Latest news with #RicardoRodriguez
CBS News
25-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Combining bespoke luxury and state-of-the-art technology at a Weston estate
Sponsored by Coldwell Banker Set in one of Weston's most coveted neighborhoods we find this exceptional suburban estate blending modern architecture, bespoke luxury, and state-of-the-art technology. Luxury real estate expert and recurring guest Ricardo Rodriguez takes host Rachel Holt for a private tour of the property and shares what makes this such a unique home.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Three CBP officers accused of allowing undocumented migrants to enter US
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Three on-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers accused of allowing vehicles with undocumented individuals to pass through their lanes into the U.S. without inspection at the San Ysidro Port of Entry face multiple charges. Farlis Almonte, 38, of San Diego, Ricardo Rodriguez, 34, of Tijuana, Mexico, and Kairy Stephania Quiñonez, 31, of Imperial Beach, have all been charged with Conspiracy to Bring in Aliens for Financial Gain and Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain, Aiding and Abetting, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release Tuesday. The three CBP officers allegedly 'revealed their lane assignments and hours they were scheduled to work the primary inspection booths at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, so that co-conspirators would know when it was safe to transport undocumented individuals across the border with impunity — sometimes using code words to gain admittance,' according to the indictment. The indictment alleges the defendants falsely reported into the Transportation Enforcement Communications System database the number of occupants in the co-conspirators' vehicles 'to conceal the fact that those vehicles contained undocumented individuals.' Almonte and Rodriguez, both of whom have also been charged with Receipt of Bribes by Public Official, allegedly failed to enforce the immigration laws of the U.S. by allowing vehicles with undocumented immigrants to enter the U.S. in exchange for money, per the indictment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Mexicans without Real IDs rush to MVDs as real deadline nears
A woman stomped out of the Santa Fe field office of the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division on Friday morning, cursing and clutching a thick folder. About an hour later, another man slammed through the front door of the office in a similar fashion. They had both been told the same thing: They didn't have the right documentation and — even worse — they were going to have to make another visit to the office after collecting the right documents. The clock is ticking. Congress passed the Real ID Act in 2005, setting stricter identity verification requirements for driver's licenses and other identity documents used for federal purposes as a security measure in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. After years of setting and then delaying deadlines for Real ID enforcement, the federal government has warned the current deadline of May 7 is the official date when possession of the more secure identification cards will be required to board an airplane and enter federal facilities. As the date approaches, some in New Mexico have been scrambling to gather their documents to get the cards. The requirements to verify one's identity are more stringent than those for driver's licenses in the past, requiring various approved records that provide proof of identity, age, Social Security number and residence. Tasked with handling frustrated visitors at the office in recent weeks has been the agency's bureau chief, Ricardo Rodriguez, who on Friday morning was greeting people at the door in a suit. He said sometimes people have documents with first and last names that don't match, which means they have to show other records — such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court order — that provide a clear trail to account for that. The most common issue, he said, is that people come in thinking they have everything they need and they're missing a document. 'Most people are understanding, and their visit goes smoothly,' Rodriguez said. 'But there are cases like that where they just bring mail and feel that it's going to be acceptable, or they think if they're angry enough that we're just going to go ahead and accept it. We can't do that, because we have to follow, you know, statute.' Rush for Real ID Across the state, the division's offices have been handling an uptick in customers. The division issued more than 51,000 Real IDs in March, compared with about 36,000 in March 2024, according to data provided by the state Department of Taxation and Revenue. Last week, Motor Vehicle Division field offices were set to serve about 2,000 more people than they did the previous week. While the average wait time statewide is four to five minutes, according to the agency, that average has increased to eight minutes in recent weeks. Rodriguez said it has felt like 'going from zero to 100' in the past few weeks at offices in the region. He believes the numbers of people will continue to increase in the coming weeks, right up until — and possibly even after — the deadline. About 80% of drivers and other ID-holders in New Mexico already have Real IDs, Taxation and Revenue Cabinet Secretary Stephanie Schardin Clarke said in an interview, which means 20% — or about 300,000 New Mexicans — still don't. 'We have to keep in mind that some of them don't want a Real ID, don't need a Real ID or maybe aren't eligible to receive a Real ID,' Schardin Clarke said. 'Some subset of those 300,000, though — we need to make sure we reach them and make sure they're aware. We don't want them to be caught by surprise.' She said her department has stepped up outreach to make sure New Mexicans know about the Real ID deadline in the final stretch, including news conferences, social media campaigns and ads. Unlike some other states — such as Texas — New Mexico is continuing to offer standard driver's licenses as well for those who might not want or need to get a Real ID. She noted there are some who have a passport and might not need or want a Real ID, some who have another type of identification — such as a military card — that will be accepted by the federal Transportation Security Administration, and others, such as immigrants without proof of lawful residency, who can receive a state-issued 'standard license' but are not eligible for a Real ID. 'We don't really have any way to break down that number,' Schardin Clarke said. 'But when someone comes into our office, we make sure they're aware, and we offer them both the Real ID and the standard driver's license, and then they choose which one to proceed with.' She encouraged people to 'really spend some time looking at our website and making sure that your documents are fully compliant before you come in.' 'We don't want you to spend your time coming in and for us only to say the documentation you brought in today doesn't make you eligible,' she said. Schardin Clarke pointed out anyone who is getting their Real ID at the last minute won't necessarily have to wait for it to come in the mail to use it if they opt for a mobile driver's license. The mobile IDs can be added to a digital wallet after an application has been approved, and TSA agents accept them. Most flyers have Real IDs A news release from the TSA earlier this month stated people who do not present compliant identification such as a Real ID or a passport at airport security beginning on May 7 'can expect to face delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint.' There were 10 people waiting for flights inside the terminal of the Santa Fe Regional Airport on a recent afternoon, and all of them had Real IDs. Most had renewed at some point in recent years and opted for the Real ID, although a few weren't sure if they had a Real ID or not until looking at their license and seeing the star in the corner. An airport security agent said most people who pass through her line already have Real IDs. She estimated about 10% don't, and she said she reminds those people about the coming deadline. A sign posted in front of the walk-through metal detector reminds flyers about the May 7 deadline, asking, 'Are you Real ID ready?' The airport's security manager, Jimmy Gunn, said the agency's officers would have discretion over handling passengers without Real IDs, but he said the additional screening process involves calling a hotline to verify each person's identity individually, which can be time-consuming. In other instances, the verification process has taken up to 30 minutes per person, he said. While frequent flyers have regularly faced reminders over the Real ID deadline for years now, he said, the occasional infrequent flyer — or someone who has a 10-year driver's license and hasn't had to renew in years — could cause delays for everyone. 'That's what these guys are worried about,' Gunn said, referring to the airport's security guards. 'We're small — we don't get that much traffic, but like the [Albuquerque] Sunport or these bigger airports, it could slow them way down.'
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
Border patrol officers busted in bribery scheme to let migrants into U.S.
A pair of border patrol agents based in Southern California are accused of taking thousands of dollars in bribes to allow vehicles carrying undocumented migrants to pass unchecked through the nation's busiest port of entry, prosecutors said. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers Farlis Almonte and Ricardo Rodriguez, both of whom manned inspection booths at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, are facing a series of federal charges in connection with the scheme, including conspiracy to bring in aliens for financial gain and receipt of bribes by a public official. Former border patrol officer sentenced for smuggling migrants, cocaine Queens man smuggled Pakistani, Bangladeshi nationals across northern border An investigation was launched into the duo after a group of smugglers arrested last year claimed they'd been working with the U.S. border inspectors. They alleged the agents would inform co-conspirators in Mexico which lanes they had been assigned to work, and then wave through vans carrying people without proper documentation into the United States. Prosecutors said the suspects received thousands of dollars for each van they allowed to cross the border. They were taken into custody last week after investigators uncovered text messages they'd exchanged with human traffickers in Mexico, in addition to unexplained cash deposits into their bank accounts, according to a criminal complaint. One alleged smuggler's cellphone had a screenshot of a message involving one person named 'Farli USA,' who had been providing his shift times, according to court documents obtained by NBC San Diego. Prosecutors said there's also surveillance video of at least one instance of a vehicle stopped at a checkpoint, and while there was a driver and a passenger, only the driver was documented as having entered the country. With News Wire Services
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aspen Aerogels Inc (ASPN) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Revenue Growth and Strategic ...
