”
Horvath said in a statement, “In order for a receivership to have a chance at successful restructuring, the state must take on the challenge LA County has faced for decades — employment agreements and civil
service procedures that have protected the rights of those who have harmed our young people, instead of the young people themselves.”
Union leaders issued statements firing back at the Board of Supervisors for the juvenile detention system’s issues.
“For years, the Board of Supervisors has ignored our warnings and failed to invest in the sworn officers who serve on the front lines,” said Stacy Ford, president of the Los Angeles County Deputy Probation Officers Union. “The result has been a manufactured crisis — one that the County itself has perpetuated through chronic hiring freezes, hostile working conditions, and the outsourcing of public safety responsibilities to untrained civilians.”
Reggie Torres, president of the Supervising Deputy Probation Officers Union, said, “The failure to support probation has left our supervisors without the staff, resources, or legal structure to lead effectively. Mandatory deployments, extended
West Nile virus found in LA, Orange County
By City News Service
Southland residents are being asked to take precautions after health officials found mosquito samples testing positive for West Nile virus in Los Angeles and Orange counties, officials
said Wednesday. The Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District confirmed the first mosquito samples to test positive for West Nile virus in Los Angeles County this year, officials said
Wednesday. The samples were collected from mosquito traps in Arleta, South El Monte and Valley Glen, confirming the presence of the virus in mosquito populations within the community.
shifts, and back-to-back holdovers have exhausted our team, jeopardized community supervision, and made it nearly impossible to keep up with court-ordered duties. We hope the Attorney General’s office takes immediate steps to relieve these pressures and bring structure back to the department.”
LA County Public Defender Ricardo Garcia also responded to the AG’s receivership request.
“Any state intervention must prioritize the safety, well-being, and constitutional rights of every youth,” Garcia said in a statement. “Instead of further investment in a carceral system, state action should prioritize lasting transformation of how the criminal legal system treats its most vulnerable youth and continue to move away from punishment toward healing, education, and care, not cages.”
A copy of the receivership request, which a judge is reviewing, is available on the attorney general’s website via tinyurl.com/ mws786ud.
Subsequent testing confirmed three additional WNV positive mosquito samples collected in Van Nuys, Panorama City and Lake Balboa.
“West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease transmitted to people through the bite of an infected Culex mosquito,” said Steve Vetrone, GLACVCD assistant general manager of vector management. “The virus is endemic to Los Angeles County with activity typically increasing during the summer months.”
West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-
Archbishop José H. Gomez held a press conference Wednesday to launch the Family Assistance Program to help parishes provide services such as groceries, meal and prescription deliveries for those who have been affected by the recent immigration enforcement policies. | Photo courtesy of Archdiocese of Los Angeles / Facebook
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‘We stand on the brink of system failure’: Feds up pressure for states to reach deal on the future of the Colorado River
By Leia
The clock is ticking for seven states to figure out how they’ll share dwindling water in the Colorado River for the foreseeable future. The Salt Lake Tribune shares an update on the impending deal on what will happen with the Colorado River.
In a meeting at the Utah State Capitol on June 26, the river’s four Upper Basin state commissioners further embraced the idea of a “divorce” with their Lower Basin neighbors — an idea also floated at a meeting in eastern Utah last month, as reported by Fox 13.
and California — are up against a 2026 deadline, when the current agreements on how to share the river lapse.
But negotiations between the four Upper Basin states, which includes Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico, have been in a standstill with the remaining three Lower Basin states for more than a year.
notice,” Cameron said. “Clearly, they would prefer more to have more than a couple of weeks’ notice to get a bill passed.”
The federal government is also working to engage around 30 tribal nations located in the river basin, which have varying water rights and water infrastructure.
Upper Basin and Lower Basin will agree on how much water is released,” said Chuck Cullom, executive director of the Upper Colorado River Commission, in a phone interview. “Therefore, we don’t have to fight about everything else.”
newspaper of general circulation in court case number KS017174 City of Baldwin Park, County of Los Angeles, State of California. The Burbank Independent has been adjudicated as a newspaper of general circulation in court case number ES016728 City of Burbank, County of Los Angeles, State of California.
The
“Today we stand on the brink of system failure,” said Becky Mitchell, the commissioner for Colorado. “We also stand on the precipice of a major decision point.”
Despite a few wet winters, storage in Lake Powell and Lake Mead — the nation’s largest reservoirs — are teetering close to the dangerously low levels they hit in 2023.
“We have to deal with reality,” said Gene Shawcroft, Utah’s commissioner. “We don’t have a choice.”
Federal managers are preparing to repeat the emergency measures they took in 2022, like draining Flaming Gorge reservoir to prop up Lake Powell. The priority is to ensure the mega-reservoir stays full enough to continue releasing water to Lower Basin States and generating hydropower.
Meanwhile, the states that rely on the Colorado River for their water supply — Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada
The Interior Department’s acting assistant secretary for water and science, Scott Cameron, has met with leadership in the seven states that use Colorado River water since April, working to broker a deal.
“We all have to live in the physical world as it is,” he said, “not as we might hope it will be.”
Cameron presented water managers with a deadline.
The Interior Department plans to release a draft environmental impact statement evaluating different alternatives for the river’s future in December, which will then open to public comment.
