Judge sentences Bay Area man to a year for laundering $1.5 million for San Francisco mafia

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:35:46 GMT

Judge sentences Bay Area man to a year for laundering $1.5 million for San Francisco mafia SAN FRANCISCO — A Cupertino man has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal custody for laundering more than $1.5 million for an undercover officer pretending to be a New York mob figure who was seeking help from an organization led by an infamous Bay Area gangster.Serge Gee, 37, was sentenced Aug. 15 by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer. Last April, Gee pleaded guilty to laundering money with the San Francisco-based Ghee Kung Tong criminal organization led by Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow.Prosecutors argued for a 34-month sentence, writing in a sentencing memo that Gee was brought into a money laundering conspiracy by his mother, Elaine Liang, who ran a “drug distribution network” that stretched to New York, Georgia and Massachusetts. They acknowledged, though, that Gee “willingly returned from abroad” to face these criminal charges.The undercover FBI agent gave Gee and others the impression that the money he was laundering came fro...

Critics of expansion say Oakland airport’s zero-emissions plan is missing most crucial element

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:35:46 GMT

Critics of expansion say Oakland airport’s zero-emissions plan is missing most crucial element The Port of Oakland’s plan to reduce carbon emissions at the Oakland International Airport leaves out a crucial element, according to critics of its planned expansion: emissions from actual flights.The port’s announcement this week of its plan for a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net zero emissions at the airport by 2040 comes just days after a broad coalition of organizations rallied at the airport to protest plans to build a new terminal, add more gates and ultimately increase air traffic in the East Bay.Lin Griffith, a member of the steering committee for Stop OAK Expansion Coalition, which organized last week’s protest, said the plan represents merely a drop in the bucket of the airport’s emissions, primarily because it leaves out the biggest emitters.“Ninety-nine percent of emissions are from the airplanes themselves, not airport emissions,” Griffith said. “That’s what we need to reduce.”In pursuit of its emissions goal, the airport has already begu...

'Aggressive shark behavior' reported off San Mateo Coast

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:35:46 GMT

'Aggressive shark behavior' reported off San Mateo Coast (KRON) -- Aggressive shark behavior was reported Tuesday in the vicinity of Pebble Beach, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. A kayaker had a close encounter with a shark that was behaving aggressively, but emerged unharmed, police said. Person robbed, dragged by 2 armed suspects in Oakland: video The encounter occurred just south of Pescadero, a state beach jurisdiction.No further information is available at this time.

Two lanes closed due to fire along Highway 101

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:35:46 GMT

Two lanes closed due to fire along Highway 101 (KRON) -- Two lanes are blocked on northbound US-101 in Menlo Park due to a brush fire, according to a 511 alert. The fire is north of Willow Road in Menlo Park. The two right lanes are blocked. Caltrans' traffic camera shows traffic on northbound US-101 slowed to a crawl due to the closures. Drivers are advised to take alternate routes to avoid the area. There is no estimated time for the roadway to reopen. This is a developing story. Stick with KRON4 for updates.

Two Atherton houses broken into in 2-day span

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:35:46 GMT

Two Atherton houses broken into in 2-day span (KRON) -- Two Atherton houses were broken into last week, the Atherton Police Department said. In both cases, suspects entered the homes by smashing a bedroom window. The first break-in happened in the evening on Aug. 18. Police said the rear master bedroom window of a home on the 200 block of Greenoaks Drive was smashed. Person robbed, dragged by 2 armed suspects in Oakland: video The suspects went inside and rummaged through the home, per APD. A day later, suspects broke into a home on Adam Way. Again, they smashed a rear master bedroom window and went through the home. Police are investigating both incidents. Anyone that lives near these homes and noticed anything suspicious or has relevant surveillance footage is asked to call Atherton police at (650) 688-6500.

