WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Hunter Biden was convicted Tuesday of all three felony charges related to the purchase of a revolver in 2018 when, prosecutors argued, the president’s son lied on a mandatory gun-purchase form by saying he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs.

Hunter Biden, 54, stared straight ahead and showed little emotion as the verdict was read after jury deliberations that lasted only three hours over two days in Wilmington, Delaware. He hugged his attorneys, smiled wanly and kissed his wife, Melissa, before leaving the courtroom with her.

President Joe Biden said in a statement issued shortly after the verdict that he would accept the outcome and “continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal.”

Now Hunter Biden and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, the president’s chief political rival, have both been convicted by American jurors in an election year that has been as much about the courtroom as about campaign events and rallies.

Hunter Biden faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika, though as a first-time offender he would not get anywhere near the maximum, and there’s no guarantee the judge would send him to prison. She did not set a sentencing date.

Defense attorney Abbe Lowell said they would “continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available.” In a written statement, Hunter Biden said he was disappointed by the outcome but grateful for the support of family and friends.

The jury’s decision was read swiftly after the announcement that it reached a verdict. First lady Jill Biden sat through nearly every day of the trial but did not make it into the courtroom in time to hear the verdict. Hunter Biden walked out of the courthouse holding hands with the first lady and his wife before they got into got into waiting SUVs and drove off.

Joe Biden steered clear of the federal courtroom where his son was tried and said little about the case, wary of appearing to interfere in a criminal matter brought by his own Justice Department. But allies of the Democrat have worried about the toll that the trial — and now the conviction — will take on the 81-year-old, who has long been concerned with his only living son’s health and sustained sobriety.

Hunter Biden’s conviction came just weeks after Trump was found guilty of 34 felony charges related to a hush money payment to a porn actor in the 2016 campaign. The cases are in no way the same, and Hunter Biden is a private citizen who is not running for office. But they have both argued they were victimized by the politics of the moment.

Trump, however, has continued to falsely claim his verdict was “rigged,” while Joe Biden has said he would accept the verdict involving his son and would not seek to pardon him.

In his statement Tuesday, the president said he and the first lady are proud of their son, who says he has been been sober since 2019, and will always be there for him with “love and support.”

Trump’s campaign called the verdict “nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family.” Trump and his allies have pressed unsubstantiated or debunked allegations that Joe Biden acted while vice president to advance his family members’ foreign business interests.

The verdict came down as the president prepared to give a speech at a conference hosted by the Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund in Washington. He did not mention his son as he spoke about his administration’s efforts to stop gun violence and the need to ban so-called assault weapons.

Hours after the conviction, President Biden hugged his son after landing in Wilmington to spend the night with family before leaving Wednesday for the Group of Seven leaders conference in Italy. Hunter Biden, his wife and their child greeted the president on the tarmac, and the president lingered to visit with them for several minutes.

Jurors found Hunter Biden guilty of lying to a federally licensed gun dealer, making a false claim on the application by saying he was not a drug user and illegally having the gun for 11 days.

The trial played out in the president’s home state, where Hunter Biden grew up and where the family is deeply established. Joe Biden spent 36 years as a senator in Delaware, commuting daily to Washington, and his other son, Beau Biden, was the state attorney general before he died of cancer.The proceedings put a spotlight on a dark time in Hunter Biden’s life, with deeply personal testimony from former romantic partners and embarrassing evidence, including text messages and photos of Hunter Biden with drug paraphernalia or partially clothed.

In his closing argument on Monday, prosecutor Leo Wise acknowledged the evidence was “ugly.” But he told jurors it was also “absolutely necessary” to prove Hunter was in the throes of addiction when he bought the gun and therefore lied when he checked “no” on the form that asked whether he was “an unlawful user of, or addicted to” drugs.

Before the case went to the jury, the prosecutor urged jurors to pay no mind to members of the president’s family sitting in the courtroom, telling them: “People sitting in the gallery are not evidence.”

David Weiss, the prosecutor who has led the long-running investigation into the president’s son, told reporters the case was about Hunter Biden’s “illegal choices” and “dangerous” conduct.

“No one in this country is above the law,” said Weiss, the Trump-nominated U.S. attorney for Delaware, who was named special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland in August. “Everyone must be accountable for their actions.”

Hunter Biden’s lawyers had argued that he did not consider himself an “addict” when he bought the gun. They sought to show he was trying to turn his life around at the time, having completed a rehabilitation program at the end of August 2018.

Hunter Biden’s legal troubles aren’t over. He faces a trial in September in California on charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes, and congressional Republicans have signaled they will keep going after him in their stalled impeachment effort into the president. The president has not been accused or charged with any wrongdoing by prosecutors investigating his son.

Just last year, it appeared that Hunter Biden would avoid the spectacle of a trial so close to the election. Under a deal with prosecutors, he was supposed to plead guilty to misdemeanor tax offenses and avoid prosecution in the gun case if he stayed out of trouble for two years.

But the deal fell apart after Noreika, who was nominated by Trump, questioned unusual aspects of the proposed agreement, and the lawyers could not resolve the matter.

Hunter Biden has said he was charged because the Justice Department bowed to pressure from Republicans who argued the Democratic president’s son was getting special treatment.

source

From healthier-looking skin to increased mental stability, here are the health benefits of sobriety.

Robert Downey Jr. accepted the American Cinematheque award over the weekend, he chose his friend Mel Gibson to present the honor. 

“When people get sober they sleep better, have more energy, and can think more clearly,” says Dr. Dr. Brian Wind, Ph.D “Best of all, sober people aren’t damaging nearly every part of their bodies on a daily basis and aren’t waking up with hangovers or withdrawals.”

Sobriety isn’t and won’t be easy. Some benefits will be noticeable immediately, while others take time. If you have a substance abuse problem you may initially go through physical symptoms of withdrawal, but the benefits of sobriety certainly outweigh any potentially negative effects of withdrawal.

Physical benefits

• Increased general health
• Improved mental clarity (focus, critical thinking, memory)
• Longer and deeper sleep
• Increased energy
• Healthier skin and complexion
• Decreased risk of long-term health issues including cancer
• Better weight management and eating habits

“The before and after photos depicting recovery from substance use are very compelling,” says Dr. Lori Ryland”As substance use reduces, you begin taking better care of yourself by eating healthy instead of using, better activity, and often better healthcare adherence in comparison to periods of use.”

While sobriety will have a positive effect on your physical well-being, the benefits are equally as important to your emotional state. Emotional stability—which affects everything from your relationships, motivation, and general mood—will vastly improve.

“In general, an individual is significantly more emotionally stable and balanced when sober than during an active addiction,” says Dr. Dean Drosnes,

Emotional benefits

• Increased confidence
• Emotional stability
• Better overall well-being
• Improved relationships
• More motivation
• Depression relief
• Anxiety relief

the benefits of sobriety are manifested in several ways, including: mental(1) and physical health(2), markedly improved relationships with friends and family(3), as well as in your finances and career(4, 5).

Even if you are not experiencing these negative outcomes, heavy drinking can be detrimental both short and long-term. Getting sober may help to reverse or even eliminate the negative impact that alcohol may have on your mental and physical health, personal relationships, as well as your career or financial situation.

The Benefits of Being Sober

Physical Health

Heavy alcohol use has been linked with a vast amount of negative outcomes, including(6):

• Alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver
• Alcohol induced acute/chronic pancreatitis
• Alcoholic myophathy and cardiomyophathy
• Increased rates of certain cancers like breast, stomach, oral, and colon
• Degeneration of the nervous system (decreased ability to fight infection)

Chronic alcohol use has also been attributed to erectile dysfunction as well as other sexual dysfunctions(7). Sexual dysfunction was significantly associated with duration and severity of alcohol dependence as well as the amount of alcohol consumed per day.

Upon stopping the intake of alcohol, these physical consequences may subside. However, when a heavy drinker stops they may experience(8):

• Weight loss
• Improved pancreatic function
• Reduced risk of cancer
• Lower blood pressure

Mental Health

Heavy alcohol consumption has been associated with negative impacts on mental health. This is primarily due to blocking chemical signals between brain cells (neurons)(9). For instance, alcohol consumption results in slurred speech, slowed reflexes, poor memory, and impulsive behavior.

Due to heavy alcohol consumption the brain can adapt to these blocked pathways. When alcohol leaves the system it will continue to over-activate neurotransmitters that can result in damage to brain cells(10, 11, 12).

Alcohol use can also negatively impact sleep patterns. Similar to other sleep medications, the sedative or sleep inducing effects of alcohol are quickly adapted to which only leads to further sleep related problems.

Wile it can be hard to say whether alcohol plays a significant role in mental health issues such as anxiety, psychosis, or depression. Through the transitive property, we know that if these issues subside when the person stops drinking, it’s logical to assume alcohol aggravates those conditions.

Relationships with Family and Friends

Alcoholism typically has a negative impact on personal relationships with friends and family.

Studies show that higher partner violence is associated with heavy alcohol consumption. Abstaining from alcohol has the opposite effect and may result in less conflicts and domestic violence.

Alcohol can also affect a person’s attachment to others (partner, spouse, children, friends, and family). People who have attachment issues typically are less trusting, show signs of fear, and will isolate and detach themselves.

Career and Financial Situation

Most people who drink alcohol do not think about the impact of alcohol on their financial well-being. People who abuse alcohol are more likely to miss work and have conflict amongst co-workers and management.

Going to and from work may end up resulting in a DUI only adding more financial burden (bail, court fines, attorney, public transportation cost, etc).

Final Thoughts

Apart from the purported “holistic” benefits of being sober, there are fact-based reasons for why sobriety is beneficial. Including for your mental and physical health, personal relationships, and for your career/financial situation.

1. Your life becomes less chaotic You don’t have to live in constant turmoil anymore because you’re not worried about getting money, getting drugs or alcohol, and then lying or manipulating to cover up your behaviors. You finally get a chance to sit still and relax.
2. You sleep better When you suffer from Alcohol abuse is disruptive to sleeping patterns because it suppresses sleep, not permitting a restorative, good nights rest. Though you may have trouble falling asleep when you first get sober, you will soon sleep peacefully through the night and feel more rested the next day.
3. You feel healthier Substance abuse has profound effects on the body. In sobriety, you aren’t putting toxic chemicals in your body, so you will actually have more energy and feel more alert and focused! Not to mention the fact that your internal organs get to take a break from working overtime to process the drugs and alcohol. More Energy, Alcohol is a depressant, which makes you feel tired and slow. Without the constant effect of alcohol on your body, you have a lot more energy to work with. This energy can lead to healthier choices.
4. You look better Do you have sunken in cheeks, red patches, or bad acne? Good news – in sobriety, your skin actually improves! Without nasty, toxic chemicals in your body, your complexion will improve tremendously and you will gain weight back to your face, making you look beautiful and healthy again!  Better Skin, When it comes to improving physical health, better skin is one of the most noticeable changes in most people. People in recovery have a more radiant complexion than before. Their skin becomes clearer — and, in many cases, cleaner due to improved hygiene. Within the first six months of sobriety, most people undergo observable and positive changes in their skin.
5. Your memory improves We all have nights we don’t remember while in addiction, but shortly after detox, your memory will rapidly begin to improve. No more worrying about what you did last night – your memory will become sharp and as good as new!
6. Your mental health improves (no more brain fog) Sleep, diet, and overall health are directly correlated with the status of your mental health. As your lifestyle improves, you will find your emotions more stable and manageable. You will find yourself having less mood swings along with increased happiness. Alcohol is incredibly inflammatory. The long and short-term impact of alcohol on your brain is extensive. I won’t go into detail here because I’ve written about it before, but if you can’t engage intellectually with the world like you used to, you’re forgetting more things or struggling to focus, there is good news for you, my friend! Your brain can heal. You can get your mental faculties back! This one happened for me relatively early on, and that’s WITH pregnancy brain. It is an incredible feeling to have that fog lift. You quite literally feel like a brand new person. The ability to think, read a book, engage in an intelligent conversation, actually have IDEAS again, and not just loop terrible thoughts on autopilot in your brain is liberating. It’s one of the best benefits of sobriety I’ve experienced.
7. You worry less When you are sober and doing the right thing, the worry of getting in trouble with others or getting caught by the cops disappears. You’re sober, you have a job, you are being honest with others, you have a roof over your head, you aren’t worried about going into withdrawals – what’s there to worry about anymore?
8. You actually have money When you aren’t spending every penny earned on drugs or alcohol, you will be surprised how quickly your savings adds up! It is a wonderful feeling not to worry about living paycheck to paycheck and being able to have savings for emergencies.
9. You get to be a part of your family Regardless of the harms you have done, your family loves you and will forgive you in time. It is a great feeling to be with family on holidays and special occasions without causing them to worry about your drug or alcohol use. They will be able to rely on you and trust you, and since you have money, you can even buy them gifts for their birthdays!
10. You form deep connections with others Friendships made in sobriety are like no other. These friends understand exactly what you are going through because they have been there too. They will love and support you unconditionally. There is something about friendships in recovery that is magical.
11. You gain long term rewards Hard work pays off. If you put in the work to be sober and happy, you will be sober and happy. You will be able to go to class and study for school in order to further your education. You will be capable of holding a job, allowing you to move up in your career. You will develop a profound appreciation for people, places, and things.
12. You get to embark on new adventures You have the ability to try new things, travel to new places, and develop a passion for life after addiction. Since you will no longer rely on substances to survive each day, you will finally have the opportunity to thrive in life. There is nothing holding you back. Go climb that mountain, go snorkeling at a coral reef, go visit a foreign country! What are you waiting for?
13. You grow spiritually Spiritual growth consists of removing obsolete or negative habits and thoughts from your life. Mindful meditation is a great way to grow spiritually because it relaxes your mind and aids in coping with feelings of anxiety and stress. It is a free, easy to do activity that promotes healing and spiritual growth by connecting your mind, body, and spirit. Sobriety brings so much peace into your life. It allows you to become more aware and present. You understand and connect with yourself better. When you’re sober, the entirety of who you are improves. Happiness is easy to come by when you’re doing good for yourself, looking better, feeling better, and functioning on a higher physical level.
14. You find your purpose in life There is somebody out there who is hopeless and feels like they cannot stay sober. You may not know it at the time, but your story is the only story they will hear. Your experience, strength, and hope, is going to help somebody stay sober. You have the ability to change lives.
15. You learn to love yourself By staying healthy, having new experiences, building relationships, and helping others, you will begin to truly love yourself. You will treat your body and mind with a gentle respect, as you have been blessed with a new, sober life. For many of us, we have spent too much time hating ourselves. Being able to love who we are, for all of our imperfections, is nothing short of a miraculous gift in sobriety.
16. Less Stress People who abuse alcohol get to a point in their drinking where they cannot manage any emotion in a healthy way. Drinking is the solution to boredom, frustration, sadness, and extreme happiness. Additionally, research has shown that drinking any amount of alcohol chronically (including one drink per day) changes your Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis (HPA), which Maintains your physiological balance between what you do and don’t perceive as stressful. This leads to more cortisol released at baseline when you’re not drinking. Translation: alcohol increases your anxiety and stress levels even when not drinking. It was a horrible cycle of self-medicating my anxiety with alcohol which, in turn, only made my anxiety levels worse. I was stressed out all of the time and had no healthy coping mechanisms for that stress. Sobriety changed that. As a fair warning, sometimes alcohol withdrawal can have the opposite effect and make anxiety significantly worse, but it is temporary. It goes away, and you feel much more stable and clear-headed after the initial withdrawal period.
17. Less Physical Pain Alcohol is incredibly inflammatory. it causes joint problems eventually speeding up arthritis and generally causing more pain in the joints.  It wreaks havoc with your gastrointestinal system and digestive system.  It will destroy your liver, heart, kidneys and pancreas! It will cause your blood pressure to be high and rapid pulse can develop. PERMANENT HEART DAMAGE CAN OCCUR.
18. Self Esteem will rise overtime  When you finally get over those first months of early sobriety, you’ll see that you’re not so bad after all. People who are successful with their sobriety find ways to keep themselves busy. It’s through that process that many people start to forgive themselves and see the value they can bring to the world. Every day you go without drinking boosts your self-esteem, even if you don’t notice. When you choose to go to the gym or take a cooking class, you’re signaling that you are open to seeing what else this life has to offer. The cumulative effects of all these new experiences and choices add up.
19. Healthier realationships A lot of people feel lonely when they give up alcohol. When your entire social life has revolved around getting wasted, it’s normal to feel like there’s nothing to do. Re-evaluating your relationships with other people is part of the process. We all have to go through it, but the AMAZING thing is that you’ll end up with really powerful connections with the people you choose to keep around. You might think that emotionally unloading with your friends over wine and cookies makes you close or that your buddy holding your hair while you puked means something.
20. Better Sleep Pattern Sobriety is your body at its most natural state, so when you’re sober, your body goes back into a more regular rhythm. Instead of drinking until the early morning hours, you now give yourself a chance to rest earlier and get quality sleep. The peace of mind that sobriety comes with also makes you less stressed and more able to get enough restful sleep at normal hours.
21. Better Eating habbits Some people in recovery consider getting over addiction as their first step to living a much healthier lifestyle. Post-treatment, you may develop a consistent exercise routine to get your mind off drinking. Following a healthy diet is similar to this. They’re both excellent ways to improve your health and also things you can focus on to fill in the gaps left by addiction in your life. When you stop drinking, your body also becomes much less dehydrated. This lessens the chances of developing unhealthy food cravings. While eating healthier can help you stay sober, it’s also true that staying sober can help you eat healthier. For example, you can eat healthier because you have the energy to cook dishes instead of ordering fast food.source source source source

The Health Benefits of Being Sober

The Importance of Being Trustworthy

Why Is Hope Important In Life? You Will Be Amazed!

The Freedom of Forgiveness

Why Is Faith Important in Recovery?

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux announced on Friday the arrest of two suspects who allegedly shot and killed six people, including a baby, in Goshen on January 16.

Tulare County’s sheriff announced that “Operation Nightmare” began early Friday morning with a multi-agency operation to serve three search warrants. One was at the 1000 block of Noyes Street in Visalia, the 6600 block of Ave. 308 in Goshen, and the 7100 block of Avenue 308.

Deputies say that once they had identified the suspects, they were put under 24/7 physical surveillance starting on January 23 following their every move. Despite identifying them they wanted the Tulare County District Attorney to be confident and comfortable that no mistakes had been made in their process before making the arrest.

As soon as they had DNA confirmation, Sheriff Boudreaux says they commenced “Operation Nightmare.”

The suspects in the shooting of six people were identified as 25-year-old Noah David Beard of Visalia and 35-year-old Angel Uriarte of Goshen by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. Officials say both were validated gang members.

During Operation Nightmare, Sheriff Boudreaux says Bear was taken in Visalia without incident; Uriarte engaged in a gun battle with ATF agents which led to an officer-involved shooting. Uriarte was struck by gunshots and taken to the hospital and into surgery where he is in stable condition.

Through their investigation, deputies believe that Eladio Parraz was shot first in the torso and in the leg, followed by Marcos Parraz being shot in the head. Jennifer Analla they believe was asleep at the time when she was shot in her head. Rosa Parraz was found kneeling and shot in the head. They believe she was shot as she was attempting to get up to check on the noise.

During the press conference, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office showed surveillance video of 16-year-old Alissa Parraz attempting to flee the residence with her 10-month-old child Nycholas Parraz by carefully putting the baby over the fence and then jumping the fence herself. The end of the clip shows one of the suspects following her.

Deputies say both Alissa and her baby were found dead in the street after both being shot in the back of the head. That security footage can be seen in the video player at the top of this page.

The Sheriff says the autopsy concluded that all victims died from gunshot wounds. Officials add that, through their investigation, they determined that the suspects and some of the victims were part of rival gangs, both had a long history of gang violence and were heavily active in guns. The motive of this specific incident is unclear.

According to the Tulare County District Attorney, both suspects are being charged with six counts of murder. The charging documents filed by the DA’s office can be dowloaded clicking here.

by: Manny Gomez source

Deputies say on Jan. 16  they responded to the 6800 Block of Harvest Road around 3:30 a.m. for multiple shots heard and believed there was possibly an active shooter due to the number of rounds being fired, according to Sheriff Boudreaux.

Deputies arrived on the scene seven minutes later and reported discovering two people dead. It was later learned that a 911 call came from a surviving victim of the shooting who had not been hurt and had been hiding.

According to Sheriff Boudreaux, the deputies then found a third deceased victim in the doorway of the home. As deputies continued to search the area they found multiple victims in the area of the property. There were victims inside and outside of the home. One of the victims was still alive, says Sheriff Boudreaux. Deputies immediately started CPR and the victim was transported to the hospital where he later died.

The investigation is being assisted by resources provided by the ATF, DEA, FBI, Homeland Security, Department of Justice, and the California Department of Corrections. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 733-6218 or they can remain anonymous by calling or texting (559) 725-4194 or through email at tcso@tipnow.com.

by: John Houghton source

‘Arrests will be made’: Sheriff Boudreaux on Goshen homicides

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – In an update on the six people shot and killed in Goshen on January 16, which included a 10-month-old baby, Tulare County Sherrif Mike Boudreaux reaffirmed on Monday that the deaths of the six individuals were a “cartel-style execution.”

According to the Sheriff, the autopsies have confirmed that all six victims died from gunshot wounds, including 16-year-old Elyssa Parraz and 10-month-old Mycholas Parraz who were both shot in the head.

Expanding on the impact of the cartel, Sheriff Boudreaux shared some information about their actions in California specifically identifying two Mexican cartels: the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartel, described by Boudreaux as the two “heavily involved” in the state. The sheriff said they take advantage of the highways and private/general airports throughout the Central Valley, with gangs in the area working closely together with the cartel.

According to Sheriff Boudreaux, investigators in the case strongly believe that the shooters in this case are gang-related from the Central Valley.

Boudreaux also touched on the custody situation between 10-month-old victim Nycholas and her mother Elyssa. He says that Nycholas was taken from his mother three days after his birth and placed into foster care. He was taken from the Kaweah Delta Hospital by Child Welfare Services at the time with an investigation by the Visalia Police Department as they determined that Elyssa was not able to provide sufficient care.

Sheriff Boudreaux added that Elyssa was allowed supervised visits once a month until January 13, when she was able to receive full custody of the baby under the supervision of Child Welfare Services. They were killed three days later.

“I do not want to say anything that would jeopardize not bringing these baby killers to justice,” said Sheriff Boudreaux – but did state that “arrests will be made in this investigation.”

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office anticipates another press conference later this week. The reward for any information leading to the arrest of the shooters is currently at $20,100.

Sheriff Boudreaux also made a direct request to Governor Gavin Newsom, asking him to lift the ban on the death penalty in cases when small children are killed. In response, the Governor’s Office directed us to a press release from 2019 announcing the moratorium on the death penalty in California.

by: Manny Gomez source

Central California massacre: 2 suspects arrested in shooting that killed 6

VISALIA — Two gang members suspected in the massacre of six people last month in central California were arrested early Friday, one after a gunbattle, the Tulare County sheriff said.

Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said Noah David Beard, 25, was taken into custody without incident and Angel “Nanu” Uriarte, 35, was wounded in the shootout with federal agents and was undergoing surgery.

The suspects and members of the victims’ family have a long history of gang violence but the motive for the shooting “is not exactly clear,” Boudreaux said at a news conference at the sheriff’s headquarters in Visalia.

The Tulare County District Attorney’s Office charged both suspects with six counts of murder and other crimes.

The six victims, including a teen mother and her baby, were gunned down on Jan. 16 in rural Goshen, a community of 3,000 in the San Joaquin Valley.

The sheriff said the arrests stemmed from “Operation Nightmare” in which multiple search warrants were served and inmate cells associated with a prison gang were searched in multiple state prisons.

read original store here: California murder of six, including teenage mother and infant, likely gang or cartel related: sheriff

Sheriff described shootings as precise and targeted to ensure quick death

The Tulare County Sheriff said on Tuesday that a shooting that left six people dead, including a teenage mom and infant, in central California on Monday morning appears to have been gang or cartel related.

Sheriff Mike Boudreaux held a press conference on Tuesday to provide an update on the investigation into the shooting that happened just after 3:30 a.m. on Monday.

Deputies were called to a home on the 6800 Block of Harvest Road in Goshen, and when they arrived, they found two gunshot victims dead.

After searching the home, they located four other victims, KMPH-TV reported, and at the time investigators believed there were at least two suspects.

One of the six victims was still alive when deputies arrived but died a brief time later.

 

The victims were identified during the press conference as Rosa Parraz, 72; Eladio Parraz Jr., 52; Jennifer Analla, 50; Marcos Parraz, 19; Elyssa Parraz, 16 and Nycholas Parraz, 10-months-old.

