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Criminal Law News

May 09, 2008

FORMER TALK RADIO HOST PLEADS GUILTY TO DISTRIBUTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

WASHINGTON – Bernard V. Ward, 57, a San Francisco resident who previously worked as a radio station talk show host, entered a guilty plea today in federal court in San Francisco to one count of distributing child pornography via the Internet, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today.

May 08, 2008

BISHOP BANKER ARRESTED FOR EMBEZZLING MORE THAN $750,000 FROM WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK

FRESNO, Calif.—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that JO ANN BARBA, 42, of Bishop, Calif., has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bank embezzlement on March 27, 2008. She was arrested on the charges May 5, 2008.

May 07, 2008

State Agents Bust Doctor For Homicide Following Pharmaceutical Investigation

NOTE TO EDITORS: Dr. Wesley Albert was booked this morning on second degree murder for violating Penal Code Section 187(a). Our earlier report of a PC 192(a) involuntary manslaughter charge was incorrect.

May 06, 2008

ORANGE COUNTY MAN ARRESTED IN $25 MILLION PONZI THAT TARGETED CHRISTIAN INVESTORS

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Mission Viejo man was arrested this morning on a federal wire fraud charge that alleges he orchestrated a Ponzi scheme that solicited more than $25 million from victims around the nation and that he used $1 million of victim funds to invest in a golf course.

May 05, 2008

DOCTOR INDICTED ON FEDERAL DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES FOR WRITING OXYCONTIN PRESCRIPTIONS FOR CASH

A physician who operated a clinic in San Fernando has been indicted on federal narcotics charges for allegedly writing prescriptions for the powerful and addictive painkiller oxycodone for people he did not examine and who simply paid him as much as $300 for the prescriptions.

May 02, 2008

FORMER FEDERAL PENITENTIARY CORRECTIONS LIEUTENANT INDICTED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION

FRESNO, Calif.—United States Attorney McGregor Scott announced today that a federal grand jury indicted ERIC McEACHERN, 33, of Tehachapi with violating the civil rights of an inmate who was in custody and obstructing justice in the resulting investigation. McEACHERN was a corrections lieutenant who worked at the United States Penitentiary in Atwater, California at the time of the alleged offense. The indictment specifically charges McEACHERN with one felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one felony count of falsifying records in a federal investigation.

May 01, 2008

COLOMBIAN MONEY LAUNDERER EXTRADITED FROM TRINIDAD

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced that Jorge Hernan Ospina-Zuluaga, charged as Hernan Ospina, appeared before Magistrate Judge Nita L. Stormes in San Diego today and was arraigned on an indictment handed up on March 23, 1995, charging Ospina with conspiracy to launder drug trafficking proceeds and money laundering.

April 30, 2008

Pilot of Cosco Busan Indicted on New Charges - Pilot Charged with Lying about Medications During Required Annual Physicals

WASHINGTON— Today, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging John Joseph Cota, a U.S. Coast Guard and California licensed ship pilot, with making false statements to the Coast Guard concerning his medications and medical conditions in 2006 and 2007. The false statements arose from annual physical examinations that pilots are required to complete every year to maintain their pilot’s license.

April 29, 2008

MODESTO MAN GETS 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR PSEUDOEPHEDRINE,
MAINTAINING A DRUG HOUSE, FIREARMS, AND USING CHILDREN IN A DRUG ENTERPRISE

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that HUGO RAMIREZ, 42, of Modesto was sentenced today by United States District Judge Frank C. Damrell to 20 years in prison. On September 4, 2007, the defendant pleaded guilty before Judge Damrell to maintaining drug-involved premises and possession of pseudoephedrine.

April 28, 2008

FOREX TRADING “GURU” SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS IN PRISON FOR SCAMMING OVER $11 MILLION FROM INVESTORS

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced that JOEL NATHAN WARD, 49, of Turlock, California, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Garland E. Burrell, Jr. to nine years in prison for masterminding a Ponzi scheme in which nearly 100 investors lost over $11 million. WARD was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,275,501.53 and to serve three years of supervised release after the completion of his prison sentence. He was remanded into custody immediately following the sentencing hearing.

April 25, 2008

SOLANO COUNTY HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES EMPLOYEE IN VALLEJO INDICTED FOR STEALING IDENTITIES OF BENEFITS RECIPIENTS, COMMITTING BANK FRAUD

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott and United States Postal Inspector in Charge Diana Torpey announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging JENNIFER MILLER, 43, of Vallejo, with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Also charged in the fourteen-count indictment were MILLER’s sister, JACQUELINE CRAFT, 51, MILLER’s niece KHALILAH LATOYA FULLER, 31, and MAISHA PEARL JONES, 33, all of Vallejo.

April 24, 2008

Federal judge sentences China television exec to 10 years in espionage case

US District Judge Cormac J. Carney of the Central District of California on Monday sentenced former Chinese television executive Tai Wang Mak to 10 years in prison for conspiring with his brother, Chi Mak, to smuggle sensitive naval intelligence data to China.

April 23, 2008

California Man Convicted on Federal Tax Fraud Charges for Fraudulent Tax Preparation Scheme - Four Individuals Prepared Thousands of False Returns

WASHINGTON - Matthew Carl Berry was convicted on federal tax fraud charges yesterday following a jury trial in Riverside, Calif., the Department of Justice and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. Berry, of Rialto, Calif., was indicted on September 13, 2006, for one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and three counts of filing false income tax returns for his personal taxes during the years of the conspiracy.

April 22, 2008

FOUNDERS OF GLOBAL MISSIONS UN LIMITED CHARGED WITH FRAUD

OAKLAND – United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced that a federal grand jury in Oakland indicted Joseph Lawrence Williams, of Hayward, Keith Aaron Vann, of Oakland, and William Joseph Little, Jr., for conspiring to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. These charges are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.

April 21, 2008

ORINDA MAN CHARGED WITH CHILD SEX TOURISM AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY VIOLATIONS

Mortgage Finance Expert Now Considered a Fugitive

OAKLAND – United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced that a criminal complaint was issued charging Leonard B. Auerbach, 61, of Orinda, California, with traveling internationally for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with a minor (also known as “child sex tourism”), in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b), and transporting and possessing child pornography,

April 18, 2008

PRESIDENT OF CAMBODIAN OPPOSITION GROUP CONVICTED OF PLOTTING TO OVERTHROW CAMBODIAN GOVERNMENT

The president of the Cambodian Freedom Fighters – a Long Beach, California-based organization that was formed to seize political control in the southeast Asian country – was found guilty today of conspiring to kill in a foreign country.

April 17, 2008

INFORMATION SECURITY CONSULTANT PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL WIRETAPPING AND IDENTITY THEFT CHARGES

In the first prosecution of its kind in the nation, a man who is well known to members of the “botnet underground” pleaded guilty today to federal charges related to his use of “botnets” – armies of compromised computers – to steal the identities of victims throughout the country by extracting information from their personal computers and wiretapping their communications.

April 16, 2008

U.S. JOINS ‘WHISTLEBLOWER’ CASE AGAINST BEVERLY HILLS-BASED RADIOLOGY CLINIC THAT ALLEGES FALSE CLAIMS TO MEDICARE AND FRAUDULENT REFERRALS

The United States today filed a complaint in intervention in a “whistleblower” lawsuit that accuses a Beverly Hills-based diagnostic clinic of defrauding the federal Medicare program by performing unnecessary radiological tests, such as CT scans and MRIs.

April 15, 2008

Construction Company And District Official Indicted For Diverting $3.6 Million From Schools

SANTA BARBARA--California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced a 74-count felony indictment against a former Santa Maria-Bonita School District official and three executives from TurnKey, a Temecula-based company, for misappropriating $3.6 million in public money for schools.

April 14, 2008

FORMER BENICIA SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT GOING TO PRISON FOR TAX
EVASION

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced that DIRK FULTON, 53, of Benicia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Edward J. Garcia to five months imprisonment, five months of home detention, two years of supervised release, $115,000 in restitution to the IRS, and a $28,000 fine. The defendant pleaded guilty to tax evasion on February 1, 2008.

April 11, 2008

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DOCTOR AND TWO OTHERS CHARGED WITH ANABOLIC STEROID AND HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE DISTRIBUTION

Indictment Alleges Importation of Human Growth Hormone from China for Distribution in the United States

April 10, 2008

OPERATOR OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE SCHOOLS CHARGED IN MASSIVE STUDENT VISA FRAUD SCHEME

Some “Students” Were Russian Prostitutes Who Allegedly Paid Cash for Visas

A Beverly Hills man who operates two schools that teach English to foreign students was arrested this morning on federal charges for allegedly running a visa fraud scheme that allowed foreign nationals from around the world to obtain student visas to enter the United States, even though they had no intention of attending the schools or were fraudulently trying to remain in the United States.

April 09, 2008

Federal Grand Jury Charges Two Companies and Owner John Stagliano with Obscenity Violations

WASHINGTON – A producer of allegedly obscene movies and two companies owned by him have been charged by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., with operating an obscenity distribution business and related offenses, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division announced today.

April 08, 2008

TWO CHINESE RESIDENTS CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTING TO BRING EXPORT-CONTROLLED THERMAL-IMAGING CAMERAS TO P.R.C.

Two men – one a Chinese national and one a naturalized United States citizen – who were arrested early Saturday morning at Los Angeles International Airport were charged today with attempting to bring 10 thermal-imaging cameras to the People’s Republic of China without obtaining the necessary licenses.

April 07, 2008

FIVE MEMBERS OF PROMINENT AGRIBUSINESS FAMILY TO PLEAD GUILTY TO FELONY TAX OFFENSES

Plea Agreements Contemplate Prison Time, Fines, and Restitution

SACRAMENTO—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that five members of the SAMBADO family of San Joaquin County, which owns and operates one of the largest fruit packing and exporting facilities in California, will plead guilty to federal felony offenses relating to the skimming of income from their businesses.

April 04, 2008

FORMER U.S. POST OFFICE COUNTER CLERK CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO
NEGOTIATE COUNTERFEIT U.S. CURRENCY

SACRAMENTO—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that ANDREA LYNN GRAVELLE, 37, of Waterford and RICK LEE SNOW, 45, of Modesto were arraigned yesterday by United States Magistrate Judge Dale A. Drozd for felony conspiracy and counterfeit currency charges.

April 03, 2008

Leader of Casino-Cheating Criminal Enterprise Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy Targeting at Least 16 Casinos

WASHINGTON – Phuong Quoc Truong, also known as John Truong and “Pai Gow” John, pleaded guilty today in San Diego to conspiring to participate in the conduct of the affairs of a racketeering enterprise, the “Tran Organization,” in a scheme to cheat at least 16 casinos across the country out of millions of dollars, Criminal Division Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California Karen P. Hewitt, and U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington Jeffrey C. Sullivan announced today.

April 02, 2008

SACRAMENTO MAN CONVICTED OF MAIL FRAUD SCHEME TO STEAL HURRICANE KATRINA DISASTER ASSISTANCE

SACRAMENTO—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that JOHN M. FORD, 35, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton to using the U.S. Mail to obtain Hurricane Katrina disaster assistance by fraud.

April 01, 2008

RESERVE NAVAL LIEUTENANT COMMANDER AND CHAPLAIN INDICTED ON CHARGES OF STEALING PAY AND ALLOWANCES

A Reserve Naval lieutenant commander and chaplain with the United States Navy has been indicted on nine counts of theft of government funds for allegedly receiving approximately $172,229 in unearned pay and allowances from the Navy.

March 31, 2008

Fresno Man Barred from Promoting Tax Scheme - Falsely Told Customers He Could Provide a Defense to Criminal Tax Charges

WASHINGTON – A California-based tax scam promoter, Steven Hempfling, has been permanently barred by a federal court in Fresno, Calif., from selling a tax fraud scheme that falsely claims to give customers a legal defense against criminal prosecutions for income tax evasion, the Justice Department announced today.

March 28, 2008

RESERVE NAVAL LIEUTENANT COMMANDER AND CHAPLAIN INDICTED ON CHARGES OF STEALING PAY AND ALLOWANCES

A Reserve Naval lieutenant commander and chaplain with the United States Navy has been indicted on nine counts of theft of government funds for allegedly receiving approximately $172,229 in unearned pay and allowances from the Navy.

March 27, 2008

Attorney General Mukasey Announces Charges Against 13 “Grape Street Crips” Gang Members and Associates and the Formation of an Additional Safe Streets Task Force to Combat Gang Violence

March 26, 2008

FORMER C.E.O. OF ELECTRONICS FIRM SENTENCED TO 97 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON AND ORDERED TO PAY OVER $3 MILLION IN RESTITUTION FOR DEFRAUDING LENDING BANKS AND INVESTORS

The former chief executive of a Southern California electronics company who was convicted of defrauding lending banks, falsifying books and records, lying to accountants and filing false financial statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission was re-sentenced today to 97 months in federal prison.

March 25, 2008

Chinese Agent Sentenced to Over 24 Years in Prison for Exporting United States Defense Articles to China

SANTA ANA, California – An engineer who conspired with family members to export United States sensitive military technology to the People’s Republic of China was sentenced today to 293 months in federal prison.

March 24, 2008

SERIAL ARMED BANK ROBBER GETS 16 YEAR JAIL TERM

SACRAMENTO--United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that United States District Judge Garland E. Burrell, Jr. sentenced today ROBERT BRIAN WINSTON, 23, of Fairfield, to 192 months in federal custody for serial armed bank robbery, armed carjacking, and use of a firearm during commission of a violent crime.

March 21, 2008

SAN JOSE MAN ORDERED TO PAY $239,450 IN RESTITUTION FOR CHINESE INHERITANCE SCAM

SAN JOSE – United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced that Shiu Chau Wang, also known as Alex Wang, was sentenced yesterday and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $239,450 at the rate of $4,500 per month for his role in a “Chinese Inheritance” Scam. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Jeremy Fogel, sitting in San Jose.

March 20, 2008

Former Education Consultant Sentenced to 7 ½ Years in Prison for Fraud and Bid Rigging in The Federal E-Rate Program

WASHINGTON — A former education consultant from California was sentenced to serve 7½ years in prison for rigging bids and defrauding the E-Rate program, the Department of Justice announced.

March 19, 2008

Former Intermune CEO W. Scott Harkonen Indicted for Wire Fraud and FDA Violations

SAN FRANCISCO – W. Scott Harkonen, M.D., the former CEO of InterMune Inc., was indicted on wire fraud and felony Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act charges for his role in the creation and dissemination of false and misleading information about the efficacy of InterMune’s drug Actimmune (Interferon gamma-1b) as a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the Justice Department announced today.

March 18, 2008

Ship Pilot Charged in San Francisco Bay Oil Spill Case

WASHINGTON—John Joseph Cota, the pilot of the Cosco Busan, the 65,131-ton container ship that collided with the San Francisco Bay Bridge resulting in the discharge of approximately 58,000 gallons of oil, was charged today with violations of the Clean Water Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, announced Ronald J. Tenpas, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division and Joseph P. Russoniello, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California.

March 17, 2008

Brown Announces Meth Lab And Santa Rosa Drug Ring Bust

Eight arrested, methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, hash, guns, U.S. currency seized

SANTA ROSA--California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that California Department of Justice agents yesterday arrested eight suspects in connection with a Santa Rosa drug distribution ring and methamphetamine laboratory in the town of Winton.

March 14, 2008

FORMER ALZA EMPLOYEE ARRAIGNED ON EMBEZZLEMENT CHARGES

Former Alza Administrative Assistant Charged Over $240,000 in Personal Expenses to Corporation

March 13, 2008

LODI DRUG TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 18 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON

Judge Imposes Long Sentence on Large-Scale Methamphetamine Dealer Ernesto Manuel Aguila

March 12, 2008

TWO ATTORNEYS AT IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM SENTENCED FOR ROLES IN VISA FRAUD SCHEME

A name partner and an attorney at one of the West Coast’s largest immigration law firms were sentenced today for filing fraudulent employment visa applications on behalf of foreign nationals, including more than a dozen of the law firm’s own workers.

March 11, 2008

ROCKLIN WOMAN DUBBED “THE GRANDMA BANK ROBBER” CHARGED WITH ARMED BANK ROBBERY AND NUMEROUS COUNTS OF BANK FRAUD

SACRAMENTO—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that VALERIE HARRIS, 50, of Rocklin, California was arraigned in federal court, charged with a single count of armed bank robbery and six counts of bank fraud. The case was scheduled for further proceedings before U.S. District Court Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr. at 10 a.m. on March 17, 2008.

