Stupid people of the week

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LA County official allegedly urged gang members to defend territory from ICE, triggering FBI probe

A Los Angeles County official is allegedly being investigated by the FBI after she posted a video to social media calling on gang members to defend their territory from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Cynthia Gonzalez, the vice mayor of Cudahy in southeast Los Angeles County, allegedly shared a video on social media late last week in which she appeared to encourage 18th Street and Florencia 13 gang members to protect their turf from ICE agents.

“Not for nothing, but I want to know where all the cholos are at in Los Angeles,” Gonzalez said in the video. “18th Street, Florencia — Where’s the leadership at? Because you guys are all about territory … You guys tag everything up — claiming hood. And now that your hood’s being invaded by the biggest gang there is, there ain’t a peep out of you.”

The Cudahy official then seemingly goes on to tell LA gang members they need to organize and help out with local resistance efforts against ICE.

“Don’t be trying to claim no block, no nothing,” Gonzalez said. “If you’re not showing up right now, trying to help out and organize, I don’t want to hear a peep out of you once they’re gone.”

Toward the end of the video, the LA County official even appears to urge the leaders of the LA street gangs to “get your f***ing members in order.”

Gonzalez reportedly deleted the video shortly after posting it. She was later visited by FBI agents at her home and is now allegedly under federal investigation, according to federal sources.

Following the incident, Gonzalez also reportedly went back on social media to say that the FBI came to her home and that she needed a lawyer, sources say.

FBI Los Angeles told Fox News they could not confirm or deny an investigation was underway, but said they condemn any call for gang violence.

In an X post on Tuesday night, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security called the comments made by Gonzalez “despicable.”

“She calls for criminal gangs — including the vicious 18th street gang — to commit violence against our brave ICE law enforcement,” the U.S. Department of Homeland Security wrote. “This kind of garbage has led to a more than 500 percent increase in assaults against our ICE law enforcement officers. Secretary Noem has been clear: If you assault a federal officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The City of Cudahy also released a statement on Tuesday acknowledging Gonzalez’s social media comments, writing that her statements reflect her personal views and “do not represent the views or official position of the City of Cudahy.”

The 18th Street gang has around 30,000 to 50,000 members, with its main source of income being distribution of cocaine and marijuana. Members also commit assault, auto theft, carjacking and robbery, among other crimes. Florencia 13 is a street gang based out of southern Los Angeles. Its members have recently been accused of crimes including fentanyl trafficking, extortion and murder, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Earlier this week, LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia announced the recent anti-ICE protests will cost taxpayers $32 million. The protests, touted by many demonstrators as “peaceful,” resulted in nearly a dozen deputies suffering injuries.

Gonzalez and the City of Cudahy did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Source; Yahoo!

Cocky fugitive’s social media challenge to sheriff backfires in spectacular fashion

A wanted Florida man has been arrested after a series of social media posts taunting the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Grady Judd for not being able to catch him.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Lakeland Police Department shared a series of Facebook posts by 29-year-old Aaron Donta Johnson, who was a wanted man for violating a pretrial release condition.

“Ya’ll too busy fishing dats why yall didn’t catch me when I left my grandmas house today,” Johnson said in one post to Judd’s department. “Should’ve waited a bit longer. Yall accepted da challenge right. #GradyCan’t FindMe #ComeAgainGrady.”

The posts, laden with poor grammar and bad spelling, appeared to be a dig towards Judd and his department for being too late to the scene. But that did not stop Judd and his team from responding to Johnson and taking on the challenge.

“Spoken like a true man. Way to take responsibility for your actions,” the sheriff’s office wrote. “No worries – we will find you. Bet.”

As the posts continued, Johnson told the sheriff’s office, “I done out ran yall several time. #ComeTryAgainGrady.”

“Challenge accepted,” the sheriff’s office wrote.

In the final post shared by the sheriff’s office, Johnson responded, “OK! I’ll give you and ya crew a head start. Ya’ll couldn’t catch me on foot or in da car last time. Maybe you gonna need that horse or ya helicopter! #level up #ImGoneGrady.”

Also accepting the challenge, unbeknownst to Johnson, was the Lakeland Police Department, after he bragged about not being caught despite having multiple felony warrants issued against him.

Johnson was ultimately captured by the Lakeland Police Department, who transported him to the Polk County Jail.

“What Aaron didn’t know is – that we got their backs,” Lakeland Police wrote on social media. “When Aaron Johnson jumped on Facebook and challenged the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, bragging he couldn’t be caught despite having multiple felony warrants, our LPD officers said, ‘Challenge accepted.

“Today, that little game ended,” the police department continued. “Our officers and detectives tracked him down and personally delivered him to the Deputies at the Polk County Jail. Nice Try, Aaron. Maybe next time…but probably not.”

Judd has become known for his no-nonsense tactics when it comes to stopping crime in Polk County. He’s also become infamous for making examples of criminals – Johnson was no different.

“You done messed up A-aron!” the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said, referring to a hilarious and popular bit on the sketch comedy show, “Key & Peele.” “You forgot all the agencies here in Polk work together…………thanks LakelandPD for the find. #GotEm #TeamworkMakesTheDreamwork #PlayStupidGamesWinStupidPrizes #AaronRanButWeCaughtHimAnyway.”

Johnson has been in and out of the Polk County Jail several times since at least 2015, on charges including drug possession, driving on a suspended license, domestic assault, burglary, and written threat to kill or injure another person, according to jail records.

He now faces several charges, including violation of pretrial release conditions.

Source; Fox News

Ex-correctional officer planted drugs, weapons for job promotion: DOJ

A Vallejo man and former K-9 sergeant at California state correctional facilities admitted in federal court to planting prison contraband items — including narcotics, cell phones and weapons — that he pretended to discover, announced federal prosecutors on Thursday.

Avelino Ramirez, 52, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of wire fraud tied to the scheme, said the Northern District of California Department of Justice. From 2013 to 2022, Ramirez worked as an Investigative Services Unit K-9 Officer at California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at San Quentin State Prison. In 2022, he was then promoted as K-9 sergeant to the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, Calif.

“From October 2021 to February 2024, Ramirez engaged in a scheme to smuggle and then plant contraband in common areas of San Quentin State Prison and the California Medical Facility, which he would then pretend to discover,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian in a news release. “Ramirez did so in order to hold himself out as a successful K-9 officer with the hope that it would help him obtain a promotion to K-9 sergeant. The contraband items Ramirez planted included drugs, such as methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine; drug paraphernalia; tobacco; cell phones; and weapons.”

Prosecutors say Ramirez even went as far as mixing the drugs he planted in the prisons with salt and/or sugar and combined the marijuana he planted in the prisons with lawn trimmings.

“Ramirez also sought to inflate his salary by claiming overtime related to searches where contraband was recovered pursuant to his fraudulent scheme and writing reports of these false discoveries,” added Missakian. “In total, Ramirez fraudulently obtained approximately $8,200 in overtime pay.”

Ramirez was released on bond as he awaits his sentencing hearing on Sept. 18. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Source; KRON4

Spirit Airlines passenger calls in fake bomb threat after missing flight: Officials

A Michigan man has been arrested after missing his flight to Los Angeles and calling in a fake bomb threat after being made to book another flight, officials said.

The incident took place last Thursday at approximately 6:25 a.m. at Detroit Metropolitan Airport when an individual, later identified as 23-year-old John Charles Robinson of Monore, Michigan, “used a cell phone to call into Spirit Airlines and conveyed false information about a bomb threat to Flight 2145 departing from Detroit Metro bound for Los Angeles,” according to a statement from United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. from the Eastern District of Michigan United States Attorney’s Office.

“During the call, Robinson stated in part, ‘I was calling about 2145… because I have information about that flight,’ and ‘there’s gonna be someone who’s gonna try to blow up the airport,’ and ‘there’s gonna be someone that’s gonna try to blow up that flight, 2145,’” according to the affidavit. “After giving a description of an individual, he then stated: ‘they’re going to be carrying a bomb through the TSA,’ and ‘they’re still threatening to do it, they’re still attempted to do it, they said it’s not going to be able to be detected. Please don’t let that flight board.’”

The flight was immediately canceled, officials said and the flight’s passengers and crew were deplaned for safety precautions.

“Bomb sniffing dogs and FBI agents were deployed to sweep the airplane, officials said. “No bomb or explosives were found.”

Federal agents investigating the bomb threat soon learned that Robinson was booked on Flight 2145 but missed the flight and was told at the gate that he needed to rebook.

“FBI agents subsequently arrested Robinson when he returned to the airport to depart on another flight bound for Los Angeles,” officials said.

After taking Robinson into custody, authorities played back the phone call that was made for him.

“Robinson listened to the above-mentioned recording and confirmed he was the one that made the recorded phone call to Spirit Airlines,” officials said. “Robinson also stated that the phone number that called the bomb threat in to Spirit Airlines was his phone number (and had been for approximately 6 years), that the target cellular device was his device, and he gave written consent for a search of his device.”

Robinson was subsequently charged with two charges. The first being use of a cellphone to threaten/maliciously convey false information concerning an attempt or alleged attempt to damage/destroy an airplane by means of an explosive and the second being false information and hoaxes.

“No American wants to hear the words ‘bomb’ and ‘airplane’ in the same sentence. Making this kind of threat undermines our collective sense of security and wastes valuable law enforcement resources,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon.

“Anyone who threatens to bomb an aircraft and endanger public safety will be swiftly investigated and brought to justice,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The alleged bomb threat prompted a coordinated response by our FBI Detroit Joint Terrorism Task Force, in partnership with the Wayne County Airport Authority Police Department and the U.S. Federal Air Marshal Service, leading to the arrest of John Robinson as he attempted to board another flight at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. We remain committed to protecting the public and confronting those who seek to spread fear in our communities.”

Robinson appeared in federal court in Detroit on Friday afternoon and was released on a $10,000 bond, according to court documents. His next court appearance will be June 27 for a preliminary examination.

The case against Robinson is being investigated by special agents from the FBI and is currently ongoing.

Source; MSN

Category: Crime, Politics, Stupid Criminals