THE STORY BEHIND A MIND-BLOWING CALIFORNIA RAID Hang On — The FBI Robbed a Bank? “This was the largest armed robbery in United States history, and it was committed by the FBI.” That jaw-dropping statement came from Robert Frommer, an attorney representing several hundred people whose safe deposit boxes were emptied during an FBI raid in 2021. The story is wild from start to finish. On that fateful day in March, armed FBI agents stormed a California strip mall and burst into a U.S. Private Vaults bank branch. They searched 1,400 safe deposit boxes and confiscated the contents of many of them — making off with roughly $86 million, plus valuable collectibles like coins, gold, and jewelry. Why would the agency do this? Well, after a two-year investigation, the FBI suspected U.S. Private Vaults was catering to drug dealers and other criminals hiding cash in Los Angeles. So, the agency obtained a warrant and raided the bank to look for proof. And apparently, they found it. After the raid, U.S. Private Vaults pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder drug money and closed its doors for good. However, that wasn’t the end of the saga. Remember attorney Robert Frommer? Roughly 400 people who kept their money at U.S. Private Vaults hired him to get the contents of their safe deposit boxes back from the FBI. They said they weren’t criminals and wanted their money back. One of those people was Joseph Ruiz, who lost $57,000 in savings during the FBI raid. He filed a lawsuit, claiming the raid was unconstitutional. When the FBI accused Ruiz of making his money through illegal drug sales, Ruiz showed proof of his income, and in August 2021, the FBI agreed to return his funds. However, not every U.S. Private Vaults customer has been so lucky. In September 2022, a judge ruled that the FBI raid was legal under civil forfeiture laws and dismissed the depositors’ class-action lawsuit. An FBI spokesperson also said the agency was putting a process in place to return items to innocent owners, but as of March 2023, at least one person still claimed she hadn’t gotten her money back — even though she wasn’t criminally charged.
rner Month!
How do you diagnose a pet with diabetes? After you inform the humans at Petersen Pet Hospital of your furry companion’s symptoms, they will test
your cat’s or dog’s blood and urine to see signs of high glucose. It’s important to note that there must be signs of elevated sugar in your pet’s blood and urine. If there’s only high glucose in one, that means something else may be going on that our veterinarians need to examine. Is there a cure for diabetes? Unfortunately, diabetes is not curable, but it is treatable! The team at Petersen Pet Hospital will provide insulin shots you can give your furry friend each day, outline different diets and nutritional plans your pet can try, and provide tips on keeping your companion active to avoid sudden spikes or drops in glucose levels. In honor of Pet Diabetes Month, check in on your furry friends and ensure they are healthy on the inside and the outside by bringing them in for a visit. If you have questions or concerns about your pet’s health, Petersen Pet Hospital will gladly assist you!
Your cat will feel spoiled with these salmon-filled treats that are surprisingly simple to make.
INGREDIENTS •
10 oz canned salmon, undrained
•
1 egg, beaten
•
2 cups whole wheat flour
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2.
In a food processor, pulse undrained salmon until finely chopped. 3. In a stand mixer, combine salmon, egg, and whole wheat flour until dough forms. If the dough is too dry, add up to 1/3 cup of water. If it’s too wet, add a little more flour. The dough should be sticky but not wet. 4. On a floured surface, roll out the dough until around 1/4-inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut your treats. On a parchment- lined baking sheet, place treats and bake for around 20 minutes or until slightly browned. Let cool before serving!
If this story ever becomes a Hollywood movie, we’ll be first in line at the box office.
3
www.PetersenPetHospital.com
Inspired by TheCookieRookie.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator