MS-13 members face possible death sentence in slaying of former gang member: DOJ

Three alleged members of MS-13 have been charged with murdering a former member of the gang while that man, who was cooperating with law enforcement, was on the phone with authorities reporting that he was in danger. The victim, whose name was not released, was working with “law enforcement on a federal racketeering and methamphetamine trafficking case,” the U.S. Justice Department said in a news release. He was shot to death at a South Los Angeles grocery store on Feb. 18, and three alleged members of Mara Salvatrucha — the full name of MS-13 — from South Los Angeles are charged with murder in aid of racketeering in two separate indictments. Reports from February indicate 47-year-old Herlyn Barrientos Funez was killed at Superior Grocers at the intersection of 91st and Figueroa streets in what officers called a gang-related shooting. One of the indictments concerns Roberto Carlos Aguilar, a 30-year-old from El Salvador who the DOJ says is in the U.S. illegally. He had “what appeared to be a chance encounter” with the victim, who was known to the gang as a government cooperator, at the store about an hour before the killing, authorities said.

KTLA 5

Man Wounded in Vermont Square Shooting

A man underwent surgery Monday morning after he was shot in the Vermont Square area of Los Angeles. The shooting was reported at about midnight at 57th and Hoover streets, according to a desk officer at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Operations Center. Arriving officers found evidence of a shooting but no victim. He turned up at a hospital, she said. The victim underwent surgery and had stable vital signs, the officer said. Suspect information was not immediately available.

MyNewsLA

LA County DA Hochman promises crackdown on criminals: 'The fun is over'

Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman is warning criminals who cross into the county will be held "fully accountable for their illegal actions." "I am standing at the border between LA County and San Bernardino County where criminals used to enjoy crossing in the LA direction, thinking that little to no consequences would occur if they stole, robbed and engaged in criminal conduct," Hochman shared in a video posted on his X account on Sunday. "Times have changed! The fun is over. A new DA was elected. And criminals in LA County will now be prosecuted and held fully accountable for their illegal actions," he continued. Last week, Hochman hailed the success of Proposition 36 for deterring retail theft. Prop 36, which California voters passed in November, increased some shoplifting offenses from misdemeanors to felonies in an effort to crack down on robberies and burglaries. Hochman said the increased penalties serve as a warning to potential offenders.

FOX 11

L.A. man sentenced to 40 years in prison for convincing kids to create sexually explicit content

A Los Angeles man was sentenced to 40 years in prison for using social media to meet and entice children into producing sexually explicit content. From 2019 to August 2021, Mark David Wallin, 44, of Del Rey, used the internet and apps like Snapchat to meet pre-teen children in the U.S. and abroad, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He would develop romantic relationships with them and eventually persuade them to engage in sexually explicit conduct through video chat, which he screen-captured and saved, prosecutors said. After his victims sent the explicit content, Wallin would sometimes demand additional explicit images and videos from them. If the children did not cooperate, he would threaten to publish or expose the pictures and videos they had previously sent him. In one instance, Wallin convinced a child who was around 9-10 years old to send sexually explicit images and videos of himself through Snapchat, prosecutors said.

KTLA 5

Burglars ransack Woody Harrelson and Bill Maher’s WeHo weed dispensary

Actor Woody Harrelson and comedian Bill Maher’s West Hollywood cannabis dispensary The Woods was burglarized early Saturday morning, authorities said. Five men broke the front window of the dispensary, located at 8271 Santa Monica Blvd., and stole cannabis products before fleeing in a black sedan, according to a watch commander at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s West Hollywood station. Deputies responded to the break-in at 4:30 a.m. Saturday, she said. Authorities do not have an estimate of the stolen items’ value. The Woods has a cannabis consumption lounge with private smoking cabanas equipped with TVs and air conditioning, a bar selling cannabis-infused drinks and a plant-filled Ganja Giggle Garden. The 8,000-square-foot store and outdoor smoking oasis opened in 2022. A security camera video circulated on social media shows people wearing hoodies and masks smashing through the window, ransacking the store and stuffing merchandise into bags. The break-in came two days after what authorities suspect was an attempted burglary at the Erba Markets weed dispensary in Sawtelle. Erba Markets dispensary founders Devon Wheeler and Jay Handal are also co-founders of The Woods. It is not clear whether the incidents are connected, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

