The Lyons Development in Coto de Caza and the Public Safety Creeping Elegance

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Coto de Caza, California -  .A recent report of the Ten Most Dangerous Cities in California published in the Telegraph today show that with the exception of Oakland, the most dangerous cities are small communities not unlike Coto de Caza.  Cities like Capitola, covering an area of 1.5 square miles located south of San Jose.  Add Nevada City, Emeryville and Irwindale and Compton for example.

The Coto de Caza community used to be a bucolic, quiet, safe community.  So much so that some twenty years ago CNN/Money listed the Coto de Caza community as one of the safest in the country and the best place to retire.  Now, however, thanks to the CZ Master Association board of directors Public Safety Creeping Elegance, and according to data provided by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol Capistrano Office, the Coto de Caza community is the most dangerous community around, gated or ungated.

A third traffic fatality under the current board of directors watch occurred January 31, 2014 with the death of Franz Nelezny at one of the most dangerous intersections in Coto de Caza.

Some of the Public Safety Creeping Elegance includes promotion of new developments, including the Lyons one,  promotion  of the Coto de Caza Polo Arena, Promoting use of bicycles in most dangerous roads, posting Golf Crossing  signs encouraging improper pedestrian crossings in two of the most dangerous , unmarked crossings in the community.  A single item may be inconsequential.  Even more than one, but the accumulation continues to prove to be lethal.

Coto de Caza Traffic Accident Report ending March 30, 2014

To make matters worse, while CZ Master Association Board of directors encourages additional traffic the Coto de Caza Accident  Rate is at all time high and CHP patrol is down 25% from lawsuit mitigation strategy,

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4Q2013 Traffic Accident Report - Coto de Caza Rate Continues at all time high, Ladera Ranch inches up

Coto de Caza, CA - The California Highway Patrol  (CHP) traffic accident report for the fourth quarter of 2013 ending December 30, 2013 (4Q2013) shows the traffic accident rate in Coto de Caza is at an all time high at rates comparable to the ones when the CZ Master Association board of directors fired the CHP with fatal consequences in December 2005 and March of 2006.

Coto de Caza’s website gets a Failing grade from Qualys for its security protocols

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – Qualys, a pioneer and leading provider of cloud security and compliance solutions announced yesterday that its newly released tool can detect the OpenSSL HeartBleed vulnerability announced Monday, April 7, 2014

Using the Qualys tool, the CZ Master Association’s website gets a  grade of F.   So does its security company’s, Universal Protection (UPS) website

Coto de Caza and Ladera Ranch 1Q2011 Public Safety Review
Coto de Caza, CA –By its own words and actions, it is fair to argue that Coto de Caza’s local governance is not only apathetic when it comes to public safety, but its own actions actually result increase the risk to residents. Worse, seems like adults in Coto de Caza have similar views as the local governance.

Our research over close to ten years indicate that whether a community is safe or not, is primarily a function of residents and local governance, not law enforcement. Consider that when a city in Orange County is deemed the safest city, what about the other 11 cities or the unincorporated areas? What about Coto de Caza with the highest crime rate in history in early 2010. After all, only common denominator is that the OCSD is the law enforcement agency. What does the OCSD do differently in the safest city, as opposed to the least safe city under its watch?



Coto de Caza's Traffic Incident Rate at Critical Danger Levels
Coto de Caza, CA - While the Coto de Caza's total population has been shrinking for the last ten years, including placement of 17 property liens for the month of January 2011 out of roughly 3500 homes, the policies pursued by the CZ Master association board of directors, the local governance, have consistently increased traffic with a reduction in CHP patrol hours, with predictable results. Consider that for close to a decade, we have consistently shown conclusive evidence that there is a direct correlation between the extent of the CHP traffic enforcement efforts and the number of traffic accidents in the community.


Coto Continues on Dangerous Course of Traffic Incidents

While Incident Rate Lower, Still at Critical Levels

Coto de Caza, CA - The good news for Coto de Caza residents is that the quarter-to-quarter accident rate for the quarter ending March 31, 2011 is significantly down from the previous quarter. The bad news is that it is still at the same levels as when the community experienced its two traffic fatalities within a three month period between December 2005 and March 2006

Coto de Caza Fires the CHP - Again!