Man who swung at officers with branch, allegedly stole iPhone arrested in Campbell

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:35:46 GMT

Man who swung at officers with branch, allegedly stole iPhone arrested in Campbell (KRON) -- A man who allegedly stole an iPhone and swung at officers with a tree branch while resisting arrest has been taken into custody, according to the Campbell Police Department. The iPhone was reported stolen on Aug. 15 from a vehicle near Budd Avenue.The victim, police said, located the phone using Find My iPhone. They went to retrieve it from a suspect in a tent near the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Officers responded to the report and initiated an investigation. Person robbed, dragged by 2 armed suspects in Oakland: video At the scene, officers encountered Francisco Gudino, a 45-year-old man described as a "transient." The situation quickly escalated, according to police and the suspect became confrontational. He was also found to be in possession of a knife.Officers attempted to arrest Gudino, but he resisted arrest, wielding a large branch as a weapon against officers, before escaping into Highway 17.According to police, Gudino has a history of interactions with CPD, includin...

Fare evasion is down 70% at Metro stations with new, higher fare gates

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:35:46 GMT

Fare evasion is down 70% at Metro stations with new, higher fare gates Metro is installing new doors meant to make it more difficult to side-step fares.(Courtesy WMATA) Metro is installing new doors meant to make it more difficult to side-step fares.(Courtesy WMATA) The new higher fare gates at Metro stations are actually curbing fare evasion,   according to the transit agency’s newest data.A month after Metro rolled out new, higher fare gates at six stations, it said Tuesday that fare evasion has decreased by more than 70% at those stations.The new fare gates are “saloon door” shaped and increased the barrier height from 28 to 55 inches, making it more difficult to jump over fare gates. Metro is publishing the paid and unpaid ridership data on its online ridership ...

Jimmy Graham expected to return soon from ‘medical episode,’ Saints coach Dennis Allen says

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:35:46 GMT

Jimmy Graham expected to return soon from ‘medical episode,’ Saints coach Dennis Allen says METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Saints tight end Jimmy Graham is expected to return this week to practice following what team officials have described as a “medical episode” that led police in the Los Angeles area to arrest the veteran player and take him to a hospital last weekend.“I expect to see Jimmy out here, hopefully tomorrow,” Saints coach Dennis Allen said following practice Tuesday night. “We’ll see, but I don’t think this is going to be anything that’s going to cause him to miss a significant amount of time.”Dr. John Amoss, the Saints’ team physician, has said Graham likely had a seizure and was disoriented when he was picked up by authorities in Orange County on Friday night.The Saints had flown to California last Wednesday for joint practices with the Los Angeles Chargers in advance of New Orleans’ 22-17 victory in both teams’ second preseason game on Sunday night.Graham did not play in the game. The team had Monday off and Graham also missed practice...

Seahawks rookie receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to miss 3-4 weeks with wrist injury

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:35:46 GMT

Seahawks rookie receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to miss 3-4 weeks with wrist injury SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Seahawks rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba will undergo surgery for a wrist fracture and miss approximately three to four weeks coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday.Smith-Njigba was injured in the second quarter of Seattle’s preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, when he was tackled at the 1-yard line after hauling in a 48-yard reception from quarterback Drew Lock. Carroll is “staying optimistic” that Smith-Njigba will be able to play in the Seahawks’ Sept. 10 season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, but made no guarantees.Smith-Njigba flew to Philadelphia on Tuesday, and will have the procedure soon.“He’s going to get surgery, and he’s with a hand specialist,” Carroll said. “Kind of a slight fracture that we just want to make sure we do that right thing to ensure that he gets back as soon as possible and as safe as possible. We’re going to be optimistic about it. Three, four weeks, we’ll see what happens.”Smith-Njigba, who was a star recei...

49ers remain undecided on backup quarterback headed into exhibition finale

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:35:46 GMT

49ers remain undecided on backup quarterback headed into exhibition finale SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan hasn’t decided yet on who will be the No. 2 quarterback behind Brock Purdy and said that Sam Darnold and Trey Lance could rotate the job throughout the season.Lance and Darnold have shared the backup quarterback duties throughout training camp, alternating which one gets the primary work behind Purdy.The Niners often have only kept two quarterbacks on the initial 53-man roster during Shanahan’s first six years in San Francisco but could opt for three this season. Teams are allowed to designate an emergency third quarterback on game days this season as long as that player is on the 53-man roster — a rule change put in place after the 49ers ran out of healthy QBs in the NFC title game.“You keep three when you have three,” Shanahan said Tuesday. “It’s hard with the 53-man roster. You’d like to keep two so you can get another position somewhere. … For what happened to us the one time out of 10,000...