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CBS News
14 minutes ago
- CBS News
2 charged with murder for explosion, fire that left 5 dead at Los Angeles County cannabis laboratories
Two people were charged with murder in connection with a fiery explosion in Irwindale and a deadly fire in South El Monte that left five people dead at illegal cannabis laboratories in recent years, Los Angeles County prosecutors announced on Friday. On Oct. 9, 2023, four people died when a warehouse in the 1400 block of Arrow Highway in Irwindale exploded, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Prosecutors say that all four of the victims were employees at the warehouse, which was being used for honey oil extraction. Nearly a year after, another person died at a laboratory in South El Monte, which was also being used as an illegal cannabis operation, prosecutors said. On Friday, Ted Chien, 54, was charged with five counts of murder in connection with the explosion and fire, which killed Yi Luo, 47, of Baldwin Park, Xin Chen, 59, of Rosemead, Guangqi Fu, 35, of Chino and Quizhuo Liang, 35, of Monterey Park and Bordin "Tony" Sikarin, 57, of Buena Park. Those murder charges against Chien also include the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, prosecutors said during a news conference on Friday. They are expected to decide at a later time whether to seek the death penalty against Chien, who also faces two counts of felony arson causing great bodily injury, three felony counts of maintaining a place for selling or using a controlled substance and eight felony counts of manufacturing a controlled substance. Chien's parter, 55-year-old Rosemead man Han Quan Jiao, was also charged with one count of murder in connection with the deadly fire in South El Monte. Additionally, he faces one count of arson causing great bodily injury, three counts of maintaining a place for selling or using a controlled substance and eight counts of manufacturing a controlled substance. If convicted as charged, Jiao faces life in prison, the DA's office said. Both Chien and Jiao are scheduled for arraignment on Sept. 11 in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom. Both are accused of continuing the illicit operation, illegal extracting and distributing concentrated cannabis, despite the deaths of their employees, prosecutors said. Four other people were charged on Friday, all of whom also allegedly worked for Chien and Jiao. Xiaolong Deng, 36, Chengyan Xu, 61, Christopher Reyes, 30, and Frank Herrera, 35, each face one count of conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance. Xu was also charged with two counts of manufacturing and compounding or producing a controlled substances, while the other three were charged with one count of the same offense, the DA's office noted. Deng, Xu and Reyes are expected back in court on Sept. 24 after previously entering not guilty pleas. At that time, a judge will determine if there is substantial evidence to allow the case against them proceed to trail. Herrera is due in court on Monday for arraignment. Xu faces a maximum sentence of eight years and eight months in prison, while Deng, Reyes and Herrera each face up to seven years if convicted as charged, prosecutors said. More than 150 law enforcement agents served search warrants at nine different Los Angeles County locations earlier this week in connection with the investigation, which they dubbed "Operation Sugar Diamond," according to the DA's office. "This case shows the deadly and disastrous results when illegal cannabis operations recklessly put greed over the safety of their employees and neighbors," said a statement from LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. "Cannabis may be legal in California, but this kind of high-risk, illegal activity is not. These drug-trafficking organizations have no place in our communities and my office will continue to work with law enforcement at the local, state and federal levels to hold those accountable who engage in this illicit trade."
