Shaun Paquette Identified as Suspect in Ladera Ranch Deputy-Involved Shooting

Posted by CotoBlogzz


LADERA RANCH, Calif. – On Sunday, June 29, 2014 at approximately 10:26 p.m., Orange County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 100 block of Sansovino, Ladera Ranch regarding a domestic disturbance call.  Deputies arrived and encountered Shaun Bradley Paquette, 29, Ladera Ranch, inside the residence, during which time a deputy-involved shooting occurred.

Paquette was transported to a local hospital by Orange County Fire Authority paramedics with non-life threatening injuries suffered as a result of the shooting.  The deputy was not injured during the incident.

Paquette was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, battery against a spouse and child endangerment charges.  He was booked into Orange County Jail and is currently being held on $100K bail.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is conducting the shooting investigation as a standard protocol for all Orange County Sheriff’s deputy-involved shootings.

SCOTUS deals a significant blow to the progressive movement and far left attorneys general,

SCOTUS deals a significant blow to the progressive movement and far left attorneys general,

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - Today, the Supreme Court of the United States  (SCOTUS) dealt a significant blow to the progressive movement and far left attorneys general, handing down decisions in two high-profile cases regarding birth control and labor unions.

In Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, the court ruled 5-4 that closely held corporations cannot be required to provide contraception coverage for their employees.

In Harris v. Quinn, the court ruled 5-4 to give certain workers the ability to opt out of paying dues to public-sector unions, delivering a setback to the organized labor movement.

In January 2014, Attorney General Harris was joined by 13 far left states and the District of Columbia to file a friend-of-the-court brief that urged the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit which held that for-profit businesses may exercise religion and therefore are covered by the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993.

Today, far left  Attorney General Kamala D. Harris issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby:

“A woman’s access to quality, affordable preventive healthcare coverage should not depend on her employer’s beliefs. Every woman should be able to make healthcare decisions for herself and her family. I am deeply disappointed that the Court ruled to limit this important right.

The decision also opens a perilous loophole that may enable private, for-profit companies to challenge other common-sense laws—including those that protect against discrimination—based on the religious beliefs of their shareholders or managers.”

Last week SCOTUS ruled that president Obama had abused his power, essentially disconnecting his phone and throwing away the ink  cartridge in his pen.  Obama vowed to do whatever he thought was right, in spite of SCOTUS' decisions and or Congress.

Might this be an indicator that the far left movement has hit a brick wall?

Low-hanging Fruit Benghazi Attack Terrorist Makes First Court Appearance

Beghazi Attack Terrorist Makes  First Court Appearance

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA -  Ahmed Abu Khatallah, aka Ahmed Mukatallah, made his first appearance today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on a federal terrorism offense arising from his alleged participation in the Sept. 11 through 12, 2012, terrorist attacks in Benghazi, Libya, which resulted in the deaths of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty.

Khatallah was indicted by a federal grand jury on the charge of conspiracy to provide material support and resources to terrorists, knowing and intending that these would be used in preparation for and in carrying out a killing in the course of an attack on a federal facility, and the offense resulted in death.

The investigation is ongoing and the Justice Department can bring additional charges as the case continues.

Various reports, including ones from Fox News claim that Khatallah is not only a low hanging fruit, but that other more important suspects have been identified, but the administration has failed to take action, for unknown issues.  Some speculate that bringing the more important terrorist may further embarrass the Obama administration, something the State Department spokesperson categorically denies.


Khatallah, a Libyan national approximately 43 years of age, was taken into custody earlier this month.  He initially was charged in a criminal complaint that was filed under seal on July 15, 2013, and that became public on June 17, 2014.  The Justice Department secured the defendant’s initial indictment on June 26, 2014, and the charging document was unsealed today.


The case is being investigated by the FBI New York Office's Joint Terrorism Task Force with assistance from various other government agencies.  The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

Omnicare Agrees to Pay $124 Million to Settle Allegations Involving False Billings to Federal Health Care Programs

Omnicare Agrees  to Pay $124 Million to Settle Allegations Involving False Billings to Federal Health Care Programs
The settlement resolves allegations brought in two lawsuits filed by whistleblowers. The first whistleblower, Donald Gale, a former Omnicare employee, will receive $ 17.24 million.

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA -  Omnicare Inc., the nation’s largest provider of pharmaceuticals and pharmacy services to nursing homes, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, has agreed to pay $124.24 million for allegedly offering improper financial incentives to skilled nursing facilities in return for their continued selection of Omnicare to supply drugs to elderly Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, the Justice Department announced today.

The settlement resolves allegations that Omnicare submitted false claims by entering into below-cost contracts to supply prescription medication and other pharmaceutical drugs to skilled nursing facilities and their resident patients to induce the facilities to select Omnicare as their pharmacy provider.

The facilities were participating providers under agreements with Medicare and Medicaid.   In addition to the facilities’ own claims for reimbursement from Medicare for short-term rehabilitation treatment rendered to patients, Omnicare submitted additional claims for reimbursement to Medicare and Medicaid for drugs Omnicare supplied.   Of the $124.24 million to be paid by Omnicare, $8.24 million will go to various states which jointly funded the Medicaid programs impacted by Omnicare’s conduct.


The settlement resolves allegations brought in two lawsuits filed by whistleblowers under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private parties to bring suit on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery.  The first whistleblower, Donald Gale, a former Omnicare employee, will receive $ 17.24 million.

Faith is essential today

Posted by Eve

Having Faith is Essential in Today’s Modern World
American life is hard. First, we are all striving to succeed, each of us raised on a diet of self belief and the notion that we are each capable of achieving whatever we set our minds to (although sometimes the truth is different). We get jobs and mortgages and raise families and (if we are lucky) take regular vacations.  We try and look after our health but probably eat too much fat and sugar and maybe don’t exercise as often as we should (despite guidance from the American Heart Association which suggests we should each engage in at least 150 minutes per week of moderate cardio).  We see horror stories on the news and it seems the main stream media delight in showing death, murder, terrorism and hatred 24/7. All the while we set the alarm clock each evening ready to get back on the treadmill, earning that paycheck and paying the bills. It all seems a bit soul destroying, like we are living in a lawless, value-less, spiritual-less society - which is exactly why having faith in God is a vital tool for coping in today’s modern world.  

A Godless society
According to the findings of the Religious Landscape Society, the number of American adults who consider themselves affiliated with any given religion is on the decline. This is further evidenced by news reports -  a relatively recent article published in the UK's Guardian suggested that America is itself becoming less Godless in line with a rise in secularism. So what are the wider implications of these findings? Is American society worse (or better) with less faith? Are people happier with faith? Can faith in God help us cope with the demands of everyday life?  These questions are asked by all of us at one stage or another and unfortunately there are no easy answers.  So let’s look at the individual issues.

Are People Who Believe in God Happier than Those Who Don’t Believe?
To answer this question it is important to step back and look at humanity as a whole. Human beings have long nurtured a need for spiritual fulfilment – it’s written in stone (so to speak) and it is no coincidence that every single culture has developed a religion which adheres to the ideal of a creator – or several – of some kind. A look at the Big Religion Chart gives a glimpse into the complexity of different religions and belief systems found around the world. In America today, religion is as diverse as it is popular and according to the Washington Post, Catholicism remains one of the most widely practiced faiths in the USA. Whatever your beliefs, it is interesting to note that spirituality and faith remain a focus for billions of Americans – and a recent study by the University of Illinois actively suggested that those with faith are indeed happier than those without any faith.

The Pitfalls of Modern Living
Modern life is stressful. There is no denying it and this statement is backed up by findings published through the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention which shows that 1 in 10 American adults suffers from depression. Similarly, the Trust for America’s Health are concerned that too much emphasis is placed upon cure rather than prevention when it comes to physical health. Perhaps more disturbingly, mortality rates from eating disorders is on the increase and, as Psych Guides explain, these can be particularly hard to treat.  The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that  drug abuse is also on the increase, with approximately 9.2% of the population having used illicit substances at some point.  Bizarrely this trend actually ties in with an increase of health awareness in America, as evidenced by the explosion of gyms opening across the country – the 24/7 gym open – literally – 24 hours a day! Likewise, Americans are more conscious of nutrition; the International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists is dedicated to providing public education about health and nutrition. Yet there is a steady rise in the number of people accessing rehabilitation centers and detox programmes. With these statistics in mind, it is clear to see that having faith is an essential ingredient to leading a fulfilling life and that faith can help us all through the most difficult times in our lives.

