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Orange County businessman arrested in alleged $1.8 million fraud scheme

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:50 GMT

An Orange County businessman who allegedly portrayed himself as one of the richest men in Africa has been arrested in a $1.8 million fraud scheme.Amadou Kane Diallo, 44, a Senegalese national living in Laguna Niguel, was arrested Thursday on federal charges alleging he solicited investments under false pretenses while using the funds to support a lavish lifestyle, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.Officials said Diallo fraudulently obtained more than $1.8 million from at least 11 victims who were told their “investments would allow them to reap the benefits of Diallo’s supposed business successes while facing little to no risk,” officials said.As the CEO of two Newport Beach-based companies – Virtual Advisors LLC and Liquide, Inc. — Diallo allegedly used the companies to solicit investments for business opportunities in various sectors including technology, healthcare, real estate, home ownership and service to the African diaspora.Diallo allegedly made false claims to his vic...

Skeletal remains from 1970 cold case identified in San Bernardino County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:50 GMT

New evidence has helped law enforcement identify the remains of a man from a 1970 cold case death investigation in San Bernardino, officials announced on Thursday.  The discovery of the skeletal remains, found near Little Sandy Creek, north of San Bernardino, dates back to Nov. 15, 1970, according to a news release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. The charred remains, burned during a brushfire, were found by a hiker.  An autopsy at the time found no evidence of foul play or injury to the skeletal remains but did rule that the remains were burned post-mortem and that the fire was not associated with the cause of death.  “Due to the lack of identity of the skeletal remains, and no other investigative leads, the case went cold,” officials said.  However, in Nov. 2022, authorities sent a bone fragment from the remains to Othram Inc., a forensics laboratory in Texas that specializes in genome sequencing and human identification. Two months later, O...

Investigation underway into in-custody death at Milpitas jail

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:50 GMT

MILPITAS — Authorities are investigating the death of a 57-year-old male inmate at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas.Deputies found the man unresponsive in his cell at 11:12 a.m. Wednesday, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. He received CPR at the jail and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:35 p.m. the same day.The coroner’s office will release the man’s identity once it is confirmed and his next of kin is notified.The sheriff’s office said it is following standard protocol for an in-custody death and conducting a joint investigation with the coroner’s and district attorney’s offices.There were no immediate signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances leading to the man’s death, the sheriff’s office said, adding that he was housed alone at the time.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Man in custody smashes out window, falls to death at O’Connor Hospital Crime and Public Safety | Ca...

Women’s College World Series: Stanford softball can’t break No. 1 Oklahoma’s win streak

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:50 GMT

By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports WriterOKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Stanford freshman NiJaree Canady softball was locked in a pitcher’s duel Thursday against Oklahoma, the two-time defending champs, but was eventually outdone by Sooners ace Jordy Bahl, putting the Cardinal on the brink of elimination in the Women’s College World Series.Bahl threw a five-hitter with 11 strikeouts to help Oklahoma defeat Stanford 2-0 Thursday in its tournament opener.“Jordy was absolutely on her game,” Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso said. “She was just a boss today. It was really fun to watch that, especially not getting the opportunity she wanted last year and just making the most of it from day one.”Bahl outlasted Canady, the nation’s leader in ERA and the NFCA freshman of the year. Canady gave up just four hits and one earned run in five innings while regularly throwing 75 mph against an Oklahoma team that leads the nation in scoring and batting average.“We knew what we were running into in the way of NiJa...

Records show frantic aftermath of Jeffrey Epstein’s death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:50 GMT

By Michael R. Sisak and Michael Balsamo | Associated PressNEW YORK — Two weeks before ending his life, Jeffrey Epstein sat in the corner of his Manhattan jail cell with his hands over his ears, desperate to muffle the sound of a toilet that wouldn’t stop running.Epstein was agitated and unable to sleep, jail officials observed in records newly obtained by The Associated Press. He called himself a “coward” and complained he was struggling to adapt to life behind bars following his July 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges — his life of luxury reduced to a concrete and steel cage.The disgraced financier was under psychological observation at the time for a suicide attempt just days earlier that left his neck bruised and scraped. Yet, even after a 31-hour stint on suicide watch, Epstein insisted he wasn’t suicidal, telling a jail psychologist he had a “wonderful life” and “would be crazy” to end it.On Aug. 10, 201...