Coto de Caza, CA - The CotoBuzz Journal has documented the one-sided hate-hate relationship between the CZ Master Association board of directors and law enforcement agencies in general, and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) specifically (CHP). In an open board meeting for example, a board member called the Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) extortionists! Despite the public abuse the CHP has received from the Coto de Caza board of directors ever since the board was coerced into bringing the CHP back for pro-active traffic patrol, figures indicate that the CHP has been doing its job: - The Chart below was published Sept. 30, 2006.

Rhianna Six Month’s Anniversary Mr. Manian’s Three Month’s Anniversary
It has been six months since Rhianna Woolsey died (December 7, 2005) in the first traffic fatality in Coto de Caza in the last ten years. Sadly, this week also marks the Three Month Anniversary of Mr. Morteza Manian’s death, as he was struck by a...

Bicycle Safety Within Coto de Caza
During the June 8, 2006 Coto de Caza board meeting Yo Orduno described a public safety situation in the Summerfield district including a warning about an increase of rush hour cyclists in and around Vista Del Verde, some even riding pairwise making the...

Coto de Caza - New Election Laws - Call for Candidates
Dear CZ Board Members:

In July, 2006 the new state law governing HOA elections will take effect. That means that shortly thereafter, the Board should send out information concerning the mechanisms the Board intends to implement in 2007 to comply with...

First 2006-2007 Coto de Caza Board of Directors Meeting, Standing Room Only!  …and Coto de Caza’s Tar Baby
The first 2006-2007 Coto de Caza Board of Directors Meeting, can best be described as standing-room only, with the local media well represented.  A political junkie would have felt right at home, as you could sense the excitement, the energy and the...

COTOBUZZ RELEASES CRIME & VANDALISM MANAGEMENT TOOL
In its continued commitment to public safety, on June 1, 2006, CotoBuzz unveiled a Crime and Vandalism Management tool (see below for first installment), containing key metrics and a side-by-side comparison between Coto de Caza and Ladera Ranch....

COTO DE CAZA- SecurityAreNotUs
In today's Canyon Life, there was an article about Lyle Schlieder's leaving the BOD. Lyle was quoted as follows: "There are no patrols anymore. I am not sure if what we are dealing with is just a pretty face at the gate that we pay a lot of money for." So...

BREAKING NEWS: COTO IS SAFER THAN OTHER COMMUNITIES:
BREAKING NEWS: COTO IS SAFER THAN OTHER COMMUNITIES:

The April 21 issue of the CanyonLife reports that “Fred Lisanti of Pacific Oak Security, security consultants to the ( Coto de Caza) board, presented a report indicating the official crime...

CotoBuzz March 2006 Newsletter
First Traffic Accident Lawsuit Filed: Coto de Caza Public Safety Bandwagon is filling up Fast- Hop In!: . We just received the February 2006 CHP report – as previously reported in the Coto discussion forum, we had our first traffic accident in...

Lawless, Clueless Coto de Caza
Last night, December 12, 2006, the CZ homeowner’s association board of directors held their regularly scheduled open session meeting. Present were representatives from the LA Times and Freedom Communications.

Lawless, Values-less, Spiritual-less Coto de Caza
When we first moved to Coto de Caza over 12 years ago, we really thought there was No Place Like Coto. Shortly thereafter CNN/Money discovered Coto as well and included it in their list of One of the Best Places to Live/Best Places to Retire.

Kenneth Brewington, Corona, CA billionaire indicted for conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud.

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. -  Kenneth Brewington, a purported billionaire financier was taken into federal custody today for his role in an alleged Ponzi scheme in which investors lost $2.5 million, according to announcement by Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Inspector in Charge Gary Barksdale of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Criminal Investigations Group.  

Kenneth Brewington, 50, of Corona, California, was indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Colorado for conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, mail fraud and six counts of wire fraud.

