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Feds seize assets of US Fine Investment Arts (USFIA), a company that sells GemCoin, a digital currency that is purportedly backed by amber and other precious gems. Arcadia City Councilman John Wuo has denied any connection to the company. Securities and Exchange Commission served a temporary restraining order against USFIA and CEO Steven Chen. USFIA is under scrutiny for allegedly defrauding investors.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34316
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 30, 2015
Pages
p. A1, A4
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 30, 2015
Pages
p. A1, A4
Subjects
Chen, Steve
Gemcoin (company)
US Fine Investment Arts, Inc. (USFIA)
Wuo, John
Item ID
34509AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Troubles mount in GemCoin (digital currency) scheme. Arcadia company is accused of scamming investors out of millions in a pyramid scheme since 2013, possibly earlier. Arcadia Councilman John Wuo denies any involvement, even after YouTube videos surfaced showing him at Gemcoin marketing events.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34318
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
October 2, 2015
Pages
p. A1, A6
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
October 2, 2015
Pages
p. A1, A6
Subjects
Chen, Steve
Gemcoin (company)
Johnson, Leonard Stacy
US Fine Investment Arts, Inc. (USFIA)
Wuo, John
Zhao, Weiwen (Wayne)
Item ID
34511AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

A recent report filed in federal court says Gemcoin's scam collected $164 million. Initially, investigators linked Gemcoin to $32 million in fraudulent investment. Steven Chen, his company U.S. Fine Investment Arts Inc., and Gemcoin (digital currency backed by precious gem reserves and amber mines) are accused of a "worldwide pyramid scheme."

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34615
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
July 24, 2016
Pages
p. A7
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
July 24, 2016
Pages
p. A7
Subjects
Chen, Steven
Crime and Criminals
Fraud
Gemcoin
Seaman, Thomas
U.S. Fine Investment Arts Inc.
Item ID
34807AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

