latimes--2020-05-21--L.A. County achieves major coronavirus win as transmission rate hits lowest level

Los Angeles County has reached a promising new milestone in its fight to control the spread of the highly infectious coronavirus .
The transmission rate in the nation ’ s most populous county , home to 56 % of COVID-19 deaths in California , is now in its best position since the magnitude of the outbreak became clear in March .
At the start of the pandemic ’ s arrival in L.A. , the transmission rate of the coronavirus was high ; on average , every one person infected went on to infect more than three other people .
Scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmission number , or “ R. ” But by late March , after the stay-at-home order was put into effect , the effective transmission number fell to 1 , meaning that , on average , every person with COVID-19 infected one other person .
That rate , if sustained , means that the number of people infected remains constant .
On Wednesday , Dr. Christina Ghaly , director of health services for L.A. County , said an increasing downturn in the daily number of new confirmed cases suggested that the effective transmission number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If ‘ R ’ stays under 1 , then the epidemic in Los Angeles County is expected to decrease over time , ” Ghaly said .
“ That is a good thing for all of us .
As we work to reopen the economy and get people back to work and back to living their lives , we need to work together to avoid having transmission again increase , ” she said .
“ This will require everyone doing their part to continue the same basic core public health measures that we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical distancing , handwashing , cleaning surfaces regularly , wearing facial coverings , self-monitoring for symptoms , and staying at home when you are ill. ” Use of hospital beds by COVID-19 patients is also stable and slightly trending downward in L.A. County , Ghaly said .
It ’ s still possible , however , that Los Angeles County could run out of intensive care beds if disease transmission rates rise significantly .
If more people start getting infected as society reopens , officials won ’ t be aware about it until two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it takes for those people to get so sick they need medical attention .
An L.A. County simulation has found that if the county can keep the disease transmission rate the same as it is now , by the start of December , just 9 % of L.A. County residents will have contracted the coronavirus .
But if the effective transmission number were to rise to 1.5 — meaning each infected person gives the virus , on average , to 1.5 other people — 44 % of county residents will have been infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unlikely scenario that people resume the same habits they practiced before the outbreak , 96 % of county residents will have been infected by December .
With the weather improving and the Memorial Day weekend around the corner , L.A. County ’ s director of public health , Barbara Ferrer , warned against holding parties with people from other households and said gatherings were still banned under the county Safer at Home order .
“ It ’ s still relatively easy to become infected , particularly if you ’ re not taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And unfortunately , there have been recent parties and gatherings that did result in a number of newly infected people.
” Pasadena officials warned of a cluster of at least five coronavirus cases linked to a birthday party in which one guest showed up exhibiting symptoms and joking she might have the virus .
Several others became seriously ill afterward .
Gatherings have been a major route of transmission for the coronavirus , according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , with scientists identifying Mardi Gras celebrations in Louisiana , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funeral in Georgia as major factors in the rapid spread of the virus in the last week of February .
A major problem has been the transmission of the virus by people who aren ’ t showing signs of illness or are unaware that they ’ ve been infected .
Simply talking can spread infectious droplets between people .
Many people are growing weary of state orders banning gatherings , including some church leaders and parishioners .
More than 1,200 pastors have vowed to hold in-person services on May 31 , Pentecost Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings that Gov .
Gavin Newsom imposed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus .
Churches have also been shown to be places where the coronavirus can easily spread .
A study published in the CDC ’ s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report looked at how three people fell ill with COVID-19 after attending church in Singapore on the same day as two tourists from Wuhan , China .
One of those who fell ill sat in the same seat as one of the tourists from Wuhan , according to closed-circuit-camera footage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a single person who was showing signs of illness attended a 2½-hour choir practice at church .
After the practice , 52 of the 60 other people there fell sick with COVID-19 — a disease attack rate of 87 % — and two died .
The virus ’ spread was likely facilitated by people being less than six feet from one another and worsened by singing together , the CDC said .
The coronavirus death toll has been far worse in L.A. County compared to the annual death toll from the flu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , 125 people died from the flu in L.A. County , and the year before that , 300 died .
On average , L.A. County loses 250 lives to the flu every season , which usually lasts six to seven months .
In just a little more than two months , Los Angeles County has recorded 1,976 virus-related deaths , according to Wednesday ’ s data from the Los Angeles Times ’ coronavirus tracker .
That ’ s 56 % of the state fatality total of 3,501 , despite the county being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s population .
An average of more than 300 L.A. County residents have died weekly over the past five weeks .
“ You can understand why the mortality rate for COVID-19 is so worrisome , because it far exceeds what we ’ re normally used to seeing with a virus or communicable disease , ” Ferrer said last week .
“ Many people today are experiencing the pain and the sorrow of losing someone that they love to COVID-19 .
”

Los Angeles County has reached a promising new milestone in its fight to control the spread of the highly infectious coronavirus.
The transmission rate in the nation’s most populous county, home to 56% of COVID-19 deaths in California, is now in its best position since the magnitude of the outbreak became clear in March.
At the start of the pandemic’s arrival in L.A., the transmission rate of the coronavirus was high; on average, every one person infected went on to infect more than three other people. Scientists call this rate of transmission the effective transmission number, or “R.”
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But by late March, after the stay-at-home order was put into effect, the effective transmission number fell to 1, meaning that, on average, every person with COVID-19 infected one other person. That rate, if sustained, means that the number of people infected remains constant.
On Wednesday, Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of health services for L.A. County, said an increasing downturn in the daily number of new confirmed cases suggested that the effective transmission number was now slightly under 1.
“If ‘R’ stays under 1, then the epidemic in Los Angeles County is expected to decrease over time,” Ghaly said.
“That is a good thing for all of us. As we work to reopen the economy and get people back to work and back to living their lives, we need to work together to avoid having transmission again increase,” she said.
“This will require everyone doing their part to continue the same basic core public health measures that we’ve all become so familiar with: physical distancing, handwashing, cleaning surfaces regularly, wearing facial coverings, self-monitoring for symptoms, and staying at home when you are ill.”
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At the start of the outbreak, a person infected with the coronavirus infected, on average, more than 3 other people in L.A. County. New data show the effective transmission number has fallen below 1. (Los Angeles County Department of Health Services)
Use of hospital beds by COVID-19 patients is also stable and slightly trending downward in L.A. County, Ghaly said.
Use of hospital beds by COVID-19 patients is declining in L.A. County. That could change if the transmission rate of the disease increases as society begins to reopen. (Los Angeles County Department of Health Services)
It’s still possible, however, that Los Angeles County could run out of intensive care beds if disease transmission rates rise significantly. If more people start getting infected as society reopens, officials won’t be aware about it until two or four weeks later, the time it takes for those people to get so sick they need medical attention.
If transmission rates of the coronavirus increase, it’s possible L.A. County could run out of intensive care beds in June. (Los Angeles County Department of Health Services )
An L.A. County simulation has found that if the county can keep the disease transmission rate the same as it is now, by the start of December, just 9% of L.A. County residents will have contracted the coronavirus.
But if the effective transmission number were to rise to 1.5 — meaning each infected person gives the virus, on average, to 1.5 other people — 44% of county residents will have been infected by the start of December.
In the unlikely scenario that people resume the same habits they practiced before the outbreak, 96% of county residents will have been infected by December.
(Los Angeles County Department of Health Services)
With the weather improving and the Memorial Day weekend around the corner, L.A. County’s director of public health, Barbara Ferrer, warned against holding parties with people from other households and said gatherings were still banned under the county Safer at Home order.
“It’s still relatively easy to become infected, particularly if you’re not taking precautions,” Ferrer said. “And unfortunately, there have been recent parties and gatherings that did result in a number of newly infected people.”
Pasadena officials warned of a cluster of at least five coronavirus cases linked to a birthday party in which one guest showed up exhibiting symptoms and joking she might have the virus. Several others became seriously ill afterward.
Gatherings have been a major route of transmission for the coronavirus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with scientists identifying Mardi Gras celebrations in Louisiana, a biotech conference in Massachusetts and a funeral in Georgia as major factors in the rapid spread of the virus in the last week of February.
A major problem has been the transmission of the virus by people who aren’t showing signs of illness or are unaware that they’ve been infected. Simply talking can spread infectious droplets between people.
Many people are growing weary of state orders banning gatherings, including some church leaders and parishioners. More than 1,200 pastors have vowed to hold in-person services on May 31, Pentecost Sunday, defying a state moratorium on religious gatherings that Gov. Gavin Newsom imposed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Churches have also been shown to be places where the coronavirus can easily spread. A study published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report looked at how three people fell ill with COVID-19 after attending church in Singapore on the same day as two tourists from Wuhan, China. One of those who fell ill sat in the same seat as one of the tourists from Wuhan, according to closed-circuit-camera footage of the church.
In Washington state, a single person who was showing signs of illness attended a 2½-hour choir practice at church. After the practice, 52 of the 60 other people there fell sick with COVID-19 — a disease attack rate of 87% — and two died. The virus’ spread was likely facilitated by people being less than six feet from one another and worsened by singing together, the CDC said.
Tracking the coronavirus in L.A. County The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions.
The coronavirus death toll has been far worse in L.A. County compared to the annual death toll from the flu in the previous two years.
Last year, 125 people died from the flu in L.A. County, and the year before that, 300 died. On average, L.A. County loses 250 lives to the flu every season, which usually lasts six to seven months.
In just a little more than two months, Los Angeles County has recorded 1,976 virus-related deaths, according to Wednesday’s data from the Los Angeles Times’ coronavirus tracker.
That’s 56% of the state fatality total of 3,501, despite the county being home to just one-quarter of California’s population. An average of more than 300 L.A. County residents have died weekly over the past five weeks.
“You can understand why the mortality rate for COVID-19 is so worrisome, because it far exceeds what we’re normally used to seeing with a virus or communicable disease,” Ferrer said last week. “Many people today are experiencing the pain and the sorrow of losing someone that they love to COVID-19.”
Times staff writer Matthew Ormseth contributed to this report.


