Suspects showed investigators 'how easy it was' to defraud EDD

Beverly Hills police arrest 44 for unemployment funds fraud

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. —

Dozens of people have been arrested in Southern California on suspicion of defrauding the Employment Development Department out of possibly millions of dollars.

According to the Beverly Hills Police Department, officers began noticing that through pedestrian stops, traffic stops and other calls for service, a pattern was emerging. That pattern was the presence of debit cards from the California EDD.

Each card can be loaded with up to $20,000, leading investigators to estimate the fraud, so far, could end up being upwards of $2.5 million.

More importantly, some of those fraudsters have turned informant, showing investigators just how easy it is to defraud EDD.

"We've had some of those informants actually log onto a computer and show us how easy it is to go on to the website and log on to EDD," said Beverly Hills police Lt. Max Subin. "So yes, they are using names of deceased people, using names of people who are incarcerated, using names of people who have businesses and pretty much they are going into the computer and selecting the card."

Subin said many of those names and the associated personal information were simply purchased online.

Once the cards show up, some of the fraudsters went on spending sprees. Investigators found high-end merchandise, cash and weapons during the arrests. Some were even driving high-end sports cars they had rented.The arrests come in the wake of weeks of incidents KCRA 3 Investigates profiled in which dozens of EDD envelopes showed up in mailboxes in the Sacramento area. While Beverly Hills police cannot say whether this is the same kind of fraud as what people across the Sacramento area have seen, they did find dozens of letters during the arrests.

"The tricky thing for them is they either have to intercept the card and take possession of them, or they have to use some other means," Subin said.

Subin said 80% of the people arrested, roughly 35 of them, were from other states.

https://www.kcra.com/article/suspects-showed-investigators-how-easy-it-was-to-defraud-edd/34063525

CNN panned for 'softball' Biden town hall: This isn't getting him ready for the debates

'So far the questions… sound as if they were written by Biden's campaign,' one critic said.

The reviews are in for the CNN town hall featuring Joe Biden… and they aren't great.

While Biden's performance has received praise for his ability to display empathy towards Pennsylvania voters selected to ask questions, what has been described as the "softball" treatment of the former VP by CNN was widely panned on Thursday night, especially following the grilling President Trump faced at the ABC News town hall on Tuesday.

"In the first moments, the contrast between what Trump was asked and what Biden is being asked is striking," Politico columnist Jeff Greenfield tweeted, later writing. "Biden is doing very well, yes. But this is not exactly getting him ready to face tough questions from a Chris Wallace or Jake Tapper (should he decide to do so)."

https://www.foxnews.com/media/cnn-town-hall-panned-for-softball-questions-for-biden

COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN BUTTE COUNTY FURIOUS OVER STATE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS

OROVILLE, Calif. – A protest took place Thursday morning during the Butte County Public Health's weekly coronavirus briefing, with community members demanding businesses be allowed to reopen.

Around 100 people demonstrated both inside and outside of the morning news conference with Butte County Public Health, some choosing to wear masks, but many also choosing not to.

Business owners and community members said they’re frustrated with COVID-19 restrictions, they say they don’t want to live in fear anymore, and that it’s a violation of their constitutional rights.

One by one people went up and told local officials how they felt.

Many people say they want everything to open back up so they can have the freedom to choose what they want to do.

Ashton Southworth and her father, Alan Cartwright attended the gathering and expressed their concerns to city and county leaders. "It's a choice to go out no one forces anyone to go to a restaurant. There's no disagreement in this town that Covid isn't dangerous but everyone has a responsibility to take care of themselves and those in the community."

Butte County supervisor, Steve Lambert, says "I'll make some calls, we will keep fighting. I agree this is silly but the reality is this is the reality we live in."

Public Health Director Danette York says with the recent downward trend in cases she is hoping we will be able to move tiers soon.

But she says the community needs to come together to follow mitigation efforts to help us do that.

Health leaders say while they understand people's frustrations, they are following regulations that have been established by the state.

County officials said these are unprecedented times, requiring quick responses to competing health emergencies. Never has there been a time when extreme heat, power shutoffs, wildfires, and evacuations, occurred simultaneously with a global pandemic.

https://www.actionnewsnow.com/content/news/Community-members-in-Butte-County-furious-over-state-COVID-19-restrictions-572443641.html

OROVILLE BUSINESSES BAND TOGETHER AGAINST STATEWIDE ORDER, MAYOR REACTS==

BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. - Many businesses in Oroville are banding together against the statewide order that is not allowing indoor operations. Action News Now reporter Kristian Lopez spoke with the city's mayor Chuck Reynolds about it.

Mayor Reynolds says he is aware that many of these businesses are still offering indoor services and fully supports their decision.

“I think they are very courageous for standing up and providing services to those who need it,” he said.

Reynolds says he thinks they are making the right choice with the air being unhealthy because of the Bear Fire.

He added, “For someone to say that someone needs to sit out in this toxic air and toxic environment to eat their meal when we don’t know what levels of toxins they are ingesting with their meal is a ridiculous thing to say. I understand people are at risk for this virus but they need to take that into account and take extra precautions. If they are at risk, take your food to-go but if you are not at risk, then by all means, get out of the toxic environment.”

He says even after the air quality improves, he would still support businesses continuing inside operations.

“I think at this point the virus, although it’s very real and serious for some, I think the percentages are just not there," said Mayor Reynolds.

Reynolds says these businesses are fully aware they could face consequences if the state gets involved. But he says, “Their desire to serve their fellow man is stronger than any ramifications they might face for being open.”

He tells Action News Now he supports them as long as everyone takes the proper precautions, Reynolds says as of right now the city is not shutting any of these businesses down.

Monday many business owners and community members in Oroville gathered at Mike's Grande Burger for an event to bring awareness to this issue.

The owner of the restaurant, Levi Fuller says he is choosing to keep his restaurant open for dine-in.

The gathering featured speakers like Mayor Chuck Reynolds, Assemblyman James Gallagher, and Butte County District Supervisor Bill Connelly, all three expressed they supported the decision.

However, at this time, Butte County remains in the strictest tier. Restaurants, gyms, and places of worship are still not allowed to operate indoors.

https://www.actionnewsnow.com/content/news/Oroville-Mayor–572436581.html

>>10691718

Different sauce, same meeting:

https://krcrtv.com/news/local/locals-want-public-health-to-bypass-state-guidance-to-reopen-butte-county-businesses

Several of them said they came out after reading online that officials would be pulling business licenses during the conference. While proven untrue, these business owners said local officials must do more to help struggling businesses.

"What are we as business owners supposed to do,” asked one speaker. “Wait another year until restaurants go under? Everybody goes under?"

Much of the conversation revolved around the county temporarily allowing indoor dining last week.

BCPH says this was to feed fire victims escaping from the North Complex Fire. The next day, diners were once again moved outside.

"The state came in and said, ‘Listen, we don't agree with you. You cannot do that,’" said Butte County Supervisor Steve Lambert.

To this, another speaker responded, "do we listen to the state or do we listen to our county?"

Officials say as long as they receive funding from the state, they must continue to follow their orders. Some residents are willing to give this up in exchange for reopening businesses.

"Every one of us have to give up our business, our paychecks, our way of life and then the county can have $30 million,” said one speaker. “Or, we can tell you to send that check back and every one of us can open our damn businesses and make our own living."

Anons, people are PISSED and LOUD!