(C) Reuters |
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Read more on Los Cerritos News here.
The core purpose of the Legal Lens is to expose corruption by reporting the truth. The Legal Lens strives to present ethical and high quality journalism and information for you. At times, the Legal Lens will also have food and travel commentary, which hopefully brings my experiences to you.
(C) Reuters |
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Read more on Los Cerritos News here.
According to a plea agreement with the Department of Justice entered into with Robert Tafoya, former City Attorney of Baldwin Park, Tafoya bribed California State Senator, Susan Rubio with approximately $230,000 in money received from marijuana kickbacks. The Legal Lens has identified that Person 20, which the plea agreement describes as, "public official", as Rubio. In this agreement, Tafoya admitted that he was the architect of a complex marijuana scheme, in which people would pay Baldwin Park City public officials to vote for their licenses, if they provided $240,000 to him and other city officials, like former Council Member, Ricardo Pacheco.
"In or around October 2017, while in the primary for [Rubio's] election, [Rubio] first asked defendant for $15,000 in cash. [Tafoya] agreed to provide it and then withdrew $15,000 from the Tafoya & Garcia, LLP account at Wells Fargo in four transactions between October 25, 2017 and October 26, 2017. Defendant then met with [Rubio] and provided [her] the $15,000 in cash in an envelope.
"After [Rubio] won [her] primary in June 2018, [Rubio] once more solicited $15,000 in cash from defendant in order to further engage in the conduit contribution scheme described above.
"[Tafoya] agreed but, before providing the money, wanted assurances from [Rubio] that [she] would take care of [him], protect [Tafoya's] job as the City Attorney, and assist defendant financially or professionally in [her] official capacity if [she] obtained State elected office.
"[Rubio] agreed, and [Tafoya] withdrew $15,000 in cash, which he provided to [Rubio]".
The DOJ has unsealed Tafoya's plea agreement, in which he pleaded guilty to bribery and tax evasion, owing the IRS $675,000, accruing since 2007. Rubio was a former city council member of Baldwin Park and allegedly and originally from the City of Bell.
Activists, employees, business owners, citizens, civil rights attorneys and academics, and the Department of Justice, have been tirelessly exposing the rampant, open, and brazen corruption of Baldwin Park's officials and administrators. Greg S. Tuttle, small business owner in Baldwin Park, first blew the whistle in 2007, when former Mayor Manuel Lozano, Council Member Monica Garcia, and Council Member Ricardo Pacheco tried to steal his business by eminent domain. More to be exposed.
Mugshot of Robert Tafoya, Looking like he's high on drugs. |
Alleged mugshot of Susan Rubio |
Matt Price, Evangelism Pastor |
I went to ask the theological pastor, Matt Price, if Christian Assembly (CA) of Eaglerock agreed with the belief in purgatory and the doctrines of God's judgment and Hell, as stated on the Four Square Assembly website. Price refused to answer for almost a month, and I emailed him, without an answer I have to assume that CA endorses purgatory and doesn't believe in judgment and Hell as stated by the Four Square Assembly belief. Still no response. Price can't even be respectful to answer simple questions on theology.
I found Matt Price's talk to be so boring at Fusion. I asked the leaders to tell me when he speaks; so, I don't have to come back and have my time wasted.
I brought a guest to Fusion. And Price was preaching again. I noticed at least 7 people were sleeping. My guest told me, "This is the worst Christian talk I've ever heard. And I didn't learn any Bible."
There used to be a Facebook group that talked about how boring Price was. I don't understand why they continue to let him speak. I can only guess that he must know something about the internal church accounting.
Otherwise, after attending 2-3 months, I find them to be racially discriminatory. I only hear preaching from white people, like unqualified Price. For a racially diverse City, I would expect to hear more preaching from Asian-Americans and Hispanics as well.
To conclude, I question whether this Church is following sound doctrine. They seem to care more about numbers and the $5 million they bring in annually. I'd stay away.
A month later, I heard from Price. Price saw my review on Google Reviews (which has been censored) and wrote back that CA doesn't endorse purgatory and that it subscribes to all the values on Four Square Assembly. But then he proceeded to appear to make misrepresentations and attacked me.
After not hearing back from him since May 8, 2023 (nearly a month), Price wrote, "I sent a response to this email last week while I was staying in a hotel for a convention out of town."
So I replied back, "PS: please forward me a copy of the email you sent last week."
Price had to then admit: "I don’t have a copy of the email I wrote last week which didn’t get delivered. It isn’t in my sent or drafts files." This appears to be a lie, and from a "Christian preacher" of all people.
Then Price kicks me out of the church, just because I asked questions of theology, "Based on . . . your concerns with the theology taught at Christian Assembly it seems like Christian Assembly is not a good fit for you. I hope that you are able to find a local church that suits you." He then signs his signature "With grace".
Given that it took him almost a month to respond to simple theology questions, I have to assume that Price, himself, does not agree with Four Square's doctrine on judgment, Hell, final judgment, and sin. Generally, people who agree with core values will email back promptly and are not uncomfortable with answering simple questions.
So I wrote back: "Do you personally believe in God's judgment upon our lives and that Hell exists and that that judgment is final?"
Price responds: "Paul, / Please seek elsewhere for answers to your questions."
I conclude by writing back, "Matt: / I will assume your answer to be no then. Only you can provide me the answer to your . . . beliefs."
Based on the attitude, no repentance of bad doctrine, and the lack of grace and lying, I stand by my remarks that leaders like Price endorse heresy.
There are unsubstantiated allegations of CA that need to be verified and someone should do a records request on the church. According to an anonymous source, there was money that was allegedly laundered into the purchasing of some property in Glendale or La Canada.
Also, in 2019, CA said it gave $5.3 million to pay off the medical debt of locals by donating it to a nonprofit, RIP Medical Debt. Someone should do a records request on the New York (not California based on nonprofit) to see how much money was actually spent on this medical debt.
I felt convicted to publish this as a warning to the body out there.
Scripture
warns the Church. of Thyatira, "But this is what I have against you:
you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a messenger of God.
By her teaching she misleads my servants into practicing sexual
immorality and eating food that has been offered to idols. . . . . I
will throw her on a bed where she and those who committed adultery with
her will suffer terribly." (Revelation 2:20, GNT).
"Raymundo" aka "Delta" |
He’s 71 years old. Mexican. Talks with a squeaky and calm high pitched voice. Grey hair. Glasses (some times). 5 foot, one inch. As he’s driving, Cook believes the following happened.
Espiridion Raymundo Mendieta Morante (“Raymundo”) found his target car: a red Toyota Prius. I want this one, he thinks. He calculates what angle to hit the car like a pool game. He rear ends Elder Arambula’s red Toyota Prius at an angle, and like a struck pool ball, the Prius veers right. Raymundo then accelerates, knowing he needs to hit the car again to make it spin and confuse his victims. Raymundo hits the passenger door head on. Exito! (Success!) The red Prius spins out of control, and Arambula’s driver crashes again the guardrail, almost flying off the edge. Raymundo thinks, Chevere. I’m the best at this. I’m god. I choose who lives and who dies on these freeways. I did it again!
The thrill and the high. So satisfying. This is what Raymundo lives for.
Raymundo doesn’t want to explain what happened, but he says he’s an unlicensed taxi driver, who lost his Uber license. Raymundo also has a passenger.
Immediately after the collision, the Filipino passenger, who wears nurse scrubs, calls, or pretends to call, someone immediately. He fails to ask if Arambula or his passenger, Paul Cook, is ok.
He just keeps talks on the phone in order to avoid talking to Arambula and Cook. (Justin Bieber does this, when he wants to avoid reporters.)
Raymundo’s passenger alleges his name is Aldrin Soliman Garcia. Although he alleges he was a nurse on a taxi ride seeing an in house client, Garcia has the same address as Raymundo. Garcia has a cancelled security guard license, a cancelled firearm license, and a cancelled baton license.
It's suspected that although the Filipino nurse is using Garcia's name, this is not the actual name of the nurse.
Cyrus Towing charged Arambula $1,700 for towing and 3-4 days of storing his car. Business Owner "Dee Dee" says on recording that CHP called Cyrus Towing to tow the car.
Amir Eftekhari |
Cook contacted former tow truck driver, Vinny Smith. Cook showed Smith a picture of Raymundo. Smith said, “That’s ‘Delta!’ He does work for us. He calls in after he ‘sees’ a car crash.” Smith calls him a Bird Dogger, someone lying in wait to report car crashes to tow companies.