According to the indictment, from September 2009 until 2011, Brewington and his co-conspirators sold promissory notes to investors through a financial services marketing company based in Denver called Compass Financial Solutions (CFS).  The indictment alleges that Brewington and his co-conspirators falsely represented to investors that Brewington held millions of Euros in overseas bank accounts, and that the proceeds raised from investors would be used to obtain the release of his overseas funds.  To conceal the scheme, Brewington and his co-conspirators allegedly had investors wire their funds to an attorney trust account.  The funds from that account, however, were then allegedly sent to Brewington and his co-conspirators.  Brewington and his co-conspirators allegedly used the investors’ money for their own personal benefit. 

The former corporate counsel for CFS, William E. Dawn, 77, of Denver, and the former CEO of CFS, Brian G. Elrod, 58, of Lakewood, Colorado, previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme.  Sentencing hearings are scheduled for May 29, 2015, and May 22, 2015, respectively. 

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Henry P. Van Dyck and Jennifer G. Ballantyne of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

Dwayne Richardson, Villa Park High School Coach Arrested for Sexual Misconduct

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. – (February 26, 2015) – On Wednesday, February 25, 2015, Orange County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Unit (SVU) investigators arrested Dwayne Jordan Richardson, 19, Fullerton, following allegations he engaged in sexual misconduct with two female minor high school students, according to OCSD Lt.  Jeff Hallock.

Richardson is a  girls’ basketball coach at Villa Park High School but does not teach at the school.

On Thursday, February 25, 2015, the Villa Park High School Resource Officer obtained information about the alleged sexual misconduct.  The Sheriff’s Department’s SVU responded and assumed responsibility for the investigation.  Following the preliminary investigation, it is believed Richardson engaged in sexual misconduct with a female minor student who attends Villa Park High School and a student at El Dorado High School in the city of Placentia.  Based on information obtained during the investigation, investigators suspect Richardson has engaged in sexual misconduct with at least one of the minor students since June 2014.

Based on Richardson’s alleged sexual misconduct with two current high school students and his current position as a walk-on coach, investigators believe there may be additional victims.

Richardson was arrested and booked into Orange County Jail on $100K bail but has since been released after posting bond.  Richardson will be scheduled to appear in court pending filing of charges by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Anyone with additional information or believes they were a victim is asked to call Orange County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Unit Sergeant Wade Walsvick at (714) 647-7418 or (714) 647-7000.  Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.

Arturo Torres, Reality TV Bounty Hunter Charge with Embezzling over $18Kd

 Torres had previously appeared on the television reality show "Bounty Wars" on the Discovery Channel as a bounty hunter.

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - Arturo Torres, a bounty hunter was arrested today and will be arraigned for embezzling over $18,000 in connection with a bail bond transaction, according to the Orange County District Attorney's office.

Arturo Alfred Torres, 52, Winnetka, is charged with one felony count of grand theft by embezzlement. 

On Feb. 8, 2013, Joan S.' son was arrested and booked in the Los Angeles County jail and held on $20,000 bail. She contacted a bail bonds company and consequently met Torres. Torres, along with a bail agent, is accused of going to Los Angeles County jail, bailing out Joan S.' son, and then driving him to his mother's home in Orange County. While meeting with Joan S., Torres is accused of asking for a $20,000 check made out to him personally. Torres is accused of collecting the check from the victim and cashing it into his personal checking account.

No charges were filed against Joan S.' son and on March 21, 2013, his bail was exonerated. Torres is accused of refusing to return the money to Joan S. despite the victim's numerous attempts to have it returned.

On Feb. 13, 2014, the victim reported the theft to the California Department of Insurance (CDI), who investigated the case. Today, Feb. 25, 2015, Torres was arrested at his home in Winnetka.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Brock Zimmon of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.

The DOJ announces a $3 million reward for Cyber Fugitive Evgeniy Bogachev n GameOver Zeus botnet case

Bogachev is on the FBI’s Cyber’s Most Wanted and is believed to be at large in Russia.

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA  The Justice Department (DOJ) , in partnership with the U.S. Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Rewards Program, announced today a reward of up to $3 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of prolific cyber criminal  Evgeniy Mikhailovich Bogachev who was was charged with numerous violations for his role as an administrator of the GameOver Zeus botnet.