March 10, 2008

PRODUCING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY NETS TRACY SEX OFFENDER 25 YEARS IN PRISON

FRESNO — United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced that MANUEL GUTIERREZ, Jr., 47, of Tracy, California, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill to a prison term of 25 years for one count of producing sexually explicit images of a minor. His sentence will be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, during which he will be required to register as a sex offender, and his access to minors, computers, and the Internet will be restricted. He was sentenced for his conviction of.

March 07, 2008

Downey man pleads guilty in West Coast's largest apparel smuggling scheme
ICE agents seize more than $67 million worth of clothing in ongoing investigation

LOS ANGELES - The owner of a Los Angeles-area trucking company pleaded guilty in federal court here this morning to a federal charge stemming from his role in a massive apparel smuggling plot that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigators describe as the largest commercial fraud scheme ever uncovered on the West Coast.

March 06, 2008

BUTTE COUNTY WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MULTIPLE COUNTS OF BANK FRAUD, POSSESSION OF STOLEN U.S. MAIL, AND CONSPIRACY

SACRAMENTO--United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that MELISSA ANN MEIER, 19, of Chico, California, pleaded guilty this morning before United States District Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr. to two counts of bank fraud and two counts of possession of stolen U.S. Mail.

March 05, 2008

INDONESIAN SENTENCED TO 10 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR HACKING INTO HOTEL BUSINESS KIOSKS AND STEALING CREDIT CARD DATA

A Lomita resident who admitted hacking into business kiosks at hotels and stealing credit card information that he used to obtain credit was sentenced this afternoon to 10 months in federal prison.

March 04, 2008

California Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison in Connection with $20 Million Scheme to Defraud the Export-import Bank of the United States

WASHINGTON – David Villongco, 51, of San Mateo, Calif., was sentenced to 33 months in prison in connection with a $20 million scheme to defraud the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor of the District of Columbia announced today.

March 03, 2008

MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO STEALING TRADE SECRETS FROM LOCAL COMPANY TO SELL TO FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS

Trade Secrets Involved Military Technology

SACRAMENTO—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that ALLEN W. COTTEN, 53, of El Dorado Hills, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Edward J. Garcia to theft of trade secrets.

February 29, 2008

NEW JERSEY MAN WHO SERVED AS EXPERT WITNESS IN NUMEROUS CLASS ACTIONS AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY TO PERJURY FOR CONCEALING ARRANGEMENTS WITH LAW FIRMS

In a plea agreement filed today in United States District Court in Philadelphia, a Princeton, New Jersey man agreed to plead guilty to perjury, admitting that he lied to numerous federal judges across the county who were presiding over securities class actions.

February 28, 2008

Brown Announces Sixteen Arrests In $2 Million Medi-Cal Pregnancy Fraud

LOS ANGELES--California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the arrest of two physicians, three clinic administrators, and eleven assistants for luring pregnant women to a fake health clinic that fraudulently billed the state’s Medi-Cal program for at least $2 million.

February 27, 2008

DEFENSE CONTRACTOR BRENT R. WILKES SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR BRIBING FORMER CONGRESSMAN RANDALL “DUKE” CUNNINGHAM

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced that today United States District Judge Larry A. Burns sentenced former defense contractor Brent R. Wilkes to 12 years’ imprisonment and to serve three years of supervised release following his release from custody.

February 26, 2008

OROVILLE MAN GUILTY OF STEALING $170,000 OF DECEASED MOTHER’S BENEFITS OVER 16 YEARS

SACRAMENTO—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that WILLIAM EDWARD TURNER, 56, of Oroville, pleaded guilty today to theft of government funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. The guilty plea was entered before United States District Judge Edward J. Garcia.

February 25, 2008

CHAIRMAN OF NON-PROFIT CORPORATION SENTENCED TO 37 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR DISTRIBUTING ILLEGAL DRUGS

Used Non-Profit Entity to Purchase Illegal Drugs That Then Were Sold on the Streets of Oakland and Houston

February 22, 2008

VENTURA COUNTY BODY SHOP OWNERS AMONG SIX ARRESTED IN ALIEN SMUGGLING CASE

Ring Allegedly Outfitted Vehicles with Hidden Compartments to Smuggle Aliens

The father and son owners of an Oxnard body shop were among six people arrested this morning by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on charges of running a human smuggling ring that outfitted vehicles with hidden compartments and used those vehicles to bring illegal aliens into the United States from Mexico.

February 21, 2008

SECOND DEFENDANT PLEADS GUILTY TO FRAUD IN TJ MAXX AND MARSHALLS
STORES RECEIPT SCHEME

SACRAMENTO—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that HOWARD GLOYD, 49, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr. to two counts of wire fraud in connection with duplicate purchase receipt scheme that defrauded TJX Companies, Inc., operators of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls retail merchandise stores, of more than $70,000.

February 20, 2008

FEDERAL-LOCAL INVESTIGATION LEADS TO ARREST OF LEADERS OF POMONA GANGS THAT WERE TRAFFICKING NARCOTICS

A high-ranking member of a Pomona gang associated with the Crips, his girlfriend and a dozen other gang members and associates have been arrested on federal narcotics-trafficking charges resulting from a joint federal-state investigation that targeted gang activity in the East Los Angeles County community. The lead defendant in the case was arrested nearly three weeks ago, two are already in state custody and 10 additional defendants were arrested this morning during a joint law enforcement operation.

February 19, 2008

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY WOMAN SENTENCED TO NEARLY SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR IDENTITY THEFT

SACRAMENTO—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that ANGELIQUE MICHELLE HALL, 31, of San Joaquin County, was sentenced by United States District Judge Edward J. Garcia to 81 months in prison for aggravated identity theft, bank fraud, and possession of stolen mail.

February 18, 2008

FORMER EMPLOYEES OF INDIAN HEALTH CENTER INDICTED FOR EMBEZZLEMENT

FRESNO—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that a federal grand jury returned indictments charging SHARON KAY HOSELEY, 54, currently living in Kuna, Idaho, and BELINDA G. HEARN, 41, currently living in New Albany, Mississippi, with two counts of embezzlement in connection with schemes to defraud the Tule River Indian Health Center, Inc., in Porterville, California.

February 15, 2008

INLAND EMPIRE DOCTOR ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF WRITING PRESCRIPTIONS FOR NARCOTICS WITHOUT EXAMINING ‘PATIENTS’

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A Murrieta psychiatrist whose medical license was recently suspended was arrested this morning on federal narcotics distribution charges for allegedly writing prescriptions for powerful and addictive painkillers to people he did not examine and who paid him $100 for the prescriptions.

February 14, 2008

Justice Department Requires Divestitures in Private Equity Funds’ Acquisition of Clear Channel - Divestitures Will Preserve Competition in Four Radio Markets – Cincinnati, Houston, Las Vegas, San Francisco ...

February 13, 2008

WILLIAM LERACH, FORMER NAME PARTNER IN MILBERG WEISS, SENTENCED TO 2 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE AND MAKE FALSE STATEMENTS TO FEDERAL JUDGES

William S. Lerach, a former name partner in the law firm now known as Milberg Weiss, was sentenced today to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty last year to a federal conspiracy charge and acknowledging that he and others concealed secret payment arrangements that Milberg had with named plaintiffs in class-action lawsuits.

February 12, 2008

Former Boeing Engineer Charged with Economic Espionage in Theft of Space Shuttle Secrets for China

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A former Boeing engineer was arrested this morning after being indicted last week on charges of economic espionage and acting as an unregistered foreign agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), for whom the engineer stole Boeing trade secrets related to several aerospace programs, including the Space Shuttle.

February 11, 2008

SISTERS INDICTED ON MONEY LAUNDERING, WIRE FRAUD CHARGES RELATED TO REAL ESTATE ‘FLIPPING’ SCHEME

A federal grand jury in Los Angeles has indicted a Los Angeles woman and her sister on money laundering, wire fraud and conspiracy charges for submitting home loan financing packages for residential real estate that contained false information and forged signatures. The defendants used the fraudulently obtained proceeds to purchase properties, which they later sold at a profit.

