He is the only member of . A companys registration status can be found at NFA BASIC. Securities markets may operate on Wall Street, but stocks, bonds and other securities are sold on Main Street, in our neighborhoods and even over our kitchen tables from branch offices throughout the United States. Self-directed accounts are placed with a custodian, but do not afford the same investor protections as traditional IRAs. Jeffrey S. Santulan, age 41 is a resident of Tarzana, California. Safeguard works at the direction . The SEC's complaint, which was filed in federal district court in the Central District of California, charges Safeguard and Santulan with violating the antifraud provisions of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and also charges Santulan with aiding and abetting Safeguard's violations and as a control person within the meaning of Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and a bipartisan coalition of 27 states, alleges that Safeguard Metals deceived nearly 450 investors nationwide by . Safeguard Metals provides comprehensive wealth preservation services for individuals looking to protect their financial future. "The federal securities laws prohibit deceptive conduct and material misrepresentations in the purchase or sale of securities," said Kathryn A. Pyszka, an Associate Director in the SECs Chicago Regional Office. Both actions arose out of the CFTCs information-sharing agreement with state securities regulators, through NASAA. Buckhead Tower, Suite 400 3399 Peachtree Rd. Severe Weather Alert Defendants/Respondents: Safeguard Metals, LLC; Santulan, Jeffrey aka Hill, Jeffrey. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) . We are committed to holding those accountable who undermine the investing publics trust in our commodities markets through illegal conduct., Todays action demonstrates the commitment of state and federal regulators to work together to prevent investment fraud, said Joseph P. Borg, Co-chair of NASAAs Enforcement Section and Director of the Alabama Securities Commission. Safeguard Metals LLC and its principal and owner, Jeffrey Santulan, also known as Jeffrey Hill, are charged with having engaged in ongoing fraud to solicit approximately $68 million in funds from more than 450 individuals nationwide to purchase fraudulently overpriced metals and coins from its office in Southern California. Doug has written a book to help investors understand how gold and silver fit into a diversified portfolio, how to buy gold and silver, and what metals to buy. This is one of many large-scale precious metals investment schemes weve endeavored to stop since the pandemic began. Well guide you through the process. Today roughly half of all U.S. households rely on the securities markets to plan and prepare for their . The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles federal court alleges that Safeguard Metals violated the federal Commodity Exchange Act by advising elderly "investors" to cash out their savings and retirement . 6LinkedIn 8 Email Updates. Safeguard and Santulan reportedly used false and misleading statements about the safety and liquidity of the investments, Safeguards business practices, and its compensation structure. 12. Below is information about these offers and simple ways to spot offers that could be scams. "I spoke to Mr Sonn on a complex legal matter. BBB reports on known marketplace practices. A Year of War in Ukraine. Business Consultants: Seed Capital. Safeguard and Santulan reportedly used false and misleading statements about the safety and liquidity of the investments, Safeguards business practices, and its compensation structure. We hope the message is coming across loud and clear to the precious metals industry: we will not tolerate deception and fraud in the commodities industry and are committed to holding bad actors accountable for their actions.. BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period. In addition to regulating commodities, the DFPI licenses and regulates state-chartered banks and credit unions, money transmitters, the offer and sale of securities and franchises, broker-dealers and investment advisers, nonbank installment lenders, payday lenders, mortgage lenders and servicers, escrow companies, Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program administrators, debt collectors, credit repair and consumer credit reporting companies, debt-relief companies, and more. The complaint alleges that from approximately October 2017 and continuing through at least July 2021, the defendants fraudulently solicited and received approximately $68 million in customer fundsthe majority of which was retirement savingsfrom at least 450 persons throughout the US for the purpose of purchasing precious metals, primarily consisting of gold and silver coins. These cookies do not store any personal information. Required fields are marked *. INVESTORS: The SEC charged Safeguard Metals, LLC and its owner Jeffrey Santulan for engaging in a multi-million dollar fraudulent scheme that reportedly targeted retirees. Spellane was previously employed as a salesman by TMTE Inc., a Los Angeles gold dealer that was the subject of a 2020 lawsuit from the CFTC along with 30 states, . I was unable to withdraw my funds and customer service was not responsive. INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana is one of 27 states filing a lawsuit against a California company accused of bilking elderly investors throughout the country out of nearly $70 million. . The defendants advised investors to liquidate their holdings at registered investment firms to fund investments in precious metals through self-directed individual retirement accounts. office said the Indiana victims . According to the SEC's complaint, from December 2017 through at least July 2021, Safeguard and Santulan acted as investment advisers and persuaded investors to sell their existing securities, transfer the proceeds into self-directed Individual Retirement Accounts, and invest the proceeds into gold and silver coins by making false and misleading statements about the safety and liquidity of the investors' securities investments, Safeguard's business, and its compensation. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. The complaint, filed in conjunction with the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission, seeks a permanent injunction to stop the allegedly deceptive and fraudulent practices, disgorgement, full restitution and civil monetary penalties. Attorney General Todd Rokita today filed a lawsuit with 26 other states and a federal agency against Safeguard Metals, a business that schemed to trick elderly victims into investing in wildly overvalued precious metals. Restitution is being sought through a federal lawsuit filed . Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The SEC is seeking permanent injunctions, disgorgement of allegedly ill-gotten gains, plus prejudgment interest, and civil penalties. Is Nationwide Gold and Bullion Reserve legitimate? Safeguard's website pitches the investments as a way to "hedge against uncontrolled government spending and dizzying money printing by the Federal Reserve." According to the complaint, the defendants deceived customers into purchasing precious metals through false and misleading statements, including about the risk and safety of their investments in traditional retirement accounts. These are bullion coins made by the Royal Canadian Mint and contain metal . For contact information, visit the NASAA website here. Safeguard Metals is located in . To check the status of this licensee, visit Financial Services and Mortgage Lending Licensees Search. protection metal excessive charge and Cheat markup on silver coins. Brazen attempts to target senior citizens or other vulnerable populations will not be tolerated in California, DFPI Commissioner Clothilde Hewlett said. The complaint alleges defendants operated a fraudulent precious metals investment scheme attracting more than 450 investors and $68 million nation-wide. Securities litigation attorney Scott Silver, who is representing several of Safeguard Metals' alleged victims in arbitration proceedings, is calling for regulatory reform. The SEC is seeking permanent injunctions, disgorgement of allegedly ill-gotten gains, plus prejudgment interest, and civil penalties. Idaho will continue to partner with fellow regulators to vigorously fight to protect consumers from this and other schemes to defraud," Perkins said. This joint civil enforcement action against the precious metals dealer is understood to be the second of its kind, after the CFTC and state regulators filed an action in 2020 against Metals.com and its principals, Lucas Asher and Simon Batashvili. Nationally, at least 450 investors paid . Attorney General Todd Rokita today filed a lawsuit with 26 other states and a federal agency against Safeguard Metals, a business that schemed to trick The SEC brings this lawsuit to protect the investing public and to hold defendants accountable for their misconduct. My broker is in Woodland Hills, CA 91367. Read more Contact. According to the complaint, Safeguard Metals charged an average markup of 71 percent and more recently 51 percent on the precious metals. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. I did not make it in time. In many cases, the actual market value of the precious metals purchased was substantially lower than the value of the investors retirement savings liquidated to fund their purchase. City News Service is a regional wire service covering Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties. This action to stop a large-scale precious metals scheme is the latest in an ongoing effort by state and federal regulators working cooperatively to protect investors. The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against Safeguard Metals LLC, and its owner, Jeffrey Santulan, for engaging in a multimillion dollar fraudulent scheme involving hundreds of investors who were at or near retirement age. I was sold an expensive, fabricated coin at an almost 100% commission. A complaint was filed against the . That was substantially more than the amounts the defendants represented in Safeguard Metals customer agreements. Maria Nikolova The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles federal court alleges that Safeguard Metals violated the federal Commodity Exchange Act by advising elderly "investors" to cash out their savings and. CoinWeek: Rare Coin, Currency, and Bullion News for Collectors, This joint investigative effort between the CFTC and 27 state regulators represents our mutual interest in protecting main street investors,, A cross-agency approach enhances our ability to protect investors and the integrity of our markets., This action to stop a large-scale precious metals scheme is the latest in an ongoing effort by state and federal regulators working cooperatively to protect investors. Proudly powered by WordPress Safeguard's website pitches the investments as a way to "hedge against uncontrolled government spending and dizzying money printing by the Federal Reserve." Website visitors should be aware that investment markets involve inherent risks and past performance is no guarantee of future performance. text = allPs[i].innerHTML; The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and state regulators that are members of the North American Securities Administrators Association. KIFI Local News 8 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. For more information, please read our full privacy policy. Tempe, Arizona. Safeguard Properties Safeguard Equities, Inc BRE#02112381 Real Estate Agents Safeguard Properties aka Safeguard Equities to be avoided at all costs. If you were implanted with an Exactech knee or ankle replacement insert or hip replacement liner, you may be eligible for compensation. The alleged $68 million scheme, which includes $26 million in markups alone, took place from between October 2017 through at least July 2021. Drug distributors, J&J to pay $590 mln to settle U.S. tribes' opioid claims REUTERS The lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and a bipartisan coalition of 27 states, alleges that Safeguard Metals deceived nearly 450 investors nationwide by fraudulently soliciting nearly $68 million for precious metals and misrepresenting its exorbitant fees charged to investors. Safeguard Metals, LLC | The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Safeguard Metals, LLC License or Case Number : Date of Initial Action: 02/01/22 Defendants/Respondents: Safeguard Metals, LLC; Santulan, Jeffrey aka Hill, Jeffrey Documents: 02/01/22 - Complaint (PDF) About the Licensee status In October 2020, the Department partnered with other regulators to pursue action against another precious metals dealer, TMTE Inc., also known as Metals.com, Chase Metals, and Barrick Capital. This joint investigative effort between the CFTC and 27 state regulators represents our mutual interest in protecting main street investors, said CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam. The SECs complaint alleged that between January 2017 and July 2021, Safeguard and Santulan acted as investment advisers and convinced investors to sell their existing securities, transfer the proceeds of hte sale into a self-directed Individual Retirement Account, and invest the proceeds into gold and silver coins. INVESTORS: The SEC charged Safeguard Metals, LLC and its owner Jeffrey Santulan for engaging in a multi-million dollar fraudulent scheme that reportedly targeted retirees. Safeguard Metals LLC and its principal and owner, Jeffrey Santulan, also known as Jeffrey Hill, are charged with having engaged in ongoing fraud to solicit approximately $68 million in funds from more than 450 individuals nationwide to purchase fraudulently overpriced metals and coins from its office in Southern California. 1 Twitter 2 Facebook 3RSS 4YouTube The stockbroker and investment fraud lawyers at Sonn Law Group dedicate their entire practice to protecting the interests of investors who have lost money as a result of the negligent or wrongful conduct of those entrusted with protecting and growing our money. Additionally, it charged Santulan with aiding and abetting Safeguards violations and as a control person within the meaning of Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Washington D.C., Feb. 1, 2022 . In a simultaneous filing, the SEC commenced a suit against Safeguard Metals LLC and Jeffrey Santulan for violations arising from the fraudulent precious metals scheme and exorbitantly priced silver coins and for rendering unlawful investment advice. Indiana Attorney. Investors are advised to check the registration of all investment products and professionals, and ask tough questions about fees, markups, risks, and potential returns. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has joined a lawsuit with 26 other states and a federal agency against Safeguard Metals, a business accused of scheming to trick seniors into investing in "wildly overvalued precious metals," according to a statement released by the AG's Office on Tuesday, Feb. 1. This business is in an industry that may require professional licensing, bonding or registration. Safeguard Metals continued charging customers a markup on Silver Coins that still exceeded the maximum possible markup disclosed to customers by nearly 10% on average. . As the complaint alleges, to perpetuate their fraud, when questioned by customers about the value of the precious metals they purchased, the defendants claimed the silver coins were rare and carried a premium far above the base melt value to conceal their fraud and hide that customers significantly overpaid for their investments. The DFPI encourages consumers who have experienced unfair, unlawful, deceptive, and abusive practices from a financial service provider to file a complaint with the Department online: https://dfpi.ca.gov/file-a-complaint/. The lawsuit which includes the state of California among plaintiffs alleges that Safeguard Metals used false statements on its website, inflating its assets by billions and using fear tactics to motivate senior citizens to purchase the precious metals. 5, Report #1509255. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. In the end, nearly every customer suffered an immediate loss of their investment on the purchase of precious metals from Safeguard Metals. The complaint alleges Safeguard Metals, LLC promoted precious metals at grossly inflated prices. He was direct and asked all the questions that were relevant and provided me with very thoughtful feedback and some useful contacts. The markup that customers paid on silver coins, for example, averaged from 51 percent to over 70 percent. allPs[i].innerHTML = text; At least 16 Indiana residents invested a total of more than $860,000 into silver coins and other products offered by Safeguard Metals. The man that opened my account has been fired.Now I can't get anyone to return my calls.The only thing I get is a bill for services.Yesterday I left 7 voice mails.Last week 5 voice mails.Still no return call. Safeguard Metals is located in Woodland Hills, California, and Jeffrey Santulan resides in Tarzana, California. A cross-agency approach enhances our ability to protect investors and the integrity of our markets.. Thus, all the compensation awarded goes to the new plaintiff. 1, Report #1485959. text = text.replace("https://docqnet.dfpi.ca.gov/LicenseSearch","https://portal.dfpi.ca.gov/csp?id=ssp_license_search"); February 4, 2022 0 Attorney General Todd Rokita today filed a lawsuit with 26 other states and a federal agency against Safeguard Metals, a business that schemed to trick elderly victims into investing in wildly overvalued precious metals. Monsanto has not acknowledged any contingent liability but has agreed to pay $39.5 million to settle the lawsuit in court. Who are the top 5 gold producing countries. 06:39 PM. The complaint alleges that from approximately October 2017 and continuing through at least July 2021, the defendants fraudulently solicited and received approximately $68 million in customer fundsthe majority of which was retirement savingsfrom at least 450 persons throughout the U.S. for the purpose of purchasing precious metals, primarily consisting of gold and silver coins. The markup that customers paid on silver coins, for example, averaged from 51 percent to over 70 percent. His demeanor was professional and pleasant and I would not hesitate to use him in future matters. STAY CONNECTED Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Do THIS Or Pledge Your Retirement To The Democrats, ALERT: Secret IRS Loophole May Change Your Life. According to the SECs complaint, from December 2017 through at least July 2021, Safeguard and Santulan acted as investment advisers and persuaded investors to sell their existing securities, transfer the proceeds into self-directed Individual Retirement Accounts, and invest the proceeds into gold and silver coins by making false and misleading statements about the safety and liquidity of the investors securities investments, Safeguards business, and its compensation. The suit alleges that the company and its owner misrepresented their credentials and advised customers that the precious metals were a safe and conservative investment, compared to traditional retirement accounts that sales associates acting at the direction of the company claimed individuals could be frozen out of if the stock market were to crash. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. The lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and a bipartisan coalition of 27 states, alleges that Safeguard Metals deceived nearly 450 investors nationwide by fraudulently soliciting nearly $68 million for precious metals and misrepresenting its exorbitant fees charged to investors. The lawsuit alleges the company and its owner misrepresented their credentials and advised customers that the precious metals were a safe and conservative investment, compared to traditional retirement accounts that sales associates acting at the direction of the company claimed individuals could be frozen out of if the stock market were to crash. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a civil enforcement action against the same defendants alleging violations of federal Securities Laws. For a free consultation, please call us now at. Help us improve the DFPI website! The SECs complaint alleged that between January 2017 and July 2021, Safeguard and Santulan acted as investment advisers and convinced investors to sell their existing securities, transfer the proceeds of hte sale into a self-directed Individual Retirement Account, and invest the proceeds into gold and silver coins. Your email address will not be published. var text; The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against Safeguard Metals LLC, and its owner, Jeffrey Santulan, for engaging in a multi-million dollar fraudulent scheme involving hundreds of investors who were at or near retirement age. SGM's services and products are for investment purposes only. Safeguard Metals also fraudulently induced some customers to make purchases through cash and credit sales. . There are two types of toxic food lawsuits that parents most commonly face: negligence in manufacturing and negligence in creating instructions for use. The lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and a bipartisan coalition of 27 states, alleges that Safeguard Metals deceived nearly 450 investors nationwide by fraudulently soliciting nearly $68 million for precious metals and misrepresenting its exorbitant fees charged to investors. 2023, International Association of Better Business Bureaus, Inc., separately incorporated Better Business Bureau organizations in the US, Canada and Mexico and BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, Inc. All rights reserved. The CFTC Division of Enforcement staff members responsible for this action are Steve Turley, Clemon Ashley, Jeff Le Riche, Christopher Reed, and Charles Marvine; in partnership with enforcement authorities from NASAA member agencies, led by the Alabama Securities Commission and the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and 27 state securities regulatory agencies that are members of the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) announced the filing of a joint civil enforcement action in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against a precious metals dealer and its owner for orchestrating a $68 million fraudulent scheme targeting elderly persons nationwide. Updated at 2:49 pm on February 2, 2022 Attorney General Todd Rokita today filed a lawsuit with 26 other states and a federal agency against Safeguard Metals, a business that schemed to trick elderly victims into investing in wildly overvalued precious metals. We provide detailed analysis for Gold IRAs and Silver IRAs. The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles federal court alleges that Safeguard Metals violated the federal Commodity Exchange Act by advising elderly "investors" to cash out their savings and . The CFTC has issued several customer protection Fraud Advisories that provide the warning signs of fraud, including the Precious Metals Fraud Advisory, which alerts customers to precious metals fraud and lists simple ways to spot precious metals scams. It is the mission of PNG- Accredited Precious Metals Dealer (APMD) program to instill confidence among retail buyers in the precious metals marketplace by adhering to strict guidelines for. Author: ED Magedson - Founder, Ripoff Report. City, State. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. To learn more about Safeguard Metals and the asset preservation services we provide, contact us today! In fact, the silver coins were significantly less valuable than the defendants claimed, based on the resale prices the firm marketed and promoted. How many pounds does a kilo of silver weigh? BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. Criminal cases involve acts that are considered prejudicial to the tradition as a whole (thus they are generally considered crimes against the state or against the jurisdiction of the competent prosecutor). Summerlin, Nevada. The Roundup class action lawsuit alleged that Monsanto mislabeled certain products on the grounds that Roundup Weed & Grass Killer only targets fermented plants and not just humans or pets. | A favorable court ruling on behalf of a client who suffered losses in a leveraged precious metals investment scheme will proceed against the solicitor. I was recently scammed by a scam agency but Metals Safeguard is 100% legit. Exactech Recall Lawsuit in Lisbon, IL. Address: 21550 Oxnard St FL 3 Woodland Hills, CA, 91367-7105 United States Phone: Website: www.safeguardmetals.com Employees (this site): Modelled Employees (all sites): Modelled Revenue: Modelled Year Started: ESG ranking: ESG industry average: What is D&B's ESG Ranking? Safeguard Metals is believed to be an offshoot of another company that was shut down several years earlier in Texas, and a successful Safeguard Metals broker opened his own shop recently to. Acetabular metal shell (this is the metal "socket" that goes into your native hip socket) Acetabular liner (plastic / polyethylene) liner (the cushion that . A class action lawsuit occurs when a group of people can sue the same company over the same source of damage, almost always a defective product. 2023 DISCLAIMER: All content within CoinWeek.com is presented for informational purposes only, with no guarantee of accuracy. The SECs complaint, which was filed in federal district court in Los Angeles, Calif., charges Safeguard and Santulan with violating the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. Benefits Opted: - As Errors and Omissions Insurance Plan can be customized as per the needs of the business, therefore, if a policy-seeker opts for wider benefits and coverage, he/she has to pay a higher premium amount to avail of the benefits and facilities. The lawsuit alleges that Safeguard Metals, LLC and Jeffery Santulan, aka Jeffery Hill, solicited investors by targeting seniors through social media platforms and websites linked to media . Safeguard Metals steered over 97 percent of its sales from mostly inexperienced investors into overpriced silver coins which had significantly higher markups than gold coins. The lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and a bipartisan coalition of 27 states, alleges that Safeguard Metals deceived nearly 450 investors nationwide by . 165 Broadway 23rd Floor New York City NY, 10006 *by appointment only. In this case, it was silver coins. The following NASAA state regulatory agencies are CFTCs co-plaintiffs in todays action and the CFTC thanks them for their cooperation: Alabama Securities Commission; Arizona Corporation Commission; Arkansas Securities Department; California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation; State of Connecticut Department of Banking; State of Florida, Office of Financial Regulation; State of Hawaii, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Idaho Department of Finance; Office of the Secretary of State, Illinois Securities Department; Indiana Securities Division; Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions; State of Maryland Ex Rel the Maryland Securities Commissioner; Attorney General Dana Nessel on Behalf of the People of the State of Michigan; Mississippi Secretary of State; Missouri Commissioner of Securities; Nebraska Department of Banking & Finance; New Mexico Securities Division; The People of the State of New York by Letitia James, Attorney General of the State of New York; North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State; Oklahoma Department of Securities; Oregon Department of Business and Consumer Services; South Carolina Attorney General; South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation; Commissioner of the Tennessee Securities Department of Commerce and Insurance; Vermont Department of Financial Regulation; Washington State Department of Financial Institutions; and the State of Wisconsin. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The lawsuit alleges that Safeguard Metals used false statements on its website, inflating its assets by billions and using fear tactics to motivate senior citizens to purchase the precious metals. I thought I was buying silver at spot plus a 12% commission. On February 1, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission" or "SEC" or "Plaintiff"), represented by Amy J. Longo, Jedediah B. Forkner and Jonathan S. Polish, attorneys at the SEC's Los Angeles regional office, filed a civil enforcement action against Safeguard Metals LLC and Jeffrey S. Santulan ("Defendants"), seeking injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten . 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