The software was used to capture bank account numbers, passwords, personal identification numbers and other information necessary to log into online banking accounts.  It is believed GameOver Zeus is responsible for more than 1 million computer infections, resulting in financial losses of more than $100 million.

Bogachev was charged in 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with conspiracy, computer hacking, wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering in connection with his alleged role as an administrator of the GameOver Zeus botnet. Bogachev was also indicted by criminal complaint in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2012 and charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud related to his alleged involvement in the operation of a prior variant of Zeus malware known as Jabber Zeus.

Anyone with information on Bogachev should contact the FBI via the Major Case Contact Center, 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), or the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.  You may also submit a tip online via tips.fbi.gov.  All information will be kept strictly confidential.

ADELA TAPIA, FORMER OFFICE MANAGER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR EMBEZZLING MONEY FROM CATHOLIC SCHOOL FUNDRAISING PROGRAM

Posted By CotoBlogzz
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - Adela Maria Tapia, a former office manager is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for embezzling money from a Catholic school's fundraising program.

 According to the Orange County District Attorney's office, Adela Maria Tapia, 40, Tustin, is charged with two felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement, 13 felony counts of money laundering with sentencing enhancement allegations for aggravated white collar crime over $100,000, and property loss of over $200,000. 
In September 2006, Tapia was hired as the scrip card coordinator at the Holy Family Cathedral School (HFCS) in Orange. The scrip card program is utilized by HFCS to raise funds for the operating costs of the school by selling scrip cards, which act similarly to gift cards, to school families or parishioners at face value. HFCS purchases scrip cards at a discount and their profit is based on the difference between the purchase value and sale value of the scrip cards sold. The scrip card program raises approximately $200,000 for the school each year.
Between September 2006 and September 2011, Tapia  is accused of taking cash payments from school families that purchased scrip cards and depositing the money into her own personal bank account.
Tapia is accused of taking scrip cards, kept in a safe at HFCS, and selling them to her family members, one of whom is an ordained deacon at another parish in the Catholic Diocese of Orange. Tapia is accused of keeping the money from the scrip cards sold to her family members for her own personal use. Tapia is accused of using the money she received from selling scrip cards to purchase luxury clothing and goods from department stores and private school tuition.
In 2011, Tapia was transferred to an office manager position. A new employee training to be the scrip card coordinator asked the principal of HFCS for access to the safe containing the scrip cards. After opening the safe, the principal found $120,000 of scrip cards missing and reported the theft to the Orange Police Department, who investigated this case

Chung Yeung, San Dimas Executive Arrested in $9 Million Bank Fraud Scheme - TARP involved

Chung Yeung, San Dimas Executive Arrested in $9 Million Bank Fraud Scheme - TARP involved

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - Chung Yu “Louis” Yeung, 37, of San Dimas, California, was indicted on Oct. 22, 2014, in the Central District of California for one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and five counts of bank fraud.  The indictment was under seal until his arrest today.  Guo Xiang “David” Fan, 52, was also indicted for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud, as well as money laundering, and remains at large, according to Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, 

According to the indictment, Yeung was Vice President and Fan was President of Eastern Tools and Equipment, an Ontario, California company that sold portable generators and other equipment.  The indictment charges Yeung and Fan with defrauding United Commercial Bank (UCB) and East West Bank, which took over UCB’s accounts, of more than $9 million. 

Specifically, the indictment alleges that Yeung, Fan, and others overstated Eastern Tools’ accounts receivable to increase its line of credit with UCB and later East West.  To support the inflated accounts receivable submitted to the banks, Yeung, Fan, and others allegedly opened approximately 20 shell companies, backstopped with fictitious business name statements, post office boxes, bank accounts, and telephone numbers.  They then allegedly moved money from Eastern Tools’ bank accounts into the shell companies’ bank accounts to create the false appearance of substantial commercial activity.  Finally, Yeung, Fan, and others allegedly siphoned those funds into their own personal accounts.

East West Bank allegedly sustained a loss of approximately $9,157,172 as a result of the fraud scheme.

