LA 'mansion tax' generates $1 billion for tenant protections, housing
Pasadena Comic Con returns Jan. 25 to raise spirits, funds for various charities
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Activists, relatives demand justice for LA man fatally shot by ICE agent; detainee dies in Indio
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joet@beaconmedianews.com
Keith Porter Jr. was fatally shot Dec. 31 by an off-duty ICE agent. | Photo courtesy of Lee Merritt/Facebook
told the commission. "The only mistake that he made on New Year's Eve was thinking that he had the right to celebrate the way many Americans have from the beginning of time. The same way my grandfather did. And we learned that behavior from the people that brought us here. "So when are we going to press charges on this murderer? When is he going to be named? When is he going to be arrested? The night that my cousin lost his life, no procedures were followed," Tyler said. Porter's death has led to increased criticism of federal immigration agents operating throughout Southern California since June. The Jan. 7 fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, 37, in Minneap-
olis by an ICE agent renewed discussion of the Porter case. The agent who killed Good reportedly fired into her moving Honda Pilot SUV during an immigrationoperation. During the Los Angeles City Council meeting Friday, several council members discussed the shooting of Good. Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez said Porter's death should not be forgotten. Franceola Armstrong, Porter's mother, spoke during the council meeting. "He didn't deserve this," Armstrong said. "He was on his way back. He didn't even get to pop the champagne. He didn't get to say goodbye. I just want to touch my baby one last time, kiss his face See ICE deaths 15
OC judge pleads guilty in fraud case By Paul Anderson, City News Service
By Joe Taglieri elatives of the man shot to death by an off-duty federal immigration agent in Northridge on New Year's Eve gathered with dozens of supporters Tuesday to call for criminal charges against the agent involved. An unidentified agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement fatally shot Keith Porter Jr., 43, around 11:30 p.m. Dec. 31 in the 17700 block of Roscoe Boulevard in the northwest San Fernando Valley. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the agent "bravely responded to an active shooter situation" and "exchanged gunfire with (Porter)." The Los Angeles Police Department was continuing the investigation of the shooting Tuesday. Local activists and Porter's family have said he was not an "active shooter" but also indicated he was firing a gun into the air to celebrate New Year's Eve. Law enforcement has consistently warned against shooting into the air as a means of celebration, saying the practice often leads to people being injured or possibly killed by falling bullets. Activists and relatives of Porter attended the LA Police Commission meeting Tuesday, calling for the agent involved in the shooting to be identified and arrested. "Keith was one of the most loving, kindest people on this Earth, and everyone has attested to that fact," Jsane Tyler, Porter's cousin,
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and hold him. I don't have him. His life was snatched from us. Lord, please, I just wish you could get justice for my child." Najee Ali, director of Project Islamic Hope and among the organizers of a vigil to mark Porter's death, said last week the shootings of Good and Porter were "not isolated incidents" and "reflect a dangerous pattern of excessive force, poor judgment and a lack of accountability that is costing innocent people their lives," he said in a statement. "We are coming together to mourn, to demand truth and to call for justice." According to federal officials, an ICE agent fatally shot Good in self-defense. They accused her of attempting to "weaponize" her vehicle and run down law enforcement officers after interfering with an immigration-enforcement operation. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Good's actions were an "act of domestic terrorism" and part of an escalating trend of assaults and attempted attacks against immigration agents throughout the U.S. Noem said an ICE agent was injured by Good's vehicle and treated at a hospital. ICE operates in Downey Over the weekend in Downey, federal immigration agents conducted enforcement operations Saturday, as ICE opponents protested in downtown Los Angeles and throughout
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range County Superior Court Judge Israel Claustropleaded guilty Monday to workers' compensation fraud. Claustro, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and agreed to resign as a judge, authorities said. Claustro made his initial appearance in court Monday morning, entering an obligatory not guilty plea, but changed his plea to guilty in the afternoon. He engaged in the fraud scheme with Dr. Kevin Tien Do, 60, of Pasadena, while Claustro was a prosecutor with the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Do pleaded guilty Jan. 3 of last year to single counts each of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and subscribing to a false tax return. "Judge Claustro violated the law for his personal financial benefit," First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said. "We will not hesitate to prosecute anyone — judges included — who defraud public benefits intended to help those in need." Claustro's attorney Paul Meyer said Claustro "deeply regrets his wrongful 2022 participation in a business venture that did not involve any part of his work as a district attorney and ended before he became a judge. He takes full responsibility for his actions, and cooperated fully in the investigation. In good faith, with sadness, he is voluntarily resigning his judicial office." See Fraud Page 15
Orange County Superior Court spokesman Kostas Kalaitzidis said his office is prohibited from making a statement due to the ethical rules of court. Claustro has served in the Family Law court since his election and has been on leave since the beginning of this year, Kalaitzidis said. According to Claustro's plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend probation or up to six months in home confinement and will not seek charges related to taxes. But federal prosecutors are still free to go after Claustro in the future "for any other unlawful past conduct or any unlawful conduct that occurs after the date of this agreement," according to the deal. Claustro operated Rancho Cucamonga-based Liberty Medical Group Inc. even though he was not a doctor or medical professional, which is required under state law, prosecutors said. When Do was charged in 2024, prosecutors alluded to Claustro as an unnamed co-conspirator. In his plea agreement, Do acknowledged Claustro was the actual owner and that Do was also unable to do the work because he had been suspended due to a 2003 conviction for felony health care fraud. "I was paid $306,111 for work I should not have done," Do said in court when he pleaded guilty last year. Prosecutors allege that