February 08, 2008

D.A. Announces Multimillion-Dollar Child Care Fraud Ring

LOS ANGELES – District Attorney Steve Cooley announced today that more than 50 people have been charged in a massive child care fraud ring that, in part, was run out of federal prison by a convict serving a narcotic trafficking term.

February 07, 2008

TWO INDICTED IN SCHEME TO COMMIT WIRE FRAUD WITH ACCOUNT INFORMATION STOLEN FROM FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

SAN FRANCISCO– United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced today that a federal grand jury in San Francisco indicted Dmitir Glaznikov (33) and Maxim Leontev (25) on January 29th for their role in a scheme to defraud by obtaining account information stolen from financial institutions, creating unauthorized...

February 06, 2008

FORMER EMERYVILLE FINANCIAL ADVISOR SENTENCED TO 30 MONTHS FOR INVESTMENT FRAUD SCHEME

Ordered to pay $2,850,861.55 in Restitution

February 05, 2008

SACRAMENTO MAN CHARGED WITH SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUD

Sacramento -- United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that a federal grand jury returned a four count indictment on January 31, charging ROBERT JAMES LaBELLA, 33, of Sacramento, with theft of government property and false statements in the application for Social Security benefits, violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 641 and 1001, and Title 42, United States Code, Section 1383.

February 04, 2008

FATHER AND SON SALES AGENTS SENTENCED ON CHARGES OF DEFRAUDING
CUSTOMERS

SACRAMENTO—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that KENNETH CERVELLIN, 62, and RONALD CERVELLIN, 47, father and son from the Sacramento area, were sentenced yesterday afternoon by United States District Judge Morrison C. England.

February 01, 2008

Former Los Angeles Police Officer and Former Long Beach Police Officer Found Guilty of Conspiracy to Violate Civil Rights

WASHINGTON – A Los Angeles, Calif., jury today found former Los Angeles Police Department Officer William Ferguson and his brother, former Long Beach Police Department Officer Joseph Ferguson, guilty of conspiring to violate civil rights, conspiring to possess narcotics with intent to distribute, and possession of narcotics with intent to distribute, the Justice Department announced. William Ferguson was also found guilty of several firearm offenses and deprivation of rights under color of law.

January 31, 2008

FRAUDULENT PASSPORT APPLICATION EARNS SACRAMENTO MAN ONE-WAY
TICKET TO PRISON

Sacramento – United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that ANWAAR ALI MUHAMMAD (also known as Bilal Amir Dhakir, Devon Anthony Barrett, and Hassan Ismail Muhammad), 32, of Sacramento was sentenced today by United States District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton to 12 months in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to submitting a fraudulent passport application on November 14, 2007.

January 30, 2008

CONVICTED BANK ROBBER SENTENCED TO 22-AND-A -HALF YEARS IN PRISON FOR ILLEGAL GUN POSSESSION

SAN FRANCISCO – United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced that Frederick Lim Johnson was sentenced last week to 22 years and seven months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), and for violating the terms of his supervised release.

January 29, 2008

Tacoma Woman Sentenced for Holding Domestic Servant in Forced Labor

WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice announced today that a Tacoma, Wash., woman was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles for holding a woman in forced labor as a domestic servant. Elizabeth Jackson was sentenced today to three years imprisonment. Jackson previously pleaded guilty to holding a Filipino domestic worker in forced labor.

January 28, 2008

FORMER SACRAMENTO CITY SUPERINTENDENT PLEADS GUILTY TO BRIBERY

SACRAMENTO-- United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott, Sacramento FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Drew Parenti, and Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel announced today that BARRY HOLLAND, age 60, of Carmichael, entered a guilty plea to accepting unlawful bribes while serving as Superintendent for the City of Sacramento’s Water Distribution Branch. HOLLAND pled guilty to a one count information charging him with violation of 18 U.S.C. § 666, bribery in connection with a municipality that receives federal funds, this morning before the Honorable Garland E. Burrell, Jr., Chief United States District Court Judge.

January 25, 2008

SACRAMENTO MAN DUBBED THE “GRANDPA BANK ROBBER” SENTENCED FOR SERIAL BANK ROBBERY

SACRAMENTO—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that WILLIAM MICHAEL LEVIN, 58, of Sacramento, was sentenced to 51 months in prison by United States District Court Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr. for his Sacramento County serial bank-robbery spree.

January 24, 2008

Film Executive and Spouse Indicted for Paying Bribes to a Thai Tourism Official to Obtain Lucrative Film Festival Management Contracts

WASHINGTON – Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O’Brien for the Central District of California announced that a Los Angeles-area film executive and his spouse were indicted late yesterday on allegations of making corrupt payments to a Thai government official in order to obtain lucrative contracts to run an international film festival held annually in Bangkok, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

January 23, 2008

FORMER NFL ALL-PRO DANA STUBBLEFIELD PLEADS GUILTY TO MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS IN BALCO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

Former Player Admits Using Illegal Performance-Enhancing Substances

SAN FRANCISCO– The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Dana Stubblefield pleaded guilty today to making false statements to federal investigators in the Balco steroids distribution investigation in the Northern District of California. This guilty plea is the result of an investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigation.

January 22, 2008

Man Pleads Guilty to Alien Smuggling and Forced Labor

Karen P. Hewitt, United States Attorney for the Southern District of California, announced today that GLORIA EUGENIA LEON-ALDANA entered a guilty plea in United States District Court in San Diego before the Honorable M. James Lorenz, to various charges relating to the smuggling of aliens and forced labor. LEON-ALDANA pleaded guilty to three counts of Bringing in Illegal Aliens for Financial Gain and one count of Forced Labor. Her plea follows the guilty pleas last week of two co-defendants, JUAN ANDRES-SANTOS and AGUSTIN ALONSO-TERRERO, who pleaded to one and three counts of Bringing in Illegal Aliens for Financial Gain, respectively. The only remaining defendant charged in the 19-count Superseding Indictment, MARIO ANTONIO ANTUNEZ-SOTELO, remains a fugitive.

January 21, 2008

14 MOVING INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES IN CALIFORNIA AND FLORIDA CHARGED WITH COMMITTING EXTORTION AND FRAUD UPON CONSUMERS IN RESIDENTIAL MOVES

San Jose-Based Moving Company Charged With Illegally Withholding Customer Goods

SAN JOSE– United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced today that a federal grand jury in San Jose has indicted 14 individuals in California and Florida for their role in defrauding, and extorting fees from, hundreds of moving customers throughout the United States. The defendants named in the indictment are:

January 18, 2008

FORMER OLYMPIC CHAMPION MARION JONES-THOMPSON SENTENCED TO SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT FOR MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS IN TWO FEDERAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

JOSEPH P. RUSSONIELLO, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California, and, MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced that MARION JONES-THOMPSON, 32, of Austin, Texas, was sentenced today to six months imprisonment for making false statements in connection with two separate federal investigations. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge KENNETH M. KARAS in federal court in White Plains, New York.

January 17, 2008

FRESNO COUNTY WOMAN INVOLVED IN PRIME BANK SCHEME CHARGED WITH FILING FALSE TAX RETURNS

Defendant failed to report commissions from fraudulent investment scheme to the IRS

FRESNO--United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott and Special Agent-in-Charge of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Scott O’Briant, announced that MARY J. CLAGG, 60, of Fresno, was indicted on federal income tax charges stemming from a prime bank scheme. MARY J. CLAGG was arraigned on the indictment on January 11, 2008, by Magistrate Judge Dennis Beck, and pled not guilty.

January 16, 2008

Brown Sues Contractor For Employee Rip-off

LOS ANGELES—California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today sued Interwall Development Systems, one of Los Angeles’s largest drywall contractors, for employing a “sophisticated and heartless scheme” to cheat hundreds of its employees out of at least $5 million in wages and benefits.

January 15, 2008

Mexico-based Corporation Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy to Distribute Anabolic Steroids

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced that Instituto Agrobioquimico, S.A. de C.V., a Mexico-based corporation manufactured anabolic steroids under the brand name “Loeffler,” pled guilty today in federal court in San Diego to charges of Conspiracy to Distribute Anabolic Steroids and Aiding and Abetting in International Monetary Instrument Transactions involving Tijuana-based anabolic steroid distributors illegally distributing in the United States. The plea was entered before United States District Court Judge M. James Lorenz.

