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DOJ: Man sentenced for illegally producing, selling Texas paper license plates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A New York man was sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for illegally producing and selling hundreds of thousands of Texas paper license plates in a nationwide scheme netting more than $200 million. ‘Used Car King’ awaits sentencing for fraudulent Texas vehicle tag sales According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 52-year-old Octavian Ocasio, who advertised himself as the "Used Car King of New York", pleaded guilty to using fake car dealerships to generate and sell Texas paper tags without selling any cars.Ocasio will also have to pay the Texas DMV more than $320,000 in restitution.Federal officials said the tags were bought and sold online. KXAN Investigates: Risky Rides “Ocasio was one of several who, for too long, allowed thousands of drivers across the country to ride around with fraudulent paper license plates—all just to save a few dollars. Now, he’ll have to park himself inside a federal prison to pay for his crimes,” said Acting Special Ag...

LIVE: No. 4 Westlake takes on Austin High Maroons at House Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Westlake can take one more step to another district championship with a win over Austin High at House Park on Friday.The No. 4 Chaparrals take on the Maroons at 7:30 p.m. and the game will be streamed for those in the KXAN viewing area on KXAN.com/Westlake and in the video player above. For those outside of the KXAN viewing area, NFHS Network will carry the game as our official high school football streaming partner. There's a subscription pricing guide on the website if you're not already subscribed.REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score on our website, but we need your help to do it. Email the score of your game to [email protected] and we'll get it on our websiteJoe Taylor and Ricky Doyle will be on the call when the broadcast begins at 7:20 p.m.Westlake is coming off a hard-fought 27-14 win over Dripping Springs last week, and sophomore quarterback Rees Wise proved he's more than just a dropback passer. He threw for 209 yards, but he also rushed for...

Women’s hockey: Four-goal first period helps Ohio State dispatch Tommies, 6-2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:02 GMT

The Ohio State Buckeyes are ranked No. 2 in the country in women’s college hockey, but they stand alone when it comes to their aggressive, pushing-the-envelope physical style of play.Opponents can try to simulate in practice what a meeting with the Buckeyes is like, but the only way to get the full impact is to line up against the real thing. The youthful St. Thomas Tommies found that out Friday afternoon at St. Thomas Arena, falling to the Buckeyes, 6-2.“The mark of a good team is to be able to compete so hard in practice that the game feels normal,” St. Thomas coach Joel Johnson said. “There might be some truth in that for us.”The Tommies appeared overwhelmed at times in the first period, falling behind 4-1. They were able to hold their own from that point on, but too much damage had been done.“You can’t give up four (in the first period),” Johnson said, “whether it’s the forwards blocking shots, the defense covering people, the goaltending making saves, whatever it is. We just ha...

In St. Paul, Jewish groups rally for Palestinians and call for a ceasefire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:02 GMT

Carrying the Palestinian flag and handwritten signs for peace, more than 100 Jewish protesters gathered outside state Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party headquarters in St. Paul on Friday to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to what they described as the genocidal bombings of innocent Palestinian civilians by the Israeli government.“I am a descendant of Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust,” said Iris Brilliant, 35, of Minneapolis, as the crowd around her broke into a peace song. “Genocide of Palestinians does not make me feel more safe.”The protesters — organized by the Jewish advocacy coalition If Not Now and the progressive anti-Zionist organization Jewish Voice for Peace — called upon state DFL Chair Ken Martin to condemn the bombings that have killed some 4,000 Palestinians, more than 1,000 of them children, and work to curb U.S. military aid to the Israeli government.On Oct. 13, Israel alerted the more than 1 million residents of northern Gaza that bombings...

Portion of 7th Avenue in Troy dedicated to community mentor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:02 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The city of Troy recognized a local man Friday, who had a large impact on the community. The city dedicated a portion of 7th Avenue outside the Boys & Girls Club.It was renamed Earl Harrison Way. Harrison died earlier in the year, but his legacy lives on. He served as a coach, mentor, and educator at the Boys & Girls Club and Troy City Schools. He inspired many young people. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! "The city of Troy was blessed to have a man of his talents, his values, and his dedication in our community," Troy Mayor Patrick Madden said. "We are a better community because of his contributions."Earl Harrison Way is located between State Street and Congress Street.

Undefeated Avalanche faces first showdown with fellow Stanley Cup contender

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:02 GMT

Avalanche players and coaches have not shied away from the expectations and standard they’ve set for this season.It’s very much a Stanley Cup-or-bust year in Denver. And for the first time in 2023-24, the Avs will meet one of the other teams with similar expectations Saturday night when the Carolina Hurricanes come to Ball Arena.“We’ve played some solid teams, some really good teams, but (Saturday) is huge,” Avs star Nathan MacKinnon said. “We’re going to get their best, but it’s always fun. They’re a tough team to play against. They play hard. They’re fast. They play stingy. Hopefully, we can get a lead and make them come out of their structure a little bit.”The Hurricanes have reached the conference finals twice in the past five seasons, but have been swept both times. Carolina has won its division three years in a row, and collected 309 points in that span. That’s third in the NHL behind Boston (315) and Colo...

CSU receiver Louis Brown IV answering coaches’ challenge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:02 GMT

Colorado State wide receiver Louis Brown IV grabs a catch at the sideline against Washington State defensive back Javan Robinson on Sept. 2 in Fort Collins. (Michael Brian/For the Reporter-Herald)Colorado State sophomore wide receiver Louis Brown IV’s production and eventual touchdown catch that began the Rams’ comeback last Saturday against Boise State was a direct response to a challenge from his coaches.Brown, who saw time last year as a freshman, began to shine early this season and had a breakout game against Colorado when he had his first 100-yard receiving game and scored his first touchdown — and even did Deion Sanders’ “Prime Time Shuffle” in the end zone.But since, Brown had been relatively quiet — until last Saturday night.“I’m really proud of LB,” CSU head coach Jay Norvell said. “We challenged him last week. He played super at Colorado, had a 100-yard game. The last couple of weeks, he hasn’t been as productive, so we really challenged him last week. He’s very capable. ...

Man suffering medical incident run over and killed in LA

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:02 GMT

A man was killed after he was run over by a car in a fatal hit-and-run while suffering a medical incident on Thursday morning in Los Angeles. According to a L.A. Police Department news release, around 2:58 a.m., a 37-year-old-man was in medical distress and lost consciousness in the westbound number two lane of traffic on Temple Street, west of Fremont Street. The man was run over by a driver in a blue metallic Toyota Camry traveling westbound Temple street. The driver fled the scene without stopping to help the pedestrian or identify him or herself. When officers arrived at the scene, the man who was run over was pronounced dead.Police are now seeking the public’s help for any information about the fatal hit-and-run. Anyone who has information regarding the vehicle is urged to contact Investigator G. Diaz, Central Traffic Detectives, at 213-486-0767 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Through the City Council’s Hit-and-Run Reward Program Trust Fund, community members who p...

Former Serra High School star and MLB pitcher arrested for murder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:02 GMT

Daniel Serafini, a former Serra High School standout and Major League pitcher, was one of two people arrested Friday in connection with a murder two years ago in the Lake Tahoe area.Serafini, 49, and Samantha Scott, 33, had been wanted in connection to the 2021 shooting death of Serafini’s father-in-law, Gary Spohr, 70, and the attempted murder of Serafini’s mother-in-law, Wendy Wood.Following a two-year investigation, the Placer County sheriff’s office said Serafini was arrested in Winnemucca, Nev., early Friday morning and Scott was apprehended in Las Vegas. As of Friday afternoon, both were waiting to be transported back to Placer County.On June 5, 2021, following a 911 call from a residence near North Lake Tahoe, deputies arrived and found Spohr dead as a result of a single gunshot wound. Wood, his wife, had also been shot but was taken to a nearby hospital where she recovered from her injuries. Wood passed away last year.During the investigation, video surveillance revealed a h...

By cracking down on millionaires, IRS collects $160M in back taxes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:08:02 GMT

By Katie Lobosco | CNNThe Internal Revenue Service has collected $160 million in back taxes this year by cracking down on millionaires who haven’t paid what they owe, the agency said Friday.The recent effort to target high-income individuals has been boosted by an increase in federal funding provided by Democrats last year through the Inflation Reduction Act. Republicans have criticized the amount of money the IRS is getting, and future funding is uncertain.In September, the IRS started seeking back taxes from about 1,600 taxpayers with income above $1 million and more than $250,000 in tax debt. So far, the IRS has closed 100 of those cases, collecting $122 million, it said Friday.Earlier this year, the IRS collected $38 million from more than 175 high-income earners. That brings the total to $160 million so far this year.“I think that the evidence that we’ve seen to date, in terms of the amount that we have recovered … points to this being a highly important effort for us,” IRS Com...