miami-local

[miami-local]

Man Accused in Daughter and Her Mother’s Disappearance Appears in Miami Federal Court

A 55-year-old man accused of involvement in the disappearance of his daughter and her mother made another appearance in a Miami federal courtroom on Monday.

Family and supporters of Gustavo Alfonso Castano Restrepo were present as he faced charges related to the alleged kidnapping and murder of his former partner Liliana Moreno and their eight-year-old daughter Daniella, who went missing on Memorial Day in 2016. Prosecutors claim that Castano’s motivations stemmed from resentment over the pregnancy, financial strain related to child support, and the fallout of an affair that reportedly ended his marriage.

Philip Louis Reizenstein, Castano’s defense attorney, has countered the prosecution’s arguments, stating that their claims rest on circumstantial evidence. Reizenstein emphasized that the lack of any recovered remains makes the case heavily reliant on inference rather than conclusive proof.

Castano faces charges of kidnapping resulting in death, a count that could lead to the death penalty if convicted.

“We entered a plea of not guilty,” Reizenstein said following the proceedings. “We have requested discovery from the government, encompassing all relevant case information, and we have asked to move forward to trial.”

The next hearing is expected to be scheduled next month.

“We anticipate taking this case to trial,” Reizenstein added. “However, a crucial factor remains: whether the government will pursue the death penalty. Should they decide to do so, it will involve extensive coordination among the defense, prosecution, and the court. We are ready to address this, although we fervently hope they do not seek that course of action.”

[miami-local]

Young Girl Critical After Crash Outside Miami Pharmacy

Medics rushed a young girl to the hospital on Monday afternoon after she was struck by a vehicle outside a drugstore off Coral Way in Miami.

The incident occurred just before 4 p.m. outside the Navarro Discount Pharmacy located at 2120 SW 32nd Avenue. Authorities reported that a 7-year-old girl was knocked unconscious by the impact and transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition. Her mother, who was also injured, is expected to recover.

Witnesses recounted dramatic efforts by good Samaritans, who lifted the SUV to free the girl. The vehicle, a Nissan Rogue driven by a 92-year-old woman, reportedly veered out of control and crashed into the building, pinning the child beneath.

“I believe that as we grow older, there are certain people that need to reevaluate their skills, especially when they’re driving. As a parent and as a grandfather, you know, my heart goes out to the family,” one bystander said.

According to police, the driver remained at the scene. While the exact cause of the crash is still under investigation, authorities stated that the driver would be cited for careless driving but is unlikely to face criminal charges.

[miami-local]

Farzin Fardin Fard is Unique Finance Fraudster

With the advent of global trading networks, fraudsters did not sit around, and a fraudulent form of network marketing took place around the world called the pyramid scheme. A pyramid scheme is a network marketing scam in which a person or group makes a lot of money by measuring the appearance of a plan by harming hundreds or thousands of recruited members. In pyramid schemes, only cash is transferred, and the goods or services provided are not foreign existence or are sham. Fraudsters use fraudulent methods to promise members income that is based on attracting members and expanding the human network, not an income from a genuinely productive economic activity! There have been many pyramid scams in the last two decades, most of which have used the idea of ​​investing in stock markets to deceive members. But why invest in the stock market? The answer is clear because a) The fraudster can easily forge a worthless piece of paper and introduce it as real securities. B) Public awareness of investing in financial markets is limited, and this is a golden opportunity for fraudsters to pursue their goals by talking about it.

Unique Finance is the name of one of the largest pyramid schemes in recent years in the Middle East. In addition to Iran, it extends its criminal activities to underdeveloped countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan. Of course, the activity of this pyramid network has expanded in Turkey as well, and the wave of those deceived and the losers of the unique finance pyramid scheme is increasing every day. Founders of Unique Finance with Iranian nationality; Has a long history of bankrupting old Ponzi plans such as Uni funds, Quint,… And have cleverly used their past experiences in Unique Finance to present themselves in every way as a world-renowned company in the stock exchange and stock market field.

The founder of Unique Finance is Farzin Fardin Fard, an Iranian national who lives in the UAE and the cover of his music studio in Dubai; He is in charge of staging the organization. Other people, including Mohsen Derakhshan; Nima Tabari Fard; Mojtaba Goran Jalali (Cyrus Gran), also advance criminal goals; and have helped Fardin. Mohsen Derakhshan, who is known as the main branch of the reason for the existence of the losers inside Iran, has introduced a kind of pyramid scheme of Unique Finance to Iran. He was recently tried in a public court for fraud and public disruption of the economic system. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, fined $ 60 million, and fined heavily. Unique Finance has been identified and registered as a fraudulent pyramid scheme by the supervisory and judicial bodies of Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The heads of the Unique Finance organization are being prosecuted.

