PHOENIX — From a woman sentenced for an IRS fraud conspiracy to an endangered desert pupfish returning to Ayer Lake, here are some of the Valley’s top news stories from April 4-6.
Texas woman sentenced for IRS fraud conspiracy involving Arizona tax firm
A Texas woman has been sentenced to 1 year and 9 months in prison for defrauding the IRS in a scheme that targeted an Arizona tax firm, authorities said.
The sentencing of 53-year-old Jackie Marie Peters took place after she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
Her co-conspirators hacked into an Arizona tax preparer firm’s computer network from January 2020 to April 2022 to commit the fraud, prosecutors said.
UFC fighter Henry Cejudo helps stop suspect who crashed car into Phoenix home
Henry Cejudo, a UFC fighter and former double-champion out of Phoenix, helped detain a man who crashed into a central Phoenix home on Friday night.
Phoenix police responded to a crash at a home near State Route 51 and Bethany Home Road around 8:15 p.m., according to authorities.
Angel Cota, 22, allegedly crashed his car into the home and tried to flee the scene before a confrontation with the homeowner took place. Cota allegedly punched the 65-year-old homeowner multiple times, and that’s when Cejudo said he was able to step in and help his neighbor.
24-year-old Phoenix man dies after driving head-on into semi-truck
A Phoenix man is dead after driving head-on into a semi-truck on Saturday morning, according to authorities.
The Phoenix Police Department responded to a crash involving a semi-truck and a vehicle at 43rd Avenue and Roosevelt Street around 3:10 a.m.
Officers found the man, 24-year-old Aaron Williams, involved in the collision and took him to a local hospital. He did not survive his injuries.
Deadly crash closes south Phoenix freeway early Sunday morning
A driver was killed in a crash overnight that left the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway closed early Sunday morning, authorities said.
Just before 2 a.m., a black vehicle was travelling in the right emergency shoulder when it sideswiped a red vehicle, according to the Department of Public Safety.
The driver of the black vehicle allegedly lost control, colliding with the median barrier wall. They were transported to a nearby hospital where they were pronounced dead.
Endangered desert pupfish return to Ayer Lake at Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Over 450 desert pupfish have been successfully returned to their home in Ayer Lake, according to a Wednesday announcement from the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD).
The desert pupfish were originally extracted from Ayer Lake, which is around 100 miles east of Phoenix in the town of Superior, due to a repair project. The lake is part of Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden.
Authorities needed to drain the lake, which has served as a critical refuge site for Arizona’s native fish populations for decades, for dam repairs.
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