But after Cook explains that he believe that Ryamond intentionally hits vehicles causing them to spin out, Smith swears and says, “Oh, shit! No wonder.”
Smith recalls that around April of May this year, in Los Angeles, he towed a Hyundai or Kia in Los Angeles that Delta called in. The car spun out, like Arambula’s Prius, and hit a pole.
Cook and the Hyundai are not the only one. Cook interviewed another former victim, Elias Hernandez. Two years ago, while Hernandez was changing lanes in
Yazeem Karoom aka "Jessie" |
Smith states that Amir cheated him out of $3,000 in stolen wages. Amir has been sued numerous times for fraud. It appears he’s been found civilly liable for a judgment and attempted to discharge his debt through bankruptcy.
Cook and Arambula request that law enforcement do everything it takes to halt these operations immediately, before more drivers get hurt or killed. The two suspect that Raymundo may also be a hit man.
Suspected Photo of Amir Eftekhari |
"Dee Dee" of Cyrus Tow. |
In about 20 minutes, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) came. Officer Eric Voss ordered the driver of Cyrus Tow to take both the Prius and the Chevy Trax off the freeway and to the local side street.
The tow truck driver asked Cook where they needed to go. The driver ordered the Uber. It was all free according to Cyrus Tow. The Uber driver came and was rushing Arambula and Cook to finish their statement with the police. The police wouldn’t permit Arambula to take pictures of the crashed Chevy.
The tow truck driver said, “Hey – your car’s been totaled. It’s worth nothing. But don’t worry. Toyota will take care of everything. Toyota and All State’s emergency service called us. The service, tow, and impound will be free. Everything is going to be free. And you’re going to get another car. Just sign here and give me the keys.” Arambula signed and gave him the keys.
Both Arambula and Cook had long distance AAA service and could’ve towed the car to either of their places. Little did they know the car would be towed about 40 miles away from the crash location in Stanton California.
Cook and Arambula started feeling that something or everything was wrong. They confirmed that Toyota nor All State ever called Cyrus Tow. Cook called Cyrus Tow, and talked to the business manager, who identified herself as “Dee Dee”. Dee Dee said, “We’re closing shop now. Don’t worry about it. Insurance will take care of everything. And if not, we’ll work with you on the bill on Monday. You don’t need to worry about it. We’re here to help.”Cyrus Tow charged $625 for the tow, $295 for the tow hook up fee, $150 for a forklift fee, $250 for an after hour fee, and $150 for a “hazmat/clean up” fee.
When Arambula told them that this was wrong, Dee Dee stated, “You only have three options! Leave the car here, while you file a claim with your insurance! Leave the car here, while you file a claim with the other guy’s insurance! Or you can make all this go away, if you sign the title away to me!”
Cook was on the phone and said, “He’s not going to sign the title to you.”
Dee Dee stated, “Your friend signed the contract. He gave me the keys. We don’t have to release this car to him ever.”
“That’s not a valid contract. You made him sign that under the pretension that Toyota called him and it was free. Also, it’s under duress.”
“You don’t know anything! You’re fucking up your friend’s life. You do whatever you want. I’m a private business. We don’t need to follow the [tow] laws. You can’t do anything about it! I have your keys. I have your car. We work with the police. We work with the CHP. Either sign the title or pay us the $1,700 in cash.
“Also, if your car is in here for 30 days, I automatically get the car. And I can still bill your friend $30,000.”
Arambula started breaking down in tears. Arambula, depressed and shocked, left the tow yard and called Cook and said, “I started college again. I’m trying to get back off my feet. And now this. They’re going to take all the financial aid money I just got.” Arambula is 23, Hispanic, community college student, professional boxer, and boxing coach and personal fitness instructor.
Cook calmed Arambula down and said, “Let me try to take care of it.”
Although
CHP Gives the Impression Cyrus Towing was an Authorized Police Tow,
Altadena CHP Refuses to Lift a Finger to Help – Calling it a Civil
Matter.
Cook then called the Altadena, CHP, instead, and talked to the watch commander, Sergeant Axl and requested that he help get Arambula’s car back given the facts. Cook explained that Voss had made it seem like Cyrus Tow was an official police authorized tow, when he ordered them to take both cars off the freeway.
Eric Voss |
Axl called back 15 minutes later and said, “This is a civil matter and not criminal fraud. There’s nothing we could do because he signed the contract.”
Cook explained that Arambula signed only because they told them Toyota called, and it would be free. Also Arambula signed right after the accident, when he was in shock.
Cook then wanted to talk to Axl’s boss. Axl replied, “I’m the highest up you can go. You can’t talk to the lieutenant here. This is a civil matter. Take it to court.”
Cook immediately emailed the facts to CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee, who said he would have someone investigate it. (This has been followed through.)
Angel looked up the company and saw a number of negative Yelp reviews that stated that Cyrus Tow finds crashed cars; tells the victims that Tesla or Toyota called them through its SOS program; and then charges $6,000 in towing fees, when they try to get it out.”
Cook,
Arambula, and Angel Conduct a Probe and Discover that Cyrus Tow Preys
on Car Crash Victims and Commits Potential Insurance Fraud.
Arambula then had to borrow $500 from Angel.
After paying Dee Dee the $1,700, Arambula apologized to Dee Dee that Cook called the CHP on her. Arambula also added, “My friend is really destroying my life. I’m sorry I involved him.”
She said, “Yes, he is.”
Then, Arambula asked how Dee Dee’s business worked and what he could do to get reimbursed.
On video, Dee Dee spends about 15 minutes talking about how she complies with the law and follows best practice. She even says if they don’t comply by the law, “We can lose our business and possibly go to jail. . . . That’s why I’m trying to be as transparent as possible.”
She then explains why her tow rates are so high. Dee Dee says, “However, the minute that the driver puts any of his equipment on your car, you have to pay the drop fee. If he pulls his bed up, once that tow and the hook happens, you’re responsible for the charge.”
But here, Arambula didn’t consent to the driver putting his tow hook on his car. Dee Dee charged Arambula $295 to attach a hook to his car.
Arambula objects and says, “But your driver said this would be free of charge.”
Dee Dee responds, “90 percent of the time it is.” She then clarifies that free of charge means the insurance actually pays for it.
She adds: “We have to be very careful. We can’t just go and grab [any car.] If I did that, and you don’t have insurance at all, guess who’s assed out? Me!
"Not just you, but me too! I have bills to pay too. I have a family to feed too. If I don’t have a business I can’t do that. So, I’m not going to risk my business.”
Dee Dee blames Arambula for not filing a claim immediately with both insurance companies. She says, “Had this been notified day one, they could’ve immediately picked up this vehicle at this price.”
She then tells Arambula, (who was the car crash victim), “You need to file a claim immediately. [Tell them] Hey, it was my fault. . . . Then they’ll work with me and these are the charges.”
Dee Dee maintains that Arambula still needs to file his claim and tell her the claim number. She says, “I let them know what the tow bill was. . . . All of this is going to be a numbers game.”
In total, Dee Dee talks about an insurance claim 24 times in the video recording.
Dee Dee Admits CHP Officer Voss Calls Her Regarding His Crashed Prius; Kickback Suspected.
Dee Dee explains to Arambula that they don’t officially work with the CHP, because they can’t get the high rates and they don’t have enough drivers and tow trucks. But as a private towing company, she says: “We can charge up the higher rates. That’s how we make our money.” (In other words, working unofficially with the CHP is the more lucrative and smarter way.)
Then Arambula asked Dee Dee, “So mine was in the Altadena CHP. So he’s [Eric Voss] the one, who contacted the guy who picked up my towing truck?”
Dee Dee answers, “Mmmm hmmm. Yeah. That’s how that works. . . . There’s many different ways these calls can come over.”
(Voss is also well networked in the CHP. According to the Altadena CHP Instagram, Voss has two other brothers working for the CHP: Kyle and Lucas.)
Another victim of Cyrus Tow |
When asked about how he feels after the tow, Aramabula said, “This is just wrong. These people are profiting from our pain. We could’ve been seriously hurt. Handicapped or dead. It makes me so mad.”
