News
96-year-old widow from Montecito killed in elaborate fraud scheme and murder-for-hire plot
The death of 96-year-old Montecito widow Violet Evelyn Alberts has shocked the community, as detectives have uncovered a complex fraud scheme that ultimately led to a murder-for-hire plot targeting the elderly woman. Nearly two years after her death, Santa Barbara County sheriff’s detectives have made significant progress in solving the case that initially appeared to be a baffling mystery.
Pauline Macareno, a 48-year-old woman who posed as a real estate agent, was arrested in June 2022 on suspicion of elder abuse and fraud. However, further investigation led Sheriff Bill Brown to describe the case as a “particularly heinous case of murder.” Macareno allegedly used forged documents and fraudulent entities to gain control of Alberts’ finances and home in Montecito, with the intention of acquiring the property through nefarious means.
It was revealed that Alberts, despite her age, was active in her community and known for her warm personality. However, financial troubles had led her to seek assistance with managing her affairs. This is when she crossed paths with Macareno, who devised a scheme to exploit Alberts for personal gain. Tragically, Alberts was found dead in her home on May 27, 2022, a victim of asphyxiation with signs of forced entry.
The investigation into Alberts’ death exposed a tangled web of financial exploitation, leading to the arrests of three additional suspects in connection with the murder-for-hire plot. Harry Basmadjian, Henry Rostomyan, and Ricardo MartinDelCampo were implicated in the scheme, with Rostomyan and MartinDelCampo allegedly traveling to Montecito to survey Alberts’ home. Both men are currently being held in Santa Barbara County jail on charges of murder and conspiracy to murder, while Basmadjian was in federal custody at the time of his arrest.
Sheriff Brown declined to disclose how Macareno had come into contact with the other suspects but emphasized that the investigation revealed a level of premeditation and planning in Alberts’ killing. The case is still under review, and additional charges against Macareno may be forthcoming as authorities continue to unravel the layers of deception and betrayal that led to the tragic death of an elderly widow.
The community of Montecito mourns the loss of Violet Evelyn Alberts, a beloved figure whose life was cut short by greed and malice. As the investigation into her death unfolds, residents grapple with the unsettling realization that even the most vulnerable among us are not immune to the dangers of fraud and manipulation. In the memory of Violet Evelyn Alberts, may justice be served and her legacy be one of resilience and strength in the face of adversity.
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News
Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.
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