IMET, JCSO Assist in Stopping Money Laundering Scheme
The owner and operator of Tienda Santa Maria II LLC has been charged with money laundering. This comes after Jose Alonso Paramo Arguello, 45, used his money service businesses to launder narcotics trafficking proceeds and structure financial transactions to avoid suspicion of law enforcement. A citizen of Mexico and unlawfully residing in the United States, he has been charged by criminal complaint with money laundering. According to court documents, Arguello is the owner and operator of the Phoenix business, along with two others, Tienda Santa Maria in Medford, and Paramos Barber Shop in Central Point. Arguello uses his three businesses to transfer narcotics trafficking proceeds to Mexico by breaking down transactions into smaller amounts and using fake names and addresses for the money senders to conceal the true nature and source of the funds. From January 2, 2024, through December 3, 2025, Arguello’s three money service businesses transferred more than $13 million in wire transfers of $500 or more to Mexico, an amount often indicative of narcotics trafficking. Of that, over $7 million was sent to locations in Mexico associated with narcotics trafficking. The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) provided an informant with cash to attempt to wire money to Mexico. ...Read more

GPCC Divides Tourism Grants & Okays Tree Climbing Contests in Riverside
Grants Pass City Councilors Approved Tree Climbing Competition, Divided Tourism Grants and appointed several committee positions during Wednesday night's Business Session.The Council approved a resolution allowing Pacific Northwest International Society of Arboriculture to conduct commercial activity within Riverside Park as it conducts the Southern Oregon Region Tree Climbing Competition scheduled to run from April 10th through the 12th this year. Fees of $521.25 were waived.The Council then approved a second resolution awarding tourism promotion grants departing from the committee's recommendation. The Grants Pass Active Club and Hellgate Jetboat Excursions will receive $5,000 each. $2,500 will be awarded to Grants Pass High Band Boosters, Mainstreet Grants Pass Cruise, Rogue Valley Classic Cruisers, and the Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association.The council authorized the city manager to amend the city's classification plan affecting four positions: the community service officer, the engineering supervisor, the facilities maintenance technician and an urban forester and trail coordinator. Councilors then appointed Rebecca Anderson, Wynnis Grow and Trevor House to the Tourism Advisory Committee. ...Read more

Fatal Highway 238 Crash Occurred Sunday, OSP, Applegate Fire Responded

Oregon State Police responded to a fatal single-vehicle crash on Highway 238, near milepost 12, in Josephine County Sunday at 9:21 p.m. The preliminary investigation indicated a westbound Ford F-150, operated by Jacob David Bailey, 33, of Grants Pass, failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway, and rolled multiple times. Bailey was declared deceased at the scene. The highway was impacted for approximately four hours during the on-scene investigation. OSP was assisted by Applegate Fire. ...Read more