Mongol Motorcycle Gang Member

After three years of undercover investigation major figures of the Mongol Motorcycle Gang have finally been arrested on Tuesday.

The federal agents in over six states have worked together to obtain evidence in order to sustain the charges this Los Angeles group is under: murder, assault, gun and drugs incidents.

The motorcycles of the 38 gang members arrested were confiscated and are now in police custody, and police representatives say amongst the arrested are also some of the gang leaders, like former national president, Ruben Cavazos.

The police are to continue the search for remaining gang members, as there are about 160 search warrants issued for the states of Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Ohio.

The Mongol gang first appeared on the police radar three years ago, when the Hells Angels denied access to the gang to Hispanics. Then they decided to create a gang of their own and since then they have been recruiting street gang members in Los Angeles in order to help them in the major operations.

This massive arrest was made possible with the help of the ATF agents (men and women) who have accepted to do undercover work, live away from their families and friends, and pretend to be a Mongol Motor biker.

Richard Blackwell

86 year old fashion critic, Richard Blackwell, passed away on Sunday, in Los Angeles, California.

Blackwell started his fashion career as a designer, but since he was not very successful at it, he started writing fashion critics about Hollywood’s leading stars. Since then, his worst-dressed lists have become famous all over the United States, and not only.

His criticism was not superficial, and his comments were sometimes very acid. He criticized many celebrities such as Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Sharon Stone, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, etc.

Blackwell often declared to the press that he felt bad when he had to criticise actors or singers that he admired for their talent, and he was even considering the idea of making up a 10 worst designers list, instead of the worst dressed one.

As harsh as he may have been, his annual lists were eagerly awaited by his readers; his fans and his friends will miss and always remember the one who once called himself ‘the worst bitch in the world’.

Puppet Man on Flames

John Robert McGraham, aged 55, was a homeless man who lived in a crowded neighborhood West of downtown Los Angeles (the Mid-Wilshire-area) and was known by most of the inhabitants of the area.

Last week, he suffered a horrible death, after unknown attackers set him on fire near 3rd and Berendo streets. The eye witnesses did their best in trying to save him, but unfortunately it was too late for the poor man who burned to death.

The local authorities have decided to organize a memorial service for the man, at which are expected to attend his friends, members of family, and police representatives.

The case has left a strong impression on the local community; the police are still investigating the circumstances and the motifs of this violent attack, and two City Councilmen have decided to pay a reward to those who help with the investigation by providing relevant information.

The memorial service will take place at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church’s Westminster Chapel, at 3300 Wilshire Boulevard, on Saturday, 18th of October, starting 13:00 hours.

Kazuyoshi Miura

Kazuyoshi Miura, Japanese citizen, was arrested again a few days ago and taken into Los Angeles custody. The man is accused of having arranged for his wife to be murdered while they were in L.A. in 1981; the case has been under investigation for 27 years but the Police did not have enough evidence to charge him.

It seems that he managed to escape trial after all, by committing suicide in his cell, using a piece of his shirt to hang himself.

The 61 year old man stepped foot on U.S. territory on Friday, after being transferred from Saipan (U.S. Commonwealth), where he had been held since 1988.

He was accused of conspiracy to murder, when a hired assassin shot both him and his wife in 1981; he took a bullet in the leg, but the killer aimed for his wife’s head. She was severely injured and did not make it for more than a year after the shooting.

Burning Forest

After the fire in Napa Valley, on Friday, that caused the loss of 300 acres of forest, a home and a barn, the firefighters received another emergency call; this time, in another area of California, North of Los Angeles.

The wildfire that started on Sunday destroyed over 750 acres of forest and more importantly threatened to burn out several houses, as well as the establishment of an animal sanctuary.

About 400 firefighters were called off to fight the fire that started 20 miles North of the downtown area of Los Angeles, at Angeles National Forest; they also received help from the aerial strike teams.

A house, some motor homes and other buildings have been turned into ashes by the raging fire, and about 1,200 have been forced to leave the area as the fire was getting closer to the city.

Stanton Florea, the U.S. Forest Service, declared that the fire was located South of the Wildlife Waystation, an animal sanctuary with over 400 animals. Also, they still do not have an exact cause of the fire, but thorough investigations are being carried out.

Porter Ranch Town Center

In one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Los Angeles the latest news has terrified the population. An unemployed accountant killed his whole family with gunshots- his wife, his three children and his mother in law- and then committed suicide.

The bodies of six persons, three adults and three children, have been found today in Porter Ranch, a select area of San Fernando Valley (California).

According to the Los Angeles police, the author is an unemployed financial consultant who has shot to death his 39 year old wife,  and his 7, 12 and 19 year old children and then shot himself.

The authorities have not yet revealed the identity of the victims, but they did say that they found three good-bye notes at the murder scene: one of them addressed to the Police, the second to the friends and family and a third one which is his last will and testament.

The Police attended site after one of the neighbors reported hearing gun shots next door. They declared that the 45 year old man was in deep financial problems and had bought the murder weapon last September.
Friends and family have identified the deceased as being Karthik and Subasri Rajaram.