A week prior to the shooting, a search warrant was conducted at the home for drugs, and according to Boudreaux, deputies found drugs, ammunition and weapons.

On Tuesday, Boudreaux said investigators working around the clock collected hundreds of pieces of evidence and he expects more to be discovered. He also asked businesses and residents nearby to check their surveillance video that was recorded between 3-5 a.m. on Monday morning, and if they find anything suspicious, to notify the sheriff’s office.

Boudreaux said the attack was targeted and the victims were shot in the head or other places the shooter knew would result in a quick death.

“This was not a random act of violence,” he said.

The sheriff also said the cartels are in Tulare County and central California, as are gangs. He did not want to point to one cartel or another, but instead wanted people to be aware of their surroundings.

 

Goshen is a farming community with a population of around 3,000 people, and while Boudreaux admitted to seeing some egregious acts during his tenure with the department, the killing of a 6-month-old baby and the style executed with precision ranked up at the top.

“It’s shocking to the nation…it’s shocking we live in a community where this danger exists,” he said.

The Tulare County Sheriff’s office is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. Boudreaux said there is additional money coming in, and it is likely the reward will go up.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 559-733-6218. Tipsters can remain anonymous by calling or texting 559-725-4194 or through email at tcso@tipnow.com.

Who would execute a baby? Tulare sheriff said a drug cartel,

GOSHEN, Calif. — 

The body of the 16-year-old girl was found crumpled outside the home, along with her dead 10-month-old son. It was clear to investigators who came upon the scene in the early hours of Monday morning that the young mother had tried to run away with her baby in her arms. But forensic evidence showed she had been caught before she could escape, and both she and her child were shot in the forehead from above, execution style.

Four other people, including a grandmother asleep in her bed, were killed with similar cold professionalism in the rampage at a family compound in the farm town of Goshen.

Speaking to reporters just a few hours after his deputies had responded to the violent scene, Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux characterized the massacre as a targeted attack by an unspecified drug cartel. “The drug cartel,” in his words. What else could explain the depravity of executing a baby?

In this impoverished, dusty outskirt of the San Joaquin Valley, and far beyond, many were left considering the same possibilities when grappling with who would commit such a heinous crime.

Boudreaux said investigators were looking for at least two shooters. The victims, many of whom were related and who ranged in age from 72 to 10 months, were shot in the head and “in places a shooter would know a quick death” would follow. “Going in and massacring an entire family goes above and beyond,” he said. “Which is why I continue to focus back on high-level gang-style execution or cartel-style execution, because this is not normal.”

Standing behind the sheriff as he spoke were agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI — just a few of the many agencies the sheriff said have stepped in to assist Tulare County investigators in solving the crime.

The sheriff said that at least three people survived the rampage, which began when the assailants forced open a door to the home on Harvest Avenue, a residential pocket of houses circled by chain link fences in a mostly industrial area bordering State Route 99. One man in the main house hid by lying on the floor of a room while two women were in a trailer where the gunmen did not find them.

The survivors, the sheriff said, are “providing a great deal of information,” though he declined to reveal it. “I know a lot, but I can’t answer that question,” he said at one point, adding that the perpetrators could be watching his news conference.

The sheriff said his deputies arrived at the compound just seven minutes after the first 911 call, but the shooters were long gone by then.

Boudreaux asked for help from the public in the investigation, requesting that neighbors, business owners and anyone in the area of the shooting check for video footage from early Monday, and share anything suspicious with law enforcement. Officials announced a $10,000 reward for information that would help move the investigation forward.

“We’re pulling out all stops, we’re turning over every rock,” he said.

The sheriff also noted that the property where the massacre occurred was a “known home to our department” for gang activity.

He said deputies had found guns, marijuana and methamphetamine at the home Jan. 3, following a parole compliance check.

They arrested one of the victims of the massacre, Eladio Parraz Jr., after that search, but said they did not believe their search was related to the violence, nor that Parraz, who was 52, was its intended target. They declined to say whether they believed they knew who the target was.

In court records filed in conjunction with the parole check, officials describe Eladio Parraz Jr. as a “documented Sureño gang member.” The Sureños are a group of loosely connected gangs that answer to the Mexican Mafia prison gang. He was detained on suspicion of being a felon in possession of ammunition after deputies found live rounds and spent shell casings from a shotgun and semi-automatic handgun on the ground, and was released a few days later.

But the sheriff said many of the people killed at the property had no gang affiliation. He named Rosa Parraz, the 72-year-old grandmother killed in her bed, along with Alissa Parraz, 16, the young mother, and her 10-month old baby, Nycholas, as “innocent victims.” (The Sheriff’s Office initially released the incorrect spelling of Alissa Parraz’s first name, as well as incorrect ages for her and her son.)

Other victims identified Tuesday were Marcos Parraz, 19, and Jennifer Analla, 50.

“I cannot comprehend it,” Alissa Parraz’s grandfather told ABC 30 News. “I can’t understand who can just kill a baby like that. I can’t wrap my head around it. How can someone be a monster and do that?”