latimes--2020-05-21--Online child sex abuse reports surge as kids spend more time on computers amid coronavirus

Law enforcement officials in Los Angeles and across the country have been overwhelmed in recent months by a surge in tips about online child sex abuse , with social media platforms and other service providers flagging explicit content and suspicious interactions at an alarming rate .
With schools closed , youth activities canceled and kids spending more time online under stay-at-home orders related to the coronavirus pandemic , sexual predators have ramped up their efforts to solicit pictures and videos , officials say .
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children , a global clearinghouse that disseminates tips to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of child cyber abuse in April , a fourfold increase over April 2019 , said John Shehan , head of the center ’ s exploited children division .
In March , the center received more than 2-million reports , more than double what it received in March 2019 .
The surge has slowed in May , Shehan said , but the volume has remained above average .
“ It was definitely a huge increase compared to the year prior , and has put a huge strain on law enforcement around the world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of these reports coming in at the same time , ” Shehan said .
The Los Angeles Police Department ’ s Internet Crimes Against Children unit , which processes tips from Shehan ’ s organization for five area counties before referring them to local agencies , received nearly 3,000 tips in April , up from 1,355 in March , said Lt. Anthony Cato , the unit commander .
More than half the tips fell under the LAPD ’ s jurisdiction .
Still , two of the unit ’ s four investigators were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force helping find shelter for people in need.. That has hampered the unit ’ s ability to respond just as reports spiked .
Investigations have continued — the unit makes about three arrests a month — but there ’ s a growing backlog of tips to review , officials said .
“ We ’ re down detectives , and right now we should be fat with investigators to manage the amount of work that ’ s coming in , ” said Det .
Paula Meares , a unit supervisor .
LAPD spokesman Josh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ shift precious resources ” to the coronavirus crisis , but remains “ deeply committed to identifying and bringing to justice anyone that would victimize a child.
” “ While it is a challenge to keep up with the many clues we are given regarding these troubling offenses , we are accomplishing that task and look forward to the day we can shift our resources back to their original roles , ” he said .
Alicia Kozakiewicz , an internet safety expert and advocate for children who survived being abducted nearly two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is sadly predictable .
Children are more vulnerable at the moment because they , like all of us , feel isolated , and predators know it , she said .
“ Right now children have no other social outlet , and they are experiencing a wide range of emotions , ” Kozakiewicz , 32 , said .
“ What a predator does is they search for those vulnerabilities , they find them , and then they exploit them.
” Offenders lurk on Facebook and Instagram , but also lesser-known chat sites and gaming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their possession but also soliciting new material from young victims .
Kids coerced into sending one inappropriate picture or video are often blackmailed into sending more explicit content , officials said .
In recent weeks , would-be predators have been observed on the dark web discussing the stay-at-home orders and how they might target kids who are increasingly going online for their education , entertainment and social interactions , Shehan said .
Those who normally traffic children for sex have seen customers lose interest in physical encounters and have shifted to soliciting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Others are contributing to the spread inadvertently .
Several videos have gone viral , resulting in scores of tips , in part because people horrified by the content have shared them in an attempt to alert others and bring a stop to the abuse , Shehan said .
Victims range from teenagers to toddlers and infants , law enforcement officials and other experts said .
Internet companies mandated to monitor and report such activity on their platforms say they are doing everything they can to responsibly oversee content , immediately removing illegal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for it .
But there has long been concern among child advocacy groups and law enforcement officials that the processes aren ’ t robust enough .
In some instances , the coronavirus has undercut them further .
Facebook , which also owns Instagram , last month announced it was sending its content reviewers home due to the coronavirus threat , and would be increasing its use of automated software to detect inappropriate content .
Last week , the company said technological improvements helped it “ take down more child nudity and sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent months , but authorities remain skeptical and say a huge amount of illegal material continues to circulate .
As a result , parents must be vigilant , they said .
“ That ’ s always been the message , but as things change — technology changes , social media evolves — parents need to keep up on that stuff , ” Cato said .
Experts warned the growing number of unchecked reports comes as other safety nets for children have collapsed , children are becoming increasingly vulnerable and sexual predators are getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and away from their friends and teachers , reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect has fallen off dramatically , officials have noted .
“ In this time of shelter in place , unfortunately children don ’ t have a lot of contacts with mandated reporters : teachers , mental health providers , coaches , mentors , ” said Laura Abrams , chair of the Department of Social Welfare at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs .
At the same time , many children are more exposed now to adults in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the FBI warned last month .
Of the millions of tips funneled through Shehan ’ s organization , the vast majority of offenders are overseas , and never come into direct contact with their victims .
Parents who think their kids are safer than ever staying at home need to realize that , officials said .
“ They ’ re not always trying to meet up with [ kids ] at a location , like [ NBC ’ s reality TV show ] ‘ To Catch a Predator.
’ They are abusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the LAPD detective , said .
“ They don ’ t have to meet a child to sexually abuse them .
They do it via livestream.
” Abrams said that sexual exploitation can cause stress and suicidal feelings in kids , and make it more difficult to focus or stick to normal sleeping patterns .
However , huge disruptions to routine — which many kids have experienced recently — can lead to similar behavior or thoughts .
Instead of waiting for signs of a problem , parents should make a point of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is they are chatting with online and how they know them , and of checking their browser histories , Abrams said .
Kozakiewicz ’ s abduction at the age of 13 in 2002 by a man who had groomed her online was the first such internet case to gain widespread attention .
At the time , there was no monitoring or reporting of such cyber activity .
In part because of that , she views the latest figures in a dual light , she said .
“ Those numbers are horrifying , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
“ Child abuse thrives in secrecy , it thrives in anonymity , it thrives in being unknown.
” Kozakiewicz said parents and guardians should make it clear to their kids that they can come to them with concerns about things that happen in their online worlds , regardless of whether mom and dad seem stressed out at this time themselves , and without having to fear punishment — like having their devices taken away .
If parents broach the topic first , she said , kids will feel empowered to @ @ @ @ @

City Hall is reflected on the Los Angeles Police Department headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. LAPD’s Internet Crimes Against Children unit received nearly 3,000 tips in April, up from 1,355 in March.
Law enforcement officials in Los Angeles and across the country have been overwhelmed in recent months by a surge in tips about online child sex abuse, with social media platforms and other service providers flagging explicit content and suspicious interactions at an alarming rate.
With schools closed, youth activities canceled and kids spending more time online under stay-at-home orders related to the coronavirus pandemic, sexual predators have ramped up their efforts to solicit pictures and videos, officials say.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, a global clearinghouse that disseminates tips to law enforcement, took in 4.1-million reports of child cyber abuse in April, a fourfold increase over April 2019, said John Shehan, head of the center’s exploited children division.
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In March, the center received more than 2-million reports, more than double what it received in March 2019.
The surge has slowed in May, Shehan said, but the volume has remained above average.
“It was definitely a huge increase compared to the year prior, and has put a huge strain on law enforcement around the world, who are dealing with a pandemic and all of these reports coming in at the same time,” Shehan said.
The Los Angeles Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children unit, which processes tips from Shehan’s organization for five area counties before referring them to local agencies, received nearly 3,000 tips in April, up from 1,355 in March, said Lt. Anthony Cato, the unit commander.
More than half the tips fell under the LAPD’s jurisdiction.
Still, two of the unit’s four investigators were recently redeployed to a special coronavirus task force helping find shelter for people in need.. That has hampered the unit’s ability to respond just as reports spiked.
Investigations have continued — the unit makes about three arrests a month — but there’s a growing backlog of tips to review, officials said.
Advertisement
“We’re down detectives, and right now we should be fat with investigators to manage the amount of work that’s coming in,” said Det. Paula Meares, a unit supervisor.
LAPD spokesman Josh Rubenstein said the department has been forced to “shift precious resources” to the coronavirus crisis, but remains “deeply committed to identifying and bringing to justice anyone that would victimize a child.”
“While it is a challenge to keep up with the many clues we are given regarding these troubling offenses, we are accomplishing that task and look forward to the day we can shift our resources back to their original roles,” he said.
Alicia Kozakiewicz, an internet safety expert and advocate for children who survived being abducted nearly two decades ago, said the increased activity is sadly predictable. Children are more vulnerable at the moment because they, like all of us, feel isolated, and predators know it, she said.
“Right now children have no other social outlet, and they are experiencing a wide range of emotions,” Kozakiewicz, 32, said. “What a predator does is they search for those vulnerabilities, they find them, and then they exploit them.”
Offenders lurk on Facebook and Instagram, but also lesser-known chat sites and gaming platforms, sharing images and videos already in their possession but also soliciting new material from young victims. Kids coerced into sending one inappropriate picture or video are often blackmailed into sending more explicit content, officials said.
In recent weeks, would-be predators have been observed on the dark web discussing the stay-at-home orders and how they might target kids who are increasingly going online for their education, entertainment and social interactions, Shehan said. Those who normally traffic children for sex have seen customers lose interest in physical encounters and have shifted to soliciting and selling explicit images of children online.
Others are contributing to the spread inadvertently. Several videos have gone viral, resulting in scores of tips, in part because people horrified by the content have shared them in an attempt to alert others and bring a stop to the abuse, Shehan said.
Victims range from teenagers to toddlers and infants, law enforcement officials and other experts said.
Internet companies mandated to monitor and report such activity on their platforms say they are doing everything they can to responsibly oversee content, immediately removing illegal images and alerting law enforcement to those responsible for it. But there has long been concern among child advocacy groups and law enforcement officials that the processes aren’t robust enough.
In some instances, the coronavirus has undercut them further.
Facebook, which also owns Instagram, last month announced it was sending its content reviewers home due to the coronavirus threat, and would be increasing its use of automated software to detect inappropriate content. Last week, the company said technological improvements helped it “take down more child nudity and sexual exploitative content” on its platforms in recent months, but authorities remain skeptical and say a huge amount of illegal material continues to circulate.
As a result, parents must be vigilant, they said.
“That’s always been the message, but as things change — technology changes, social media evolves — parents need to keep up on that stuff,” Cato said.
Experts warned the growing number of unchecked reports comes as other safety nets for children have collapsed, children are becoming increasingly vulnerable and sexual predators are getting bolder.
With children stuck at home and away from their friends and teachers, reporting of suspected child abuse and neglect has fallen off dramatically, officials have noted.
“In this time of shelter in place, unfortunately children don’t have a lot of contacts with mandated reporters: teachers, mental health providers, coaches, mentors,” said Laura Abrams, chair of the Department of Social Welfare at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.
At the same time, many children are more exposed now to adults in their households who may want to harm them, the FBI warned last month.
Of the millions of tips funneled through Shehan’s organization, the vast majority of offenders are overseas, and never come into direct contact with their victims. Parents who think their kids are safer than ever staying at home need to realize that, officials said.
“They’re not always trying to meet up with [kids] at a location, like [NBC’s reality TV show] ‘To Catch a Predator.’ They are abusing them on the internet,” Meares, the LAPD detective, said. “They don’t have to meet a child to sexually abuse them. They do it via livestream.”
Abrams said that sexual exploitation can cause stress and suicidal feelings in kids, and make it more difficult to focus or stick to normal sleeping patterns. However, huge disruptions to routine — which many kids have experienced recently — can lead to similar behavior or thoughts.
Instead of waiting for signs of a problem, parents should make a point of talking to their kids about who it is they are chatting with online and how they know them, and of checking their browser histories, Abrams said.
Kozakiewicz’s abduction at the age of 13 in 2002 by a man who had groomed her online was the first such internet case to gain widespread attention. At the time, there was no monitoring or reporting of such cyber activity.
In part because of that, she views the latest figures in a dual light, she said.
“Those numbers are horrifying, but at least we are aware,” she said. “Child abuse thrives in secrecy, it thrives in anonymity, it thrives in being unknown.”
Kozakiewicz said parents and guardians should make it clear to their kids that they can come to them with concerns about things that happen in their online worlds, regardless of whether mom and dad seem stressed out at this time themselves, and without having to fear punishment — like having their devices taken away.
If parents broach the topic first, she said, kids will feel empowered to speak up for themselves.


latimes--2020-05-21--Lori Loughlin always insisted she was innocent in admissions scandal. Why change now?