The department will make its final decision on how to proceed by June 2026.
“The goal is to essentially parachute in a seven-state deal as the preferred alternative,” Cameron said.
For that to work, the states will need to reach an agreement by Nov. 11. By Feb. 14, they’ll need to hand over the details of their plan.
Whatever the states decide on, Cameron reminded commissioners, will likely take an act of Congress and new policy adopted by most of the affected states’ legislatures.
“They’ve been put on
The idea of framing the future relationship of the river users as a “divorce” was first pitched by the Lower Basin states, Mitchell said.
Under that proposal, the Upper Basin states would release water from Lake Powell based on the average natural flow measured at Lee’s Ferry, a point just downstream of the reservoir and upstream of both Grand Canyon National Park and Lake Mead.
“If done correctly,” Mitchell said, “it should provide the opportunity for the Upper and Lower basins to manage themselves, with the only real point of agreement being the Powell release.”
And like a divorce, the two parties should be careful to not let legal spats block progress, the commissioners said.
The proposal could eliminate the Upper Basin’s obligation to send a set amount to the Lower Basin states each year. Under the original 1922 compact, the upper states agreed to deliver 7.5 million acre-feet annually. But under the “divorce” agreement, releases would be based on what’s available in the system.
“The idea is that the
More than 40 million people in the United States, Mexico and across multiple tribes depend on water from the Colorado River. As the climate across the basin warms and snowpack has become less reliable, the Colorado River’s volume has also declined.
It has raised contention between states, where water managers in the Upper Basin say they have taken real-time cuts to grapple with shortages while Lower Basin states — which have senior water rights — have consumption that consistently exceeds what’s available.
“Reductions in the Upper Basin should not just simply translate to more water to the Lower Basin,” Shawcroft said. “We ought to be able to use that water within our states to help satisfy our own shortages.”
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox issued an emergency drought declaration this spring for 17 of the state’s 29 counties, most of which lie in the Colorado River watershed.
Lake Powell sat at 33% full as of the week of June 22.
This story was produced by The Salt Lake Tribune and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Re-published with
Larsen for The Salt Lake Tribune via Stacker
| Photo courtesy of Trent Nelson for The Salt Lake Tribune
Your cortisol is probably fine. Here’s what TikTok gets wrong about the ‘stress hormone’
By Alisa Hrustic for Thriveworks via Stacker
Have you given any thought to your cortisol levels lately? The so-called “stress hormone” has become a popular scapegoat, blamed for everything from exhaustion and bloating to anxiety, brain fog, muscle cramps, and lack of focus. But as with any health “issue” that gains traction on social media, it’s hard to know who to trust or what information is actually worth your attention.
Here’s the thing: Our bodies have been dealing with cortisol since the earliest humans ran from tigers and bears to stay alive. So why is this ancient hormone suddenly getting so much attention? Thriveworks shares what to know.
What Is Cortisol?
Cortisol is a hormone made and released by your adrenal glands, two triangle-shaped organs that sit on top of each of your kidneys. It’s known as the “stress hormone” because it’s a primary player in your fight-or-flight response, or your body’s reaction to stress. But cortisol does much more than handle stress. It also helps your body with many other essential functions, including controlling blood sugar levels, regulating blood pressure, and reducing inflammation.
Your brain constantly monitors cortisol levels in your bloodstream and communicates with your adrenal glands to adjust production based on your body’s needs. For example, cortisol is woven into your sleep-wake cycle: Your brain signals your adrenal glands to release it to help you wake up. Cortisol levels peak in the early morning and then gradually taper throughout the day.
The key point: Your body relies on cortisol to carry out many vital functions, and your brain is constantly fine-tuning your levels.
How Cortisol Drives Your Stress Response
When you’re met with a physical or psychological threat, cortisol and other hormones spring into action, priming your body to face the threat or flee from it. The physiological reaction— mental alertness, higher blood pressure, a faster heart rate, rapid breathing—is designed to give your muscles the energy you need to get through a stressful scenario. That’s why nonessential body functions like digestion also slow down.
The problem? Your brain is a “really old machine,” says Kate Hanselman, a boardcertified psychiatric mental
health nurse practitioner at Thriveworks. It’s built to respond to life-or-death situations, like surviving in the wilderness. But our stressors look completely different now.
“When we think about stress today, we’re not talking about being hunted by a pack of wolves. We’re talking about running late or feeling overwhelmed,” Hanselman says.
Millions of years ago, the fight-or-flight response helped humans hear cracking twigs, spot the wolves, and run or hide for safety. “In modern life, we don’t have as many opportunities to expel the impacts of cortisol,” Hanselman says. You don’t actually run when your boss sends an anxiety-inducing email (as much as you’d probably like to). The email might cause a temporary cortisol spike, and that’s normal. Levels of the hormone naturally fluctuate, so once the tense moment passes, your body goes back to baseline.
High Cortisol Levels: When Is It a Problem?
It’s impossible to know if your cortisol level is a concern without seeing a primary care doctor or endocrinologist. Only a blood test can indicate if your cortisol levels are abnormally high. If that happens, your doctor will
likely screen you for a condition like Cushing’s syndrome (also called hypercortisolism), a rare disorder that occurs when your adrenals pump out too much cortisol for a long period. Cushing’s is usually triggered by long-term, highdose use of oral steroid medications or benign tumors on the pituitary gland at the base of the brain.
