The ESL Free Press

Credit Union Official, Wife, and Businessman Charged

Three people in Yuma, Arizona, have been charged with bank fraud: A businessman, a credit union official who lent to him, and the official's wife.

The charge says William Liddle, former vice president of the AEA Credit Union, plotted with Frank Ruiz. Liddle would lend Ruiz money from the credit union, and in return Ruiz would give Liddle and his wife, Rhonda, some of the money. They got nearly $1 million this way, the charge says.

Ruiz owned several businesses, including one called the Yuma Fun Factory. All have gone bankrupt. Ruiz still owes the credit union more than $25 million.

The Liddles and Ruiz have all declared bankruptcy (made an official statement that they don't have enough money to pay their bills).

The U.S. Attorney says, "Financial institutions are not personal fun factories."

source

printable:Download Credit Union Official, Wife, and Businessman Charged.pdf (21.5K)

 

 

 

Former Sailor, Fake Soldier

A California man is going to prison for six months for using a fake military ID card.

Joseph Baca was in the U.S. Navy for three months in 1982. He was discharged for "unsatisfactory performance".

Last August, he was seen wearing an Army uniform and medals. When a police officer asked for ID, Baca showed a fake Army ID card he had made himself.

Baca pleaded guilty to this.

source

printable:Download Former Sailor, Fake Soldier.pdf (18.5K)

Links to December 3rd's Top News Stories

South Korea has threatened an air strike against North Korea if it attacks again. Read more.

President Obama is making a surprise visit to Afghanistan. Read more.

Several people have died in the snowstorms in Europe. Read and watch.

A woman in England called police to say her snowman had been stolen. They told her this was not a real emergency. Read more.

 

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This Week's Quiz

1. What was seized in Operation Scratch Off?
2. Who judged Manuel Garcia's case? Why?
3. What country is upset at the American/Japanese military exercise?
4. Why was the shark captured in Egypt?
5. What does Peter King say should happen to WikiLeaks?

Download Quiz 12-02-10.pdf (13.6K)

Operation Scratch Off

Nine people from Houston, USA, have been arrested on drug charges. They are accused of planning to get and sell the drug PCP. The Drug Enforcement Administration spent 18 months on this case. They call it "Operation Scratch Off".

The DEA also seized 57 gallons of PCP -- its largest amount ever.

Two of the suspects were arrested in other States. The rest are expected to go to court today in Houston.

source

printable:Download Operation Scratch Off.pdf (18.6K)

Homeless Man Goes to Prison -- Local Judges Sat Out

A homeless man in Kansas City, USA has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for making bomb threats.

Manuel Garcia pleaded guilty in July. He admitted that he put a cooler (container for cold drinks) at the U.S. courthouse in Kansas City with a note saying it would explode. He also called police and said there were three other bombs in the courthouse. The building had to be closed for most of that day.

A judge from another district took charge of this case. The judges in Kansas City recused themselves (did not take part because they felt they could not be completely fair).

source

printable:Download Homeless Man Goes to Prison -- Local Judges Sat Out.pdf (20.5K)

Links to December 2nd's Top News Stories

The U.S. and Japan are expected to hold a military exercise together on Friday. China says this is a bad idea, because of the recent trouble between the two Koreas. Read more.

A shark has attacked and injured four tourists at a resort in Egypt. It has been captured. Read more.

NATO is investigating how a former government official in Afghanistan was killed in a battle with its troops. Read more.

A U.S. Congressman says WikiLeaks should be declared a terrorist group. Peter King says the posting of U.S. government messages was "worse than a military attack". Read more.

Illegal Immigrant Gets Six Years for Attacking Border Guards

A Mexican who fought with U.S. Border Patrol Agents has been sent to prison for 72 months.

Jaime Martinez-Garcia had been deported on May 20th, 2009, but went back to the U.S. on the 23rd. In a canyon west of Nogales, Arizona, he ran into a border guard.

The guard told Martinez-Garcia to stop. Instead, he kicked the guard and ran away.

Another guard chased Martinez-Garcia, who picked up a rock. The guard took out his gun and told Martinez-Garcia to drop the rock. He refused, and the guard shot him.

source

printable:Download Illegal Immigrant Gets Six Years for Attacking Border Guards.pdf (21.0K)

Links to December 1st's Top News Stories

Heavy snow has fallen all over Europe. Many airports have been closed. Read more.

If Palestinians hold a vote on making peace with Israel, Hamas will accept the outcome, it says. Read more.

Venezuela has been hit by heavy rains that have caused flooding and landslides. At least 21 people have died. Read more.

One of the messages posted on WikiLeaks says the U.S. Ambassador to France thought President Sarkozy's aides were all yes-men (people who never disagreed with him). Read more.

Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Setting Church Fire

Ronald J. Pudder pleaded guilty on Monday to setting fire to a church in his town, Conneaut, Ohio. Pudder admits he did it because the church members were black.

The First Azusa Apostolic Faith Church of God is the only African-American church in the area. Pudder set fire to it on May 20th.

Early in the morning, neighbors saw the church burning and called the police. The door was damaged, but the inside of the church was not.

U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach says, "Crimes like these leave scars. Not just physical scars to the building, but emotional ones, to the souls of the congregants [church members]."

source

printable:Download Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Setting Church Fire.pdf (21.1K)