Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, December 18, 2021

Mountain View News Saturday, December 18, 2021 
6 ALTADENA-SO. PASADENA-SAN MARINOALTADENA-SO. PASADENA-SAN MARINO Mountain View News Saturday, December 18, 2021 
6 ALTADENA-SO. PASADENA-SAN MARINOALTADENA-SO. PASADENA-SAN MARINO 
SOUTH PASADENA HIRES SAN MARINO EMPLOYEES Man Pleads Guilty to FraudTWO NEW PUBLIC WORKS OF THE YEAR RECOGNIZED Charge for $8.3 Million Scam 

LEADERS

 The City of South Pasadena is announced Thursday the 

appointment of Ted Gerber as the City’s permanent Public 
Works Director and 
Arpy Kasparian as our 
new Environmental 
Sustainability Manager 
(effective immediately). 


Gerber (left) is a licensed 
professional engineer, with 
over 17 years of experience 
in the utility industry. 
He has worked in both 
the private and public 
sectors throughout the 
Southwest U.S. in the areas 
of engineering planning, 
construction, project and 
asset management, and 
environmental compliance. 
Ted has a bachelor’s degree 
in mechanical engineering 
and a bachelor’s degree in 
computer science from the 
State University of New York 
at Buffalo, and holds multiple 
professional accreditations 
including certifications 
with the State Water Board 
and the Association for 
Materials Protection and 
Performance. He is currently 
pursuing a master’s degree in 
environmental law and policy 
at the University of Arizona. 
Ted lives in Los Angeles with 
his wife, Deborah, and their 
rescue dog. He is excited to 
continue collaborating with the 
community of South Pasadena

 Kasparian (right) has served as 
the City’s Water Conservation 
and Sustainability Analyst since 2019. She hit the ground running 
as soon as she started and managed the development of the City’s 
first Climate Action Plan and created the South Pasadena Green 
Action Plan. In addition to implementing these plans, she is the 
NREC staff liaison, manages the City’s water conservation rebate 
program, and is working on the gas-powered leaf blower ban, 
as well as the new organic waste recycling requirements. Arpyholds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies with minors 
in Global Sustainability and Management from UC Irvine and a 
Master of Science in Regenerative Studies from Cal Poly Pomona. 


She is excited to continue to push the City towards carbon 
neutrality and zero waste, and to foster a community that cares 
for their environment. 


Every year, the City of San Marino recognizes an employee 
that has gone above and beyond in serving the community. 
This year, we had not one, but three employees that we felt 
were deserving.

 Community Services Director, Cathi Johnson, shared: 
“This immensely talented trio of recreation professionals – 
Angie Padilla, Eddie Covarrubias, and Victoria Marshall, 
are well-deserving of the 2021 City of San Marino 
Employees of the Year Award. Their professionalism 
and commitment to community-driven programming is 
second to none. Most importantly, our residents/families 
are reaping the benefits of this team’s ability to consistentlydeliver safe, creative, quality-of-life programming and 
events for all ages.” 

San Marino FD Responds to

Significant Traffic Incident


On Sunday, December 
12 the San Marino Fire 
Department responded to a 
traffic collision/rescue at the 
intersection of Huntington 
Drive and Westhaven Road. 
A solo vehicle rollover had 
occurred, and the occupants 

required extrication bySan Marino firefighter 
personnel. San Marino 
paramedics assessed the 
car’s occupants for injuries. 
One patient was transported 
to a local area hospital for 
further treatment. 

Co-founder of, 
Pasadena Based, The 
Minerals AcquisitionCompany claimed 
precious metals could 
be extracted from 
‘Ancient Slag.’

 A Pasadena business 
owner and resident of 
Eagle Rock pleaded guiltyThursday to defrauding 
more than 100 investors 
out of approximately $8.3million through a scheme 
that sold “ancient slag,” a 
mining waste byproduct 
that supposedly contained 
precious metals.

 Michael Godfree, 80, 
pleaded guilty to one count 
of mail fraud. 

According to his plea 
agreement, from 2011 to 
November 2017, Godfree 
schemed to defraud victim-
purchasers of material he 
identified as “ancient slag 
and “gold ore.” 