Jan. 16, 2023

The slayings have stunned the quiet town of Goshen, a mostly Latino community of about 5,000 just outside Visalia, and brought a wave of fear to the area. Since at least the 1970s, Tulare County has played an outsized role in the transnational drug trade between Mexico and U.S. markets, which has repeatedly brought violence to the Central Valley county.

As news of the massacre sank in, a palpable air of trepidation seemed to descend on the neighborhood where the violence occurred. On three occasions, residents approached a Times reporter in the area, asking him to move his unfamiliar car from near their homes. All declined to identify themselves, though one explained that they didn’t want a local gang to think they had spoken to the police.

Three Tulare County sheriff’s cruisers sat parked in the middle of Harvest Avenue on Tuesday morning, which remained blocked between Ivy Road and Highway 68.

Mike Alrahimi, owner of a general store around the block from the site of Monday’s shooting, said he was horrified by the violence.

Alrahimi said he didn’t know the family but figured they must have been in his store at some point. Nothing so violent has happened in the neighborhood in the 39 years he has lived in the area.

“I feel bad for the family, for the neighborhood,” Alrahimi, 65, said. “Everyone is sad.”

Brutal killing of California family a ‘clear message’ from the cartel, sheriff warns: ‘They were targeted’

Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux calls out the ‘open border’ and soft-on-crime policies in the state

The California sheriff investigating the slaughter of an entire family that included a teen mom and baby said the killings are undoubtedly cartel related as officials continue to piece together details from the brutal massacre.

Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux joined “America’s Newsroom” Thursday with an update on the search for suspects and a warning on how “failed” policies are fueling a surge in violence.

“This is an intentional slaughter and massacre, no one was supposed to be left alive,” Boudreaux told Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino. “They went through this house methodically, very slowly. They made sure that they were going to kill everyone in that home.”

“When you slaughter, when you shoot a 16-year-old mother in the head and a 10-month-old child in the head, that is a very clear message to everyone that this was a cartel-style shooting, execution, and these types of things with our unsecure open border, with our soft on crime approach here in California, this is the result of some of that failed policy,” he continued.

A 16-year-old mother was fatally shot, alongside her son and other members of her family, in Goshen, California, on Monday. (Fox News)

Members of an entire family were slain in Goshen, California, early Monday, with the victims ranging in age from 10 months to 72 years old. They were Rosa Parraz, 72; Eladio Parraz Jr., 52; Jennifer Analla, 50; Marcos Parraz, 19; Elyssa Parraz, 16 and Nycholas Parraz, 10-months-old.

A week prior to the shooting, a search warrant was conducted at the home for drugs, and according to Boudreaux, deputies found drugs, ammunition and weapons.

“What we’re experiencing is high-level gang structure violence, who are married to the cartel,” Boudreaux said. “The cartel brings the drugs into our area and the gangs distribute them. They’re partners, and this slaughter of a family, an entire family, this wasn’t just the killing of a rival gang member or a fellow gang member. This was a slaughter massacre of an entire family.”

“They were targeted, and this was a message being sent,” he continued.

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Suspected hitman stood over California mom holding baby, killed both at home linked to drugs and guns

‘Deliberate, intentional and horrific,’ sheriff says of shootings

Authorities released more details about the six people gunned down at a California home linked to drugs and guns, as well as the nature in which they were killed.

A shooter stood over a 16-year-old mother clutching her 10-month-old baby and pumped bullets into their heads in a brazen attack early Monday morning.

Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said the teenager was fleeing the violence when the killers caught up to her outside the home in Goshen, a central California community of about 3,000 residents in the agricultural San Joaquin Valley, and shot the young mother and her child “assassination-style.”

“None of this was by accident,” Boudreaux said during a news conference Tuesday. “It was deliberate, intentional and horrific.”

Photo collage of all six victims of the Goshen, CA, family murders. Local law enforcement believes the murders were targeted attack from either gangs or cartels.  (KMPH)

The victims were identified during the press conference as Rosa Parraz, 72; Eladio Parraz Jr., 52; Jennifer Analla, 50; Marcos Parraz, 19; Elyssa Parraz, 16 and Nycholas Parraz, 10 months old.

“I can’t wrap my head around what kind of monster would do this,” the baby’s great-grandfather, Samuel Pina, told The Associated Press.

Three people survived and will be interviewed by authorities. They include a man who hid in the home as the killings happened.

GOSHEN, CA – JANUARY 16: Tulare County Sheriff crime unit investigates the scene where six people, including a 6-month old baby, her teenage mother and an elderly woman, were killed in a Central Valley farming community in what the local sheriff said was likely a targeted attack by a drug cartel on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023 in Goshen, CA. The massacre occurred around 3:30 a.m. in and around a residence in the Tulare County town of Goshen near Visalia.  (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)“He was in such a state of fear that all he could do was hold the door, hoping he was not the next victim,” Boudreaux said.

It was later determined the person who made the call to authorities was someone hiding at the property.

Social media photo of a 16-year-old mother and her baby that were lady killed with other family members in Goshen, CA. Local law enforcement believes the murders were targeted attack from either gangs or cartels.  (Facebook/Alissa Parraz)

Authorities said they were searching for two suspects and offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to their arrests.

“I know certain things that I am not able to release right now,” he said. “They’re watching what’s happening today as well.”

Boudreaux said there is a history of gang and drug activity at the home, but that not everyone who lives there was involved in gangs or drugs.

TCSO deputies were called to a home in the 6800 Block of Harvest Road in Goshen for multiple shots heard just after 3:30 a.m. Jan. 16, 2023. (Tulare County Sheriff’s Office)

A narcotics warrant was served at the home the week prior, Boudreaux said. Eladio Parraz was arrested and bailed out four days later.

“This was a cartel-like execution. We are not eliminating the idea that the cartel was involved,” Boudreaux said. “We do have cartel in Tulare County.”

Editor’s note: The name of the 16-year-old mother killed has been reported as Elyssa Parraz by authorities, and Alissa Parraz by family. 

Fox News’ Greg Wehner and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

By Pilar Arias | Fox News

read the follow up story here: 2 Arrests in Goshen Homicides Deadly Shooting, Video Shows Mom and Baby Trying to Escape

Ovidio Guzmán, the son of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán and leader of the Los Chapitos, has been arrested by Mexican authorities in Sinaloa, sources tell Fox News Digital.

The arrest took place in the town of Jesús María by elements of the Mexican National Guard, the Secretary of National Defense (SEDENA) and the Secretary of the Navy (SEMAR). Residents of the city woke to gunfire as government forces fought with local cartel forces.

Footage circulating on social media purported to show a convoy of cartel vehicles moving to disrupt Guzmán’s arrest.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador confirmed that there had been a military operation in Sinaloa, but declined to offer details.

“We do not know how the events are in Sinaloa. There is an operation that began at dawn, and later we will inform you about it,” Obrador said Thursday.

Mexican authorities previously detained Guzmán in 2019, but quickly released him to avoid a massive confrontation with cartel forces.

The 2019 incident saw Mexico’s president order a retreat of his forces following an assault from the cartels. At least eight people were killed in that incident.

Guzmán remains a high-level member of the Sinaloa Cartel. In December 2021, the U.S. government offered a reward of $5 million to anyone who offered information to arrest the sons of El Chapo — Ovidio, Iván, Jesús, Alfredo and Joaquín Guzmán — as they are considered leaders of a faction within the Sinaloa Cartel. source

Mexican authorities confirm arrest of son of drug kingpin ‘El Chapo’ after 6-month interagency investigation

Ovidio Guzmán was not been one of El Chapo’s better-known sons until an aborted operation to capture him in 2019

The son of notorious Mexican drug cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán was nabbed Thursday after a six-month interagency investigation, Mexican authorities confirmed.

During an afternoon press conference, Defense Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval said Guzmán’s son – whom he only identified as “Ovidio” – was arrested early Thursday morning northwest of Culiacan in the state of Sinaloa.

FILE – This Oct. 17, 2019 frame grab from video provided by the Mexican government shows Ovidio Guzman Lopez at the moment of his detention, in Culiacan, Mexico. Mexican security forces were forced to release the son of Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman that day after his gunmen shot up the western city of Culiacan.  (CEPROPIE via AP File)

Sandoval said Guzmán was a leader of a Sinaloa faction he called “los menores” or “the juniors,” who are also known as “Los Chapitos,” for the sons of El Chapo.

Guzmán’s arrest was the result of six months of interagency investigation and surveillance work, Sandoval said.

National Guard troops spotted SUVs, some with homemade armor, and immediately coordinated with the army as they established a perimeter around the suspicious vehicles and forced the occupants out to be searched.

The security forces then came under fire but were able to gain control of the situation and identify Guzmán among those present and in possession of firearms, Sandoval said.

Ovidio Guzmán-López, son of drug kingpin El Chapo.  (US State Department)

Cartel members set up 19 roadblocks including at Culiacan’s airport and outside the local army base, as well as all points of access to the city of Culiacan, Sandoval said, but the Air Force was able to fly Guzmán to Mexico City despite their efforts, and he was taken to offices of the Attorney General’s organized crime special prosecutor.

Ovidio Guzmán, nicknamed “the Mouse,” had not been one of El Chapo’s better-known sons until an aborted operation to capture him three years ago. That attempt similarly set off violence in Culiacan that ultimately led President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to order the military to let him go.

U.S. Homeland Security Investigations had posted a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Guzmán last year.

Alleged cartel members responded to Thursday’s operation by carjacking Culiacan residents and setting vehicles ablaze in the cartel stronghold. Local and state authorities warned everyone to stay inside.

Authorities escort Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, center, from a plane in Ronkonkoma, N.Y.   (U.S. law enforcement via AP)

Intermittent gunfire continued into the afternoon Thursday in Culiacan as Mexican security forces continued to clash with cartel gunmen and few people ventured out. Airports there and in several other Sinaloa cities remained closed.

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Thursday’s high-profile capture comes just days before López Obrador will host U.S. President Joe Biden for bilateral talks followed by their North American Leaders’ Summit with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Drug trafficking, along with immigration, is expected to be a top talking point.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

By Bradford Betz | Fox News