Los Angeles Times

3 Illinois officers shot, one in the face, responding to suspicious person call

Three police officers were shot, including one in the face, after responding to a report of a suspicious person prowling near a residence Saturday night. A press release from the department said the officers were dispatched to Potomac Drive to investigate at 9:44 p.m. When officers arrived on scene they found “a possible domestic situation,” according to the release. They confronted the suspicious individual, who opened fire on the officers. Police arrested the suspect at the scene and the weapon was recovered. The person currently is being held by Fairview Heights Police, according to the release. “There is no active threat to the community,” Fairview Heights Police Chief Steve Johnson said in the statement. The injured officers were taken to two area hospitals where they are currently being treated. Police escorted an ambulance to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. The officer struck in the face underwent emergency surgery and is in critical but stable condition, Johnson said. A second officer was shot in the arm, breaking a bone, and is being treated. Another officer was hit in the back, but was spared serious injury by a bullet-proof vest, the release stated.

Belleville News-Democrat

NYPD grad carries legacy of father and cousin killed in line of duty

Law enforcement isn’t just a job for NYPD recruit Robert Castioni. It’s the family business. “I have my cousin, Kevin Gillespie. I have my father. I have an uncle, two uncles, one in Nassau [County], one was in NYPD,” Castioni, 28, said. “I have multiple cousins, as well. Other than Kevin, all together, it’s around like nine family members who were in law enforcement. Most [are] retired now. Only two are still active. My mom was not happy about me being a cop initially, but then she came around.” Castioni is one of 612 recruits graduating from the Police Academy on Thursday. His cousin, Gillespie, was shot and killed in the line of duty in the Bronx in 1996, and his father, Robert Castioni, a Homeland Security officer, died recently from a 9/11-related cancer. In other words, it’s in his blood. “From when I was born, joining law enforcement was always something that was always brought up in family parties,” Castioni said. “And my family is very close. So a lot of my cousins, I consider brother [and] sisters, and a lot of them were telling stories throughout holidays, and just talking with them. It’s always the topic of conversation about how the job was and it always fascinated me.”

New York Daily News

Major car theft ring busted in NYC stole more than 100 vehicles

A massive and sophisticated car theft ring based in Queens that sprawled across the U.S. has been uncovered, with 20 people indicted after a years-long investigation, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said Thursday. The “massive criminal ecosystem,” which involved individuals who teamed up to steal, broker and sell the stolen vehicles using high-tech as well as traditional methods, is “one of the biggest auto theft rings that we have seen in the last decade,” Katz said at a press conference announcing the takedown. Of the 20 people indicted, 14 are facing the top charge of criminal enterprise, which carries a sentence of up to 25 years in prison. The other individuals are variously charged with possession of stolen property, grand larceny and conspiracy, and two people are charged with weapons possession after investigators uncovered four illegal firearms in connection with the case. The three-year investigation involving the Queens D.A.’s Office, the NYPD , state police and other agencies that led to the takedown was dubbed Operation Hellcat by police, “because it began with a pattern of thefts of Dodge Hellcats, traditionally identified by their high horsepower and noise to attract attention,” Katz said.

New York Daily News

Colombian narco-terrorists charged in federal indictment

Federal authorities announced two Colombian nationals, described as narco-terrorists, have been charged in a six-count indictment. Jacobo Idrobo Arredondo, 39, known as "Marlon Vásquez," and Juan Diego Palta Montero, 26, known as "Ñeque," are accused of leading a cocaine-manufacturing ring that trades drugs for firearms to support terrorist activities in Colombia, the U.S. Department of Justice said. Arredondo and Montero are senior members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP). The charges include attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to engage in narco-terrorism, and conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine for unlawful importation. Arredondo faces an additional charge of possession of firearms, machine guns, and destructive devices in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Both men are believed to be in Colombia and remain at large. 

FOX 11

Car plummets 100-feet down L.A.’s Mulholland Drive; resident blames racing

Emergency crews responded to a curvy, tree-lined stretch of Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles’ Sherman Oaks neighborhood after a vehicle went over a 100-foot cliff in what a resident believes was the result of street racing early Monday morning. The injury traffic collision was reported around 12:15 a.m. after a vehicle went off the road on the 13000 block of Mulholland Drive, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson confirmed. Ashlee Powers was headed home when she saw the emergency vehicles and was told by a young man at the scene that a 17-year-old was driving the wrecked vehicle and was OK. The Police Department spokesperson did not confirm any details about the driver. Video from the scene showed damage to the passenger side of a black four-door sedan that had come to a stop against some trees. Powers believes the crash was the result of street racing after talking to a neighbor who heard what sounded like a collision before the car went over the cliff.

KTLA 5

‘Dangerous heat’ and elevated fire weather possible in Southern California this week 

Southern California residents should be aware of the possibility of “dangerous heat” this week, the National Weather Service says. The high temperatures will be felt most away from the coast, according to NWS. “There will also be elevated fire weather concerns with an increased risk of grass fires in the mountains, deserts and interior valleys,” weather officials added. NWS’ area forecast discussion elaborated that Sunday’s highs will be “slightly warmer” than Saturday, but “very hot weather” will make its way into SoCal by Monday and last through the workweek. “High temperatures will be well above normal for this time of year each weekday,” the area forecast discussion’s synopsis states. The forecast indicates highs could eclipse 100 degrees in Woodland Hills on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; Monday and Friday’s predicted highs for the area are 94 and 96 degrees, respectively.

KTLA 5

Public Health issues ocean water use warning for L.A. County beach

As temperatures rise this weekend, health officials are warning the public to stay out of the ocean at one Los Angeles County beach, where bacteria levels have surpassed state safety standards. A beach area warning has been issued for Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, impacting the entire swim area. However, it’s not all bad news. A previously issued warning has been lifted for Santa Monica Pier, where the water quality has improved. Residents can get more information on beach conditions by calling the county beach hotline at 1-800-525-5662 or visiting the L.A. County Public Health website.

KTLA 5

Los Angeles Metro D Line Subway on Wilshire Boulevard closed until July 25

Work on the D Line Subway Extension Project will close parts of the route along Wilshire Boulevard, connecting downtown LA to the Westside. Metro will be closing the Wilshire/Vermont and Wilshire/Western stops along the D Line on May 17 through July 25. The closure will allow crews to work on the new four-mile extension between Wilshire/Western and Wilshire/La Cienega. The D Line extension is being worked on in three sections. Section 1 will include three new stations and they are expected to be open by fall 2025. New stations coming to Section 1 of the D Line extension: Wilshire/La Brea; Wilshire/Fairfax Station; and Wilshire/La Cienega. Work on the project began in 2019 and it is expected to be completed in 2027. Metro will be adjusting routes and adding shittle buses to help riders travel between the closed stations to other parts of LA. 

CBS 2

LA City Council to Consider Amendments to 2025-26 Spending Plan

The Los Angeles City Council will host a public hearing Wednesday for residents to weigh in on amendments to Mayor Karen Bass’ proposed $13.9 billion budget for fiscal year 2025-26. The council’s five-member Budget and Finance Committee has finalized its review of the spending plan, and made recommendations to prioritize funds and dramatically reduce the number of proposed layoffs as the city grapples with a roughly $1 billion deficit. Wednesday will be the final day residents can give a comment on the spending plan in person. Elected officials are expected to vote on the amended spending plan Thursday. Residents can also provide written comments online at cityclerk.lacity.org/publiccomment, using council file No. 25-0600. In April, Bass released her proposed spending plan, calling for 1,647 layoffs and the elimination of 1,053 vacant positions. Workforce reductions are intended to help address the $1 billion deficit caused by overspending, costly liability payouts, lower tax revenues, labor contracts and fire recovery, among other challenges.

MyNewsLA

About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 8,900 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education.