SEC reports show Gemcoin, USFIA were set up to 'defraud investors.' USFIA claimed it had amber mines, millions in precious gems, and other assets to back up its digital currency called Gemcoin, but none of that was real.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34499
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
March 20, 2016
Pages
p. A5
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
March 20, 2016
Pages
p. A5
Subjects
Chen, Steven
Cryptocurrency
Fraud
Gemcoin (company)
Liu, Long Z.
Ponzi scheme
US Fine Investment Arts, Inc. (USFIA)
United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Wuo, John
Zhao, Jennifer aka Zhao, Li
Item ID
34691AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Arcadia-based company US Fine Investment Arts, Inc. is under investigation by state and federal agencies as it faces allegations from investors that it swindled them out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The company has connections to Arcadia Councilman John Wuo.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34311
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 16, 2015
Pages
p. A1, A4
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 16, 2015
Pages
p. A1, A4
Subjects
Chen, Steve
Gemcoin (company)
US Fine Investment Arts, Inc.
Wuo, John
Yang, Solomon
Item ID
34505AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Some residents call for Arcadia City Councilman John Wuo's resignation amid allegations that he used his position to influence local Chinese Americans to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars into a company called US Fine Investment Arts, Inc., which sells GemCoin, a digital currency, that some investors allege is fraudulent.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34312
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 17, 2015
Pages
p. A3
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 17, 2015
Pages
p. A3
Subjects
Gemcoin (company)
US Fine Investment Arts, Inc.
Wuo, John
Item ID
34506AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Some residents call for Arcadia City Councilman John Wuo's resignation amid allegations that he used his position to influence local Chinese Americans to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars into a company called US Fine Investment Arts, Inc., which sells GemCoin, a digital currency, that some investors allege is fraudulent.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34313
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 17, 2015
Pages
p. A3
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 17, 2015
Pages
p. A3
Subjects
Gemcoin (company)
US Fine Investment Arts, Inc.
Wuo, John
Item ID
34506AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Arcadia firm GemCoin proves it owns amber mines in Caribbean, backing E-currency (cryptocurrency), despite earlier claims those mines did not exist. Still, there is no evidence GemCoin's digital currency had any revenue backing it beyond the funds generated from investors, according to court-appointed company tasked with going through U.S. Fine Investment Art Inc.'s books. Investigators found 300 acres of land in Dominican Republic, with a working mine, purchased for $373,000 in the name of CEO Steve Chen's brother Yan Chen.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34724
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
November 23, 2016
Pages
p. A1, A6
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
November 23, 2016
Pages
p. A1, A6
Subjects
Chen, Steve
Chen, Yan
Cryptocurrency
Gemcoin
U.S. Fine Investment Art Inc.
Item ID
34916AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Arcadia Councilman John Wuo's ties to GemCoin (digital currency) draw scrutiny. The Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating him for a potential violation of the Political Reform Act. Arcadia resident David Arvizu filed the complaint with the FPPC.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34320
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
October 6, 2015
Pages
p. A1, A4
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
October 6, 2015
Pages
p. A1, A4
Subjects
Arvizu, David
Gemcoin (company)
US Fine Investment Arts, Inc. (USFIA)
Wuo, John
Item ID
34512AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Arcadia City Councilman John Wuo resigned, citing health and personal reasons. He had served on council for 12 years, including as mayor for 3 terms. His resignation comes on the heels of a lawsuit and intense scrutiny of his alleged involvement with GemCoin (digital currency) and alleged violations of the Political Reform Act's statement of economic interests disclosure requirement and conflict of interest.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34319
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
October 7, 2015
Pages
p. A1, A4
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
October 7, 2015
Pages
p. A1, A4
Subjects
Arvizu, David
Gemcoin (company)
US Fine Investment Arts, Inc. (USFIA)
Wuo, John
Item ID
34513AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Arcadia City Council appoints ex-mayor Mickey Segal to fill seat vacated by John Wuo's resignation, until the municipal election in April. Wuo, who served on City Council for 12 years, resigned two weeks ago amid mounting allegations over his endorsement of USFIA and Gemcoin, in addition to an ethics investigation launched in September by the Fair Political Practices Commission. Segal is a CPA. Also the zoning code update resumes.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34353
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
October 22, 2015
Pages
p. A1, A5
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
October 22, 2015
Pages
p. A1, A5
Subjects
Arcadia City Council-2010-2019
Gemcoin
Segal, Mickey
Wuo, John
Item ID
34546AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Arcadia couple Edward Chen, aka Jianqiao Chen, Jian Qiao Chen, and Jian Chen aka Jing Jiang and Jean Jiang, accused of fraud involving defrauding investors through EB-5 visa schemes. The couple's companies raised more than $22.5 million from 45 Chinese investors, purportedly to build an interior design center in Ontario and a condominium building in Los Angeles. See also "Arcadia couple faces court hearing for stealing $12 million," Arcadia Weekly, p. 1,3 October 5, 2017.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34970
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 30, 2017
Pages
p. A3, A8
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
September 30, 2017
Pages
p. A3, A8
Subjects
Chen, Edward
Chen, Jian Qiao
Chen, Jianqiao
Crime and Criminals
Jiang, Jing
Jiang, Jean
Fraud
Item ID
35160AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Four Chinese investors are plaintiffs suing San Gabriel consulting firm California Investment Immigration Fund. Plaintiffs believed they were investing $500,000 in U.S. businesses in return for green cards. FBI allege the scheme was fraud and raided the firm and homes of lawyer Victoria Chan, her father Tat Chan, his wife Zheng Chan, in April.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34888
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
May 23, 2017
Pages
p. A3, A9
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
May 23, 2017
Pages
p. A3, A9
Subjects
Chan, Tat
Chan, Victoria
Chan, Zheng
EB-5 Visa Program
Fraud
Lawsuits
Li, Song Yao
Li, Ting
Xia, Yeqing
Zeng, Fang
Zhang, Rui
Item ID
35078AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Mei-Rung Lin, 47, was arrested in Arcadia and repatriated to Taipei, Taiwan, in connection with a 2.15 million dollar embezzlement scheme in her homeland. She was the subject of a "red notice" issues by the International Criminal Police Organization, better known as INTERPOL.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper32324
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
February 11, 2011
Pages
p. A4
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
February 11, 2011
Pages
p. A4
Subjects
Crime and Criminals
International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL)
Lin, Mei-Rung
Item ID
32523AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Singpoli, an Arcadia-based investment and development firm, bought a 1.6 acre property at Lake Avenue and Union Street in Pasadena and plans to build a $60 million mixed use project, including a 165-room hotel and condo complex with 60 units. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 11, May 11, 2017.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34869
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
May 6, 2017
Pages
p. A3
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
May 6, 2017
Pages
p. A3
Subjects
Business and Industry
Development
Item ID
35059AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

