Desert Messenger

18 www.DesertMessenger.com April 17, 2024 TRACK CON'T FROM PAGE 1 PHOENIX – Attorney General Kris Mayes today announced that Cali- fornia resident Donald Franklin Huegel was convicted and sentenced for his part in a romance scam that defrauded two elderly Arizonans. Huegel participated in the criminal enterprise for two years by funnel- ing money from victims to his co- conspirators in Africa. The victims were each contacted by someone posing as a romantic interest on- line, who fostered a relationship and then began to ask the victim to send money to different accounts. "Criminals defrauding elderly indi- viduals should be put on notice that my office will find you, and we pros- ecute you," said Attorney General Mayes. "No Arizonan deserves to be manipulated emotionally and de- frauded of their hard-earned money – especially elderly Arizonans. This sentencing serves as a stark warn- ing to those who prey on individu- als through deception and fraud: we will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law." eter contributed the wins as he per- formed competitively with agility collected ribbons in the 400m Run, 2nd Place in 4 x 200 Relay and 3rd in High Jump 7th and 8th Grade Category. Further, Jesse Hernandez, Jaden Schlueter, Everett Simpson and So- ren Medlar, the competing members in the 4 x 200 Relay spiked their feet as they sprinted and touched the finish line 2nd. Furthermore, Lola Alaniz, the lone girl athlete in the 7th and 8th cate- gory (girls) finished 2nd in the 100m Dash while Preston Yarbro and Mi- sha Sato won 3rd Place in their re- spective events, Discuss Throw and 400m Run. Ehrenberg Elementary School marks the second consecutive time they have clinched the Overall First Place title in the 5th and 6th Cat- egory. Their remarkable achieve- ment underscores the dedication, talent, and teamwork that define Ehrenberg's athletic program, leav- ing a legacy of excellence for years to come. Meet the Candidates planned for Monday, June 24th. The public is invited to a Meet and Greet the Candidates Forum Monday, June 24, 2024. The forum is hosted by Desert Messenger News. The fo- rum will be held at the Quartzsite Senior Center, 40 N. Moon Mountain Ave., Quartzsite. Candidates are encouraged to bring promotional materi- als to share with voters. Doors open to the Public at 6:00pm for meet and greet with the candi- dates at their tables. Candidates Forum will start at 6:30pm Refreshments will be available. • Each Candidate will be allowed a 3 minute Introduction • Prepared questions will be presented. The number of questions is de- pendent on the number of Candidates in attendance. Decorum will be re- quired from ALL attendees. For more information contact Shanana Rain Golden-Bear 928-916-4235 or email desertmessenger7@yahoo.com Meet the Candidates planned Man sentenced in an elder romance scam The first victim responded to a fake online profile and began a roman- tic dialog with someone she be- lieved was named "Chad Callahan." "Chad" asked her for money to as- sist him personally, but when she resisted providing more money, she was contacted by other members of the romance scam who told her that her identity had been placed on the Dark Web. The victim sent thousands of dol- lars to get her identity allegedly cleared from the Dark Web. In to- tal, the victim sent over $90,000 to four different accounts. Of that to- tal, $26,000 was sent to Huegel for him to pass on to other members of the criminal enterprise. During the investigation, after the victim's ability to transfer funds electroni- cally had been stopped, she mailed Huegel an additional money order for $24,000. The romance scammers also preyed upon a second elderly Arizona vic- tim who sent over $367,000 to Huegel. She was also taken in by a fake profile for "Michael Williams" on Match.com. The scams Huegel participated in stole nearly $400,000 from el- derly Arizona victims. Huegel was convicted by a jury of fraudulent schemes and artifices, illegally con- ducting an enterprise, money laun- dering, and theft. On March 26, 2024, Pima County Superior Court Judge Richard Gor- don sentenced Huegel to 4 years in prison for his conduct, followed by three years on probation. A hearing will be set to determine restitution for the victims. Attorney General Mayes urges the public to be vigilant online and take steps to avoid being defrauded. Tips to Avoid Falling Victim to Scams: • Verify Information: Before acting, hang up and independently verify the caller's legitimacy by directly contacting the organization they claim to represent. Never use the contact details they provide — call whoever they claim to represent directly. Scammers can mask num- bers, making it appear that a legiti- mate company or organization is calling you. • Be Skeptical: Always be skeptical of unsolicited calls, especially those asking for immediate action involv- ing financial transactions. A govern- ment agency will never ask you to remove money from your accounts to send via Bitcoin, wire transfer, or gift cards. • Secure Your Personal Information: Never share personal information like your social securi- ty number, bank account details, or passwords over the phone with un- known callers or give anyone real- time access to your computer. • Consult Trusted Individuals: Consult with a trusted family member or friend before making substantial financial decisions, especially those involving digital currencies like Bitcoin. • Report Suspicious Activity: If something feels off, it probably is. Report the call to local law enforce- ment or file a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General's Office. If you believe you have been the victim of fraud, you can file a com- plaint by visiting https://www.azag. gov/complaints/criminal. If you need a complaint form sent to you, contact the Attorney General's Office at (602) 542-8888. If you believe you have been the victim of identity theft, contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at http://www.identitytheft.gov or (877)-438-4338 for help.

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