Godfree was co-founder 
of The Minerals Acquisition 
Company (TMAC), a 
Pasadena-based outfit that 
offered to sell slag to victims 
who were told the company 
would be able to extract 
precious metals from this 
slag, which was generated 
from copper mining. 
TMAC sold ton-quantities 
of the slag with promises 
of refining the material and 
recovering precious metals. 
TMAC provided victims 
with supposedly attorney-
certified “Certificates of 
Title” that purported to 
transfer ownership of the 

slag to victims.

 Godfree fraudulentlyinduced the victims to 
buy the “ancient slag” byfalsely representing and 
promising that the “ancient 
slag” TMAC was selling 
was valuable because it 
contained precious metals 
and a process would soon be 
finalized and available that 
could extract the precious 
metals supposedly in the 
slag.

According to officials,
Godfree and TMAC did not 
actually own most of the slag 
they sold, there was not a 
commercially viable process 
for extracting precious 
metals from the slag, and the 
business operation had not 
been endorsed by a lawyer.

Acting on Godfree’s false 
promises, victims sent the 
company money by mailing 
checks to the TMAC offices 
in Pasadena and by wiring 
money to accounts that 
Godfree controlled. Godfree 
used the funds to pay for his 
personal expenses.

In total, Godfree caused 
losses of approximately$8,336,965 to his victims.

 TMAC was dissolved in 
2015, but its operations 
were largely taken over byPrecious Metals of North 
America Inc., another of 
Godfree’s companies.

 United States District 
Judge John A. Kronstadt 
has scheduled a May 12, 
2022 sentencing hearing, 
at which time Godfree will 
face a statutory maximum 
sentence of 20 years in 
federal prison.

 The FBI investigated this 
matter according to the 
Department of Justice. 

ARCADIA/MONROVIA-DUARTEARCADIA/MONROVIA-DUARTE 
DUARTE CITY COUNCIL FILLS DISTRICT 6 
VACANCY AND SELECTS NEW MAYOR AND 
MAYOR PRO TEM 

At a Special Meeting of the Duarte City Council on Tuesday, December 14, the Council interviewed 
and appointed a new Councilmember for District 6, then at their Regular meeting on the 
same night, hosted its annual reorganization to select a new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. 

The City Council selected Margaret Finlay, District 4, to represent Duarte as Mayor and Tzeitel 
Paras-Caracci, District 1, as Mayor Pro Tem. Margaret Finlay previously served six terms as 
Mayor. 

“As we approach the end of 2021, we must acknowledge how far we’ve come as a community 
weathering two years of uncertainties,” stated Mayor Finlay. “It is my honor to again serve Duarte 
as mayor. I’m hopeful for an exciting 2022 and some light at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic 
tunnel.” 

The Council unanimously appointed Cesar Garcia to fill the vacant District 6 City Council seat. 
He was sworn into office immediately after the appointment. The position was left vacant following 
the unexpected passing of Councilmember Bryan Urias. The City held an open application 
process for any registered voter in Duarte to apply for the District 6 seat. 

“Cesar Garcia is a longtime Duarte resident who is deeply committed to our community,” said 
Mayor Pro Tem Paras-Caracci. “His appointment ensures residents are well represented through 
the November 2022 election.” 

Cesar Garcia and his family have called Duarte home for over 27 years. Garcia attended Duarte 
schools from kindergarten through high school. As a proud Duarte Falcon, Garcia’s experience 
inspired him to give back to his community through public service. 

“Although I am joining the City Council during a solemn time for Duarte with the loss of Councilmember 
Urias, I hope to uplift my community through City programs that have given so 
much to me and my family,” said Councilmember Garcia. “My focus is strengthening City partnerships 
and increasing programs and resources for Duarte residents.” 

Councilmember Garcia highlights Measure D as an example of the Duarte community coming 
together to responsibly budget and develop the City’s infrastructure and public resources 
through the unprecedented events of the COVID-19 pandemic. His 2018 campaign slogan, “We 
are all one community,” rings true today as the Councilmember commits to serving his hometown 
through his new role. His initial goals include supporting youth and family programs, of 
which he is a direct product, as well as public safety initiatives and local businesses. 

At the reorganization meeting, City Manager Dan Jordan administered the Oath of Office to the 
incoming Councilmember. 

For additional information about the Duarte City Council, please visit the Duarte City website 
or contact the Office of the City Manager at (626) 357-7931. 

Caption: Oath of Office: Mr. Garcia (Left) is Sworn in By City Manager Dan Jordan (Right) 


Catch breaking news at:
mtnviewsnews.com
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 
Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com