From the beginning of the college admissions scandal , actress Lori Loughlin and her fashion designer husband , Mossimo Giannulli , have maintained they did nothing wrong .
While other key figures in the scandal , including “ Desperate Housewives ” actress Felicity Huffman , pleaded guilty and apologized , the couple ’ s attorneys assailed the prosecution ’ s case .
They alleged the government had coerced its key witness and the scheme ’ s ringleader , William “ Rick ” Singer , into fabricating evidence ; and they argued the government had contorted a legal , if unsavory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — that donating money to a school will boost your child ’ s chances of admission — into a criminal conspiracy .
One of their attorneys , Sean Berkowitz , accused prosecutors of pursuing a “ ‘ win at all costs ’ effort rather than following their obligation to do justice.
” But this week , Loughlin and Giannulli reversed course .
In documents unsealed Thursday , they agreed to plead guilty to fraud and spend several months in prison .
While Singer ’ s scheme drew in billionaires and CEOs , Loughlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Full House , ” became a lightning rod for public fascination and ire .
The couple ’ s guilty plea announcement marks a major moment in the scandal that rocked American academia .
Why did they change their plea ?
It ’ s unclear , and Loughlin ’ s attorney declined to comment Thursday , but the reversal followed a significant legal setback .
Earlier this month , a judge declined to dismiss the fraud , bribery and money laundering charges against Loughlin and her co-defendants , ruling that federal agents and prosecutors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cooperator , to mislead his clients on recorded phone calls and draw out flawed evidence of criminal intent .
Attorneys for Loughlin and 13 other parents charged in the college admissions scandal had asked U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to throw out the indictment against them , pointing to a note Singer wrote shortly after he began cooperating in September 2018 .
With investigators recording the line , Singer had called dozens of current and former clients and discussed the various schemes they are charged with exploiting to slip their children into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , UCLA and Yale .
The couple insisted that Singer misled them into believing the money was destined for legitimate university purposes , not bribes to corrupt school employees .
As an October trial date approached , prosecutors released more details about their case .
In one court filing , they made public a memo written by a private school college counselor who had clashed with Giannulli .
Last year , prosecutors added new bribery charges against the couple and other defendants who resisted taking a plea .
What are they accused of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Singer in April 2016 , an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit filed in court , when the fashion designer told Singer in an email , “ I ’ d like to maybe sit with you after your session with the girls as I have some concerns and want to fully understand the game plan and make sure we have a roadmap for success as it relates to [ our daughter ] and getting her into a school other than ASU !
” Singer told the couple that their daughter ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below the low end of USC ’ s admission , ” according to the affidavit .
And so , prosecutors alleged , Loughlin and Giannulli agreed to tap what Singer called his “ side door ” into USC : bribing Donna Heinel , an athletics department official , to designate their two daughters as promising coxswains .
Heinel , who was arrested in March 2019 and fired by USC , has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering , bribery and fraud .
Loughlin and Giannulli ’ s payments were funneled through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mission was to help “ underprivileged students , ” according to charging documents filed in federal court .
The tax-exempt status for Singer ’ s Key Worldwide Foundation allowed some of Singer ’ s clients to write off bribes as charitable gifts on their taxes , authorities said .
What punishment does the couple face ?
Federal prosecutors and the couple ’ s attorneys agreed to ask a judge to sentence Loughlin and Giannulli to two and five months , respectively , in federal prison , the plea agreements say .
Loughlin agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and serve 100 hours of community service ; her husband agreed to a $ 250,000 penalty and 250 hours of community service , the documents show .
District Judge Gorton must accept these terms .
If he does , prosecutors will drop the money laundering and bribery charges a grand jury brought against the couple .
“ These defendants will serve prison terms reflecting their respective roles in a conspiracy to corrupt the college admissions process and which are consistent with prior sentences in this case , ” U.S. Atty .
Andrew E. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said in a statement .
“ We will continue to pursue accountability for undermining the integrity of college admissions.
” Where does this leave the larger case ?
Of the 56 people charged in the case , 34 have pleaded guilty or agreed to do so .
A dozen parents are headed for trial , the first scheduled to begin Oct. 5 in Boston .
Some defendants have issued public apologies — in some cases , directed at their own children .
“ I am ashamed of the pain I have caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends , my colleagues and the educational community , ” Huffman wrote .
“ I want to apologize to them and , especially , I want to apologize to the students who work hard every day to get into college , and to their parents who make tremendous sacrifices to support their children and do so honestly.
” Time will tell whether Loughlin will offer public comments when she enters her plea in Boston court .

Actress Lori Loughlin and husband Mossimo Giannulli leave a federal courthouse in Boston in April 2019. The couple have agreed to plead guilty in the college admissions scam.
From the beginning of the college admissions scandal, actress Lori Loughlin and her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, have maintained they did nothing wrong.
While other key figures in the scandal, including “Desperate Housewives” actress Felicity Huffman, pleaded guilty and apologized, the couple’s attorneys assailed the prosecution’s case. They alleged the government had coerced its key witness and the scheme’s ringleader, William “Rick” Singer, into fabricating evidence; and they argued the government had contorted a legal, if unsavory, facet of the college applicant process — that donating money to a school will boost your child’s chances of admission — into a criminal conspiracy.
One of their attorneys, Sean Berkowitz, accused prosecutors of pursuing a “‘win at all costs’ effort rather than following their obligation to do justice.”
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But this week, Loughlin and Giannulli reversed course. In documents unsealed Thursday, they agreed to plead guilty to fraud and spend several months in prison.
While Singer’s scheme drew in billionaires and CEOs, Loughlin, famous for her role on “Full House,” became a lightning rod for public fascination and ire.
The couple’s guilty plea announcement marks a major moment in the scandal that rocked American academia.
Why did they change their plea?
It’s unclear, and Loughlin’s attorney declined to comment Thursday, but the reversal followed a significant legal setback.
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Earlier this month, a judge declined to dismiss the fraud, bribery and money laundering charges against Loughlin and her co-defendants, ruling that federal agents and prosecutors did not pressure Singer, their chief cooperator, to mislead his clients on recorded phone calls and draw out flawed evidence of criminal intent.
Attorneys for Loughlin and 13 other parents charged in the college admissions scandal had asked U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to throw out the indictment against them, pointing to a note Singer wrote shortly after he began cooperating in September 2018. With investigators recording the line, Singer had called dozens of current and former clients and discussed the various schemes they are charged with exploiting to slip their children into such elite universities as Georgetown, USC, UCLA and Yale.
The couple insisted that Singer misled them into believing the money was destined for legitimate university purposes, not bribes to corrupt school employees.
As an October trial date approached, prosecutors released more details about their case. In one court filing, they made public a memo written by a private school college counselor who had clashed with Giannulli.
Last year, prosecutors added new bribery charges against the couple and other defendants who resisted taking a plea.
What are they accused of doing?
Giannulli and Loughlin began conspiring with Singer in April 2016, an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit filed in court, when the fashion designer told Singer in an email, “I’d like to maybe sit with you after your session with the girls as I have some concerns and want to fully understand the game plan and make sure we have a roadmap for success as it relates to [our daughter] and getting her into a school other than ASU!”
Singer told the couple that their daughter’s academic qualifications were “at or just below the low end of USC’s admission,” according to the affidavit.
And so, prosecutors alleged, Loughlin and Giannulli agreed to tap what Singer called his “side door” into USC: bribing Donna Heinel, an athletics department official, to designate their two daughters as promising coxswains. Heinel, who was arrested in March 2019 and fired by USC, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering, bribery and fraud.
Loughlin and Giannulli’s payments were funneled through Singer’s charity, whose stated mission was to help “underprivileged students,” according to charging documents filed in federal court. The tax-exempt status for Singer’s Key Worldwide Foundation allowed some of Singer’s clients to write off bribes as charitable gifts on their taxes, authorities said.
California California legislation inspired by college admissions scandal goes to Gov. Gavin Newsom California lawmakers have sent the governor a package of reforms sparked by the recent college admissions scandal, including a bill that requires special admissions of students at public universities to be approved by three campus administrators.
What punishment does the couple face?
Federal prosecutors and the couple’s attorneys agreed to ask a judge to sentence Loughlin and Giannulli to two and five months, respectively, in federal prison, the plea agreements say. Loughlin agreed to pay a fine of $150,000 and serve 100 hours of community service; her husband agreed to a $250,000 penalty and 250 hours of community service, the documents show.
District Judge Gorton must accept these terms. If he does, prosecutors will drop the money laundering and bribery charges a grand jury brought against the couple.
“These defendants will serve prison terms reflecting their respective roles in a conspiracy to corrupt the college admissions process and which are consistent with prior sentences in this case,” U.S. Atty. Andrew E. Lelling, whose deputies charged the case, said in a statement. “We will continue to pursue accountability for undermining the integrity of college admissions.”
California Full Coverage: The college admissions scheme Federal prosecutors accused top CEOs, two Hollywood actresses and others of taking part in an audacious scheme to get their children into elite universities through fraud, bribes and lies.
Where does this leave the larger case?
Of the 56 people charged in the case, 34 have pleaded guilty or agreed to do so.
A dozen parents are headed for trial, the first scheduled to begin Oct. 5 in Boston.
Some defendants have issued public apologies — in some cases, directed at their own children.
“I am ashamed of the pain I have caused my daughter, my family, my friends, my colleagues and the educational community,” Huffman wrote. “I want to apologize to them and, especially, I want to apologize to the students who work hard every day to get into college, and to their parents who make tremendous sacrifices to support their children and do so honestly.”
Time will tell whether Loughlin will offer public comments when she enters her plea in Boston court.


latimes--2020-05-21--Pulling dollar bills off the wall to keep going in rural California