In November 2008, UCBH Holdings, Inc., UCB’s parent company, received $298.7 million in federal taxpayer funds through the U.S. Department of the Treasury Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP).  On Nov. 6, 2009, UCB failed and was taken over by state and federal regulators.  As a result of the bank’s failure, none of the TARP funds were repaid, and the $298.7 million TARP investment has been written-off. 

The charges contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by SIGTARP, the FBI and IRS-CI, and prosecuted by Trial Attorney Fred Medick of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

Q&A Unit owner's request for information about HOA is ignored

(c) 2001-20015 D.VANITZIAN. All rights reserved. The Associations and Common Interest Living articles and columns may not be reprinted or retransmitted in any form without the express written consent of the copyright holders. The author takes no position regarding any documents or accompaniments that may be enclosed with, attached to, or alongside said article reprints or distribution. Los Angeles Times, Real Estate Section, "Associations," Unit owner's request for information about HOA is ignored, February 22, 2015  Donie Vanitzian, Special to The Times

By Donnie Vanitzian

Question: I purchased a townhouse condominium in Hawthorne recently. I asked the management company to notify me of the annual meeting and election of board directors. Management continues to send me homeowner association bills and collect my payments, but they won't respond to any of my requests. They won't tell me who the board directors are or how to reach them. I'm not sure there are meetings or elections. How can I get this information?

Answer: Initially, information should have been provided to you in escrow at time of purchase and you should have refused to close without it. Moreover, it is entirely possible that by the time escrow closes such vital notices and association-related information will not be sent in a timely manner, if at all.

At the close of escrow, buyers should make document demands directly to the association board, then compare the escrow documents' text with documents received after taking title. Titleholders have reported discrepancies when comparing escrow-provided documents with recorded documents on title and with after-sale documents provided by the association. Ensure that you are on record for making these demands by obtaining written confirmation for all.

Invoke your right to view documents by regularly inspecting and copying association books and records (covered by Corporations Code sections 8330, 8333, 8334; Civil Code sections 5200, 5205, 5210, 5260). Your covenants, conditions and restrictions (also known as CC&Rs) and bylaws should list an address for notices to the association. If incorporated, your association should have a registered agent listed with the California secretary of state. Try a corporate information search at: kepler.sos.ca.gov.

For owner requests to be effective, Civil Code section 4035 details how documents must be delivered to an association; oral demands are no longer acceptable. Civil Code section 5260 states that certain requests "shall" be delivered in writing to the association. Evidence Code section 11 states the word "shall" means "mandatory."

Request "individual delivery" of all notices. Next, request a full copy of a specified annual budget report and 24 months of board meeting minutes. Review minutes for election results naming board directors. Try making contact again.

If documents and information are not forthcoming, and your request is within time frames noted in Civil Code sections 5200 to 5205, and there is no compliance by the statutory deadlines, file a small-claims action. Ask for an order to produce the records, a $500 penalty (Civil Code section 5235 for association noncompliance) and small-claims court filing costs.

Zachary Levine, partner at Wolk & Levine, a business and intellectual property law firm, co-wrote this column. Vanitzian is an arbitrator and mediator. Send questions to Donie Vanitzian JD, P.O. Box 10490, Marina del Rey, CA 90295 or noexit@mindspring.com.

California AB 1738 says homeowners have right to advocate, HOA vultures fighting it.

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita. CA -  California  AB1738  clarifies that homeowners have the legal right to bring an advocate with them to a dispute resolution session with the board.  [Civil Code §§5900 et sq.]

However, HOA vultures, such as CAI and other industry advocates such as property management companies and law firms, including  Epsten Grinnell are already trying to create back doors by promoting contrived obstacles like notice strategies for diminishing homeowners rights

In a recent newsletter, this law firm, published “practice tips” for circumventing AB1738.  

The takeaway:  homeowner associations serve as ATM machines for property management companies, law firms and self-serving directors, and will fight to maintain the status quo.

Michelle Green Arrested Following Laguna Niguel Homicide Investigation

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA -– On Saturday, February 21, 2015, Orange County Sheriff’s (OCSD) Homicide investigators arrested, Michelle Green, 50, Laguna Niguel, in connection with the stabbing death of her 52 year-old, live-in boyfriend.  Green was arrested at her residence in the 24700 block of La Vida Drive, according to,OCSD's spokesperson Lt. Jeff Hallock.

