SANTA ANA - A woman has been charged with illegally assisting an 86-year-old WWII veteran with committing suicide by providing him with a lethal dose of Oxycontin mixed into yogurt. Elizabeth Barrett, 66, Laguna Woods, is charged with one felony count of assisted suicide and faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison if convicted. Barrett is currently being held on $25,000 bail. Her arraignment date is to be determined. At the time of the crime, Jack Koency was an 86-year-old WWII veteran who lived in Laguna Niguel. He was not terminally ill, bedridden, or immobile. The defendant... Continue reading

February 23, 2012 Case # 12NF0476 Orange County District Attorney's Office SANTA ANA - A former police officer has been charged with stealing over $60,000 from a charitable police officers' football organization. Kirk Robert Lotzgesell, 43, Winchester, is charged with one felony count of grand theft and faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison if convicted. The defendant was arrested today by the Brea Police Department (BPD) and is being held on $60,000 bail. He is expected to be arraigned Monday, Feb. 27, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The Orange County... Continue reading

Department of Justice LOS ANGELES – As part of a continuing, coordinated effort against commercial marijuana operations in California that started last fall, federal prosecutors over the past week have filed four asset forfeiture lawsuits against properties housing marijuana storefronts in Los Angeles and Orange counties and have sent warning letters to property owners and operators of illegal marijuana stores in several Southland cities. Three asset forfeiture complaints against buildings in Costa Mesa where marijuana stores are currently operating were filed this morning in United States District Court in Los Angeles. Prosecutors this morning also sent letters to marijuana store... Continue reading

Jan. 12, 2012 Case # 11CM08525 INTERN CONVICTED OF SECRETLY VIDEOTAPING MEN UNDER SANTA ANA CITY HALL RESTROOM STALLS USING HIS CELL PHONE SANTA ANA - An intern for the City of Santa Ana was convicted and sentenced today for surreptitiously creating 64 videotapes using his cell phone of men while the victims were using restrooms in City Hall. Miguel Ruiz Fabian, 24, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty to eight misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct by unlawful viewing and was sentenced to six months in jail and three years of formal probation. At the time of the crime, Fabian was an... Continue reading

January 10, 2012 THREE SAN DIEGO GANG MEMBERS CONVICTED OF CRIME SPREE ROBBERIES IN TWO ORANGE COUNTY JEWELRY STORES *Eight co-defendants have also been convicted in this case WESTMINSTER - Three gang members have been convicted for their role in a crime spree involving the armed robbery of two Orange County jewelry stores, identity theft, and street terrorism. Two of the defendants were found guilty by a jury Jan. 9, 2012, and the third defendant pleaded guilty mid-trial. All three are scheduled to be sentenced April 20, 2012, in Department W-18, West Justice Center, Westminster. Aida Arroyo, 29, pleaded guilty... Continue reading

From the OC District Attorney's Office January 5, 2012 Case # 11WF1668 WOMAN INDICTED FOR CUTTING OFF MAN'S PENIS AFTER TYING HIM TO BED SANTA ANA - A woman was indicted by the Orange County Grand Jury today for cutting off a man's penis after tying him to his bed. Catherine Kieu, 48, Garden Grove, was indicted on one felony count of torture, one felony count of aggravated mayhem, and a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a knife. If convicted on all counts, she faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison with the possibility of parole.... Continue reading

Department of Justice JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REACHES $335 MILLION SETTLEMENT TO RESOLVE ALLEGATIONS OF LENDING DISCRIMINATION BY COUNTRYWIDE FINANCIAL CORPORATION More than 200,000 African-American and Hispanic Borrowers who Qualified for Loans were Charged Higher Fees or Placed into Subprime Loans WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today filed its largest residential fair lending settlement in history to resolve allegations that Countrywide Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries engaged in a widespread pattern or practice of discrimination against qualified African-American and Hispanic borrowers in their mortgage lending from 2004 through 2008. The settlement provides $335 million in compensation for victims of Countrywide’s discrimination... Continue reading

December 16, 2011 Case # 08CF2755 PART-OWNER AND TWO MANAGERS OF DOUGLAS NISSAN SENTENCED FOR DEFRAUDING CUSTOMERS AND BANKS IN THEFT CONSPIRACY *A fourth co-defendant is a fugitive in this case SANTA ANA - A part-owner and two managers of Douglas Nissan in Orange were sentenced today for their role in an elaborate conspiracy to steal unsuspecting customer identities and defraud banks in the sale of used cars. Part-Owner Frank Ignacio Urbano, 57, Anaheim, and desk managers Luz Belem Corral, 29, Costa Mesa, and Kevin Allen DeRosier, 31, Anaheim, pleaded guilty May 6, 2011, to felonies including 43 counts of... Continue reading

December 20, 2011 PAROLE DENIED FOR MAN CONVICTED OF STABBING-MURDER OF COWORKER AND ATTEMPTED MURDER OF ANOTHER SANTA ANA - The Board of Parole Hearings (Board), California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, denied the parole today for an inmate who was convicted of stabbing and murdering his coworker and attempting to murder another. Ivory Joe Valentine, 57, is currently being held at Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, CA. Valentine was sentenced Oct. 21, 1986, to 20 years to life in state prison with an additional one year for the sentencing enhancement for the personal used of a deadly weapon, after... Continue reading

December 19, 2011 Case # 03HF1207 MARRIED COUPLE CONVICTED OF FAILING TO PAY TAXES ON OVER $180 MILLION IN UNREPORTED INCOME FROM POWER PLANT REFURBISHING BUSINESS SANTA ANA - A formerly married couple was convicted Friday of failing to pay taxes on over $180 million in unreported income from their power plant refurbishing business. Richard Engel pleaded guilty Dec. 16, 2011, to four felony counts of failing to file tax returns for his corporation, three felony counts of filing false personal tax returns, and one felony count of failing to file a personal return. The defendant also admitted sentencing enhancements... Continue reading

December 16, 2011 Case # 09CF1446 HARD MONEY LENDER BROKER SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOR STEALING OVER $6.9 MILLION FROM INVESTORS IN PONZI AND REAL ESTATE FRAUD SCHEME SANTA ANA - A broker for "hard money lenders" was sentenced today to 15 years in state prison and three years of formal probation for stealing $6.9 million from investors in a Ponzi and real estate fraud scheme. Mark Alan Helsing, 53, Tustin, pleaded guilty Oct. 3, 2011, to 55 felony counts of grand theft, seven felony counts of filing false recorded documents, six felony counts of elder financial exploitation,... Continue reading

December 16, 2011 Case # 09CF1955 MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE FOR VETERANS DAY ROBBERY-MURDER OF WWII VETERAN *Defendant and co-defendant left victim in a coma for three years and were charged with murder after the victim's death SANTA ANA - A man was sentenced today to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for the beating-murder of a WWII veteran during a robbery on Veterans Day. The victim was left in a coma for over three years until he died as a direct result of his injuries sustained in the 2003 attack. Curtis James... Continue reading

December 15, 2011 Case # 07NF2178 MAN CONVICTED OF CONSPIRACY IN REVENGE-MURDER AND ATTEMPTED MURDER OF FAMILY, WHOSE BODIES WERE BURNED AND HOUSE SET ON FIRE *Jury was unable to reach a verdict regarding co-defendant; A third co-defendant is pending trial SANTA ANA - A man was convicted today for his role in a revenge-murder and attempted murder conspiracy targeting the family of a co-defendant's ex-girlfriend. Two victims were murdered and set on fire and a third was left in a coma after suffering life-threatening injuries. Vitaliy Krasnoperov, 26, Hollywood, was found guilty by a jury of two felony counts... Continue reading

December 14, 2011 FIVE FAMILY MEMBERS CHARGED WITH ENDANGERING TWO CHILDREN IN URINE AND FECES-INFESTED HOUSE WITH 110 CATS Orange County District Attorney's Office SANTA ANA - A family of five adults has been charged with exposing two children to severely unsanitary conditions by living in a urine and feces-filled home with 110 cats. The five defendants are Sharon Lynn Howe, 65; her husband John Ed Howe, 68; her daughter Kerri Lynn Howe Moreno, 44; Kerri Moreno's husband Jessy Moreno, 41; and Kerri Moreno's daughter Courtney Lynn Howe Perez, 23. All five are charged with two felony counts each of... Continue reading

From the Orange County District Attorney's Office: December 14, 2011 Case # 09ZF0073 THREE SAN DIEGO GANG MEMBERS FACE TRIAL FOR CRIME SPREE ROBBERIES IN TWO ORANGE COUNTY JEWELRY STORES *Eight co-defendants have been convicted in this case SANTA ANA - Opening statements begin today against three gang members for their role in a crime spree involving the armed robbery of two Orange County jewelry stores, identity theft, and street terrorism. Aida Arroyo, 29, is charged with one felony count each of second degree robbery, second degree commercial burglary, and street terrorism, with sentencing enhancements for criminal street gang activity... Continue reading