This is a time of year that many rural towns in the Owens Valley usually celebrate — rodeo and fishing season .
Normally , tourists from Southern California would be swarming into the eastern Sierra Nevada range , streaming into Old West facades and making cash registers sing .
But the virus that locals have come to call “ The Big Weird ” has changed all that .
Today , the towns of Lone Pine , Independence , Big Pine and Bishop are silent except for the rumbling of passing trucks on U.S. Highway 395 .
Nearly everything is closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants and saloons with swinging doors .
Two of the biggest social events of the year — Mule Days and the California high school state rodeo finals — were canceled .
The annual ritual known as “ Fishmas , ” opening day for trout fishing , was pushed back a month to May 31 .
In a landscape of stunning contrasts — blue-ribbon trout streams , meadows resplendent with wild iris , cattle ranches and desert plains flanked by lava flows — there is no camping , no rock climbing , and no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mountain in the contiguous U.S. , because the road that hikers use to reach the trailhead is closed .
When it comes to containing the coronavirus , Inyo County is a success story : 19 cases and one death reported in an 18,000-square-mile district that is home to 17,000 people .
But Inyo County is also a place where that seemingly good news threatens to upset the symbiotic relationship between its isolated towns and tourism .
“ We haven ’ t had a new case reported in 31 days , ” said Leslie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But when the economy reopens , our tourists will be coming from coronavirus hot spots.
” Inyo is also a place where the concept of essential business is , as County Supervisor Dan Totheroh put it , “ bogus.
” “ Food , medicine and guns , for example , are classified as essential , ” he said .
“ So , if you have any of those things in your store , you can remain open.
” Confusing guidance from officials on what counts as safe in towns with economies based almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lockdown is not justified in Inyo County .
At the same time , business owners are under the gun to repay the bank loans they took out when it seemed the boom times would never end .
“ The painful lesson in all this , ” Inyo County Supervisor Matt Kingsley said , “ is that we should be diversifying because the tourism-based economy is not as stable as we had come to believe over the decades.
” The Owens Valley is a place where , if there is a common attitude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It recently inspired Sherri Newman to discover an answer to her financial problems stapled to the walls of Jake ’ s Saloon , a century-old hangout for fishermen , ranchers , mountain climbers , skiers and environmentalists in Lone Pine , a hamlet of 2,200 residents about 180 miles north of Los Angeles .
“ The lockdown hit us like a tornado , ” recalled Newman , 57 , who owns the business with her husband .
“ I felt hopeless and lost , wondering how on earth we could pay the bills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But here ’ s the good part of my story , ” she added , leaning forward and placing her hands flat on the bar .
“ I remembered the thousands of one-dollar bills that customers have stapled to the walls over the decades.
” “ I asked a few employees and girlfriends to help take them down , ” she said with a smile .
“ It took two full days to finish the job.
” “ Split five ways , we each got about $ 500 , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had lost two jobs because of the pandemic ; a woman with a mother in hospice care , and a mother of three small children going through a divorce .
There was also a single dad who needed the cash.
” “ Now , ” she added , “ our goal is to hang on to the place through summer.
” Three months after the pandemic darkened movie theaters across the nation , the 96-year-old Bishop Theatre on Main Street has been transformed into a popcorn to-go restaurant .
One side of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spirits up with a moving message : “ Here for you since 1924 — stay strong , Bishop.
” The other side is strictly business : “ Grab and go fresh popcorn , Thursday through Saturday , 3 to 6 pm.
” Each day , dozens of supporters line up to exchange $ 10 for a large sack of popcorn as part of an effort to keep the theater from going under .
Inside , co-owner Holly Mullanix , who started working at the snack bar in 1983 , presides over the popcorn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in people ’ s minds and enables us to keep a few employees on the payroll.
” “ It also helps pay a mortgage on the property and repay a major loan taken out to remodel the place , ” added Mullinax , nodding appreciatively toward the lobby ’ s dark wood paneling and marble floors and countertops .
Under emergency regulations adopted during the pandemic , all nonessential businesses including movie theaters were ordered to cease operations .
Newman ’ s sideline is exempt , she said , because it provides “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this case , popcorn — with butter upon request .
The situation is “ weird and not fair to people like me , ” grumbled Mark McClean , who runs a consignment shop across the street and was recently slapped with an 18-page formal warning to close his front doors or risk civil and criminal enforcement actions .
But it ’ s not just the movie theater , added McClean , 65 , leaning back in a chair in front of the wide-open doors of his shop , surrounded by colorful patriotic imagery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flags .
A large store sign that said “ Open ” dangled over his head .
A nearby hardware store was enjoying booming sales of gardening equipment and plants , he said .
Two doors down , a camera store was open for business .
“ If they want to try and arrest me , I ’ m ready , ” he said .
“ As I explained to the police , my shop is closed .
But I keep the front doors open because I like fresh air .
Orders can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handled in the alley behind the shop.
” Squeezed between the Sierra range and the less lofty coffee-colored White Mountains to the east , the towns of the Owens Valley have existed as colonies of sorts since the early 1900s , when Los Angeles began pumping so much local water into its aqueduct system that it became impossible for farmers and ranchers to make a living .
The scheme was dramatized in the classic 1974 film “ Chinatown.
” Yet , a regional economy took root , and today it is heavily dependent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid by the city and millions of northbound travelers along U.S. 395 throughout the year .
The potential effect of the lockdown on revenue generated by those taxes is huge in a county where they account for a large portion of its discretionary revenue .
“ We ’ ll get through this , ” said Clint Quilter , county administrative officer .
“ But it ’ s going to take some belt tightening .
”

This is a time of year that many rural towns in the Owens Valley usually celebrate — rodeo and fishing season.
Normally, tourists from Southern California would be swarming into the eastern Sierra Nevada range, streaming into Old West facades and making cash registers sing.
But the virus that locals have come to call “The Big Weird” has changed all that.
Today, the towns of Lone Pine, Independence, Big Pine and Bishop are silent except for the rumbling of passing trucks on U.S. Highway 395. Nearly everything is closed: tackle shops, art galleries, restaurants and saloons with swinging doors.
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Two of the biggest social events of the year — Mule Days and the California high school state rodeo finals — were canceled. The annual ritual known as “Fishmas,” opening day for trout fishing, was pushed back a month to May 31.
In a landscape of stunning contrasts — blue-ribbon trout streams, meadows resplendent with wild iris, cattle ranches and desert plains flanked by lava flows — there is no camping, no rock climbing, and no bagging 14,505-foot Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous U.S., because the road that hikers use to reach the trailhead is closed.
Owner Mark McClean promotes the hashtag #reopenbishop on a sign in front of his consignment shop on in Bishop, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
When it comes to containing the coronavirus, Inyo County is a success story: 19 cases and one death reported in an 18,000-square-mile district that is home to 17,000 people.
But Inyo County is also a place where that seemingly good news threatens to upset the symbiotic relationship between its isolated towns and tourism.
“We haven’t had a new case reported in 31 days,” said Leslie Chapman, assistant county administrator. “But when the economy reopens, our tourists will be coming from coronavirus hot spots.”
“That’s scary,” she added, “and weird.”
Inyo is also a place where the concept of essential business is, as County Supervisor Dan Totheroh put it, “bogus.”
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Access to the Alabama Hills around Lone Pine, Calif., is closed because of the pandemic. Business owners along the Highway 395 corridor are pondering what happens next as California eases restrictions. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
“Food, medicine and guns, for example, are classified as essential,” he said. “So, if you have any of those things in your store, you can remain open.”
Confusing guidance from officials on what counts as safe in towns with economies based almost entirely on tourism has triggered complaints that the lockdown is not justified in Inyo County. At the same time, business owners are under the gun to repay the bank loans they took out when it seemed the boom times would never end.
“The painful lesson in all this,” Inyo County Supervisor Matt Kingsley said, “is that we should be diversifying because the tourism-based economy is not as stable as we had come to believe over the decades.”
Business is slow on Main Street in Lone Pine, Calif., while coronavirus restrictions remain in effect. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
::
The Owens Valley is a place where, if there is a common attitude, it is one of survival.
It recently inspired Sherri Newman to discover an answer to her financial problems stapled to the walls of Jake’s Saloon, a century-old hangout for fishermen, ranchers, mountain climbers, skiers and environmentalists in Lone Pine, a hamlet of 2,200 residents about 180 miles north of Los Angeles.
“The lockdown hit us like a tornado,” recalled Newman, 57, who owns the business with her husband. “I felt hopeless and lost, wondering how on earth we could pay the bills and keep staff on the payroll.”
“But here’s the good part of my story,” she added, leaning forward and placing her hands flat on the bar. “I remembered the thousands of one-dollar bills that customers have stapled to the walls over the decades.”
Jake’s Saloon co-owner Sherri Newman at the temporarily closed bar on in Lone Pine. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
“I asked a few employees and girlfriends to help take them down,” she said with a smile. “It took two full days to finish the job.”
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“Split five ways, we each got about $500,” she said. “That includes a woman who had lost two jobs because of the pandemic; a woman with a mother in hospice care, and a mother of three small children going through a divorce. There was also a single dad who needed the cash.”
“Now,” she added, “our goal is to hang on to the place through summer.”
::
Bishop Theatre co-owner Holly Mullanix, right, serves up $10 bags of popcorn to a guest at the shuttered movie theater in Bishop, Calif., now operating as a to-go snack shop. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Three months after the pandemic darkened movie theaters across the nation, the 96-year-old Bishop Theatre on Main Street has been transformed into a popcorn to-go restaurant.
One side of the theater’s old-fashioned jutting marquee keeps spirits up with a moving message: “Here for you since 1924 — stay strong, Bishop.” The other side is strictly business: “Grab and go fresh popcorn, Thursday through Saturday, 3 to 6 pm.”
Each day, dozens of supporters line up to exchange $10 for a large sack of popcorn as part of an effort to keep the theater from going under.
Inside, co-owner Holly Mullanix, who started working at the snack bar in 1983, presides over the popcorn machine that she said “keeps us in people’s minds and enables us to keep a few employees on the payroll.”
Consignment shop owner Mark McClean sits near his homemade sign marking Day 51 of the coronavirus shutdown in front of his business in Bishop, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
“It also helps pay a mortgage on the property and repay a major loan taken out to remodel the place,” added Mullinax, nodding appreciatively toward the lobby’s dark wood paneling and marble floors and countertops.
Advertisement
Under emergency regulations adopted during the pandemic, all nonessential businesses including movie theaters were ordered to cease operations. Newman’s sideline is exempt, she said, because it provides “an essential food supply,” in this case, popcorn — with butter upon request.
The situation is “weird and not fair to people like me,” grumbled Mark McClean, who runs a consignment shop across the street and was recently slapped with an 18-page formal warning to close his front doors or risk civil and criminal enforcement actions.
But it’s not just the movie theater, added McClean, 65, leaning back in a chair in front of the wide-open doors of his shop, surrounded by colorful patriotic imagery including wooden pallets painted to resemble American flags. A large store sign that said “Open” dangled over his head.
Signs at Lake Sabrina proclaim the postponement of fishing season on May 7 in Bishop, Calif. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A nearby hardware store was enjoying booming sales of gardening equipment and plants, he said. Two doors down, a camera store was open for business.
“If they want to try and arrest me, I’m ready,” he said. “As I explained to the police, my shop is closed. But I keep the front doors open because I like fresh air. Orders can be made legally online, with curbside deliveries handled in the alley behind the shop.”
Advertisement
::
A view of Bishop, Calif. Small-business owners along the 395 corridor are dealing with closures and pondering what happens next as California eases restrictions. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
Squeezed between the Sierra range and the less lofty coffee-colored White Mountains to the east, the towns of the Owens Valley have existed as colonies of sorts since the early 1900s, when Los Angeles began pumping so much local water into its aqueduct system that it became impossible for farmers and ranchers to make a living.
The scheme was dramatized in the classic 1974 film “Chinatown.”
Yet, a regional economy took root, and today it is heavily dependent on gasoline, occupancy and property taxes paid by the city and millions of northbound travelers along U.S. 395 throughout the year.
The potential effect of the lockdown on revenue generated by those taxes is huge in a county where they account for a large portion of its discretionary revenue.
“We’ll get through this,” said Clint Quilter, county administrative officer. “But it’s going to take some belt tightening.”


latimes--2020-05-21--Lori Loughlin to plead guilty in college admissions scandal, faces 2 months in prison

Lori Loughlin , the television actress who for 14 months maintained her innocence in the college admissions scandal , has agreed to plead guilty to fraud and spend two months in federal prison , according to court documents unsealed Thursday .
Loughlin was arrested in March 2019 and charged with conspiring with William “ Rick ” Singer , a Newport Beach consultant at the heart of the scandal , to pass off her two daughters , Olivia Jade Giannulli and Isabella Rose Giannulli , as rowing recruits , all but guaranteeing their admission to USC .
Loughlin and her husband @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 500,000 in all , prosecutors charged .
Giannulli has agreed to plead guilty to fraud as well , court documents show .
For more than a year , the couple had insisted Singer misled them into believing the money was destined for legitimate university purposes , not bribes to corrupt school employees .
This month , a judge batted down their request to have the charges dismissed for outrageous government misconduct .
Federal prosecutors and the couple ’ s attorneys agreed to ask a judge to sentence Loughlin and Giannulli to two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal prison , the plea agreements say .
Loughlin agreed to pay a fine of $ 150,000 and serve 100 hours of community service ; her husband agreed to a $ 250,000 penalty and 250 hours of community service , the documents show .
If U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton accepts these terms , prosecutors will drop the money laundering and bribery charges that a grand jury brought against the couple .
They will plead guilty Friday and be sentenced at a later date .
There is no guarantee Gorton will accept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents he has sentenced to date , Michelle Janavs , a Newport Coast philanthropist who paid Singer $ 100,000 to fix her daughters ’ exams and misrepresent one of the girls to USC as a recruited beach volleyball player , received the lightest sentence : a five-month prison term .
Gorton ordered Douglas Hodge , a former investment manager executive , to serve nine months in prison , the stiffest sentence handed down in the admissions case so far .
“ These defendants will serve prison terms reflecting their respective roles in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and which are consistent with prior sentences in this case , ” U.S. Atty .
Andrew E. Lelling , whose deputies prosecuted the case , said in a statement .
“ We will continue to pursue accountability for undermining the integrity of college admissions.
” Sean Berkowitz , an attorney for the couple , declined to comment .
Even in the account set forth in four successive indictments , Loughlin and Giannulli were not Singer ’ s most prolific conspirators .
Other parents were accused of paying more money , for more years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And yet from the morning of March 12 , 2019 , when agents fanned out in Beverly Hills ; Atherton , Calif. ; Greenwich , Conn. ; and other exclusive enclaves to arrest some 50 people , Loughlin and Giannulli have drawn outsize fascination — and ire — from the public .
In April 2019 , Loughlin ’ s fans and detractors lined the sidewalk outside the federal courthouse in Boston where she made her initial appearance .
Supermarket tabloids , citing unnamed sources said to be close to the actress , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind .
Even as a grand jury returned three additional indictments , charging them with bribery and money laundering , Loughlin and Giannulli resisted taking a deal and maintained their innocence .
Gorton had set a trial date for Oct. 5 .
But the couple suffered a serious setback this month when Gorton denied their request to dismiss the indictment or , at the least , to throw out the recorded calls Singer made as a cooperator .
Their attorneys argued that the federal agents overseeing Singer ’ s cooperation had browbeaten him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls , drawing out evidence of criminal intent where none existed .
Gorton declined to dismiss the indictment or suppress the calls .
Questions of criminal intent , he ruled , should be decided by a jury .
In the government ’ s account — set out in four indictments and an FBI agent ’ s affidavit — Giannulli and Loughlin began conspiring with Singer in April 2016 , when the fashion designer told Singer in an email , “ I ’ d like to maybe sit with you after your session with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and want to fully understand the game plan and make sure we have a roadmap for success as it relates to [ our daughter ] and getting her into a school other than [ Arizona State University ] !
” Singer told the couple that their daughter ’ s academic qualifications were “ at or just below the low end of USC ’ s admission , ” the affidavit said .
And so , prosecutors alleged , Loughlin and Giannulli agreed to tap what Singer called his “ side door ” into USC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administrator in the school ’ s athletics department , to designate their two daughters as promising rowing coxswains .
Heinel , who was arrested in March 2019 and fired by USC , has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering , bribery and fraud .
The couple paid $ 500,000 in all , funneled through Singer ’ s charity , whose stated mission was to help “ underprivileged students ” but whose real purpose , Singer has acknowledged , was to pass money from parents to coaches and test administrators they wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Singer ’ s Key Worldwide Foundation allowed some of his clients to write off bribes as charitable gifts on their taxes , authorities said .
Singer has pleaded guilty to four felonies and has yet to be sentenced .

Lori Loughlin, the television actress who for 14 months maintained her innocence in the college admissions scandal, has agreed to plead guilty to fraud and spend two months in federal prison, according to court documents unsealed Thursday.
Loughlin was arrested in March 2019 and charged with conspiring with William “Rick” Singer, a Newport Beach consultant at the heart of the scandal, to pass off her two daughters, Olivia Jade Giannulli and Isabella Rose Giannulli, as rowing recruits, all but guaranteeing their admission to USC.
Loughlin and her husband, J. Mossimo Giannulli, paid Singer $500,000 in all, prosecutors charged. Giannulli has agreed to plead guilty to fraud as well, court documents show.
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For more than a year, the couple had insisted Singer misled them into believing the money was destined for legitimate university purposes, not bribes to corrupt school employees. This month, a judge batted down their request to have the charges dismissed for outrageous government misconduct.
Federal prosecutors and the couple’s attorneys agreed to ask a judge to sentence Loughlin and Giannulli to two and five months, respectively, in federal prison, the plea agreements say. Loughlin agreed to pay a fine of $150,000 and serve 100 hours of community service; her husband agreed to a $250,000 penalty and 250 hours of community service, the documents show.
If U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton accepts these terms, prosecutors will drop the money laundering and bribery charges that a grand jury brought against the couple. They will plead guilty Friday and be sentenced at a later date.
There is no guarantee Gorton will accept the proposed punishments. Of the four parents he has sentenced to date, Michelle Janavs, a Newport Coast philanthropist who paid Singer $100,000 to fix her daughters’ exams and misrepresent one of the girls to USC as a recruited beach volleyball player, received the lightest sentence: a five-month prison term.
Gorton ordered Douglas Hodge, a former investment manager executive, to serve nine months in prison, the stiffest sentence handed down in the admissions case so far.
California Full Coverage: The college admissions scheme Federal prosecutors accused top CEOs, two Hollywood actresses and others of taking part in an audacious scheme to get their children into elite universities through fraud, bribes and lies.
“These defendants will serve prison terms reflecting their respective roles in a conspiracy to corrupt the college admissions process and which are consistent with prior sentences in this case,” U.S. Atty. Andrew E. Lelling, whose deputies prosecuted the case, said in a statement. “We will continue to pursue accountability for undermining the integrity of college admissions.”
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Sean Berkowitz, an attorney for the couple, declined to comment.
Even in the account set forth in four successive indictments, Loughlin and Giannulli were not Singer’s most prolific conspirators. Other parents were accused of paying more money, for more years, to the benefit of more children.
And yet from the morning of March 12, 2019, when agents fanned out in Beverly Hills; Atherton, Calif.; Greenwich, Conn.; and other exclusive enclaves to arrest some 50 people, Loughlin and Giannulli have drawn outsize fascination — and ire — from the public.
In April 2019, Loughlin’s fans and detractors lined the sidewalk outside the federal courthouse in Boston where she made her initial appearance. Supermarket tabloids, citing unnamed sources said to be close to the actress, offered near-weekly updates on her state of mind.
Even as a grand jury returned three additional indictments, charging them with bribery and money laundering, Loughlin and Giannulli resisted taking a deal and maintained their innocence. Gorton had set a trial date for Oct. 5.
But the couple suffered a serious setback this month when Gorton denied their request to dismiss the indictment or, at the least, to throw out the recorded calls Singer made as a cooperator. Their attorneys argued that the federal agents overseeing Singer’s cooperation had browbeaten him into misleading his clients on the recorded calls, drawing out evidence of criminal intent where none existed.
Gorton declined to dismiss the indictment or suppress the calls. Questions of criminal intent, he ruled, should be decided by a jury.
In the government’s account — set out in four indictments and an FBI agent’s affidavit — Giannulli and Loughlin began conspiring with Singer in April 2016, when the fashion designer told Singer in an email, “I’d like to maybe sit with you after your session with the girls as I have some concerns and want to fully understand the game plan and make sure we have a roadmap for success as it relates to [our daughter] and getting her into a school other than [Arizona State University]!”
Singer told the couple that their daughter’s academic qualifications were “at or just below the low end of USC’s admission,” the affidavit said.
And so, prosecutors alleged, Loughlin and Giannulli agreed to tap what Singer called his “side door” into USC: bribing Donna Heinel, then an administrator in the school’s athletics department, to designate their two daughters as promising rowing coxswains. Heinel, who was arrested in March 2019 and fired by USC, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering, bribery and fraud.
The couple paid $500,000 in all, funneled through Singer’s charity, whose stated mission was to help “underprivileged students” but whose real purpose, Singer has acknowledged, was to pass money from parents to coaches and test administrators they wanted to bribe.
The tax-exempt status for Singer’s Key Worldwide Foundation allowed some of his clients to write off bribes as charitable gifts on their taxes, authorities said. Singer has pleaded guilty to four felonies and has yet to be sentenced.


latimes--2020-05-21--New UC Merced chancellor is a farmworker's son and UC alum

Juan Sánchez Muñoz , president of the University of Houston Downtown , grew up hearing stories about the San Joaquin Valley from his father , who landed there from Mexico to pick grapes in the 1950s .
Muñoz , 53 , will be heading there himself in July — as the new chancellor of UC Merced .
The UC Board of Regents unanimously approved his appointment Wednesday , along with an annual salary of $ 425,000 .
The Los Angeles native has deep ties to all three systems of California ’ s higher education .
He received a bachelor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barbara , his master ’ s in Mexican American Studies from Cal State Los Angeles and his doctorate in philosophy from UCLA .
He taught at Cal State Fullerton and East Los Angeles , Pacific Oaks and Whittier Colleges .
His wife , Zenaida Aguirre-Muñoz , who also earned degrees at UC Santa Barbara and UCLA , is an associate professor of psychological , health , and learning sciences at the University of Houston .
The couple have three sons .
“ For us , the UC system has really altered the course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives of our children , ” Muñoz said in an interview .
“ We recognize in a very deep , personal way the transformative impact of the UC system .
To return to our home state and to the UC system to contribute in some way to its future is a tremendous opportunity.
” Muñoz ’ research interests — the learning needs of students who are at-risk and ethnically and linguistically diverse — will serve him well in his new post .
UC Merced is the youngest and most diverse of the UC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its 8,800 students , 75 % are first-generation , 64 % are low-income and 58 % are underrepresented minorities .
The six-year graduation rate of 64 % is the lowest among UC campuses , but U.S. News & World Report ranked Merced No .
2 nationally in 2018 for surpassing expected outcomes among universities with demographically similar students .
The campus , which has substantially completed a $ 1.3-billion expansion project , incorporates intensive academic support for students in classes , summer programs and residential communities .
Muñoz said he hopes to build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social and emotional needs , graduate research opportunities and efforts to further diversify the campus .
In Houston , Muñoz launched the university ’ s largest capital campaign and led the institution ’ s recovery efforts after Hurricane Harvey .
He also presided over increases in enrollment , retention and graduation , along with new degree programs in nursing and data science .
Before taking the helm at Houston , he served as vice provost for undergraduate education and student affairs and senior vice president for diversity , equity and community engagement at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leland , who stepped down last year , and Nathan Brostrom , who served in the interim .
The new chancellor said he hoped to marshal the enthusiasm among UC officials and state legislators to “ really elevate this campus and make it an institution of first choice for the highest caliber students and all caliber students .
”

