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EXCLUSIVE: How an Illegal Immigrant Lied, Stole, and Sued a No-Kill Animal Sanctuary — Then Broken California Justice Awarded Her Millions – 1500 Animals Endangered by Decision

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4 months ago

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By Paul Serran with guest contributor Frank Parlato

To hear of yet another story about an illegal migrant gaming a broken justice system to get away with lying, stealing, and committing fraud – all while scoring a multimillion-dollar payday – is bound to distress any right-thinking person.

If, on top of that, we learn that the fate of 1500 rescued animals hangs in the balance, it is even more outrageous.

Adriana Duarte Valentines, of Lancaster, California, entered the United States illegally 22 years ago. She came from Mexico with her husband, Raul Lopez, and their young son, Raul Jr. All three entered unlawfully. While living in the U.S. under false pretenses, Duarte and Lopez had two more children.

DELTA Rescue has cared for rescue animals since 1979.

In 2017, Duarte got a job as a cat caretaker at DELTA Rescue, a 115-acre mountaintop animal sanctuary in Acton, California. The sanctuary was founded in 1979 by Leo Grillo, and it houses over 1,500 dogs, cats, and horses — most abandoned in the desert or Angeles National Forest.

Duarte told DELTA she was a U.S. citizen. She gave a fake Social Security number and claimed she had picked lettuce in California fields. Management, trusting her, didn’t verify the lie. She was hired at $15 an hour.

Soon, Duarte saw an opportunity. Nobody checked what she put in her truck, and nobody asked questions. Over time, she escalated. Eyewitnesses and records show she stole over $350,000 worth of supplies — cat food, dog food, janitorial goods, even blankets meant for rescued animals.

To move more product, she needed more time. Duarte began visiting the trailer of overnight horse caretaker Jorge Avalos. An affair blossomed, and Duarte began billing DELTA for the hours she spent with him.

Then, she became pregnant by her lover. She told no one, neither her husband nor DELTA – which had a policy prohibiting pregnant employees from working with cats due to the risk of toxoplasmosis, a parasite found in cat litter that can cause birth defects and miscarriage. When a coworker asked if she was expecting, she said no.

Duarte’s pickup with alleged stolen products.

Duarte concealed her pregnancy until just before she gave birth. One day, she left work abruptly and did not return.

Three days later, on February 2, 2020, she emailed Grillo, revealing to her former employer that she was pregnant, saying she wanted to go back to work. Grillo reminded her that pregnant women couldn’t work with cats. The health risks were real.

Two days later, she emailed again — baby born, daycare arranged, ready to come back. Grillo’s response: “The fact that you lied to us already discredits anything else you say.”

Then, her husband found out about her affair. Furious, Raul Lopez confronted Avalos, who fled to Mexico.

The affair was over. The theft income gone. The job terminated. So, Duarte filed a lawsuit. Despite the lies, the theft, the false identity, and illegal status — she claimed she was the victim.

Duarte (with her daughter) and lawyer Nalbandyan.

Enter Jacob A. Nalbandyan who filed a sweeping complaint: Pregnancy discrimination, National origin discrimination, Disability discrimination, Wrongful termination, Retaliation under California’s FEHA.

The trial began October 1, 2024, in Department 24 of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. Presiding was Judge Kristin S. Escalante.

Escalante shaped the outcome with her pretrial rulings, deciding that jurors weren’t allowed to hear that Duarte entered the U.S. illegally; that she used a fake Social Security number; and her concealment of pregnancy.

The judge also ruled that DELTA Rescue was not allowed to be described as a nonprofit or that it depended on donations.

Judge Kristin S. Escalante.

During the trial, Judge Escalante allowed Duarte to bring her 4-year-old daughter, dressed in rags, into court.

The judge allowed Nalbandyan to present Dr. Anthony Reading, a psychologist who met Duarte once, four years after her firing. He called the job loss a ‘pivotal event’ that caused permanent damage.

The defense called their own expert, Dr. Marcel Ponton. He ran psychological tests. Results showed ‘almost 100% exaggeration’. “She’s faking,” he said.

But the crucial evidence was none of this: Judge Escalante allowed Nalbandyan to play edited video clips from Leo Grillo’s deposition — over 50 times. Twenty-four times on the day Grillo testified.

The videos, stripped of context, showed an upset Grillo losing his temper in the deposition. He called Duarte a ‘bimbo’, said he did not know she was pregnant because she was ‘obese’, and the last – that she was a ‘lettuce picker’- which was exactly what she told her employers.

‘Lettuce picker’ was presented as a slur against Hispanics, became the mantra of the trial. This white guy called a Mexican worker a lettuce picker. And they played the video 50 times!

The jury members — eight Mexican-Americans, one African-American, one Asian, and two Caucasians – were bombarded with it.

Grillo with one of the rescued dogs.

So, the jury ruled: $16,002 in lost wages; $180,950 in economic damages; $5.5 million for pain and suffering; $1 million in punitive damages.

$6.7 million — for a woman who lied, stole, and sued all the way to the bank.

Judge Escalante later reduced the total award to $3 million — a number that still threatens the survival of DELTA.

Leo Grillo spent 45 years building a no-kill sanctuary on a mountain, rescuing creatures no one else would touch, and creating a model for humane animal care.

Now, Grillo has to place an enormous bond to guarantee the appeal – his life’s work and the fate of 1500 animals are hanging by a thread.

Please consider helping DELTA Rescue to continue to care for rescued animals, donate here.

The post EXCLUSIVE: How an Illegal Immigrant Lied, Stole, and Sued a No-Kill Animal Sanctuary — Then Broken California Justice Awarded Her Millions – 1500 Animals Endangered by Decision appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Judge Subramanian DENIES Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Bail for the Fifth Time – Disgraced Rapper Will Remain in Prison Pending His October 3rd Sentencing

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18 hours ago

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August 5, 2025

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Judge Subramanian: no “exceptional reasons” to release Diddy before sentencing.

Recent Judge Subramanian’s decisions may indicate hard times for Diddy come sentencing.

We have been following the pre-sentencing motions in the high-profile criminal trial of rap mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.

The defense: ‘Sean Diddy’s Combs’ Conviction Is Racist and Sexist’, Say Disgraced Rapper’s Lawyers on Yet Another Legal Filing Trying to Release Him on Bail Pending Sentencing

The Prosecution: Prosecutors Oppose Sean Diddy Combs’ 50M Bail Package, Ask for ‘Substantially Higher’ Sentence Than Before

Look who appeared: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Trial: Ex-girlfirend Who Disappeared and Did Not Testify Against Rapper as ‘Victim 3’ Now Writes Letter to Judge to Grant Him Pre-sentencing Bail

Diddy has had his request for bail denied for the 5th time.

Today, we learn that federal judge Subramanian has yet again declined to grant Sean “Diddy” Combs bail, saying he found no ‘exceptional reasons’ to release him pending his October sentencing.

ABC News reported:

“Combs was convicted of transportation to engage in prostitution, which the judge said mandates incarceration. His sentencing is set for Oct. 3.

Judge Arun Subramanian said Combs remains a risk of flight and a danger to the community, pointing to the violence exhibited on 2016 hotel surveillance footage that shows him kicking and dragging Cassie Ventura.”

Combs remains a risk of flight and a danger to the community: Judge.

The judge ruled that the ‘swinger lifestyle’ argument does not fly in a case that includes ‘evidence of violence, coercion or subjugation in connection with the prostitution’. And the record, he wrote, contains evidence of all three.

Subramanian: “’While Combs may contend at sentencing that this evidence should be discounted and that what happened was nothing more than a case of willing ‘swingers’ utilizing the voluntary services of escorts for their mutual pleasure, the Government takes the opposite view: that Cassie Ventura and Jane were beaten, coerced, threatened, lied to, and victimized by Combs as part of their participation in these’.”