January 14, 2008

Leader of Investment Scheme Sentenced To Serve 25 Years In Prison and Pay $40,556,065.30 in Restitution To Victims

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY - January 8, 2008

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced that John Harrell was sentenced yesterday in federal court in San Diego by United States District Judge Thomas J. Whelan to serve 25 years in custody and a three-year term of supervised release, forfeit $2,366,805.75, and pay $40,556,065.30 in restitution to more than 50 victims. In February 2007, Harrell pled guilty to 28 counts of federal fraud and money laundering charges relating to his role in a cult-like investment scheme that operated out of San Diego beginning in the late 1980's.

January 11, 2008

FORMER TICKET AGENT INDICTED FOR EMBEZZLING APPROXIMATELY $180,000 FROM AMTRAK FROM 2002 TO 2004

SAN FRANCISCO – United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced that Lawrence E. Crayton III of Oakland, California made his initial appearance in federal district court in San Francisco on January 9, 2008 before United States District Judge Maxine M. Chesney. A federal grand jury in San Francisco had previously indicted Mr. Crayton on Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds on December 18, 2007. Mr. Crayton is scheduled for his next appearance in federal court in San Francisco on February 13, 2008 before Judge Chesney.

January 10, 2008

ALLEGED MONEY LAUNDERER FROM ICELAND APPEARS IN NEW JERSEY ON CALIFORNIA INDICTMENT

Defendant Arrested in India

SAN FRANCISCO, California, and NEWARK, New Jersey – Joseph P. Russoniello, United States Attorney for the Northern District of California, and Christopher J. Christie, United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, announced that Stefan WATHNE, an Icelandic citizen last known to be residing in Moscow, Russia...

January 09, 2008

EIGHT ARRESTED FOR OBTAINING LOW-INCOME HOUSING ASSISTANCE AFTER FAILING TO DISCLOSE FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME

Seven current employees of the federal government and one former federal worker were arrested today on federal charges of making false statements to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in order to fraudulently obtain federal Section 8 rental housing assistance. A ninth defendant accused of making false statements to HUD is currently being sought by authorities.

January 08, 2008

Justice Department Settles Housing Discrimination Case with Orange County, California, Landlords

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced that it has reached an agreement resolving a housing discrimination lawsuit against Gary Luke, Mary Ngo and Hoa Ngo concerning alleged discrimination on the basis of national origin. Under the consent decree filed today in federal court in Santa Ana, Calif., the defendants will pay $270,844 in monetary relief to the complainants and the United States.

January 07, 2008

VENTURA COUNTY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHARGES OF IMPERSONATING CIA AGENT

An Oxnard man has pleaded guilty to federal charges for posing as a CIA agent and requesting money from individuals to support his “mission” in Iraq.

January 04, 2008

46 MONTHS PRISON FOR PHONY BILLIONAIRE FINANCIER

SACRAMENTO--United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that RANDALL BERT FOSHIE, 58, of Roseville, who also uses the name BERT RANDALL FOSHIE, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Morrison C. England, Jr., to 46 months in prison. FOSHIE pleaded guilty to one count of felony mail fraud on October 18, 2006.

January 03, 2008

Brown Sues EPA for Illegally Blocking California’s Plan to Curb Tailpipe Emissions

WASHINGTON D.C. — Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr., on behalf of the State of California, today sued the United States Environmental Protection Agency for “wrongfully and illegally” blocking the state's landmark tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions standards.

January 02. 2008

MEMBERS OF MONTREAL-BASED TELEMARKETING SCAM NAMED IN FRAUD INDICTMENT ISSUED BY U.S. GRAND JURY

Ring Targeted Elderly Victims who Lost at least $1 Million in Canada, U.S.

LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury has returned a 25-count indictment that accuses nearly two dozen people of participating in a Canadian-based telemarketing fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims with promises of large cash prizes.

January 01, 2008

AFO Lieutenants Sentenced To Combined 70 Years in Prison and $6,000,000 Forfeiture

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced that Ismael Higuera-Guerrero and his brother, Gilberto Higuera-Guerrero were sentenced in federal court in San Diego by United States District Judge Larry A. Burns based on their guilty pleas to federal racketeering charges arising from their participation in the Arellano-Felix Drug Trafficking Organization (AFO). Today, Judge Burns sentenced Gilberto Higuera-Guerrero to serve 30 years in custody and to forfeit $1,000,000 . On December 3, 2007, Judge Burns sentenced Ismael Higuera-Guerrero to serve 40 years in custody and to forfeit $5,000,000.

December 31, 2007

ORANGE COUNTY PAYS $7 MILLION TO UNITED STATES TO RESOLVE LAWSUIT ALLEGING FALSE BILLINGS TO MEDICARE

The County of Orange today paid the federal government $7 million to resolve allegations that its Health Care Agency, Behavioral Health Services Division (OCHCA) submitted false claims to the Medicare Program between 1990 and 1999. Without admitting wrongdoing, the County of Orange paid the settlement to resolve a federal False Claims Act investigation into OCHCA’s billing practices.

December 28, 2007

ARMED CARJACKER PLEADS GUILTY IN FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT

SACRAMENTO--United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that ROBERT BRIAN WINSTON, 23, of Fairfield, pled guilty today to serial armed bank robbery, armed carjacking, and use of a firearm during commission of a violent crime before United States District Judge Garland E. Burrell, Jr.

December 27, 2007

Judge Orders Former Bell Gardens Official to Repay Entire Salary to City

LOS ANGELES – Former Bell Gardens City Manager Maria Chacon was ordered today to repay her entire salary – more than $85,000 – to the city as part of her sentence for conflict of interest.

December 26, 2007

FEDERAL AND STATE AGENTS TARGET INDIVIDUALS WHO DEFRAUDED THE CALIFORNIA EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS

FRESNO - United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that three defendants in two separate cases were indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for defrauding the California Employment Development Department (EDD) of unemployment insurance benefits.

December 25, 2007

EMERYVILLE LOAN OFFICER PLEADS GUILTY IN LOAN KICKBACK SCHEME

Defendant received more than $500,000 from scheme

OAKLAND, CA – United States Attorney Scott N. Schools and IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Scott O’Briant, announced that Renato Gonzales Quiazon, of Hayward pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and four counts of filing false tax returns. This guilty plea is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation.

December 24, 2007

IDENTITY THIEF WHO OPENED ACCOUNTS IN THE NAMES OF COLLEGE STUDENTS SENTENCED TO OVER SEVEN YEARS

A North Hollywood man who sneaked into at least one dorm complex at USC, stole the identities of students and then ran up more than $400,000 in fraudulent credit card charges has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison.

December 21, 2007

ALL THREE DEFENDANTS SENTENCED IN CALIFORNIA INDIAN CASINO HEIST

Mastermind Gets 30 Months in Federal Prison

December 20, 2007

JEWELER PLEADS GUILTY TO FAILING TO REPORT SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTION

Defendant Suspected Company Might Be Selling Computer Equipment to Iran
SAN JOSE – United States Attorney Scott N. Schools announced that Mohammad Ali Mayssami pleaded guilty yesterday to a felony charge related to his role in financing the illegal shipment of computer products to Iran. This guilty plea is the result of an investigation by agents of the Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.

December 19, 2007

SACRAMENTO MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ATTEMPTING TO SHUT DOWN CALIFORNIA’S POWER GRID

SACRAMENTO – United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that LONNIE CHARLES DENISON, 33, of South Natomas, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Garland E. Burrell, Jr., to damaging an energy facility, a federal felony.

December 18, 2007

TWO PLEAD GUILTY TO DOMESTIC TERRORISM CHARGES OF CONSPIRING TO ATTACK MILITARY FACILITIES, JEWISH TARGETS

Two men who were part of a domestic terrorist cell pleaded guilty this morning to federal terrorism charges, admitting that they conspired to attack United States military operations, “infidels,” and Israeli and Jewish facilities in the Los Angeles area.

December 17, 2007

SANTA BARBARA MAN INDICTED IN INVESTMENT SCAM THAT SOLD UNREGISTERED SECURITIES IN INTERNET COMPANIES

Scam Bilked Investors across the Country out of more than $10 Million

A Santa Barbara man has been indicted on federal fraud charges related to a securities fraud scheme that took more than $10 million from victims while the defendant was free on bond in a separate case involving false statements to a bank.