Signs of High or Low Cortisol
Physical symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome are pretty distinct, Hanselman explains. Not everyone with the condition shows these signs, but they can include:
• Weight gain
• A fatty hump between the shoulders
• Increased fat around the neck
• Easy bruising
• Purplish stretch marks
• Hair loss, particularly in women
• High blood pressure
• Muscle weakness
• A rounder face
Experts sometimes see higher-than-normal cortisol levels in other hormonerelated conditions as well, like polycystic ovary syndrome, which has been linked to an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.
On the flip side, it’s also possible to have low cortisol levels, leading to conditions like:
Addison’s disease, when the adrenal glands don’t produce enough of the hormone
Hypopituitarism, when the pituitary gland fails to tell the adrenals to produce the hormone
These conditions can lead to symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, low blood sugar, muscle cramps, weakness, and stomach upset. Again, a blood test is required to diagnose any conditions associated
with high or low cortisol levels.
Common Misconceptions About Cortisol
When people post about cortisol on social media, they’re generally not pointing to a diagnosable condition. Rather, they’re talking about stress itself and wrongly blame “high cortisol” for every negative health consequence they experience.
Here’s the reality: If you’re chronically stressed—which happens when any type of stress goes on for weeks or months—you’ll feel physically and mentally unwell.
When you’re working nonstop, dealing with a life transition, or recovering from a health scare, there’s often a cascade of mental and physical effects, Hanselman says. You might have achy muscles, trouble sleeping, or brain fog, among other symptoms—but these don’t all come down to a single hormone.
Stress can cause you to freeze up as much as it can rev you up. You may be so drained that all you can do after work is lie on the couch and watch TV. So when you notice physical changes—like weight gain if you used to be more active—it’s natural to look for a culprit. “Is it cortisol keeping weight on you, or is it your response to stress, regardless of what the hormone is doing, keeping weight on you?” Hanselman asks.
The bottom line: While higher cortisol levels are linked to chronic stress, cortisol levels are not entirely within your control, nor are they a single problem to solve—especially not with the latest “hormone-balancing” supplements promoted on TikTok.
What to Do if You Think You Have High Cortisol
If you’re so stressed that you’re worried about your
cortisol levels, speak with your doctor about your symptoms. “I recommend primary care first because that’s the place where they can rule out a lot,” Hanselman says. “They can run tests to tell you if it’s something diagnosable and treatable.”
Next, turn your efforts toward what you can control: reducing stress in general. If it’s bad enough that you’re seeking medical attention, connecting with a mental health professional might be more helpful to you than trying to figure it out alone. They can help you pinpoint the source of your stress, make lifestyle changes, and set attainable goals that support your mental health.
“I can’t tell you how many people come to me and say, ‘I’m stressed and I don’t know why,’ or ‘I’m stressed but I think I should be able to handle this,’ and we can actually recalibrate your expectations,” Hanselman says.
The Bottom Line on Cortisol
Here’s what you need to know: Having abnormally high or low cortisol levels is rare and tied to specific medical conditions that require blood tests to diagnose. What social media calls “high cortisol” is usually just chronic stress—which absolutely deserves attention, but not the kind you’ll find in a supplement bottle.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress and wondering about your cortisol levels, skip the online rabbit holes. “Talk to your primary care provider and a mental health specialist,” Hanselman says. “We can help you figure out what it is, what it isn’t, and what to do about it.”
This story was produced by Thriveworks.
Re-published with CC BY-NC 4.0 License.
In 2023, Facebook Marketplace attracted up to 1.212 billion online shoppers per month, and Marketplace usership is still growing. When you’ve got that many largely unregulated, peer-topeer deals going down, you’re bound to attract an army of scammers rubbing their grubby little hands together in the online shadows.
So, how can you avoid becoming a victim of a Facebook Marketplace scam? That’s a broad question in a broad marketplace, but Spokeo put together a list of some of the most popular scams to be aware of. With online street smarts and a little help from this guide, you can navigate Facebook Marketplace with confidence — and maybe even find some shareworthy deals while you’re at it.
How Does Facebook Marketplace Work?
Facebook Marketplace works pretty much like any other online classifieds space, and is a competitor to sites like Craigslist and OfferUp — among tabs like “Groups” and “Events” on Facebook, you’ll find Marketplace, person-toperson classified ads for privately-owned items sorted into categories like “Electronics,” “Property Rentals,” “Home Goods” and more. Each ad is created and posted by the seller, with Facebook simply acting as the host, and users can search a specified radius in any U.S. locality. Buyers and sellers work out the deal and the hand-off via Facebook’s messaging system.
While Marketplace focuses on person-toperson exchanges — officially speaking, only physical products are allowed — it differentiates itself by offering shipping options, so users can buy products from anywhere in the continental United States if the seller chooses.
Of course, this opens up an extra can of scammy worms. Because Market-
How to avoid Facebook Marketplace scams
place is mostly peer-to-peer, regulations are light, to say the least. Per Facebook itself, “Both buyers and sellers are responsible for things sold in a Facebook buy and sell group or on Marketplace.”
