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Dozens of Hanford residents tell council they were scammed by local money‑transfer business
Summary
During public comment more than a dozen residents described losing funds to a local money‑transfer business (named in comments as Kahita Mex/TeleMx) and asked the council to pursue administrative hearings, business‑license review and coordination with detectives; police confirmed a multi‑victim investigation is underway.
Hanford — Dozens of residents used public comment at the Dec. 2 council meeting to describe a coordinated fraud scheme tied to a local money‑transfer business and to ask the city and police for help recovering funds and preventing future losses.
Bob Ramos opened public comment by criticizing the council’s process on a separate earlier agenda item, then residents described a pattern of money transfers that never reached recipients. Multiple speakers identified the business as Kahita Mex (also referenced as TeleMx), said they had collectively filed police reports (speakers referred to roughly 100 reports) and requested administrative‑hearing review of the business license and stronger city follow‑up.
"They took their money and basically ran," a speaker said, summarizing victims’ grievances and describing losses ranging from a few thousand dollars to more significant sums.
Police Chief Huddleston told council the department is aware of the crime and that detectives are actively investigating. He said he could not discuss investigative details publicly but asked victims to contact Detective Pacheco as a point of contact for updates.
Speakers said they had contacted state and federal agencies, including the FBI and the Better Business Bureau. City staff and council members expressed sympathy and asked police to continue criminal investigation and to coordinate with business‑licensing staff to determine any administrative remedies.
There was no formal council action recorded on the item during the meeting; staff and the police department were asked to continue their work and report back as appropriate.