Revenue: $453 million for 2024, a 90% increase year over year. Adjusted EBITDA: $90 million, up from a negative $23 million in 2023. Net Income: $13 million for 2024. Pyro Thin Thermal Barrier Revenue: $307 million in 2024, up from $110 million in 2023. Energy Industrial Revenue: $53 million in Q4 2024, with gross margins exceeding 40%. Gross Margin: Exceeded 35% target, with company-level gross profit margins at 38% in Q4 2024. Q4 Revenue: $123.1 million, a 46% year-over-year growth. Free Cash Flow: Positive $20.9 million in Q4 2024. Cash on Balance Sheet: Over $220 million at the end of 2024. Q1 2025 Revenue Guidance: $75 million to $95 million. Q1 2025 EBITDA Guidance: Break-even to $15 million. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Signs with ASPN. Release Date: February 13, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Aspen Aerogels Inc (NYSE:ASPN) achieved a significant revenue growth of 90% in 2024, reaching $453 million. The company exceeded its long-term target of 35% gross margins, achieving over 40% gross margins in its energy industrial segment. Aspen Aerogels Inc (NYSE:ASPN) secured a new thermal barrier design award from Volvo Truck, marking its second award in the commercial vehicle segment. The company successfully transitioned to an external manufacturing facility, enhancing its supply capabilities and achieving better gross margins. Aspen Aerogels Inc (NYSE:ASPN) ended 2024 with over $220 million in cash, providing financial flexibility for future growth and challenges. Aspen Aerogels Inc (NYSE:ASPN) decided to cease construction of Plant 2 in Statesboro, Georgia, due to evolving market conditions. The company anticipates potential tariff risks in 2025, which could impact its pricing strategies and sourcing optimization. There is uncertainty in the EV market, with potential reductions in EV incentives and high interest rates affecting demand. Aspen Aerogels Inc (NYSE:ASPN) expects a temporary drop in production in Q1 2025 due to inventory adjustments at General Motors. The company is cautious about providing annual guidance for 2025 due to macroeconomic uncertainties and evolving market dynamics. Q: Given the change in business strategy, what is the long-term financial profile and business model for Aspen Aerogels? What EBITDA margin, revenue capacity, and free cash flow margin can we expect? A: Ricardo Rodriguez, CFO, stated that the margin targets remain unchanged, aiming for 35%+ gross margins and over 20% EBITDA margins. The supply strategy supports these targets, and the company plans to build capacity incrementally rather than through a large single project, which aligns with customer expectations. Q: Is China the jurisdiction for building additional capacity for Pyro Thin, and are margin targets inclusive of tariffs from China? A: Ricardo Rodriguez confirmed that initial capacity expansion will be in China, with margin targets inclusive of tariffs. The company plans to add capacity in increments of $150 million to $200 million annually. Q: With the lower fixed costs, when will the savings be realized, and what is the nature of these savings? A: Ricardo Rodriguez explained that the cost reductions, amounting to $8 million per quarter, are structural and involve reducing positions and external spend. These savings will be realized from Q2 onwards, protecting the company's ability to generate profit and cash flow. Q: Regarding GM's inventory, do you expect it to normalize in Q1, and how should we think about the 2025 outlook? A: Ricardo Rodriguez indicated that GM's inventory is expected to normalize in Q1. For 2025, he suggested using the original 2024 expectations of $200 million as a starting point, considering the outsized performance in 2024 was due to unique demand factors. Q: What are the plans for the capital deployed in Statesboro, and how will the modular strategy for capacity expansion work? A: Ricardo Rodriguez mentioned that some equipment from Statesboro will be moved to Rhode Island to increase throughput, and other equipment may be sent to external manufacturing facilities. The modular strategy allows for capacity increments of $150 million to $200 million annually, with the first new capacity expected online in 2026. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