Purchase protection only applies to certain items ordered by mail, putting the responsibility of protecting yourself as a local buyer almost fully on the individual, which is all the more reason to dive into the dos and don’ts of safely navigating Marketplace.
9 Types of Facebook Marketplace Scams
1.Counterfeit Goods
Especially when it comes to hot brands like Gucci, Apple, Prada, and Chanel, Facebook Marketplace counterfeits abound. In 2022, analytics firm Ghost Data reported more than 26,000 active counterfeiters operating Facebook accounts. If you’re seeing items sold at wild discounts, like 60 or 70% less than what they go for elsewhere, be wary.
2.Damaged Goods
Ideally, you should only pay a seller after you’ve had a chance to inspect the goods with your own hands and eyes. Shipping, though, is a whole new ballgame — you can’t always assess the actual condition of a product with a few JPEGs (to say nothing of some Facebook users’ photography skills), and you may receive items that don’t stack up to what you thought you purchased.
This is especially common for electronics, as scammers may intentionally sell non-working electronics, which you can’t test from afar, at a this-shouldvery-much-work type of price. While con artists may sell intentionally busted stuff, honest sellers will address your concerns and find a resolution.
3.Goods Not Received Facebook Marketplace’s shipping option can make shopping more breezy, but the reality is that if you agree to accept delivery through the mail, you run the risk of
By Dan Ketchum for Spokeo via Stacker
not receiving the item at all, despite having paid for it. Thankfully, Facebook does offer purchase protection on most items purchased this way. More on that later.
4.Sketchy Giveaways…
While some legit giveaways only ask for your name and Facebook profile, others may ask for a whole form’s worth of private information, like bank account or Social Security numbers, or even passwords. That sort of info-mining smells like a phishing scam, a common type of racket that attempts to separate you from sensitive information in order to commit identity theft and access your bank accounts. If you’re unsure who you’re dealing with, running a quick people search can help verify someone’s identity before sharing any personal details.
5. …and Other Phishing Scams
On that note, any type of Facebook Marketplace transaction that asks you for private information is likely to be a phishing scam. Local sellers don’t need your Social Security or bank account routing number to sell you a TV, and legit shippers will rely on Facebook Checkout, so you don’t need to give them any financial info directly.
6.Advance Payments
For local purchases, if a seller asks you to send payment in any way, shape, or form before you have an item in your hands – often to “secure” or “hold” the purchase of an in-demand item – that should trigger your internal alarm. The same goes for any non-local purchases that ask you to pay upfront using off-site means rather than Facebook Checkout.
7.Rental Rackets and Car Cons
In the same vein, the advance payment ripoff is particularly common in the areas of real estate rentals and vehicle purchases. These types of Facebook Marketplace scams will
either insist on advance “holding” payments or ask for “security deposits” before you’ve ever seen the property or vehicle. They may also phish for valuable private info under the guise of a “background check.”
8.Extra Charges
It goes without saying that an in-person deal should only cost what you and the seller agree upon. For buying Marketplace stuff by mail, that’s even more true; items purchased via Facebook Checkout should only include the cost of the product and shipping. “Insurance” and other extra charges are bogus attempts to dip into your pockets.
9.“Verification” Codes
If a seller wants to send you a code via text message to “verify your identity,” you’re looking at a Facebook Marketplace scam. What’s happening here is that the sketchy seller is trying to
get your phone number in order to set up a Google Voice account that they can then use to scam and phish others without putting their own number at risk. This one may not immediately drain money from your bank account, but it can lead to trouble for you and other victims down the line.
Watch Out for These Red Flags
From counterfeit stuff to phishing attempts, there’s a whole spectrum of signals that should set off the Facebook Marketplace scam siren. Right off the bat, be aware of these nearly universal red flags:
-Services, animals, and healthcare products for sale. Per official Facebook Marketplace rules, these are a no-go.
-Prices that seem too good to be true on luxury items. Likewise, for rentals that are way below market
rates.
-Similarly, multiple posts of the same item using the same picture across different locations is a big red flag. Click the seller’s profile to peep their other listings before committing.
-Sellers asking you to take the conversation off-site. That’s a big red flag for a phishing shakedown; don’t do it.
-Sellers asking for additional charges outside of shipping.
-Fake-looking Facebook profiles. Smart scammers don’t want to divulge their true identities on social media, so keep your eyes peeled for brand-new seller profiles with few friends, fake-looking photos, or inconsistent profile info.
-Sellers getting too personal or divulging sob stories during your DM
Scams Page 06
PixieMe // Shutterstock
Scams
exchange is often the first sign of a phishing scam.
Ways to Stay Safe
So, at the end of the day, is Facebook Marketplace safe? It can be if you protect yourself with a few common-sense steps, starting with these scam-proof staples:
- Only purchase shipped items using Facebook Checkout.
- Meet local sellers in a public, populated place. Avoid going into a seller’s home or inviting them into yours. Take your goods home unassisted by the seller, and bring a friend or family member with you for pick-ups if you can.
- Inspect your goods thoroughly in person, or request additional photos if you’re unsure about a shipped purchase.
- Don’t send advance payments for local items.
- Never pay with gift cards. Scammers often request this form of payment because it’s not easily traceable, meaning if you get scammed this way, you’re plain out of luck.
- If you’re considering a high-value purchase or rental, consider doing a quick background check on the seller to make sure everything adds up.
What To Do If You Get Scammed
Local Transactions
Because Facebook places virtually all responsibility on the individuals in a local Marketplace transaction, there’s not much you can do if the worst happens. First, you can report a seller via Facebook if you believe you’ve been scammed. This may result in the seller being banned from Marketplace, but it won’t get your money back. The short of is that local transactions simply aren’t covered by any form of Facebook’s purchase protection, though you can of course notify your local police if you believe a crime was committed, and report scams that you think may be repeated to the FTC via their free ReportFraud website.
You can also report counterfeit items on Facebook, whether you purchased them in person or by mail. Speaking of… Purchases By
If you’ve been the victim of a Facebook Marketplace scam involving shipped (or, in this case, maybe unshipped) items, you’ve got a little more leeway for getting your money back. When you purchase an item using Facebook Checkout (i.e. not peer-to-peer payment methods like PayPal, Venmo, or cash), Facebook includes Purchase Protection automatically on eligible items (most everything but vehicles, rentals, services, and orders over $2,000).
In this case, you can file a Purchase Protection claim with Facebook if you didn’t receive your order, if the item arrived damaged or differently than described, if the seller didn’t honor a promised refund, if the purchase was unauthorized, or if the seller has been banned. After reviewing the claim, and possibly requesting more info or reaching out to the seller along the way, Facebook may offer you a full refund. Alternatively, your bank may cover you for fraudulent purchases on your debit or credit card.
This story was produced by Spokeo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Re-published with CC BY-NC 4.0 License.
Former Disney exec Peter Rice to lead LA28 opening, closing ceremonies
By City News Service
Producer and former Disney executive Peter Rice will serve as head ceremonies and content for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it was announced Wednesday.
Rice will be the first major Hollywood executive to lead Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies. He will oversee the creative direction and production of all four ceremonies, which will take place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
The LA28 Games will open with the Olympic opening ceremony on July 14, 2028, split between the two venues. The Olympic closing ceremony will be held at the Coliseum on July 30.
The Paralympic opening and closing ceremonies are scheduled for Aug. 15 and Aug. 27, respectively, at SoFi Stadium..
According to LA28, the organizing committee for
the Games, Rice’s appointment reflects an effort to showcase Hollywood storytelling and leverage the city’s role as the entertainment capitol of the world.
Rice will report directly to Casey Wasserman, LA28 chairperson and president.
“Peter is one of the rare individuals whose expertise seamlessly combines creativity, operational insight and production excellence to deliver ceremonies that will captivate audiences around the world,” Wasserman said in a statement.
“He’s been a leading figure in shaping the modern television and film landscape and is the perfect asset to reimagining the delivery of the opening and closing ceremonies for the digital age, leaving a legacy well beyond the Games,” he added.
Rice’s work has received 51 Academy Award nominations, 42 Golden Globe nominations and 293
Emmy nominations. He has overseen more than 300 shows and over 4,000 hours of annual content across multiple platforms, the organization said.
“Los Angeles stands as a global beacon of entertainment, culture and diversity, and I’m incredibly honored to embark on this next chapter,” Rice said in a statement. “I look forward to delivering Ceremonies that honor the legacy of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and to celebrate the cuttingedge future of the 2028 Stadium.”
Rice began his career at 20th Century Fox in 1989 and held several executive roles before being named president of 21st Century Fox in 2017.
After Disney acquired the company, he became chairman of Walt Disney Television and later chairman of General Entertainment for The Walt Disney Company.
Glendale City Notices
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF ALBERT L. CONNER, JR. aka ALBERT LAWRENCE CONNER, II aka ALBERT L. CONNER
Case No. 25STPB07920
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of ALBERT L. CONNER, JR. aka ALBERT LAWRENCE CONNER, II aka ALBERT L. CONNER
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Albert L. Conner, III in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Albert L. Conner, III be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held on August 14, 2025 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 79 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.
Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
Attorney for petitioner:
TERRENCE J O REILLY
800
Telephone (562) 947-1665
7/21, 7/24, 7/28/25 CNS-3948135# GLENDALE INDEPENDENT
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF VALERIE HARRIET
DENNETT aka VALERIE HARRIET
MYERS
Case No. 25STPB08030
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of VALERIE HARRIET DENNETT
aka VALERIE HARRIET MYERS
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Shoushan Movsesian in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Shoushan Movsesian be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
LOS ANGELES CA 90017 CN118549 CONNER Jul 21,24,28, 2025 WEST COVINA PRESS
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: ROBERT S. REMMEL AKA ROBERT SHELDON REMMEL CASE NO. 25STPB07902
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of ROBERT S. REMMEL AKA ROBERT SHELDON REMMEL.
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by SUE CAMPION in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that SUE CAMPION be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 08/22/25 at 8:30AM in Dept. 29 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
Attorney for Petitioner KENNETH G. CAMPION - SBN 65380
2604-B EL CAMINO REAL #317 CARLSBAD CA 92008
low the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 08/14/25 at 9:00AM in Dept. F2 located at 17780 ARROW BLVD., FONTANA, CA 92335
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held on August 15, 2025 at 8:30 AM in Dept. No. 11 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.
Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
Attorney for petitioner: STEFANIE S CUTLER ESQ SBN 254364
RUTTENBERG CUTLER BROOMER LLP
11150 W OLYMPIC BLVD STE 1100 LOS ANGELES CA 90064
CN118558 DENNETT Jul 21,24,28, 2025 BURBANK INDEPENDENT
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF:
VICTOR CHARLES LA MONT CASE NO. PROVA2500552
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of VICTOR CHARLES LA MONT.
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by CINDY STONEHOUSE in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN BERNARDINO.
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that CINDY STONEHOUSE be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will al-
by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code.
Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
Attorney for Petitioner MARY-FELICIA APANIUS - SBN 212766
OLDMAN, SALLUS & GOLD, LLP 16133 VENTURA BLVD., PENTHOUSE ENCINO CA 91436
Telephone (818) 986-8080 7/21, 7/24, 7/28/25 CNS-3948966# ONTARIO NEWS PRESS
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF ELLIOT STONE GRAHAM
Case No. 25STPB07928
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of ELLIOT STONE GRAHAM
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by Vivian Afsher in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that Vivian Afsher be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held on August 15, 2025 at 8:30
AM in Dept. No. 44 located at 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: NANCY B. COPELAND AKA NANCY BENDER COPELAND CASE NO. 25STPB08074
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of NANCY B. COPELAND AKA NANCY BENDER COPELAND.
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by CRAIG A. COPELAND in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.
Attorney for petitioner: JONATHAN D KASSEL ESQ SBN 90620
HAYDEN & KASSEL ALC 5959 TOPANGA CYN BLVD STE 305
WOODLAND HILLS CA 91367
CN118131 GRAHAM Jul 21,24,28, 2025
GLENDALE INDEPENDENT
NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: MARY HENRIETTA RICHESON AKA MARY H. RICHESON AKA MARY RICHESON CASE NO. 25STPB08037
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the WILL or estate, or both of MARY HENRIETTA RICHESON AKA MARY H. RICHESON AKA MARY RICHESON.
A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by MARY R. TUCK in the Superior Court of California, County of LOS ANGELES.
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that MARY R. TUCK be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.
A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 08/15/25 at 8:30AM in Dept. 11 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
Attorney for Petitioner ELIZABETH T. PIERSON, ES.SBN 138489 GILLPIERSON 2601 OCEAN PARK BOULEVARD,
THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that CRAIG A. COPELAND be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.
THE PETITION requests the decedent’s WILL and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The WILL and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 08/26/25 at 8:30AM in Dept. 29 located at 111 N. HILL ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.
IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.
Attorney for Petitioner
RICHARD A. GALOFARO, ESQ.SBN 237678
ROBERT J. COLEMAN, ESQ.SBN 281061
MUSICK, PEELER & GARRETT LLP 333 S. HOPE STREET, SUITE 2900 LOS ANGELES CA 90071
Telephone (213) 629-7819
BSC 227172 7/24, 7/28, 7/31/25 CNS-3950290#
Suzie Abajian
Alex Villanueva announces 2026 campaign for old job
By City News Service
FormerLosAngeles
County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has declared his candidacy to challenge Robert Luna in the June 2 primary, despite a 19-percentage point loss in 2022.
“Over the last several years, Los Angeles County has seen the consequences of failed leadership, not just in the sheriff’s department, but across our local government,” Villanueva said in a video released Tuesday night.
“Promises made in 2022 have been replaced with a grim result -- over a quarter of the workforce gone, an ongoing exodus of experienced personnel, and a tragedy of deputy suicides and in-custody deaths,” he continued.
“On our streets, lawlessness has become the new normal, with street take-
overs, looting, and organized burglary crews terrorizing our communities. Families feel unsafe. Deputies feel unsupported. It’s time to bring steady, proven leadership back to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
“We must rescue this department from paralyzing dysfunction, rebuild it back to full strength, and restore our capacity to fight, solve and prevent crime. That includes ensuring we can respond swiftly to disasters and emergencies and being able to evacuate vulnerable residents in harm’s way when every second counts.”
Earlier this year, Luna announced he would seek re-election, citing reduced crime and increased transparency as key accomplishments.
“Under my leadership,
to the jails and Antelope Valley settlements and increased
community engagement and outreach,” he said in a statement on his website.
“My bottom line: As
sheriff, our service must always be effective, respectful, empathetic, and constitutional.”
In April, Lt. Oscar Martinez of the sheriff’s Palmdale station announced plans to challenge Luna in 2026, saying he was running because the department needs a leader who will empower deputies to do their jobs.
“I’m putting my career and everything that I’ve worked for on the line, not for personal gain, but for my partners in law enforcement, as well as the future of public safety in our communities,” said Martinez, who has been with the department for more than 16 years.
Martinez was especially critical of Luna for not doing enough to defend deputy Trevor James Kirk,
who was found guilty in February of excessive force for assaulting and pepperspraying a woman during a 2023 confrontation outside a Lancaster supermarket.
Luna defeated Villanueva, 61.3% to 38.7%, on Nov. 8, 2022.