2 victims hospitalized after stabbing, carjacking in San Jose

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:50 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) -- Authorities are responding to a carjacking and two stabbings Thursday afternoon, the San Jose Police Department (SJPD) announced on Twitter. The first stabbing happened at the intersection of Kooser Road and Dellwood Way around 3:11 p.m.About 20 minutes later, SJPD responded to a separate stabbing that led to a carjacking on the 1800 block of Hillsdale Avenue, police said. The suspect drove away in the stolen car and hit a pedestrian. Both stabbing victims were taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The pedestrian who was hit by the car suffered non-life-threatening injuries. SJPD believes there is one suspect in connection to both incidents, the department tweeted. The scene at Hillsdale Avenue is approximately three miles away from the intersection of Kooser Road and Dellwood Way.There is a Starbucks, McDonald's and Speedway Express gas station located in the area of the first stabbing.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Dodgers acquire minor league RHP Vanasco from Rangers for LHP Valdez

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:50 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired right-hander Ricky Vanasco from the Texas Rangers for lefty Luis Valdez on Thursday.Right-hander Zack Burdi was also designated for assignment by the Dodgers to make room on their 40-man roster.Vanasco, a 15th-round draft pick of Texas in 2017, was designated for assignment on Monday. He allowed six runs in 2 1/3 innings in two games for Double-A Frisco after being activated from the injured list. Vanasco was 3-5 with a 4.68 ERA in 23 starts between Frisco and and High-A Hickory.The 19-year-old Valdez was 0-2 with a 3.12 ERA in eight games for Low-A Rancho Cucamonga this season. He was signed by the Dodgers as a minor league free agent out of Mexico in 2019. —AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

NCAA champ Rose Zhang makes impressive LPGA Tour debut in Mizuho Americas Open

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:50 GMT

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — Two-time NCAA champion Rose Zhang made her professional debut Thursday on the LPGA Tour, a solid opening round in the Mizuho Americas Open.The 20-year-old from Stanford who dominated the women’s amateur rankings for more than two years shot a 2-under 70 at Liberty National in the shadow of New York. The Californian was five shots off the lead held by Lauren Hartlage, who shot a career-best 65.Aditi Ashok, the first player from India on the tour, was at 67 in a tournament where the focus shifted to Zhang last weekend with her announcement she was turning pro. Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand and Stephanie Meadow of Northern Ireland had 68s.Ayaka Furue, coming off a loss to Pajaree Anannarukarn on Sunday in final of the match play event in Las Vegas, was at 69 with Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson, Emma Talley, Cheyenne Knight, Grace Kim and Yuka Saso.Zhang didn’t dominate in her first round as a pro but she showed enough, making five birdies and three bogey...

Corbin Carroll lifts Diamondbacks past Rockies for share of NL West lead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:50 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Corbin Carroll had a two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies 6-5 on Thursday to tie the idle Los Angeles Dodgers for a share of the NL West lead.Gabriel Moreno walked with one out against Pierce Johnson (0-2), and Ketel Marte doubled with two outs, moving Moreno to third. With first base open and Christian Walker on deck, the Rockies decided to pitch to Carroll, and he came through with a liner for his first career walk-off hit.Carroll said he thinks it was his first game-ending hit of his life.“I think so,” Carroll said. “There’s been opportunities, but I can’t remember any even through Little League.”Carroll fell behind in the count but lined a 1-1 pitch to left-center and Marte scored easily from second with the winning run.“I was trying not to expand the zone,” he said. “I didn’t do a very good job of that. But I got the job done.”Arizona won its fifth straight to improv...

Seahawks’ Kenneth Walker III hopes to turn award disappointment into on-field success

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:50 GMT

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Kenneth Walker III had a terrific rookie season after being called upon to take a bigger role as the primary ball carrier for the Seattle Seahawks.His rookie year was so good that right up until the point the announcement was made during the NFL Honors award show during Super Bowl week, Walker felt confident he was going to be named offensive rookie of the year.Instead, it was Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson who walked up on the stage and received the award.“Yeah, I thought I was going to win it, but Garrett Wilson is a great player though,” Walker said Thursday after the Seahawks wrapped up their latest offseason workout.To his point, Walker did have a rookie season worthy of being acknowledged as the best in the league. He led NFL rookies in rushing touchdowns with nine as part of a season during which he played in 15 games and ran for 1,050 yards.Finishing second in the offensive player of the year voting became a momentary topic Thursday when Walker’s posi...