December 14, 2007

DEFENDANTS CONVICTED IN “OPERATION STEAL CURTAIN”

SAN JOSE – United States Attorney Scott N. Schools announced that 9 defendants have pled guilty thus far in federal court in San Jose to charges stemming from “Operation Steal Curtain” a 23 month undercover investigation targeting suspects trafficking in methamphetamine, illegal firearms and stolen vehicles in and around the Hollister area. The joint federal - local initiative included the cooperative efforts of: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office; the Hollister Police Department; the California Highway Patrol; the California Department of Justice; Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement; and the California Department of Insurance, Fraud Division.

December 13, 2007

FORMER CAMBRIDGE BANK CEO PLEADS GUILTY TO WIRE FRAUD

Former Head of Grenada-Based Cambridge International Bank & Trust Agrees to an Order to Pay $9.9 Million in Restitution

December 12, 2007

Man Arraigned on Criminal Environmental Violation

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced today that an El Cajon man was arraigned today in federal court in San Diego before Magistrate Judge Anthony J. Battaglia for criminal environmental violations. Guillermo Garcia was arraigned on charges of conspiracy, unlawful discharge of pollutants, unlawful disposal of hazardous waste, and failure to report a release of a hazardous substance, in connection with a spill of toluene to Slaughterhouse Canyon Creek in March 2005. Garcia entered a not guilty plea.

December 11, 2007

Brown Cracks Down On Illegal Gun Possession

LOS ANGELES – California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton today announced the seizure of 541 handguns, rifles and assault weapons during a “statewide crackdown” on 1,000 dangerous individuals barred from firearms possession because of violent felony convictions.

December 10, 2007

PASSPORT FRAUD EARNS MAN 46 MONTH TRIP TO FEDERAL PRISON

SACRAMENTO--United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that MIGUEL ANGEL GARCIA, 27, of Michoacan, Mexico was sentenced today by United States District Judge Garland E. Burrell, Jr. to 46 months in prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to Passport Fraud before Judge Burrell on September 7, 2007.

December 07, 2007

Former Catholic Priest Pleads Guilty to Child Molestation

LOS ANGELES – Michael Stephen Baker, a former Catholic priest, was sentenced to state prison 12/03/07 after pleading guilty to molesting two adolescent boys, the District Attorney’s Office announced. Baker, 59, entered the plea after a lengthy hearing in which several victims of sex abuse by priests and former priests addressed the court. The two victims in the case to which Baker pleaded were not in court. However, at least one former uncharged victim as well as the parents of another uncharged victim were present.

December 06, 2007

WHITTIER MOTHER WHO CONSPIRED WITH DAUGHTER TO FILE FALSE TAX RETURNS SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON

A Whittier tax preparer has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for conspiring with her daughter to file bogus income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining refunds.

December 05, 2007

CUPERTINO EXPORT BROKER SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS FOR ILLEGALLY EXPORTING NATIONAL SECURITY-SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGY TO CHINA

Defendant Brokered Illegal Sale of Night Vision Technology

December 04, 2007

Man Charged with Arson in Connection with Multiple Fires in Lake Hughes

LANCASTER – An ex-convict who served a prison term for several San Fernando Valley fires in 1988 was charged with arson today in connection with a group of small fires set late last month in the Lake Hughes area as several huge brush fires swept throughout Southern California.

December 03, 2007

FORMER BROADCOM VICE PRESIDENT AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY TO OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE IN STOCK BACKDATING PROBE

A former vice president of human resources at Broadcom Corporation has agreed to plead guilty to obstruction of justice in connection with a government investigation of options backdating at the Irvine-based technology company.

November 30, 2007

U.S. MAN AND HIS RUSSIAN 'WIFE' ARRESTED FOR MARRIAGE FRAUD AFTER SHE PAID HIM WITH AUTOMOBILE FOR SHAM UNION

Russian Woman Advertised for 'Spouse' on Cragslist.com

A West Los Angeles man and the Russian national who he married last year were arrested today by federal immigration officials after being charged with marriage fraud for allegedly entering into a sham marriage so the woman could obtain documents that would allow her to remain in the United States.

November 29, 2007

Brown Sues EPA For Subverting Toxic Disclosure Rules

NEW YORK — Charging the federal government with “subverting a key public safety measure,” California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for allowing companies to hide information about toxic chemicals at thousands of facilities around the United States.

November 28, 2007

Former Sheriff’s Deputy Charged in South Bay Internet Predator Sting

LOS ANGELES – A former Sheriff’s deputy was charged today with felony crimes arising from his arrest earlier this year in an undercover law enforcement sting aimed at alleged Internet child predators.

November 27, 2007

MANUFACTURER OF FICTITIOUS CHECKS PLEADS GUILTY TO CONSPIRACY AND BANK FRAUD

SACRAMENTO--United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that HEATHER ANNE MORSHEAD, 25, of Magalia, California, pled guilty this morning to felony conspiracy and bank fraud offenses before United States District Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr.

November 26, 2007

Brown Sues Toy Companies For Lead

LOS ANGELES—California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Los Angeles City Attorney Rockard J. Delgadillo today sued twenty companies for manufacturing or selling toys with “unlawful quantities of lead.”

November 23, 2007

FORMER DANVILLE MAN SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO PERPETRATING A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR FRAUD SCHEME

OAKLAND – United States Attorney Scott N. Schools announced that today United States District Judge D. Lowell Jensen sentenced Francis William (“Bill”) Reimers, 62, formerly of Danville, to 108 months in prison as a result of Reimers’s guilty pleas to mail fraud and money laundering. Judge Jensen also ordered Reimers to pay $9.6 million in restitution to the victims of his fraud schemes.

November 22, 2007

BARRY BONDS INDICTED FOR PERJURY ARISING FROM HIS TESTIMONY IN THE BALCO INVESTIGATION

Indictment also includes charge of obstruction of justice.

SAN FRANCISCO – United States Attorney Scott N. Schools, Special Agent in Charge Scott O’Briant of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and Special Agent in Charge Charlene Thornton of the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced today that a federal grand jury in San Francisco indicted Barry Lamar Bonds, age 43, of Beverly Hills, California, on November 15, 2007, with four counts of perjury, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1623(a), and one count of obstruction of justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1503(a).

November 21, 2007

CEO OF START-UP COMPANY SENTENCED TO 30 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR TAX EVASION

Failed to Report more than $1.1 Million of Income

OAKLAND – United States Attorney Scott N. Schools announced that yesterday afternoon John Frances Griffin was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his guilty plea to two counts of tax evasion. These charges are the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

November 20, 2007

TWO FEDERAL INMATES INDICTED FOR TAKING GUARD HOSTAGE

FRESNO--United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that a federal grand jury returned a single count indictment charging ROBERT W. HOWE, age 34, and CHARLES A. HIPPS, age 33, with hostage taking.

November 19, 2007

PRESIDENT OF NON-PROFIT HOUSING AGENCY PLEADS GUILTY TO OBSTRUCTING A H.U.D. AUDIT BY FABRICATING DOCUMENTS

The president of the Los Angeles-based Community Partnership Development Corporation (CPDC) pleaded guilty this morning to charges of obstructing an audit conducted by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, which was looking into the expenditure of nearly $3.2 million of federal money on "engineering and construction management supervision fees."

November 16, 2007

NEWPORT BEACH MAN WHO RAN PONZI SCHEME THAT COST VICTIMS NEARLY $4.2 MILLION AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Newport Beach man has agreed to plead guilty to federal fraud and money laundering charges and to admit that he ran a bogus investment program that promised rates of return of at least 10 percent per quarter.

November 15, 2007

LEADER OF GROUP WHO TRAFFICKED IN ENDANGERED 'DRAGON FISH' SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON

A Cypress man who conspired with others to illegally transport and sell endangered fish – Asian Arowanas – in violation of the Endangered Species Act was sentenced today to one year and one day in federal prison.

November 14, 2007

COMPUTER SECURITY CONSULTANT CHARGED WITH INFECTING UP TO A QUARTER MILLION COMPUTERS THAT WERE USED TO WIRETAP, ENGAGE IN IDENTITY THEFT, DEFRAUD BANKS

In the first prosecution of its kind in the nation, a well-known member of the “botnet underground” was charged today with using “botnets” – armies of compromised computers – to steal the identities of victims across the country by extracting information from their personal computers and wiretapping their communications.

November 13, 2007

FOUR ARRESTED IN INLAND EMPIRE MORTGAGE FRAUD SCHEME THAT COST GOVERNMENT AND BANKS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS

Federal agents this morning arrested four officers with a now-defunct Inland Empire mortgage lender on charges of defrauding the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and private lenders by fraudulently obtaining federally insured loans and selling those notes to private lenders.

November 12, 2007

TWENTY-THREE CHARGED IN LEASING FRAUD SCHEME THAT CAUSED MORE THAN $20 MILLION IN LOSSES TO LENDERS

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Federal prosecutors today charged nearly two dozen defendants for their roles in a fraud scheme that allegedly caused more than $20 million in losses to several lending institutions that believed they were financing equipment leases.

November 09, 2007

California Sues EPA For Stonewalling Landmark Global Warming Law

WASHINGTON D.C. — In a precedent setting lawsuit, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today sued the U.S. EPA, to force the agency to take action on California’s request to curb greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles. The lawsuit, filed today in Washington D.C., charges the EPA with an unreasonable delay in reaching a decision on California’s landmark law, known as the Pavley bill, which mandates a 30 percent reduction in motor vehicle emissions by 2016.

November 08, 2007

FOUNDER OF SAN DIEGO BASED CORPORATION METABOLIFE INTERNATIONAL PLEADS GUILTY

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Michael J. Ellis, the founder and former president of San Diego-based corporation Metabolife International, Inc., pled guilty today in federal court in San Diego before United States District Judge Napoleon A. Jones, Jr. to making false statements to the United States Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”).

November 07, 2007

OWNER OF PROMINENT MACHINE TOOL-MAKING COMPANY SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON FOR AVOIDING PAYMENT OF MORE THAN $34 MILLION IN FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

LOS ANGELES – The owner of Oxnard-based Haas Automation, Inc. was sentenced this afternoon to two years in federal prison for orchestrating a scheme in which tens of millions of dollars in bogus expenses were put on the company’s books in an attempt to avoid the payment of more than $34 million in federal income taxes.

November 06, 2007

IRAs SEIZED AS PART OF MARIJUANA INVESTIGATION

Marijuana, IRAs, Bank Accounts, High-Value Vehicles, and Real Property Seized; 2 Arrested in Hayward Operation

OAKLAND, CA – United States Attorney Scott N. Schools, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Javier F. Peña, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge Scott O’Briant announced today that a federal grand jury in Oakland indicted 2 brothers for conspiracy to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, distribution of marijuana, maintaining a drug involved premises, conspiracy to launder money, and money laundering. Winslow Norton, 26, of Lafayette, and Abraham Norton, 23, of Oakland, were arrested this morning, after law enforcement served multiple search warrants in relation to the investigation. The indictment was filed on October 25, 2007, and unsealed today.

November 05, 2007

Federal Jury Convicts Two of Immigration Fraud....

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced that a federal jury in San Diego has found Abderahman Ben Khemis Dhaoui and Julie Ann Robicheaux guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit immigration fraud and seven counts of making false statements on immigration applications. The jury also convicted Dhaoui of four counts of making false statements relating to his application to become a naturalized U.S. citizen and one count of unlawful procurement of naturalization. The charges relate to immigration applications that were filed on behalf of Dhaoui to allow him to immigrate to the United States, as well as a naturalization application leading him to become a naturalized U.S. citizen in June 2003.

November 02, 2007

Brown Sues Drywall Contractor For Exploiting Workers

LOS ANGELES—Citing the threat of a “shadowy, underground economy,” California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today sued the Brinas Corporation, a Los Angeles drywall contractor that unlawfully forced its employees to work without the benefit of legally mandated conditions.

November 01, 2007

TWO DEFENDANTS INDICTED FOR HACKING INTO FRESNO STATE UNIVERSITY’S
COMPUTER SYSTEM TO MAKE UNAUTHORIZED GRADE CHANGES

FRESNO- United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that on Thursday, October 25, 2007, a federal grand jury returned an indictment involving JOHN ESCALERA, 29, of Fresno and GUSTAVO RAZO, JR., 28, of Pasenda, California, with conspiracy, honest services wire fraud, unauthorized access of computer and identity theft related to a grade changing scheme perpetrated against the California State University, Fresno.

October 31, 2007

IN LARGEST FEDERAL GANG CASE EVER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, 102 LINKED TO SOUTH LOS ANGELES’ FLORENCIA 13 GANG NOW FACE RACKETEERING, NARCOTICS CHARGES

Third and Fourth Indictments Unsealed in Investigation that Revealed Attacks against African-Americans in Bid to Control South Los Angeles

October 30, 2007

Woman Charged With Conspiracy To Procure the Illegal Export of Military-grade Accelerometers from the United States to China

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced today that a federal grand jury sitting in San Diego handed up an indictment charging Qing Li with conspiracy to procure the illegal export of military-grade accelerometers from the United States to the Republic of China (“China”) based on an undercover operation by agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS)

October 29, 2007

FOUR DEFENDANTS SENTENCED IN SCHEME TO DEFRAUD MICROSOFT CORPORATION

“Operation Cyberstorm” Defendants Operated Scheme to Obtain Over $29 Million Worth of Discounted Software under False Pretenses

October 26, 2007

Brown Announces Arrests In Health Care Scam

LOS ANGELES – California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the arrest of four suspects involved in a $1.5 million “fake healthcare clinic” scam. The suspects created a health clinic and recruited people to undergo unnecessary medical tests, with the sole purpose of filing false claims with Medi-Cal and Medicare.

October 25, 2007

TWO DOZEN LINKED TO 18TH STREET GANG NAMED IN FEDERAL INDICTMENTS THAT ALLEGE NARCOTICS DISTRIBUTION AND 'TAXATION' OF STREET-LEVEL DRUG DEALERS

The man who allegedly oversaw drug-dealing and other activities of the largest “clique” of the 18th Street Gang was among 12 people arrested this morning on charges that include the distribution of crack cocaine.

October 24, 2007

PHONY BILLIONAIRE FINANCIER PLEADS GUILTY

SACRAMENTO--United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced yesterday that RANDALL BERT FOSHIE, 58, of Roseville, who also uses the name BERT RANDALL FOSHIE, pleaded guilty yesterday to mail fraud. The guilty plea was entered before United States District Judge Morrison C. England, Jr.

October 23, 2007

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO. PAYS $630,000 TO RESOLVE THE UNITED STATES’ CLAIMS CONCERNING THREE FOREST FIRES

FRESNO--United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that Southern California Edison Co. (‘SCE”) has paid a total of $630,000, in two separate settlements, to resolve the United States’ civil claims arising out of three forest fires on National Forest System lands. These settlements are the result of extensive investigations by the Forest Service. SCE paid $430,000 to resolve claims brought by the government to recover damages arising out of the 2000 Musick forest fire and the 2006 Mason forest fire, both of which occurred in the Sierra National Forest. SCE separately paid $200,000 to resolve the United States’ claims arising out of the 1996 Grand forest fire in the area of the Los Padres National Forest.

October 22, 2007

BAY AREA MAN SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS FOR PONZI SCHEME

OAKLAND - United States Attorney Scott N. Schools announced that Patrick Gregory Foster was sentenced today to seven years in prison for wire fraud. Foster was ordered to pay more than $16,000 in restitution to identified victims. The remaining money seized from Foster at the time of his arrest - close to $100,000 - was forfeited. This sentence is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service.

October 19, 2007

FIVE INDICTED IN WELLS FARGO CHECK CASHING SCHEME

SACRAMENTO -- United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that a federal grand jury returned an eight count indictment charging JASMINE CHANEL CARMICHAEL, 21, JASMINE NICOLE BUTTS, 23, EBONY CROMWELL, age unknown, DARCELL EPPS, 20, and TIFFANY CHARANADA PIPPINS, 20, with Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Bank Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft.

October 18, 2007

Two Municipal Engineers Held to Answer On Charges They Illegally Accessed the City’s Traffic Computer

LOS ANGELES – A Superior Court judge ordered two engineers today to stand trial on felony charges that they illegally accessed the city’s computer that controls Los Angeles traffic lights prior to a job action last year.

October 17, 2007

THREE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AT CHINO STATE PRISON FOUND GUILTY OF FEDERAL OFFENSES RELATED TO ASSAULT

A jury in Los Angeles today convicted three former correctional officers at Chino State Prison on federal charges related to a 2002 incident in which shackled inmates were hurled to the ground.