The management of Ewink Finance has made claims to advance its fraudulent goals. In this article, we try to verify the claims of Unique Finance fraudsters:

Is Unique Finance a Swiss company? According to the fraudsters, yes… but not in reality!!!

The claim that proponents and founders of Unique Finance have always insisted on in the news channels is that we are dealing with a world-renowned company headquartered in Switzerland and Zurich. They claim that the company’s chairman and board of directors are present at the headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, and run the company. But just a simple question from the Swiss Financial Markets Authority (FINMA) reveals that this claim by the heads of Unique Finance is a lie. FINMA announces that: Unique Finance is on the Swiss investment alert list. There is no such company in Switzerland. It does not have an official office in this country, and there is no office at the address announced on the Unique Finance website in Zurich. According to an official inquiry from the Swiss financial market watchdog, a company called Unique Finance was dissolved in 2017 and no longer exists abroad. Fraudsters use the name of a liquidated company to cover up their fraudulent activities. The creators of Unique Finance say that the reason for the announcement of FINMA about Unique Finance is tax issues. FINMA’s response to this claim is intriguing: A company that does not exist in Switzerland cannot have a tax problem here !!!

Is Unique Finance licensed to operate internationally? According to the fraudsters, yes… but not in reality!!!

The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) is an international institution that brings together the world securities regulator and is recognized as the regulator of the global standard for the securities sector. IOSCO develops, implements, and promotes adherence to internationally recognized standards for regulating securities. The group works closely with the G20 and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) on the global regulatory reform agenda. It is the Interpol police of the world’s financial institutions. It recognizes FINMA reports (the Swiss financial market watchdog) as the regulator of Switzerland. In the IOSCO alert list, the name Unique Finance appears… Unique Finance has been published in the IOSCO Investment Alert List since July 2017. According to this international organization, Unique Finance has no legal license to operate.

Unique Finance court case in Iran.

The Iranian police have repeatedly announced that they are fighting the fraudsters of Unique Finance in Iran, and now the company’s case is on the judge’s desk, where the name of Farzin Fardin Fard can be clearly seen. Also, a database of site users in the group of victims of frauds was published, in which the name of Farzin Fardin Fard can be seen in the top of the list of first users.

[miami-local]

Teen Girl Allegedly Lures Man to Carjacking That Turns Deadly in Broward County Crime Spree

Teen Girl Allegedly Lures Man to Carjacking That Turns Deadly in Broward County Crime Spree

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Authorities believe a troubled 14-year-old girl named Serenity Anivin, also known as “Sasha,” lured a 25-year-old man to a carjacking that escalated into a deadly crime spree across Broward County. Serenity, who turns 15 in July, had previously been reported missing in 2022 by the Margate Police Department and disappeared again in 2023 after briefly returning.

According to juvenile court records, Serenity collaborated with five co-defendants: 16-year-old Justin Edmond, three 17-year-old boys (Jamari Peacock, Jermaine Walker, and Cameran Wright), and Cody Clark, who is 20 years old. All are accused of working together in a violent crime spree in May.

On May 11, their first alleged victim, Rider Prospère, met with Serenity at 10:15 p.m. in Hallandale Beach after being referred by a friend. Prospère was in his gray 2016 Dodge Charger when a group of armed teens, including Serenity, forced him out of the vehicle, striking and kicking him. The attackers stole his car, clothing, and chain, leaving Prospère fearing for his life.

The stolen Charger led to a high-speed chase involving Hallandale Beach police and Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies, eventually ending in a fatal collision with a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by 68-year-old Patricia Ann Schmelz of Margate. Schmelz died from her injuries following the crash. Five firearms were found in the stolen vehicle.

Justin, Jamari, Jermaine, and Cameran face serious charges, including carjacking with a firearm, aggravated battery, and unlawful firearm possession. Justin Edmond, in particular, faces 28 charges, including vehicular homicide and aggravated fleeing. He remains in custody without bond on key charges. Cody Clark, the sole adult co-defendant, was also arrested and remains in the Broward County jail.

The case highlights the complex web of juvenile crime and its deadly consequences, leaving questions about Serenity’s role and the broader motivations behind the group’s actions.

[miami-local]

Two Men Injured in Dirt Bike Drive-By Shooting in Northwest Miami-Dade

Two men were wounded in a drive-by shooting involving a suspect riding a dirt bike in the Pinewood neighborhood of northwest Miami-Dade on Friday evening, police reported.

The incident occurred shortly after 7 p.m. near the intersection of Northwest Seventh Avenue and 95th Street, just west of Interstate 95. According to Detective Argemis Colome of the Miami-Dade Police Department, both victims were shot in their outer extremities and transported to the hospital, where they remain in stable condition.

Local 10 News captured footage as one of the injured men arrived at Jackson Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Police said the shooter fled the scene on the dirt bike immediately after the attack. Investigators are still working to identify the suspect and determine a motive for the shooting.