CALEXICO ICSO, BP agents seize firearms
Several stolen weapons were recovered and two men were arrested Wednesday in Calexico by a joint operation involving the county Sheriff’s Office and the El Centro Sector Border Patrol’s Special Operations Detachment. The recovered weapons and ammunition were allegedly stolen from Yuma, and included 11 firearms, including a .50-caliber rifle, short-barreled shotgun, military grade ammunition, and several high-capacity magazines.A 34-year-old man and 36-year-old man were arrested and booked into jail as a result of the searches. Both men are Mexican nationals who reside legally in Calexico, a Border Patrol press release stated.
The weapons and ammunition was recovered during the execution of search warrants following an investigation that ICSO conducted in collaboration with the Yuma Police Department and El Centro Sector agents.“The ICSO and USBP teams did a fantastic job bringing two foreign nationals into custody,” said El Centro
Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino said in a written statement. “Anytime heavy weapons are involved the anxiety levels go up, however the Sheriff’s and Border Patrol teams are trained and very capable.”
Arrest records indicate that on Saturday, Christopher F. Guerrero-Carbajal, city of residence undisclosed, was booked into jail for the manufacture/ sale/transportation of an assault weapon, possession of an assault weapon, possession of a high-capacity magazine, and possession of a sawed-off shotgun, and held on $40,000 bail. —Julio Morales, jmorales@ ivpressonline.com
An emergency scholarship fund of $20,000 is available to Imperial Valley College students who lost their jobs because of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as an additional $10,000 grant for a COVID-19 Response Fund, the IVC Foundation announced.
Of that $20,000, $8,000 was donated by retiring IVC counselor Mary
Lofgren, and $12,000 is a match by the foundation. The additional $10,000 comes from a grant awarded by the Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation aimed at equitable health resources and well-being to individuals in need.
The COVID-19 Emergency Scholarships will be for $500 each. In order to qualify, a student must be in good standing, must show proof of the layoff, and must write a one-page essay on why they need the scholarship. The deadline to apply is May 19.
“As of today, after only one week since the announcement, we have over 100 applications and expect between 250 to 350 before May 15,” said Foundation Executive Director Rod Smart.
Lofgren, who retires in June after 29 years at IVC, has been donating about $1,000 annually to the foundation for several of those years. Those donations went into a fund to help students purchase books. Because so many students have lost their jobs in recent weeks, Lofgren asked that the funds instead be used to help them.
“Mary’s incredibly generous gift has enabled us to double the amount available, and the grant from IVW has enabled us to triple it,” Smart said.
The $10,000 awarded by the Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation is part of $265,000 in COVID-19 Response grants for 12 non-profit agencies serving Imperial County’s most vulnerable residents. Bianca Bisi, IVC interim associate director of student equity and achievement, applied for the grant, which also will be dispersed by the foundation.
IVC Foundation said the distribution of the $10,000 COVID-19 Response Fund will directly support the most vulnerable students who are struggling to meet their basic needs such as accessing food, hygiene supplies, and technology.
Added Smart: “We ask anyone who would like to help these students through this time of need to please contact us at givetoivc.com.”