Paul Cook’s neck smashed against the back of the car headrest and snapped forward again, after he felt a hard and sudden jolt hit the back of the red Toyota Prius. Thump! Two seconds later, the back Chevy hit the Prius a second time. Pshhhhh. The car started swerving. Shocked, Elder Arambula, the driver, lost control of the steering wheel. The car spun out and flung into the freeway guardrail, crashing into it. Arambula’s chest and shoulder smashed into the dash; his head hit the headrest as well. The front airbags didn’t deploy. Cook prayed, “Please don’t let another car hit us.” No other car hit the two.
The car was mangled into the metal guardrail. Arambula shook Cook and shouted, “Are you ok?!”
Dazed; Cook replied: “I don’t know.”
Cook opened the door and stepped out. He felt dizzy and confused and noticed the car was almost dangling off the edge of the shoulder of the freeway. Seeing it, Cook processed the thought: What if the car flew off the edge? He took in a deep breath.
Date: September 26, 204. Time: 7:47 PM. Location: 210 Freeway West. Pasadena. Near Sierra Madre Exit.
* * *
A driver from Cyrus Tow spotted the red Prius. About 20 minutes later, Officer Eric Voss from the California Highway Patrol came out. He ordered Cyrus Tow to tow the two cars off the freeway. Arambula did not consent to have his car hooked up.
Voss was not supposed to authorize this tow, as the CHP has an official tow list of authorized tow trucks.
Cyrus Tow told Arambula that Toyota's SOS system went off and the tow and impound would be free. All he had to do was sign the papers and give the keys.
Four days later, the tow bill came out to $1,700. Cyrus Tow charged $625 for the tow, $295 for the tow hook up fee, $150 for a forklift fee, $250 for an after hour fee, and $150 for a “hazmat/clean up” fee.
Read more on how Cyrus Tow's illegal operation runs.
* * *
"Dee Dee", the business manager from Cyrus Tow, refused to accept credit card. Arambula paid the tow bill with all his college financial aid money. Arambula was broke.
At the time, Arambula asked Dee Dee, “So mine was in the Altadena CHP. So he’s [Eric Voss] the one, who contacted the guy who picked up my towing truck?”
Dee Dee answers, “Mmmm hmmm. Yeah. That’s how that works. . . . There’s many different ways these calls can come over.”
(Voss is also well networked in the CHP. According to the Altadena CHP Instagram, Voss has two other brothers working for the CHP: Kyle and Lucas.) According to Transparent California, as of 2023, Voss made $274,052.51. This includes benefits.
Arambula’s incident is not isolated. Five other victims have complained to Yelp.
Cook is requesting that if anyone can help with a donation to Arambula. Arambula needs a rental car or a to purchase a cheap car, while this accident is being investigated. All donations are tax dedudicble through Cook’s nonprofit corporation, a 501(c)(3) - Plousivous En Pistei (Greek for Wealthy in Faith) and will be spent accountably and appropriately.
When asked about how he feels after the tow, Aramabula said, “This is just wrong. These people are profiting from our pain. We could’ve been seriously hurt. Handicapped or dead. It makes me so mad.”
Forensic scientists, Professor Raoul Perrot* and Alisa Vladi, have confirmed that Anastasia Nikolaevna was saved during the Russian Revolution of 1917 through a biometric facial analysis.
For those of you who don't know Russian history, Russia used to be a monarchy with a King - the last King being Nicholas II. The Bolsheviks overthrew the Russian Royal Family, imprisoned them, and then slaughtered almost all of them. (The Netflix series the Crown portrays this piece of history graphically.)
These events paved the way for the creation of Communist Russia with Vladimir Lenin to rule, with Joseph Stalin, succeeding him. It is estimated that between 7 to 10 million people died under Stalin.
There was a rumor that the youngest daughter of the last Russian King - Anastasia, however, survived. According to the forensic scientists above, the biometrical features of the nine year old photo of Anastasia matches a woman claiming she was Anastasia in two photos: one taken when she was 60 years old, and the other at 70.
The scientists have concluded that there's a 96% "metric similarity". I have uploaded their paper here.
The representative of the Romanov family still seeks justice and an acknowledgment of the murdering of his family from the Russian Communist Party. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn explained it best, when he said, "The imagination and the spiritual strength of Shakespeare’s evildoers stopped short at a dozen corpses. Because they had no ideology."
*I want to personally acknowledge the contribution that Professor Perrot has contributed to the field of forensics.