Bethesda Archives - Page 180 of 277

Murder Suspect Awaiting Extradition to United States in Connection With 2012 Death of Bethesda Woman

Published December 23, 2022 at 1:00PM

Per MCPD: After twelve years on the run, murder fugitive Jorge Rueda Landeros has been arrested in Mexico and charged in connection to the 2010 murder of a Bethesda woman. On Monday, October 25, 2010, Sue Marcum was found dead in her Bethesda home. Through the course of the investigation, detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division determined that Rueda Landeros had a personal and financial relationship with Marcum and was allegedly involved in her murder. Following the homicide, he fled to Mexico, or Central America.

In December 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office received information that Rueda Landeros was likely living in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

Potomac Businessman and Former Harvard Fencing Coach Acquitted of Bribery Charges

By MCS Staff

Published December 23, 2022 at 10:45AM

A former Harvard fencing coach (Peter Brand, 67) , and a Potomac businessman (Jie “Jack” Zhao, 61) were found not guilty of conspiracy and bribery in a scheme the government claimed involved $1.5 million in payments to the coach in order to get Zhao’s two sons into Harvard.

Prosecutors alleged that Zhao made $1.5 million in payments to Brand. They alleged Zhao paid for Brand’s car, made college tuition payments for Brand’s son, paid the mortgage on Brand’s Needham residence, and later purchased the residence for well above its market value, thus allowing Brand to purchase a more expensive residence in Cambridge that Zhao then paid to renovate. The defense argued that Zhao’s sons didn’t need any help getting into Harvard, and that the payments were loans that Zhao made to Brand because they were close friends. Jurors were shown checks supporting the defense’s claim that Brand repaid the loans with an inheritance he received after his mother’s death last year.

ZBounce Reopens in Montgomery Mall

By Patrick Herron

Published December 23, 2022 at 10:36AM

ZBounce/ZPlanet has recently reopened inside of Montgomery Mall. The indoor play space/amusement park was previously located in the mall near Macy’s and is now located across from Forever 21. ZBounce describes itself as “the Ultimate Kids Fun Center in the mall” with inflatable slides, bounce houses, and bumper cars. ZBounce has a additional nearby locations at the Clarksburg Outlets and inside of Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg. Photo courtesy of www.zbouncefun.com.

☎️ (734) 347-2354

Two Biotech Company Presidents Indicted for Securities Fraud Schemes

By MCS Staff

Published December 21, 2022 at 7:57AM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Nader Pourhassan, age 59 of Lake Oswego, Oregon, and Kazem Kazempour, age 69, of Potomac Maryland, for their roles in schemes to defraud investors in CytoDyn Inc., a publicly traded biotechnology company based in Vancouver, Washington. Pourhassan was CytoDyn’s president and CEO at the time of the alleged fraud. Kazempour is the co-founder, president, and CEP of Amarex Clinical Research LLC (Amarex), a private company with offices in Germantown, Maryland, that managed CytoDyn’s clinical trials. The indictment was returned on December 15, 2022, and unsealed today upon the arrests of the defendants.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Assistant Commissioner Catherine A. Hermsen of the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI); Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division.

Governor Hogan Tours New Marriott International Headquarters in Bethesda

By Patrick Herron

Published December 21, 2022 at 12:18AM

In October 2016, following discussions with the state and Montgomery County, Marriott announced plans to stay in Maryland and move from its Fernwood Road headquarters to the new location in downtown Bethesda, a 21-story headquarters home to corporate associates supporting over 8,100 hotels in 139 countries and territories around the world. Governor Hogan took part in the groundbreaking for the site in 2018.

Earlier this year, Governor Larry Hogan and Lt. Governor Boyd K. Rutherford celebrated the opening of Marriott International’s new global headquarters with citation presentations at JW Marriott Seoul during a celebration of the grand opening and at the company’s ribbon cutting ceremony in Bethesda. Marriott’s new headquarters includes 20,000 square feet of collaborative workspace, over 2,800 workspaces, 180 conference rooms, and is within close proximity to the Bethesda Metro Station, Capital Crescent Bike Trail, and multiple bus routes.

(Located) Detectives From Special Investigations Unit are Asking For Public’s Assistance in Locating Missing 17-Year Old

By Patrick Herron

Published December 20, 2022 at 10:59PM | Updated December 20, 2022 at 11:42PM

Auffret is approximately 5-feet, 10-inches tall and weighs 150 lbs. He has brown hair and green eyes. He was last seen carrying a light blue backpack and wearing a black sweatshirt and black pants. He may also be wearing a bright green LLBean winter jacket and driving a beige 1999 Toyota Camry bearing Maryland registration plates 2ELM13. Police and family are concerned for his welfare.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Ronan Auffret is asked to call the police non-emergency number at (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line) or the Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5400. Callers may remain anonymous.

MCPS: Students Lead a Panel and Activities to Address Gaslighting

By MCS Staff

Published December 20, 2022 at 4:43PM

Per MCPS: Students at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School (BCC) took the initiative to organize, over the period of two months, lectures, performances, and panel discussions to unwrap the effects of gaslighting in their school and their communities (video available here).

“It’s important for the school system to address gaslighting because their students, whether we like it or not, are facing gaslighting through parental figures, teachers, even their colleagues, and their peers,” BCC student Jeremy said.

BGR in Bethesda Has Closed

By Patrick Herron

Published December 20, 2022 at 12:52PM | Updated December 20, 2022 at 2:41PM

BGR, which stands for “Burgers Grilled Right,” at 4827 Fairmont Ave in Bethesda has closed. This was BGR’s original location and had been open since 2008. According to signage on […]

Sprinkles in Potomac is Available To Purchase For $850K

By MCS Staff

Published December 20, 2022 at 10:35AM

Popular Potomac dessert spot, Sprinkles, is available for sale, according to a listing in BizBuySell. The 34-year-old family owned ice cream store and bakery can be bought for $850,000. The shop located in the Potomac Village shopping center and is described as being approximately 600-700SF. All assets will transfer with sale– including existing inventory, ice cream and frozen yogurt machines, bakery oven and equipment etc. Additional information, per the listing:

Imagination Stage’s ‘Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: the Rock Experience’ Runs Through January 8

By Patrick Herron

Published December 20, 2022 at 9:49AM

Per Imagination Stage: Imagination Stage™, the metro DC region’s largest professional theatre for children, continues the run of its hit rock musical Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: the Rock Experience during the winter holiday week, with many matinees from December 26-December 31. The show is based on Mo Willems’ best-selling 2009 picture book Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed and is best for ages 4+.

To dress or not to dress, that is the question for the naked mole rat colony when clothes suddenly fall from the sky. Through a series of witty, silly, tuneful rock songs–sung and played by a live band–the colony opts for tolerance, letting each mole choose whether to dress or remain unclothed. How do they celebrate? With a naked mole rat fashion how!

MCPS: Bethesda-Chevy Chase Students Held Panel on Gaslighting (Video)

By MCS Staff

Published December 20, 2022 at 8:44AM

Students at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School took the initiative to organize, over the period of 2 months, lectures, performances and panel discussions to unwrap the effects of gaslighting in their school and their communities at large. A video highlighting the event can be seen below: