From fresnobee.com:
Forty officials from local, state and federal agencies served four search warrants at 7 a.m. today at the Sport Zone, Echo Food and Entertainment and Kids Foundation at Granite Park, and also an undisclosed location, for possible insurance fraud and other crimes, said Jason Kimbrough, spokesman for the California Department of Insurance.
The agencies involved are the Department of Insurance, Fresno police, the IRS and area district attorney's offices, he said.Kimbrough would not provide any details as to the type of fraud officials are alleging.
Investigators are inside the The Public House and the Red restaurant, which is under construction, right now. Yellow tape has been strung around The Public House.
Both Milt Barbis and Kirk Vartanian, who are investors in the development, have been contacted but are not named on the search warrants, Kimbrough said. The search warrants have been filed in the Fresno County Courthouse and will be made public in 11 days.Kimbrough said he did not know if the Public House will be open for business today. Kimbrough also said no arrests are expected today.
Meanwhile, Twitter tells me that if you're looking to drop $100 on tickets to see Kim Kardashian at The Edge they can currently be purchased at Belana.
photo: Eric Paul Zamora / The Fresno Bee
All of this is so full of fail that it has now become a win.
Rumor has it the Edge grand opening tix are on sale at 50% off, which is its very own comedy.
Man, all this drama and sneaky-business when, as said by many folks here on the Beehive, folks just want to have a semi-interesting place, some tasty food at reasonable prices. Problem is, when we hope for it from shananigan-ey folks I guess.
...rap song?
-heck this thing has 'rogue show' written all over it...
-maybe even 'ABC AfterSchool Special' (or Movie of the Week.)
(wonder which VanHagar song they're gonna use for the Cabo weeks,
-'n how many banjo playin' albinos they're gonna have for the 'whiskey-barrel-barrel-whatever' days, er, minutes...)
Startin' to think them raw oysters got the best deal of anyone.
If you only knew the half of what went down here. Believe me there will be a movie. At the least a top selling book.
I wonder what's going to happen to all those $40,000 bottles of bubbly? i sure would hate to think they are going to waste.
Not like they wouldn't have anyway...
Fresno's Xanadu will never be complete and no one will shed a tear. Rather, I raise my cup wholeheartedly to those who legitimately run a local business that adds value to Fresno and it's community. "We don't need no water..."
wow... how incredibly sad.... patheticly sad.
will somenone write a rap or song about this already?
please.......
So how long before one of these "developers" is found dead like the guy from Running Horse? I'm just saying cause that's usually how these shady deals end.
Hmm. I hate to say I told you so, but man it feels so good, so, I told you so. Remember when I said I'd get you in the end. Get ready to here a lot of that again. Don't drop the soap. There's a lot more to come. Stay tuned Oz. Heck if I were you I'd post up at The Public House or at Milt's house to see some more action. This scum bag has ruined so many peoples lives and has no remorse. Vindication is coming for all of us, yes I said all of US. There was no coincidence in the raid and the thunderstorms that hit today. This is a sign, Milt, and don't think I'd forget about you Howie. Yes, your day will come as well.
What happened to the reporter that did the story on the new investor, Howard Young, at The Public HOuse?? Man I told you so too, wherever you are.
Anyway, I just had to throw that in there. It's just frustrating when people are too ignorant to hear the truth and get sucked into corrupt peoples lies and deceptions. Especially when there were sooo many people reporting about how corrupt Milt is.
I'm a little tired from the celebration we had this evening all thanks to the 40 officers down at Granite Park and Milty's house. So, I'll leave you with a few more things to think about before my next comment.
Insurance fraud-solid
tax evasion-solid
Alcohol Beverage Control violations-solid
hiding funds-solid
purposely writing bad checks-solid
no intention of ever paying back loans-SOLID
Keep watching the news there is a lot more to come....
so that means for the media, stay alert. I'll give you a heads up
and milt, don't go running off to Disneyland. Mickey will kick your butt.
it was funny watching the news last night when they interviewed the new investor. he said all this happened before i got involved haha. way to back up milt there buddy.