Using Faith as a Coping Mechanism
People who have faith are often more empathetic towards other human beings. They are usually more confident in their everyday life and also have a ready made support network to turn to in times of stress and turbulence. People who believe in God tend to gravitate towards a more healthy lifestyle, with Health Care Coach.org endorsing the notion that a healthy spiritual mind-set leads to a healthy body. People with faith tend to show a natural ability to think about life in abstract terms and are therefore better equipped to view human suffering in light of a more holistic picture – a broader view which encompasses the past, present, future and other unseen dimensions. With current events depicting a depressing state of affairs the world over, having faith is the one thing that can help all of us if we, too, are capable of maintaining an open min

OCSD Seeks Assistance Identifying Laguna Nigel Armed Robbery Suspect

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA -On Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at approximately1 a.m., an armed robbery occurred at the Arco AM/PM gas station located at 27491 La Paz Road in the city of Laguna Niguel.  The suspect held a “stun gun” to the cashier’s back/neck area and demanded cash.  The suspect fled the business on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.  No vehicle was seen.

The suspect is described as a male, possibly African-American, mid-late 20’s, 5 feet 10 inches, 160 pounds, wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt with dark stripes, blue jeans and black shoes.  The suspect had his head and the lower portion of his face covered with a black mask or similar type clothing.

Anyone with information regarding this suspect is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at (949) 425-1942 or (714) 647-7000.  Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or atoccrimestoppers.org.   

OC Coroner Seeks Public’s Assistance in Locating George Ades' Next of Kin

Posted by Cotoblogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA  – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Coroner Division is requesting the public’s assistance in locating family members of George Ades, 67, of Irvine.

Mr. Ades, who was wheelchair bound, died suddenly in Santa Ana on Monday, June 9, 2014. Anyone with information on this person is asked to contact the Coroner Division at (714) 647-7400and reference case #14-02298-KI.

Matthew Lowry, a Fountain Valley 17-year old charged with attempted murder

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - Matthew Lowry, a 17-year-old was charged as an adult today for attempted murder for stabbing a man as he was loading groceries in a parking lot.

Steven Matthew Lowry, Fountain Valley, is charged with one felony count of attempted murder and one felony count of attempted carjacking with sentencing enhancements for personal use of a deadly weapon and great bodily injury.

According to the Orange County District Attorney's (OCDA) office, at approximately 9:00 p.m. on June 14, 2014, Lowry is accused of approaching 50-year-old Manuel S. as the victim was loading groceries into his vehicle in a Stater Bros. parking lot in Fountain Valley. The defendant is accused of attempting to carjack the victim. When the victim refused to give up the keys to his vehicle, Lowry is accused of stabbing the victim two times in the abdomen, once in the back, and once in the chest. The defendant is accused of fleeing the scene on foot.

Witnesses in the parking lot called 911. Paramedics arrived and rushed the victim to University of California, Irvine Medical Center. Manuel S. was treated for life threatening injuries and had to undergo emergency surgeries as a result of the stab wounds.

The Fountain Valley Police Department (FVPD), who arrived at the scene and investigated this case, located Lowry on a street near the grocery store and arrested him.

The Tea Party - far right extremists

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA -  "In one of the most stunning primary election upsets in congressional history, the House majority leader, Eric Cantor, was soundly defeated on Tuesday by a Tea Party-backed economics professor who had hammered him for being insufficiently conservative." Writer what we refer to as syptate-sponsored media, The New York Times, Jonathan Martin: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/11/us/politics/eric-cantor-loses-gop-primary.html

The clear implications are that David Brat is an extremist.  Brat will tell you that he had zero to no support from the Tea Party, and that his body of work is more consistent with traditional conservative values.  He will  that Mr. Cantor's views and that of the GOP establishment are more consistent with the views if the democrats in DC.

While the state-sponsored media tries to paint the Tea Party as extremist,  keep on mind that it is not a one cohesive party, but a loosely-knit grass roots effort with some common principles, such as the ones listed below:

Typical "Extremist"  Tea Party Principles

We believe:

1] That all powers not expressly delegated to the Federal government are the sole domain of the states, as set forth by the Founding Fathers in Article 10 of the U. S. Constitution.

2] In fiscal responsibility and the prudent use of public funds.


3] In limited government as envisioned by the Founding Fathers and for the reasons that they stated.

4] In the rule of law and its uniform application at all levels of government and society.

5] In the national sovereignty of the United States, its proper defense and security, to include her borders.

6] In the personal rights and responsibilities of every U.S. citizen, as expressed by the Founding Fathers.

7] In the free market as the basis of all business conducted within our borders.
It is the duty of every U.S. citizen to hold every candidate of every political party to these standards and to vote accordingly.

Now, based on the above stated principles, a partial observer can easily conclude that the  state-sponsored media like CBS, NBC, ABC, LA Time, NY Times and others who use the term Tea Party to suggest members are extremists,  are  either consciously trying to support the Obama administration's failed policies, or are simply Exhibit A for the old adage:  The far left sees the world as they are, not as it is.

OCSD arrests Tustin man, Daniel Sweeny on suspicion of multiple ATM robberies.

OCSD arrests Tustin man, Daniel Sweeny on suspicion of multiple ATM robberies.

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. –  On Sunday, July 8, 2014, Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigators arrested Daniel Eamon Sweeny, 40, Tustin, in connection with numerous ATM thefts.  Sweeny is suspected of having stolen as many as 24 ATM machines across Orange County over the course of the last year.

a
According to the OCSD, in February 2014, Sweeny is suspected of stealing an ATM machine from inside a Laguna Niguel business.  During the preliminary investigation, a suspect vehicle description was obtained resulting in a patrol deputy making a traffic stop which led to a short pursuit.  The suspect driver fled the vehicle on foot, eluding capture by deputies.  A subsequent investigation resulted in forensic evidence linking Sweeny to the vehicle.




Over the last several weeks, Sweeny was observed by investigators driving around in the early morning hours appearing to be casing commercial buildings as targets for possible thefts.  On June 8, 2014, Sweeny was observed driving a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee in the Mission Viejo area.  Sweeny was stopped in the vehicle and taken into custody for possession of stolen property.

Investigators executed search warrants subsequent to Sweeny’s arrest resulting in additional evidence.

Sweeny was booked into Orange County Jail for possession of stolen property and is being held on $500,000 bail.  He is scheduled to appear in court today, June 10, 2014.

The investigation is ongoing as investigators continue to evaluate evidence and prepare to present the ATM theft case to the District Attorney’s Office.

Anyone with additional information that may assist in the investigation is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-647-7000.  Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org

Change how Laguna Woods Village GRF HOA board is elected

 LETTERS

Laguna Woods Village, CA.

Dear Friends,

I know that many of you have already sent in your "NO" vote on your ballot. That's great. For those of you who are still undecided and are calling and sending emails asking for more information, I just wanted to clarify something. 

Our United Board is in favor of changing how the GRF Board is elected. Right now the Board is elected by their friends on the other Boards. That is why WE can't recall them or stop them from spending our $42,000,000 a year in HOA fees without any oversight by our community. 

The United Board wants to change the way GRF directors are elected to a DIRECT ELECTION BY entire community.  That is the real reason that the GRF is behind eieio and the recall of the entire United Board. The 6 majority GRF directors do not want to give up their power over the entire community and allow the community to make their own decisions about borrowing, constructing, and demolishing OUR FACILITIES. 

THE UNITED BOARD, ALONG WITH ITS SUPPORTING MEMBERS ON THIRD MUTUAL AND GRF  HAVE ENOUGH CORPORATE VOTES  TO CHANGE THE MAKEUP OF THE GRF BOARD.  IN THE FUTURE THAT MAJORITY WILL CHANGE THE WAY THE GRF BOARD MEMBERS ARE ELECTED---- TO A DIRECT ELECTION BY THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.   THIS IS WHY YOU NEED TO VOTE NO TO GUARANTEE THAT YOU HAVE A VOICE IN DECIDING HOW YOUR COMMUNITY IS RUN AND BY WHOM. 

Please return your ballot with the NO vote before June 30th. If you did not receive your ballot, contact Martin and Chapman at 

714-516-8121. They will make sure that you get one. 

Best,

Stevie Magid

PPV

Individual arrested in Coto de Caza Golf Club Identified as Mark Minkoff

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Coto de Caza, CA - at around 9:30 Sunday morning, several Orange  County Sheriff patrol cars, were dispatched to the Coto de Caza Golf Club Center.  A few minutes latter several OCSD officers had high powered rifles drawn, and a few minutes latter, a suspect, identified by the OCSD spokesperson Jeff Hallock as Mark Minkoff, was handcuffed while two officers had their high powered weapons aimed at Minkoff

Minkoff, arrested for negligently discharging a fire arm, is being held on $25,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow.  Additional charges, such as DUI may follow, according to Officer Hallock.

The suspect is a male Caucasian, blond hair and beard, approximately 175-200 pounds, wearing shorts.  He could easily pass as a golf club patron.

Suspect in custody at the Coto de Caza golf club

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Coto de Caza, CA - at around 9:30 this morning, several Orange  County Sheriff patrol cars, were dispatched to the Coto de Caza Golf Club Center.  A few minutes latter several OCSD officers had high powered rifles drawn, and a few minutes latter, a suspect was handcuffed and two officers had their high powered weapons aimed at the suspect while subdued, in handcuffs and sitting at the curve.

I asked several officers for additions details, but they were mum, pointing me to the departments PIO, he was not at the scene, as far as I could tell.

The suspect is a male Caucasian, blond hair and beard, approximately 175-200 pounds, wearing shorts.  He could easily pass as a golf club patron.

Missing Person Alert; Anne Brady

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA -  law enforcement agencies need the public's help locating Anne Brady, a female Caucasian with brown eyes, blond hair, 5'2" and 115 lbs.

Ms. Brady was last seen at 7:00 am on May 30, 2014, at her residence located on the 2900 block of Obrajero in the city of San Clemente.  She was last seen by her husband before he left for work that morning. When he returned home that afternoon, Ms. Brady was gone.

Ms. Brady suffers from several medical conditions and may be in need of medication.  It is thought she may be in the area near John Wayne Airport.


 DOB 07/10/1954


VEHICLE:                 2001 Lexus 430LS, 4-door, Black
                                    CA Plate: 4URB669        


Anyone with information regarding Ms. Brady’s whereabouts is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department

Case 14-101142
Tel:  714- 647- 7000

California Hit with $31.6 Billion Audit Misstatement

By Chriss Street

The California Bureau of State Audits set off a scandal on June 1^st by disclosing that the State Controller’s Office made accounting misstatements amounting to $31.65 billion.  The timing of the announcement may be devastating to the Democrats who expected to use their super-majority to pass billions of dollars in increased spending, but may now find the net effects of the accounting restatements are a $7 billion General Fund deficit.   

California Governor Jerry Brown’s and State Controller John Chiang’s staff refused to go on camera and answer questions as the news broke.  To give a perspective on the size of the accounting misstatements discovered by the Bureau of State Audits, the $31.65 billion in errors equals about a third of California’s $96.3 billion General Fund Budget for 2013-14.  The improper accounting treatments included:

• $7.7 billion – Understated federal trust fund revenues and expenditures;
• $653 million – Overstated general fund assets and revenues;
• $8 billion – Overstated California State University’s bond debt;
• $9.1 billion – Understating a public building construction fund; and
• $6.2 billion – Overstatement of deferred tax-revenue.

As the former Treasurer of Orange County, California it is my preliminary judgment that under state law the negative $7.847 billion impact from overstating general fund assets and revenues and overstating deferred tax revenues may create an “on-budget” deficit to the state’s $96.3 billion “General Fund Budget.” 

It is also my informed judgment that the positive $26.8 billion from understating federal trust funds, overstating of the State University bond debt and understating of the public building construction fund reserve are good news for the state.  These positives are “off-budget” issues that are considered outside the state’s General Fund Budget.  These monies cannot be transferred into the General Fund to cover any new deficit.     

Sacramento State University accounting Professor John Corless told CBS News that he agrees with auditors that those glaring mistakes should have been caught, “Someone’s not using their equipment right, and they’re not using their heads.”

Republican consultant Mitch Zak called for an investigation saying “It’s offensive as a taxpayer.  There’s no consideration it appears if they misstate or mismanage my tax dollars that there’s any retribution.”

Neither State Controller Chiang nor his “John Chiang for Treasurer 2014” campaign spokesman would respond to reporters’ questions.  None of Chiang’s opponents for State Treasurer got back to CBS13 with comments. 

The State Controller’s office blamed high staff turnover, lack of qualified staff, budget cuts, and late and incorrect data from numerous agencies for the errors.  In a statement issued to CBS13 in Sacramento, the office said “All issues were corrected and identified before the final report was published, and not one cent of taxpayer dollars was affected.” 

The office’s statement may be technically true, but the California Controller's audit authority is independent of both the Governor and the Legislature.  The California State Constitution requires an annual balanced budget as documented by the State Controller. 

Consequently, the Governor’s Budget and all the Legislature’s spending actions must comply with the monthly financial statements and annual audits issued by the Controller’s office.  The size of the newly discovered accounting misstatements will have a major impact on the Democrats’ spending.

Controller Chiang must not have known the Bureau of State Audit’s report would be so devastating, because on May 20^th he issued a press release regarding his audits: 

“Audits protect Californians by highlighting problems and restoring accountability.  The audits have served as catalysts for greater transparency and improved management of taxpayer dollars, allowing us to transform an accounting office into an accountability office.”  

The author welcomes feedback and will respond to comments by readers

Chriss W. Street

Contact:   chriss.street@gmail.com

Website:  www.chrissstreetandcompany.com