Feds move to seize homes in San Gabriel Valley, Rancho Cucamonga. The properties were allegedly purchased with millions in proceeds from what FBi investigators said was a fraudulent visa program. Victoria Chan and her father Tat Chan exploited the EB-5 visa program which offers legal permanent residence in the U.S. for foreign nationals who make job-creating investments of $500,000 or more in U.S. companies.
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."
Arcadia firm US Fine Investment Arts (USFIA) is charged in fraud. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) alleges operator used GemCoin in a worldwide pyramid scheme, allegedly bilking investors out of $32 million.
A jury convicted DeQiang Song, 24 of Monterey Park, of the kidnapping and attempted murder of a 21-year-old woman, who he knew through a mutual friend, after taking her on a trip to Westfield Santa Anita shopping mall in Arcadia on September 8, 2010. He then took her to a remote area of desert in San Bernardino County and bound her, strangled her, sliced her throat with a knife and left her for dead. She survived. Song asked the victim's father for $10,000 in ransom money. He will be sentenced April 26 in Alhambra Superior Court.
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.
Deqiang Song, 26, of Monterey Park, gets life in prison without possibility of parole, for the crime of kidnapping for ransom, and a second sentence of life in prison plus four years, for the attempted murder of his then 21-year-old victim. Song met his victim through a mutual friend and took her to Westfield Santa Anita mall in Arcadia on September 8, 2010. Then he took her to a remote area of desert in San Bernardino County. He strangled the woman and slit her throat. He called her father for ransom. She survived.
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.
Thomas Seaman, investigator of alleged Gemcoin fraud, issues first report. It reveals mounting evidence of fraudulent activity by Arcadia businessman Steve Chen a.k.a. Li Chen or Chen Li, whose business was at 135 E. Live Oak Ave., currently in receivership.
41-year-old female Xiaolin Li, a resident of Arcadia, was stabbed and murdered on January 7, 2014 at an apartment in the 900 block of Arcadia Avenue. The arrested suspect was identified as the victim's father-in-law Li Zhu, a 68-year-old resident of Arcadia. The motive appears to be related to an on-going dispute within the family. The victim and suspect resided together.
Li Zhu, a 68-year-old Arcadia man suspected in the death of his daughter-in-law, Xiaolin Li, was found dead in his jail cell at Twin Towers Correctional Facility at 450 Bauchett Street in Los Angeles. Deputies found him hanging in his cell, in an apparent suicide.
The coroner's spokesperson Craig Harvey, says an autopsy has confirmed that Li Zhu died of asphyxia, and the death was ruled a suicide. Li Zhu was a 68-year-old Arcadia man found hanging in his jail cell on January 8. He was arrested on suspicion of fatally stabbing his daughter-in-law, Xiaolin Li, in the 900 block of Arcadia Avenue.
Arcadia man Ziwen Li, 30, arrested in attempted robbery of $50,000 from a man who arranged to meet Li to buy a used car, a Porsche Cayenne. See also Arcadia Weekly, May 4, 2017, p. 1, 13.
Arcadia wine seller Rudy Kurniawan, 35, was arrested on suspicion of trying to sell $1.3 million worth of counterfeit wine and fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in loans.
Rio Hondo School's American flag, which once flew at American bases in Iraq, will be deployed with troops in Afghanistan. Students Johnny Luong and Stephanie Li fold the flag before presenting it to Army Major Williams Darwin.
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.
Spotlight on Rose Queen Victoria Castellanos and the princesses of the Royal Court. Two of them, Maya Khan and Lauren Powers, are from Arcadia High School.
Martial arts champion, Hollywood actress, and stunt woman, Jing Li, is a martial arts instructor at Washu Action Star Academy in Temple City. She will be a guest at the Arcadia Branch of the American Association of University Women on Monday, November 12. She will present a program about Washu, an exhibition, and full contact sport, and view the documentary film "Autumn Gem," in which Jing Li has a starring role. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 12, November 1, 2012.