In 2018, Villanueva, defeated Jim McDonnell, now chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, after one term. He went on to also become a one-term sheriff four years later after repeated clashes with the county Board of Supervisors over funding and policy matters as well as the agency’s Civilian Oversight Commission.
Villanueva lost a bid to oust Supervisor Janice Hahn from her Fourth District seat in 2024, receiving 28.1% of the vote in a three-candidate race to Hahn’s 57.8%.
TV Shows on the rise as overall on-site production falters in Los Angeles
By City News Service
Film production in the Los Angeles area continued to lag in the second quarter of the year, though television producers were bringing more work to the region, according to a report released Tuesday by FilmLA.
Between April and June, on-location filming dropped 6.2% compared to the same period in 2024 -- falling from 5,749 shoot days to 5,349 -- according to FilmLA, the official film office for the city and county of Los Angeles and surrounding jurisdictions.
Feature films, commercials and other non-TV categories all declined:
-- Feature films fell 21.4%, dropping to 553 shoot days from 704; -- Commercials dropped by 15.3%, with 692 shoot days, down from 817;
-- Other projects -- including still photography, student
films, documentaries, short films, online content, and music and industrial videos -- fell 17.3%, with 1,925 shoot days, down from 2,327.
However, television production increased by 17%, rising to 2,224 shoot days from 1,901 in the second quarter of 2024.
In both the feature films and television categories, production increased compared to the first quarter of 2025 by 18.4%, or 102 shoot days, and 3.4%, or 75 shoot days, respectively.
The report arrives as state lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom recently approved an expansion of the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program, a move FilmLA expects will boost future production.
“FilmLA is elated with the news of the passage of the California Film & Television Tax Credit Program by the
California State Legislature,”
FilmLA President Paul Audley said in a statement.
“We are grateful to our partners and collaborators across the industry and in government who joined together to advocate for a stronger, modernized and revitalized California where production can thrive once again.”
The organization worked for months alongside a multiparty coalition of studio, independent filmmakers, entertainment union and guild members, among others, to lobby for the expanded tax credit program from about $330 million to $750 million.
Additionally, legislators increased the available credit amount for an individual project from 20% to 35%, according to Film LA.
Another bill is expected to raise the per-production
incentive cap from $100 million to $120 million, and triple total program funding for independent films from $26 million to $75 million.
Beginning in the 2025-26
fiscal year, tax credits in California will become refundable.
“While there is work ahead to bring Los Angelesarea production back to its
full potential, we are optimistic and grounded in our mission to keep production affordable, accessible and straightforward,” Audley added.
borne disease in Los Angeles County and is naturally found in the environment across the entire county, even in areas where recent mosquito sample detections have not occurred. Because there is currently no human vaccine for the virus, health experts said residents should take personal protective measures by using mosquito repellent when spending time outdoors, especially during peak mosquito activity.
repellent with any of the following active ingredients: DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend using insect
Meanwhile, Orange County residents are also being asked to take precautions after health officials found mosquito samples
testing positive for West Nile virus in Anaheim and Garden Grove. The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District confirmed the samples, officials said Tuesday.
To avoid virus-carrying mosquitoes, health experts
recommend finding and disposing of standing water to eliminate breeding grounds.
Residents can take precautions by wearing mosquito repellent when mosquitoes are most active, at dawn and dusk.
People infected with the virus generally experience mild symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. People over age 50 and people with underlying health problems can develop more serious health problems if they are infected with the virus.
West Nile
LASD has also improved compliance related
Alex Villanueva. | Photo courtesy of Villanueva for Los Angeles County Sheriff 2022
| Graph courtesy of FilmLA
Immigrants rights group: ICE raids focused on Latino neighborhoods
By City News Service
Federalimmigration enforcementagents
have conducted 471 operations in the Los Angeles area and focused on neighborhoods with a high population of Latinos and communities of color, according to results of an analysis released last week by an immigrant-rights group.
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles, one of the largestbased immigrant rights organizations in the county, released an analysis of recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities in Los Angeles County.
Using a heat map, the group was able to break down confirmed accounts of ICE operations reported to the LA Rapid Response Network between June 6 and July 20.
“The blatant racial profiling by the Trump administration is clearly visible in this map,” Angelica Salas, executive director for CHIRLA, said in a statement.
“Areas where people of color live and work, which also include major Latino hubs, were racially profiled and targeted,” she said. “This military federal immigration enforcement operation was a surgical attack meant to provide panic and confusion, and unleash terror in our neighborhoods.”
The map, called Areas of Focus for Federal Enforcement Activity, identified the top 10 ZIP codes with the highest number of immigra-
tion enforcement actions reported to the Response Network. Those ZIP codes are: -- 91402 with 22 ICE actions in the San Fernando Valley; -- 90660 with 18 actions in Pico Rivera; -- 90026 with 15 actions in the Silver Lake-Echo Park area; -- 90201 with 14 actions in Bell Gardens; -- 90028 with nine actions in Hollywood; -- 90011 with eight actions in Vernon-South Los Angeles; -- 90015 with eight actions
in Pico/Union downtown Los Angeles; and -- 90012, 90065 and 90280 with a total of 21 actions, seven each, in Little Tokyo, Glassell Park and South Gate.