Read more:

As He Awaits Sentencing in Prison, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Joins ‘Self-Improvement’ Program To Curb Drug Use and Violence Against Women

The post Judge Subramanian DENIES Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Bail for the Fifth Time – Disgraced Rapper Will Remain in Prison Pending His October 3rd Sentencing appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Nearly 78,000 New Applicants Flood ICE Recruitment to Help Crack Down on Illegal Immigration (VIDEO)

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18 hours ago

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August 5, 2025

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In a scorching new development under the Trump-backed ICE reign, Acting Director Todd Lyons confidently announced that “we have almost 78,000 applicants since we opened up,” referring to the agency’s massive recruitment surge launched just one week prior.

This seismic surge in interest aligns with ICE’s newly launched “Defend the Homeland” recruitment blitz, unveiled by the Department of Homeland Security on July 29, 2025.

ICE is budgeting for 10,000 new agents, dangling $50,000 signing bonuses, student‑loan forgiveness, enhanced overtime pay, and upgraded retirement plans to attract recruits.

According to the press release:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today launched a new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) campaign to recruit brave and heroic Americans to join ICE as federal law enforcement agents and remove the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from America’s streets.

“Your country is calling you to serve at ICE. In the wake of the Biden administration’s failed immigration policies, your country needs dedicated men and women of ICE to get the worst of the worst criminals out of our country,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “This is a defining moment in our nation’s history. Your skills, your experience, and your courage have never been more essential. Together, we must defend the homeland.”

To support this effort, ICE is offering a robust package of federal law enforcement incentives, including: 

  • A maximum $50,000 signing bonus
  • Student loan repayment and forgiveness options
  • 25% Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) for HSI Special Agents
  • Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUI) for Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) Deportation Officers
  • Enhanced retirement benefits

Backed by significant new funding through the recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill, ICE is rolling out patriotic recruitment posters and benefits to attract the next generation of law enforcement professionals to find, arrest, and remove criminal illegal aliens.

During the Fox interview, Todd Lyons delivered the incredible news.

“We have almost 78,000 applicants since we opened up. We’re going through and finding those people who really want to serve the country and truly be in law enforcement. I think it’s a great way to recruit now.

We’re taking back our re-hired annuitants — people who left the job early because they weren’t allowed to do the law enforcement mission.

But we have so many people who are now interested in working with ICE because, under Secretary Nome’s leadership, they’re seeing that we have a viable law enforcement partner in the community. You’re actually out making a difference. We’re really ecstatic about seeing the increase in new recruits who are applying.”

WATCH:

The post Nearly 78,000 New Applicants Flood ICE Recruitment to Help Crack Down on Illegal Immigration (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Calls on Trump to Commute George Santos’ Excessive 7-Year-Sentence: ‘Some Members of Congress Who’ve Done Far Worse Still Walk Free’

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18 hours ago

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August 5, 2025

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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R‑GA) has formally thrown down the gauntlet.

On Monday, she submitted a letter to the Office of the Pardon Attorney pleading for President Trump to commute the 87-month federal sentence of ex‑Congressman George Santos (NY‑03)—a punishment she calls “a grave injustice” and emblematic of a justice system fractured by politically selective persecution.

Greene wrote on X:

“BREAKING: I just sent a letter to the Office of the Pardon Attorney urging President Trump to commute the sentence of former Congressman @MrSantosNY.

A 7‑year prison sentence for campaign‑related charges is excessive, especially when Members of Congress who’ve done far worse still walk free.

George Santos has taken responsibility. He’s shown remorse. It’s time to correct this injustice. We must demand equal justice under the law!”

Greene signed her letter Aug. 4 to Pardon Attorney Edward Martin Jr. at the Justice Department, demanding Trump use his executive power to undo what she calls a “grave injustice.”

