Community News April 29, 2009
Crash Killing 10 Near Florence: Driver Pleads Guilty
Brian Guzman-Ochoa, 39, of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court at Phoenix to one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in death. The charge is related to a vehicle rollover crash that occurred on August 7, 2008, near Florence, Ariz., resulting in the death of 10 passengers. Guzman- Ochoa admitted that he was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the fatal collision. On the morning of August 7, 2008, offi cers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety responded to a single vehicle collision on Highway 79 near Florence, Ariz. The collision involved 19 people, all illegal aliens. Seven men and two women were killed at the scene of the accident. The remaining 10 that were injured, including Guzman- Ochoa, were transported to local hospitals. Another passenger later died from his injuries. Sentencing is set before U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake on July 13, 2009, at 11:30 a.m. A conviction for transportation of illegal aliens resulting in death carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, or the death penalty, a $250,000 fine or both. Per the plea agreement, the U.S. is not seeking the death penalty in this case. In determining an actual sentence, the assigned judge will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide the appropriate sentencing range. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.
Freeport McMoran Profits Nose Dive, by Ted Lake
Still not paying dividends of common shares of stock because of the slumping economy, Freeport McMoRan stockholders received more bad news last week that lst quarter profits plunged 96% from a year ago. The company said its net income for the fi rst three months of this year was $43 million compared with $1.1billon this time last year. Consolidated sales from all of Freeport McMoRan’s mines during the first quarter totaled 1 billion pounds of copper, 545 thousand ounces of gold and 10 million pounds of molybdenum, compared with 911 million pounds of copper, 280 thousand ounces of gold and 20 million pounds of molybdenum during the first quarter of 2008. The company said its total debt was approximately $7.2 billion and consolidated cash was $644 million at March 31, 2009. Capital expenditures during the first quarter were $519 million while the operating cash flow was $258 million. In February, the company sold 26.8 million shares in common stock to realize some $740 million. Stockholders were also told there were no amounts borrowed under Freeport’s $1.5 billion revolving credit facility during the quarter
Globe Lions Receive Thank You
Globe Lions Linda and Carl Lopez received a heartfelt thank you from J.R Angeles (center) at Country Kitchen during a recent club meeting. J.R. had been a recipient of a brand new prescription and pair of eyeglasses through the Globe Lions Club. Lions Linda and Carl are the Vision and Hearing Chairpersons for Globe Lions. This gift will enable J.R. to better serve as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, another charitable organization in our Globe-Miami community. Those in need for vision or hearing assistance, may contact Lions Linda and Carl at 928-425-2403.
Victim's Rights Week
In Celebration of Victim's Rights Week, the Gila County Attorney's Office of Victim Services would like to invite you to a special Candlelight Ceremony to honor victims of crimes and their families. It will be held on Wednesday, April 29, at 6:30 p.m. at the Gila County Courthouse in Globe. For more information, please call Vitim Services at 928-402-8835 or 928-402-8836. The Payson ceremony will be held on Monday, April 27, at 6:30 p.m. at the Green Valley Park.