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The Return Fraud Epidemic: How $103 Billion In Returns Are Costing Shopping And Sellers Big
Many shoppers think of returns as a no harm, no foul transaction. If they deem a purchase unnecessary, and the product is unused and easy to resell, they're largely right. However, retailers are now telling Business Insider that the returns are becoming a major issue. Especially as outright return fraud — in the form of empty packages, swapped out items, claiming failed deliveries, or abusing generous return polices — is ramping up. 'Consumers who would never go into a physical store and take an item off without paying and stealing are actually being trained socially that it's actually acceptable to take advantage of retailers in these small ways,' Narvar Vice President of Consumer Strategy David Morin said. 'They think it's OK, right? Stick it to the man.' Don't Miss: 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can Accredited Investors: Grab Pre-IPO Shares of the AI Company Powering Hasbro, Sephora & MGM— A 2024 report by Appriss Retail and Deloitte found that last year the total value of returned merchandise in the U.S. reached $685 billion, or 13.21% of total retail sales. Of those returns, 15.14% were fraudulent, resulting in a $103 billion loss for retailers. Morin told Business Insider that it's hard to determine exactly who is behind all of these fraudulent returns, but that it's clear a pretty expansive group of people made up of both ordinary consumers and organized criminals is involved. Last summer, Narvar's 8th Annual State of Returns report found that 57% of shoppers said they had participated in return fraud at least once. Return fraud incidents, the report said, were up by 16 percentage points year-over-year. 'There seems to be this mentality that consumers feel entitled to do it,' Loop Senior Vice President of Marketing Jessica Meher told Business Insider. Trending: $100k+ in investable assets? – no cost, no obligation. E-commerce has made return fraud easier to participate in, the outlet says, because overwhelmed warehouse employees who are receiving these packages are less likely to examine their contents closely. Meanwhile, employees at brick and mortar stores have the bandwidth to ensure the products are unused and match the original purchase. Social media is also adding to the problem, as people take to platforms like TikTok and Reddit to post their best tips for getting free refunds. "It's almost like coupon sites where consumers have been trained to look for coupons and discounts,' Meher said. 'That's starting to happen with what companies offer loose return policies.' For many people, this sort of low-level fraud feels like a victimless crime that only affects soulless corporations, Business Insider says. People assume that because these companies have extended such generous return policies, they really don't care all that turns out, that's not the case. Many retailers, both large and small, have started changing their return policies in hopes of slowing their losses. Tightening return windows, implementing stricter policies, and even tailoring those policies for individual customers are among the most popular reactions to return fraud, the outlet found. Progress is slow, though, because many companies are worried about alienating their most loyal customer base. "How do I make sure that I don't piss off my good customers?," is one of the most pressing questions retailers are considering when reassessing their return policies, Meher said. Read Next: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article The Return Fraud Epidemic: How $103 Billion In Returns Are Costing Shopping And Sellers Big originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Gary Busey Pleads Guilty to Sex Crimes Charge, Admits 'It Was Not an Accidental Touching'
Gary Busey pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contactNEED TO KNOW Gary Busey pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact on Thursday, July 31 Busey admitted he inappropriately touched a woman during the semi-annual Monster-Mania Convention at a Doubletree Hotel in New Jersey on Aug. 13, 2022 "He's glad to put this behind him," Busey's criminal defense attorney tells PEOPLEGary Busey pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact on Thursday, July 31. Busey entered his plea during a virtual court appearance where he admitted he inappropriately touched a woman at the semi-annual Monster-Mania Convention at a Doubletree Hotel in New Jersey in August of 2022. "It was not an accidental touching," Busey told the judge, according to The Guardian. Busey's criminal defense attorney Blair Zwillman tells PEOPLE that in order for the judge to accept the guilty plea, "there has to be a factual basis where he admits the offense. He had to admit that it was non-consensual.' 'This was the best disposition for him," says Zwillman. "He's glad to put this behind him. He is basically a family guy. He is not a criminal." Busey, who was initially charged with four counts of criminal sexual contact and one count of attempted criminal sexual contact, has yet to be sentenced. He faces fines and one to five years of probation. 'We're going to ask that he'd just be fined and end it,' says women reported that the actor touched them inappropriately during an autograph signing meet-and-greet at Monster-Mania in 2022. The actor initially denied any wrongdoing. "None of that happened,' he told TMZ. 'It was a partner, a camera lady and me, and two girls ... it took less than 10 seconds, and they left. Then they made up a story that I assaulted them sexually and I did not. Nothing happened, it's all false." Busey was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Buddy Holly in The Buddy Holly Story. He also has appeared in dozens of other films including Predator 2 and Point Break. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People