Juan Sánchez Muñoz, president of the University of Houston Downtown, grew up hearing stories about the San Joaquin Valley from his father, who landed there from Mexico to pick grapes in the 1950s.
Muñoz, 53, will be heading there himself in July — as the new chancellor of UC Merced. The UC Board of Regents unanimously approved his appointment Wednesday, along with an annual salary of $425,000.
The Los Angeles native has deep ties to all three systems of California’s higher education. He received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Santa Barbara, his master’s in Mexican American Studies from Cal State Los Angeles and his doctorate in philosophy from UCLA. He taught at Cal State Fullerton and East Los Angeles, Pacific Oaks and Whittier Colleges.
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His wife, Zenaida Aguirre-Muñoz, who also earned degrees at UC Santa Barbara and UCLA, is an associate professor of psychological, health, and learning sciences at the University of Houston. The couple have three sons.
“For us, the UC system has really altered the course of our lives and by extension the lives of our children,” Muñoz said in an interview. “We recognize in a very deep, personal way the transformative impact of the UC system. To return to our home state and to the UC system to contribute in some way to its future is a tremendous opportunity.”
Muñoz’ research interests — the learning needs of students who are at-risk and ethnically and linguistically diverse — will serve him well in his new post. UC Merced is the youngest and most diverse of the UC system’s 10 campuses. Among its 8,800 students, 75% are first-generation, 64% are low-income and 58% are underrepresented minorities. The six-year graduation rate of 64% is the lowest among UC campuses, but U.S. News & World Report ranked Merced No. 2 nationally in 2018 for surpassing expected outcomes among universities with demographically similar students.
The campus, which has substantially completed a $1.3-billion expansion project, incorporates intensive academic support for students in classes, summer programs and residential communities. Muñoz said he hopes to build on that work with more services for social and emotional needs, graduate research opportunities and efforts to further diversify the campus.
In Houston, Muñoz launched the university’s largest capital campaign and led the institution’s recovery efforts after Hurricane Harvey. He also presided over increases in enrollment, retention and graduation, along with new degree programs in nursing and data science. Before taking the helm at Houston, he served as vice provost for undergraduate education and student affairs and senior vice president for diversity, equity and community engagement at Texas Tech University.
Muñoz succeeds Dorothy Leland, who stepped down last year, and Nathan Brostrom, who served in the interim. The new chancellor said he hoped to marshal the enthusiasm among UC officials and state legislators to “really elevate this campus and make it an institution of first choice for the highest caliber students and all caliber students.”


latimes--2020-05-21--Coronavirus in Tijuana: Paramedics risk their lives to help the sick

The coronavirus is killing so many people in Tijuana that the morgue has run out of refrigerator space for bodies .
As of Tuesday , the Mexican border city had confirmed 392 deaths .
On the front lines of the pandemic in Tijuana is the Mexican Red Cross .
Its 13 ambulances handle the majority of emergency calls for the city of 1.8 million people .
Lately that has meant as many as 40 coronavirus calls a day .
On a Wednesday afternoon in April , paramedic Sergio Garcia pulled his emergency vehicle — a red-and-white hatchback — onto a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ejido Matamoros and stopped in front of a small wooden house .
In the passenger seat was Dr. Alan Muro , an emergency physician at one of the city ’ s main public hospitals and a paramedic .
The men were there to assess a patient and determine whether to call an ambulance .
Muro decided to go inside first .
He put on gloves , an N95 mask and face visor .
The family directed him to a small room at the end of a hallway , where 41-year-old Eduardo Molina was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The school bus driver had been sick for days and his symptoms — a cough and trouble breathing — were worsening .
Muro concluded that Molina had been infected with the coronavirus and told the family there was no choice but to get him to a hospital .
Garcia came inside and connected him to an oxygen tank .
As they all waited for an ambulance , Molina ’ s wife , Mary Londe Hernandez , kneeled and through tears read aloud from a small Bible .
When the ambulance arrived , two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Molina .
Coughing and taking short breaths , he struggled as he made his way to the gurney .
“ Don ’ t let me go alone , don ’ t let me go alone , ” he said .
Outside , Muro and Garcia removed their gloves and disinfected their hands and boots before climbing back into their car .
There were more calls to answer .

The coronavirus is killing so many people in Tijuana that the morgue has run out of refrigerator space for bodies. As of Tuesday, the Mexican border city had confirmed 392 deaths.
On the front lines of the pandemic in Tijuana is the Mexican Red Cross. Its 13 ambulances handle the majority of emergency calls for the city of 1.8 million people. Lately that has meant as many as 40 coronavirus calls a day.
Paramedic Valeria de la Torre Beaven attends to an emergency call where a patient is struggling to breathe. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Paramedic Sergio Garcia prepares an oxygen mask for a patient exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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On a Wednesday afternoon in April, paramedic Sergio Garcia pulled his emergency vehicle — a red-and-white hatchback — onto a dirt road in the neighborhood of Poblado Ejido Matamoros and stopped in front of a small wooden house.
In the passenger seat was Dr. Alan Muro, an emergency physician at one of the city’s main public hospitals and a paramedic. The men were there to assess a patient and determine whether to call an ambulance.
Muro decided to go inside first. He put on gloves, an N95 mask and face visor.
Federico Perez Ramirez and Valeria de la Torre Beaven work quickly to stabilize a patient who was shot in the back of the head. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Tijuana was coping with a high homicide rate. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
The family directed him to a small room at the end of a hallway, where 41-year-old Eduardo Molina was in bed wearing a face mask. The school bus driver had been sick for days and his symptoms — a cough and trouble breathing — were worsening.
Muro concluded that Molina had been infected with the coronavirus and told the family there was no choice but to get him to a hospital. Garcia came inside and connected him to an oxygen tank.
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As they all waited for an ambulance, Molina’s wife, Mary Londe Hernandez, kneeled and through tears read aloud from a small Bible.
Mary Londe Hernandez, center, kneels on the floor and prays as paramedics prepare to take her husband, Eduardo Molina, 41, who has symptoms related to COVID-19, to a hospital. Molina gasped for air and said, “Don’t let me go alone, don’t let me go alone.” (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
When the ambulance arrived, two paramedics in white protective suits went inside for Molina. Coughing and taking short breaths, he struggled as he made his way to the gurney.
“Don’t let me go alone, don’t let me go alone,” he said.
Outside, Muro and Garcia removed their gloves and disinfected their hands and boots before climbing back into their car. There were more calls to answer.
Paramedic Michael Zavala, 22, center, gets help from a patient’s family in loading him onto a stretcher. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Sergio Garcia swings the ambulance door wide open as paramedics help transport patient Eduardo Molina. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Sergio Garcia, left, and Dr. Alan Muro wait outside a patient’s home after they called for an ambulance. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Paramedics in protective suits with a COVID-19 patient. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Red Cross paramedics often work 24-hour shifts. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Ulises Rodriguez, left, supervises a decontamination and the removal of personal protective equipment after paramedics completed an emergency call. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Israel Castro plays with Kakas, a cat that lives on the Red Cross base in Tijuana. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
A couple embrace outside the waiting area of the Red Cross clinic. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Paramedics Michael Zavala, 22, left, and Ivan Mora, 33, administer care to a patient with COVID-19 symptoms. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Federico Perez Ramirez takes a break with fellow paramedics. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Gustavo Garduno always disinfects equipment used to transport patients with COVID-19 symptoms. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Dr. Francisco Tenorio, left, gives paramedics an update about a patient. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Michael Zavala, 22, a paramedic, searches a home after receiving a call about a body. No body was found. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
Click here to see more photos: https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/gallery/red-cross-paramedics-in-tijuana