Century City-Westwood News July 30, 2021

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Century City/ Westwood JULY 30 – AUGUST 26, 2021

NEWS CenturyCity-WestwoodNews.com

NYC Man Arrested in Kidnapping of Dementia Patient at West Los Angeles VA Medical Center Johnny Ray Gasca charged with one count of kidnapping in connection to July 19 kidnapping By Sam Catanzaro A New York man faces up to life in prison for his alleged abduction of a 68-year-old woman with dementia at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Johnny Ray Gasca, 51, of Bronx, New York, was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed July 20 with one count of kidnapping, an offense that carries a statutory maximum penalty of life in federal prison, according to the Department of Justice U.S. Attorney’s Office Central District of California (DOJ). The FBI arrested Gasca on Monday afternoon outside a Hollywood motel and also rescued the victim at the same time. According to the affidavit in support of the

criminal complaint, the victim was kidnapped at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Monday after attempting to obtain a medical appointment at the VA facility. The victim was accompanied by a long-time friend, and as the two of them “approached their car, Gasca appeared unexpectedly,” the affidavit states. “Gasca put his arms around [the victim] and pushed her toward a gold-colored pickup truck that was parked nearby. Gasca then picked [the victim] up and threw her into the rear portion of the truck’s passenger compartment.” After VA police contacted the FBI later in the morning, the victim’s friend told agents she recognized Gasca, believed he previously was in “some kind of relationship with the victim”, according to the DOJ. In addition, the friend suspected Gasca may have taken some of [the victim’s] money from her bank and retirement accounts, the affidavit states. The witness also reported that the victim previously noted she was missing some of her credit cards, and when the two went to the victim’s bank to review her accounts, bank records showed a $35,000 withdrawal from the victim’s retirement account, followed by a number of Venmo, MoneyGram and PayPal transactions that the friend believed the victim

did not have “the knowledge or wherewithal” to conduct, according to the affidavit. “Within hours of beginning its investigation, the FBI located the victim’s phone at The Dixie Hollywood Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard, where agents converged. Soon

after, Gasca and the victim exited the hotel, leading to Gasca’s arrest,” the DOJ wrote in a press release. “During an interview recounted in the affidavit, Gasca described the victim as

Kidnapping, see page 10

West LA Permanent Supportive Housing for Seniors, Veterans Breaks Ground 51-story, five story building coming to Santa Monica Boulevard By Chad Winthrop A five story supportive housing project for seniors and veterans recently broke ground in West Los Angeles. A special groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 6 to celebrate the upcoming construction of a 51-unit, 5-story permanent supportive housing development for seniors and senior veterans who are experiencing homelessness. The development, dubbed 11010 SMB, will provide 50 affordable studio units and one on-site management unit. This pet friendly development will come with a host of amenities including a rooftop deck and security. Comprehensive wraparound services, which are tailored to residents’

needs, will include case management, medical and psychiatric treatment services, client plan development, group meetings, and more. This development site is located at 11010 Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles and adds to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit’s existing portfolio of interim and permanent supportive housing options for those experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. The project reflects the Weingart Center’s mission to provide homeless individuals with the basic tools necessary to stabilize their lives, secure income, and break the cycle of homelessness. “The short timeline, from the RFP award to the entitlements to the groundbreaking itself has been a swift process,” states Weingart Center President & CEO, Senator Kevin Murray. “It’s an exciting process that will provide much needed support and comfort to Seniors and Veterans experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles.” JPMorgan Chase provided financing to Weingart Center Association to support construction. “From its innovative modular design and the plethora of social services, 11010 Santa Monica Boulevard will

A rendering of a local supportive housing project in West LA.

not only allow residents to get back on their feet, but once again thrive in the community,”

said

James

Credit: Perkins & Will

Vossoughi,

Vice

President,

Housing Vets, see page 10


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Century City-Westwood News July 30, 2021 by Mirror Media Group/ Modoc Media/ Englewood Review - Issuu