At approximately 8:40 p.m., deputies responded to a call of a male subject down on the front lawn of the residence at 24805 La Vida Drive.  Deputies arrived and discovered the male victim lying in a neighbor’s front lawn suffering from a stab wound to his abdomen.  Deputies immediately initiated life-saving measures but were unsuccessful; the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene by Orange County Fire Authority paramedics.

The subsequent investigation revealed that Green and the victim were involved in a domestic dispute that led up to the fatal stabbing; however, investigators have yet to determine the reason for the dispute or motive for the stabbing.  Release of the victim’s identify is pending next of kin notification.

Green was arrested for murder and booked into Orange County Jail.  She is being held on $1 million bail and scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday February 24, 2014.  

Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at (714) 647-7000 or (714) 647-7044.  Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) 

Roshaun Porter and Marquis Horn, Long Beach, California, Men Sentenced for Sex Trafficking Conspiracy

Defendants Used Deception, Threats, Violence and Coercion to Compel Young Women into Prostitution in Orange County, California

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, California - Roshaun Nakia Porter, 39, was sentenced to 240 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release for his role in a sex trafficking conspiracy, according to announcement by the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.  Porter’s co-conspirator, Marquis Monte Horn, 40, was sentenced on Oct. 24, 2014, to serve 78 months in prison and five years of supervised release for his role in the conspiracy.  Two other defendants have entered guilty pleas in connection with the case.

The judge ordered Porter to pay $866,244.68 in restitution to 10 victims of the conspiracy.

On July 11, 2014, Porter and Horn each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion.  According to documents filed in court and admissions in court in connection with Porter’s guilty plea, between 2010 and April 2012, Porter masterminded a scheme in which he exploited young women, including foreign nationals and U.S. citizens, in his prostitution operation in Orange County, California.  

Using various deceptive means, including false online personal advertisements and fraudulent promises of legitimate employment, Porter reaped substantial illicit profit by luring his victims into personal relationships with him and, thereafter, compelling them to prostitute and provide him the proceeds from their commercial sex acts.  To compel the victims into compliance, Porter used physical violence, psychological abuse, threats to harm the victims’ family members and other coercive means.  In connection with his guilty plea, Horn admitted that between December 2010 and April 2012, he conspired to recruit and entice victims into Porter’s prostitution ring. 

This matter was investigated by the FBI.  It is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Daniel Weiss of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandy Leal of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California.

James Nelson Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft and more than $1.0 Million Tax Fraud Scheme

Admits Working with Others to Seek More Than $1.1 Million in Fraudulent Refunds

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA .  James Nelson, 31, a Washington, D.C., man pleaded guilty to various crimes committed in a far-reaching identity theft and tax fraud scheme in which he and others filed fraudulent federal income tax returns seeking more than $1.1 million in refunds, according to an announcement  today by the Justice Department.

Nelson, is among approximately a dozen people who have pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to charges in one of the largest prosecutions to date involving the use of stolen identifying information.  The overall case involves the filing of at least 12,000 fraudulent federal income tax returns that sought refunds of at least $40 million.

The guilty plea was unsealed today where Nelson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States with respect to claims, aiding and abetting in the making of false claims for refund, and aiding and abetting in fraud and related activity involving identification information.  Under federal sentencing guidelines, Nelson faces an estimated range of 41 to 51 months in prison and a fine of up to $75,000 at his sentencing before the Honorable U.S. District Judge Ellen S. Huvelle of the District of Columbia.  In addition, as part of his plea agreement, Nelson must pay $636,026 in restitution to the IRS.

According to the government’s evidence, Nelson was among participants in a massive and sophisticated identity theft and false tax refund scheme involving an extensive network of more than 130 people, many of whom were receiving public assistance.  