The map showed that the communities of Pacoima and North Hills in the San Fernando Valley; Norwalk, Bellflower, Downey and South Gate in Southeast L.A.; and the Pomona area had the highest amount of ICE activity.
In the span of time between June 6 and July 20, CHIRLA received a total of
1,677 calls reporting ICE activity throughout the region. Nearly 1,500 of those reports mention armed agents being present during an enforcement action.
Of these reports, about 389 detail what was described as random arrests of community members.
Additionally, reports from trained first responders noted many ICE agents wore plain clothes, drove unmarked vans and made identification difficult.
ICE activity also occurred near schools, parks, and resi-
dential intersections, according to CHIRLA.
The organization noted that in nearly nine out of 10 reports, witnesses could not confirm which federal agency was involved, highlighting what it called a lack of transparency in immigration enforcement efforts.
CHIRLA is one of several organizations suing the Trump administration alleging ICE agents have been detaining people without reasonable suspicion beyond their race, ethnicity or occupation, effectively racially
profiling.
On July 15, federal officials were pushing to reverse a Los Angeles judge’s ruling that barred immigration agents from such action.
Government lawyers contend the judge’s order halting so-called “roving patrols” of federal immigration agents in the Los Angeles area is a “straightjacket” that prevents President Donald Trump “from ensuring that immigration laws are enforced.”
The lawsuit against the federal government further alleged federal agencies, including DHS, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, engaged in unconstitutional and unlawful immigration enforcement raids by targeting Angelenos based on their perceived race and ethnicity and denying detainees constitutionally mandated due process.
White House border czar Tom Homan previously criticized the order.
“Look, we’re going to litigate that order, because I think the order’s wrong. I mean, (the judge is) assuming that the officers don’t have reasonable suspicion. They don’t need probable cause to briefly detain and question somebody. They just need reasonable suspicion. And that’s based on many articulable facts,” Homan told CNN’s “State of the Union.”
buy a $1.035 million house in Tustin, prosecutors said. His other daughter, Ilene, received $100,000 in October 2022, prosecutors said.
Viet America Society “did not provide the meals to elderly and disabled residents as it had promised,” prosecutors said. The nonprofit also used the bribes to “buy a commercial property, pay co-conspirators, and transfer money to other companies affiliated with VAS and the co- conspirators,” prosecutors said.
“Of the approximately $9.3 million that the county paid to (Viet America Society), (the nonprofit) only spent about 15% ($1.4 million) on providing meals,” prosecutors said.
Prosecutors objected to
giving credit to Rhiannon Do for her work for the nonprofit. Do “previously argued this amount was not fully a bribe but partially included actual work Rhiannon performed. This argument defied reality.”
Prosecutors said some of the money was used to help her buy the house. The prosecutors noted Rhiannon Do was a “full-time student, she had virtually no prior experience in mental health, and she was making a nearly sixfigure annual salary to run a company funded entirely by her father’s corruption.
“Defendant lauds his daughter’s hard work, but his prior submissions to the court justifying her executivesized salary include one-page fliers and a 91-word outline
document, which he characterizes as her `delivering an app.’”
Also, the prosecutors noted, she shouldn’t benefit because her job was “merely a front used to funnel bribe payments to defendant.”
Do’s attorneys argue there is no evidence that he was aware of the overall scheme.
“There is no denying that Mr. Do’s conduct in accepting bribes was shameful and a betrayal of his constituents,” his attorneys wrote in court papers. “As reprehensible as his conduct was, there is no evidence he knew about the broader scheme.
“Accordingly, Mr. Do now stands convicted of conspiracy to commit bribery, not to the broader conspiracy
to commit fraud and essentially steal approximately $10 million by failing to provide contracted-forservices and has admitted receiving between $550,000 and $730,500 (subject to an increase if additional receipts are found) in bribes.”
The defense attorneys note that in the indictment of co-conspirators
Peter Anh Pham and Thanh Huong Nguyen there are no allegations or evidence that Do “knew Mr. Pham and others failed to perform the contracted-for services and were stealing millions. The only overt acts in the indictment for which Andrew Do is responsible are related to the house payment and steering the contracts to
Peter Pham.”
The defense attorneys also noted that the house in Tustin has been forfeited to the government and that the sale of it “should off-set any amount of restitution ordered.”
Do’s attorneys argued that his daughter “did significant work for Warner Wellness Center, and it would, in fact violate California law for her to work for approximately 17 months with no compensation. Assuming she has earned at least the fast-food minimum wage of $20 (per hour) ... she earned no less than $65,920, bringing the final restitution number to $802,692.00.”
The attorneys say Rhiannon Do drafted human resources and company
manuals, interviewed and hired staff, including vetting a doctor, multiple clinicians and contracts as well as researching regulations for hiring clinicians from Vietnam.
They also say she worked with food scientists to prepare appropriate menus for seniors and conducted lab testing on nutritional values.
Rhiannon Do “was very concerned about providing health services to Asian Americans — and even wrote her thesis in law school specifically on health disparities among Asian Americans,” the attorneys said.
Do has “a limited ability to pay restitution,” his attorneys said.
Andrew Do
| Map courtesy of CHIRLA