From US Customs and Border Protection: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport complex seized 151 life-size decorative lights of Santa Claus, a snowman and a polar bear with electrical adaptors containing counterfeit Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) markings. UL is an independent product safety certification organization that rigorously tests and evaluates products for potential risk of fire, shock, and personal injury. Products are not certified until they meet established standards. Products bearing counterfeit UL certification marks have not undergone this rigorous testing and certification process, and can present potential safety hazards to the... Continue reading

From the Orange County District Attorney's Office: December 12, 2011 Case # TBA ROOMMATES CHARGED WITH STEALING AND FORGING $285,000 CHECK AND SPENDING MONEY ON PRIVATE JET, HOTEL ROOMS, AND TIFFANY & CO. SHOPPING SPREE *Defendants also accused of using stolen money to put deposit on $3.7 million home WESTMINSTER - Two roommates have been charged with stealing a check from a Newport Beach law firm and changing the value to over $285,000 to spend on a private jet to New York, multiple hotel rooms, and a shopping spree at Tiffany & Co. and Montblanc for them and their friends.... Continue reading

 Department of Justice LOS ANGELES – A senior attorney with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was sentenced this morning to 212 months in federal prison for taking nearly one-half million dollars in bribes from immigrants who were promised immigration benefits that would allow them to remain in the United States. ICE Assistant Chief Counsel Constantine Peter Kallas, 40, of Alta Loma, received the 17⅔-year sentence from United States District Judge Terry J. Hatter Jr. In addition to the prison term, Judge Hatter ordered Kallas to pay $296,865 in restitution after fraudulently receiving worker’s compensation benefits. “Mr. Kallas has... Continue reading

LOS ANGELES – Former Pico Rivera City Councilman Ronald Beilke today was convicted of conflict of interest, the District Attorney’s Office announced. Deputy District Attorney Sandi Roth of the Public Integrity Division said Beilke was convicted of two misdemeanor counts of conflict of interest for voting on contracts between the City of Pico Rivera and two private businesses, All American Asphalt and Mobility Solutions. The work stipulated by the contracts benefited Beilke’s Wienerschnitzel franchise in Pico Rivera, the prosecutor said. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench ordered Beilke to return for sentencing on Feb. 18, 2011 in Department 132... Continue reading

US Department of Justice LOS ANGELES – A joint federal-state law enforcement operation this morning led to the arrest of 27 people linked to a Lennox street gang, some of whom are named in a federal racketeering indictment that alleges the gang is a criminal enterprise that has engaged in violent crimes, extortion and narcotics trafficking. Some of those taken into custody today face federal charges, others will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution on various offenses, and some are allegedly illegal immigrants who face criminal prosecution and deportation. Today’s operation involved nearly 500... Continue reading

January 18, 2011 Orange County District Attorney　 SANTA ANA - The Orange County District Attorney's (OCDA) Office filed a petition today to have violent, convicted sex offender Lawrence Joseph Brown, 52, civilly committed as a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP). Brown was released on parole in Orange County on Nov. 17, 2010, after serving 25 years of a 49-year sentence for brutally sexually assaulting two young girls after kidnapping them in broad daylight. He was arrested less than an hour later for violating his parole and was transported back to Chino State Prison, where he is currently in custody on the... Continue reading

January 18, 2011 Orange County District Attorney's Office * These are the second and third defendants to be convicted in this case; six additional defendants are charged with murder SANTA ANA - Two jail inmates were sentenced today for their role in the beating-death of a fellow Theo Lacy Facility inmate who was believed to be a child molester. Christopher Teague, 34, Long Beach, and Jeremy Dezso Culmann, 27, Corona, pleaded guilty to one felony count of voluntary manslaughter and were each sentenced to 15 years in state prison. Co-defendant Michael Stewart Garten, 25, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty Jan. 11,... Continue reading

US Department of Justice LOS ANGELES – Two Japanese nationals have been arrested on federal animal smuggling charges at Los Angeles International Airport after they allegedly brought into the United States approximately 55 live turtles and tortoises that were concealed in snack food boxes discovered in a suitcase. Atsushi Yamagami, 39, and Norihide Ushirozako, 49, both Japanese citizens who are believed to reside in Osaka, were arrested without incident early Friday morning by special agents with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Yamagami and Ushirozako are charged in a two-count criminal complaint filed this morning that alleges one count of... Continue reading

January 10, 2011 Orange County District Attorney's Office SANTA ANA - Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas announced today he will seek the death penalty against a man for the double-murder of a Stanton sales associate and his longtime secretary. Hilbert Pineil Thomas, 39, Garden Grove, is charged with two felony counts of special circumstances murder for multiple murders, murder during the commission of robbery, and murder during the commission of burglary. He is also charged with one felony count each of second degree robbery, second degree commercial burglary, and the unlawful taking of a vehicle. Thomas is being... Continue reading