October 16, 2007

Department of Justice Announces Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces in All 50 States

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Justice announced today that 13 new state and local law enforcement agencies will receive more than $3 million to form Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces in their regions. The funding marks the presence of ICAC task forces in all 50 states, and will support a seamless network making communities and children safer nationwide.

October 15, 2007

Former Agent Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Conspiracy

United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt announced that Jose Olivas, Jr., a former Border Patrol agent, pled guilty today in federal court in San Diego before United States District Court Judge Barry Ted Moskowitz to conspiracy to transport hundreds of undocumented aliens.

October 12, 2007

FOUR OWNERS OF ULTRASOUND COMPANIES SENTENCED IN MEDICARE FRAUD SCHEME AT MILPITAS MEDICAL CENTER

Defendants Billed Medicare Over $1 Million For Tests Based On Falsified Physician’s Orders

SAN JOSE – United States Attorney Scott N. Schools announced that four defendants were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Jeremy Fogel for perpetrating a scheme that defrauded Medicare of over $1 million for tests that were based on falsified physician orders that claimed the tests were performed because they were medically necessary.

October 11, 2007

UNITED STATES FILES NEW LAWSUIT AGAINST OPERATOR OF ‘DUROVILLE’ TRAILER PARK NEAR THERMAL, ALLEGING IMMINENT HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS TO THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS

Alleging that conditions at a desert trailer park commonly called “Duroville” pose an imminent threat to the health and safety of several thousand residents, the United States this afternoon filed a lawsuit against the operator of the facility in an effort to have him make significant improvements or, in the alternative, to have the trailer park shut down.

October 10, 2007

TWO MEN ARRESTED IN $27 MILLION SCAM THAT BILKED MORE THAN 5OO IN COAL MINES, GOLD TRANSACTION SCAM

Federal authorities have arrested two men on charges of defrauding more than 500 investors out of more than $27 million through a bogus investment scheme that promised victims huge returns in relation to coal mines and an international commodities transaction.

October 09, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO RESIDENT CHARGED WITH 17 COUNTS OF FILING FALSE CLAIMS WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

SAN FRANCISCO – United States Attorney Scott N. Schools announced today that a federal grand jury indicted Roger Lexin Mai, of San Francisco, CA on 17 counts of making or presenting false claims to the Internal Revenue Service. These charges are the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.

October 08, 2007

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST MARION JONES PLEADS GUILTY TO MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS IN TWO SEPARATE FEDERAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

SAN FRANCISCO/SAN JOSE/OAKLAND – SCOTT N. SCHOOLS, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California, and MICHAEL J. GARCIA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MARION JONES-THOMPSON, 31, of Austin, Texas, pleaded guilty today to charges of making false statements to federal agencies in connection with two investigations conducted out of the Northern District of California and the Southern District of New York, respectively. JONES-THOMPSON pleaded guilty before KENNETH M. KARAS, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, to a two-count Superseding Information filed earlier today. According to the Superseding Information and other documents filed in San Francisco, Manhattan, and White Plains federal court, as well as statements made during today's guilty plea proceeding:

October 5, 2007

FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ARREST FOUR IN CHECK-KITING SCHEME THAT COST BANKS MORE THAN $4 MILLION

Four people associated with a fraud ring that cost banks more than $4 million have been arrested by federal authorities, who also seized dozens of counterfeit identity documents, as well as checks and ATM cards associated with fraudulently opened bank accounts.

October 04, 2007

FORMER ATTORNEY CHARGED IN RELATION TO 'ARBITAGE' PONZI SCHEME THAT COST VICTIMS OVER $19 MILLION

A former California lawyer currently in custody on fraud charges has been charged in an unrelated case in California with defrauding approximately 100 victims out of more than $19.7 million.

October 03, 2007

MAN WHO BILKED VICTIMS ACROSS U.S. AND SWITZERLAND OUT OF MORE THAN $6 MILLION SENTENCED TO NEARLY 11 YEARS

A transient with ties to Las Vegas and Southern California was sentenced today to 130 months in federal prison for running a scheme that bilked several victims out of more than $5 million with promises of huge returns on their investments that they thought were being used to make “bridge loans” or to invest in projects such as a waste-treatment plant in New Jersey.

October 02, 2007

FORMER NETWORK APPLIANCE MANAGER CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLEMENT

Former Transportation Manager of Network Appliance Corporation Charged Over $ 90,000 in Personal Expenses to Corporation

SAN JOSE - United States Attorney Scott. N. Schools announced that Bernadette Escue, the former Global Transportation Manager of Network Appliance Corporation, ("Network") was charged yesterday afternoon with wire fraud. According to the Information filed in San Jose federal district court, Ms. Escue, 41, used her position to embezzle over $90,000 by charging personal expenses to her company charge cards.

October 01, 2007

ECO-TERRORIST CONVICTED

Sacramento federal jury convicts Eric McDavid with conspiracy to commit domestic terrorism

SACRAMENTO-- United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott and FBI Special Agent in Charge Drew S. Parenti announced today that a federal jury returned a guilty verdict against ERIC McDAVID, 29, of Foresthill, California, for conspiracy to damage or destroy property by fire and an explosive. McDAVID’s two co-conspirators previously pled guilty to conspiracy and agreed to cooperate with the government in the prosecution of McDAVID. ZACHARY JENSON and LAUREN WEINER entered guilty pleas on July 19, 2006 and May 30, 2006, respectively. Their sentencing dates are pending.

September 28, 2007

TWO BAY AREA MEN INDICTED ON CHARGES OF ECONOMIC ESPIONAGE

SAN JOSE – Two Bay Area men were indicted today, September 26, 2007, on charges of conspiracy to commit economic espionage and to steal trade secrets, two substantive counts of economic espionage and two substantive counts of theft of trade secrets, U.S. Attorney Scott N. Schools announced. A federal grand jury in San Jose yesterday returned a superseding indictment against Lan Lee, a.k.a Lan Li, of Palo Alto, and Yuefei Ge, of San Jose.

September 27, 2007

FOUR DEFENDANTS INDICTED ON SACRAMENTO AREA MORTGAGE FRAUD SCHEME

SACRAMENTO -- United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that three defendants will appear in federal court today to face charges that they engaged in a Sacramento area mortgage fraud scheme that involved at least 19 homes with loans of more than $8 million. A federal grand jury returned an indictment last Thursday, sealed until today, charging JAMES ROY MARTIN, 36, MARIO FELLINI, III, 38, GABRIEL RICHARD VIRAMONTES, 44, and JOSEPH SALVATORE GALLO, 34, all from the Sacramento area, with bank fraud and conspiracy to launder money.

September 26, 2007

MANHATTAN U.S. ATTORNEY CHARGES NORMAN HSU WITH $60 MILLION FRAUD SCHEME

Hsu Also Accused of Using Straw Donors to Make Illegal Federal Campaign Contributions

September 25, 2007

ED JEW, MEMBER OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CHARGED WITH MAIL FRAUD

Complaint Alleges that City Supervisor Demanded Cash Payments from San Francisco Beverage Franchises.

September 24, 2007

MELVYN WEISS, CO-FOUNDER OF MILBERG WEISS LAW FIRM, INDICTED IN SECRET KICKBACK SCHEME INVOLVING NAMED PLAINTIFFS IN CLASS-ACTION LAWSUITS

LOS ANGELES – Melvyn I. Weiss, a co-founder of the New York-based Milberg Weiss law firm, was indicted today by a federal grand jury for allegedly participating in a scheme in which the firm paid millions of dollars in secret kickbacks to several individuals in exchange for them serving as named plaintiffs in more than 225 class-action and shareholder derivative-action lawsuits that were filed across the United States.

September 21, 2007

Brown’s Division of Gambling Control Busts Casino Counterfeiters

SAN FRANCISCO—California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that the Division of Gambling Control has caught, red-handed, two counterfeiters who were feeding fake $100 bills into slot machines at a Tribal Casino in Mendocino County.

September 20, 2007

O.C. ATTORNEY INDICTED FOR RUNNING ‘HIGH-YIELD’ INVESTMENT SCAM THAT COST VICTIMS OVER $1 MILLION

A Newport Beach lawyer and a San Diego County man were indicted today on federal fraud and money laundering charges in relation to a “high-yield” investment program that took more than $1 million from victims who