California has implemented mandatory watering conservation measures in order to save 25%, beginning June 1. Arcadia is required to cut up to 36% of its water use in the next 9 months, based on this community's previous water usage. Two articles on San Gabriel Valley water by Steve Scauzillo. See hard copy in VF Water.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper34165
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
May 7, 2015
Pages
p. A1, A10
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
May 7, 2015
Pages
p. A1, A10
Subjects
Drought
Scauzillo, Steve
Water
Item ID
34359AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Arcadia City Council gave preliminary approval for a proposed $18.5 million, four-story medical office building to be constructed near Methodist Hospital on about 4 acres of Santa Anita Park's expansive southern parking lot. Dick Hale's development firm Hale Corporation, has a joint venture with Santa Anita Park's owner The Stronach Group, to use part of the race track's under-used property at 289 W. Huntington Drive for the roughly 70,000 s.f. building.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper33513
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
May 26, 2013
Pages
p. A3
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
May 26, 2013
Pages
p. A3
Subjects
Developers and developments
Hale Corporation
Hale, Dick
The Stronach Group
Item ID
33708AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Arcadia city officials will consider changes to its General Plan, a 25-year blueprint for land-use decisions. The new plan aims to revitalize the city's downtown (First Avenue and Huntington Drive) as well as the Live Oak Corridor in the city's southern end. "We're making it easier to develop the downtown and the area around the (future) Gold Line station," said Council Bob Harbicht. If approved, it would allow for mixed-use commercial and residential complexes, commercial square footages could double and the height limit would increase from 40 to 45 feet.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper32228
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
November 13, 2010
Pages
p. A1, A6
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
November 13, 2010
Pages
p. A1, A6
Subjects
Arcadia--General Plan
Land use
Mixed-use development
Redevelopment--Downtown Arcadia
Redevelopment--Live Oak Avenue
Item ID
32427AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Arcadia certifies city council election victories for John Wuo and Gary A. Kovacic. The results were certified this week after election officials were able to verify and count 661 of the remaining 681 ballots of the April 10 election. There were 105 ballots that had to be disqualified because voters selected more than 2 candidates in the all-mail election. At least some of those were caused by an error in the ballots' Chinese-language instructions that directed voters to select no more than 3 instead of 2 candidates, prompting the city to send out correction notices. Gene Glasco was elected City Clerk. Measure D, the hotel room tax, passed.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper32942
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
April 18, 2012
Pages
p. A1, A4
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
April 18, 2012
Pages
p. A1, A4
Subjects
Ballot measures
City Council Elections--April, 2012
Kovacic, Gary A.
Wuo, John
Item ID
33139AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

Arcadia City Council candidates champion their causes. There are five candidates for two open seats. Their causes are: Gary Kovacic--maintaining a balanced budget with adequate reserves and a sense of community; Mary Dougherty--mansionization and residential guidelines; Sho Tay--traffic safety and opposing a new $12.2 million City Hall; John Wuo--reducing crime; and Henry Nunez--increase city revenues and create a real downtown in Arcadia.

https://arcadiahistory.andornot.com/en/permalink/newspaper32907
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
April 2, 2012
Pages
p. A1, A4
More detail
Newspaper
Pasadena Star News
Date
April 2, 2012
Pages
p. A1, A4
Subjects
Arcadia City Council elections--2012
Dougherty, Mary
Kovacic, Gary
Nunez, Henry
Tay, Sho
Wuo, John
Item ID
33104AN
Collection
Newspaper Index
Less detail

20 records – page 1 of 1.