Tag: theft

State Representative Walter Blackman Warns Arizonans of ‘Fraudulent Theft’ of Property in Mexico, Calls for Action

Neil Jones

Arizona State Representative Walter Blackman (R-Sedona) held a press conference Monday regarding what he called “the fraudulent theft of a valuable oceanfront property” affecting Arizonans who have invested in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, also known as Rocky Point.

“Many Arizonans regard Puerto Peñasco as “Arizona’s beach,” and it has become very popular to purchase property there. With Jorge Pivac [the city’s mayor] in place, Arizona citizens’ security and investments are at risk. I am accordingly demanding that we take measures to protect the investments and safety of Arizona citizens and businesses,” Blackman said.

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Commentary: Fake Goods Fund Real Crime

RealClearWire

Illicit trade has increased significantly over the last several years, fueled in part by the growth in internet sales and the COVID-19 pandemic. While this criminal activity is happening in communities throughout the United States, the money often flows to dangerous organizations based overseas. Combating this issue is complex, but today we see a growing willingness to combine forces to help fight this danger.

Two years ago, pandemic-related shortages in health care supplies created an ideal environment for counterfeiters and other criminals. Front line health care workers needed personal protective equipment and were too often getting swindled or receiving fraudulent products that could put them at risk. This even extended to medicines and pharmaceuticals.

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Arizona Man Sentenced to Probation for Scheme That Stole from Veterans

Cooper Moran

An Arizona man was sentenced to probation for his role in a scheme that stole from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Dennis Gene Godbolt, from Buckeye, will serve five years supervised probation and will be forced to pay $95,000 in restitution for his efforts, based on a ruling from Senior U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell.

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China Made an Artificial Intelligence ‘Prosecutor’ That Can Charge People with Crimes

Arizona Sun Times Staff

Chinese scientists reportedly developed an artificial intelligence (AI) program capable of filing criminal charges.

The AI “prosecutor” is given a verbal definition of a case and then decides whether to file charges, according to the South China Morning Post, citing researchers involved in developing the program. The prosecutor files charges with a 97% accuracy rate, and is intended to reduce prosecutors’ workload.

“The system can replace prosecutors in the decision-making process to a certain extent,” said Shi Yong, director of the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ big data and knowledge management laboratory that developed the program.

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