Drawing on inside knowledge, she described Santos as “without a prior criminal record,” “sincerely remorseful,” and portrayed his case as campaign-related maleficence, nothing warranting “one of the most extreme sentences in recent history.”

Green also reminded officials of the roster of current or former lawmakers who actually broke laws or ethics rules yet never lost a day.

The letter reads:

“I am writing to request that your office urge the President to commute the sentence of former Congressman George Santos. In April 2025, Mr. Santos was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. I wholeheartedly believe in justice and the rule of the law, and I understand the gravity of such actions. However, I believe a seven-year sentence for such campaign-related matters for an individual with no prior criminal record extends far beyond what is warranted.

As a Member of Congress, I worked with Mr. Santos on many issues and can attest to his willingness and dedication to serve the people of New York who elected him to office. He committed himself to serving his constituents and did whatever it took to represent their interests in Washington, D.C. He is sincerely remorseful and has accepted full responsibility for his actions. Furthermore, my office has spoken with a pastor of his who discussed the regret and remorse of Mr. Santos, agreeing that the sentence imposed is a grave injustice.

While his crimes warrant punishment, many of my colleagues who I serve with have committed far worse offenses than Mr. Santos yet have faced zero criminal charges. I strongly believe in accountability for one’s actions, but I believe the sentencing of Mr. Santos is an abusive overreach by the judicial system.

Commuting his sentence would acknowledge the severity of his actions and simultaneously provide a path forward in allowing him to make amends for his crimes and strive to better serve the people in his community.

I respectfully request you to urge the President to commute the sentence of Mr. George Santos.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

According to the Advocate, Trump can pardon Santos, but has not been asked about it.

The Advocate reported:

“He lied like hell, and I didn’t know him,” Trump told Newsmax host Rob Finnerty during an interview at the White House. “But he was 100 percent for Trump. I might’ve met him. Maybe, maybe not, but he was a congressman and his vote was solid.”

[…]

In the Newsmax interview, Trump seemed to question the severity of Santos’s sentence. “It sounds like a lot,” he said. “Is it seven years he just went away? It’s a long time.”

Trump went on to say that while he hadn’t been approached about pardoning Santos, the door remained open. “Nobody’s talked to me about it,” he said. “They really haven’t talked to me about [Santos]. They have talked to me about Sean [Combs], but they haven’t talked to me about [George]. But again, with him, I have the right to do it. Nobody’s asked me, but it’s interesting.”

In April, U.S. District Judge Joanna Seybert sentenced Santos to 87 months in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after a guilty plea in August 2024.

Those charges stemmed from fabricating donor names, laundering campaign funds, misusing donor money, and claiming unemployment while campaigning.

Santos took to social media earlier this year to criticize the ruling and pleaded with President Trump for leniency.

He wrote:

This is the hardest statement I have ever written. I write this humbled, chastened, and fully accountable for choices that shattered the faith so many placed in me.

I betrayed the confidence entrusted to me by many. For that, I offer my deepest apology.

When I pled guilty, I did so without reservation. I said then, and I repeat now, that my conduct betrayed my supporters and diminished the institution I was privileged to serve. Those words have weighed on me every day since.

I cannot rewrite the past, but I can control the road ahead. I asked the Court for a sentence that balances accountability with the chance to prove through sustained, measurable action that I can still contribute positively to the community I wronged.

I believe that 7 years is an over the top politically influenced sentence and I implore that President Trump gives me a chance to prove I’m more than the mistakes I’ve made.

Before the sentencing, Santos had slammed federal prosecutors for going easy on violent criminals while trying to make an example out of him.

“I will however remind everyone that they want me to go to prison for 87 months while they let sex traffickers walk freely, they give drug lords slaps on the wrist and most importantly refuse to prosecute the cabal of pedophiles running around in every power structure in the world including the US Government,” he wrote on X.

The post Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Calls on Trump to Commute George Santos’ Excessive 7-Year-Sentence: ‘Some Members of Congress Who’ve Done Far Worse Still Walk Free’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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