The refunds were sought since 2006, often in the names of people whose identities had been stolen, including the elderly, people in assisted living facilities, drug addicts and incarcerated prisoners.  In other cases, the refunds were sent to people who were willing participants in the scheme.  The refunds listed more than 400 “taxpayer” addresses

From December 2007 through January 2012, according to the government’s evidence, Nelson used his residential addresses, then in the District of Columbia, for the receipt of some of the fraudulently obtained tax refunds.  He also recruited others to receive fraudulent refunds at their addresses.  For example, Nelson paid one woman about $150 per check for each refund check delivered to her residential address in the District of Columbia.

Approximately 360 fraudulent federal income tax returns were filed with the IRS listing the addresses that were under Nelson’s control.  The returns sought refunds of approximately $908,500.  As a result, the IRS sent out 238 checks, totaling about $524,795, and 184 of those checks, totaling $432,804, were ultimately cashed. 

Nelson also recruited others to negotiate at least 86 other refund checks, totaling approximately $203,222, causing a total intended loss to the U.S. Treasury of more than $1.1 million.

International Pianist Daniel Pollack Presents a Master Class at Saddleback College

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita,  CA—Reflections of the Ocean Classical Keyboard Series announced that international pianist Daniel Pollack will present a master class on Sunday, March 15^th at 2:30 pm in the McKinney Theatre. Piano students will perform. 

Tickets are $12 general; $10 seniors; $7 students; children FREE with paying adult; 2 for 1 for music teachers with MTAC/CAPMT ID. For tickets call 949-582-4656 (Tuesday through Friday, noon to 4:00 p.m. or order your tickets online at any time at www.saddleback.edu/arts).

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Daniel Pollack began his studies at the age of four and made his debut with the New York Philharmonic at the age of nine, performing the ChopinPiano Concerto No. 1. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School from the class of the legendary Rosina Lhévinne. Audiences worldwide, across five continents - North America, Europe, Asia, South America and Africa -- recognize the pianism of Daniel Pollack for its signature colors in sound, coupled with over-the-edge thrilling virtuosity, giving his performances an electrifying element that catches the imagination of concert goers. Pollack has held several artist faculty positions including The Juilliard School and Columbia University and Yale's School of Music and is now on the faculty of the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School from the class of the legendary Rosina Lhevinne.

 Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo, just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit. Free parking is available in Lot 12.  Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and take the second left to Theatre Circle, turning right into Lot 12.

The Music Department has established a comprehensive program which is considered to be one of the finest in California: a complete lower-division curriculum for transferring music majors, numerous performance groups, private and group lessons, a full concert series with faculty and guest artists, and general music courses. The nationally-recognized faculty is dedicated to performance and to teaching in all areas such as vocal, instrumental, jazz, guitar, and piano.  Other music classes include harmony, musicianship, composition, history, and appreciation of western art music,

rock, jazz and world.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers more than 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visitwww.saddleback.edu.  For Fine Arts events, visit www.saddleback.edu/arts. 

CA AG Kamala D. Harris does a Brian Williams on Federal Judge Ruling on President’s Immigration Executive Action

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today issued the following statement on the Federal District Court’s decision to grant an injunction against the implementation of President Barack Obama’s immigration executive actions.

“President Obama has proposed common-sense actions to help address our broken immigration system—using the same executive authority that every president has used in the last five decades."  

She fails to mention that the President himself stated unequivocally 22 times over a period months leading to the midterm  elections that he did not have the authority to do so.  Only after the elections he was enlightened.  A good example of a Brian Williams.

John Moorlach for State Senate Campaign Headquarters Grand Opening Feb. 21

Posted By CotoBlogzz. 

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - The John Moorlach for Senate Campaign has just announced its campaign headquarters on Saturday, February 21 at 10 am.

Refreshments will be served, along with the opportunity  to meet supporters who are volunteering for John Moorlach’s campaign and an opportunity to chat with John Moorlach. 

You can also find  out how you can help get John elected to the 37th Senate District seat March 17th.

You can sign up to make phone calls, stuff envelopes, staff the headquarters and walk your precinct. You can also pick-up your precinct map and campaign materials at the opening.

The campaign wants to have enough food on hand, so it is asking for a RSVP to MoorlachVolunteers@gmail.com

Congressman Tom McClintock And the CotoBuzz Journal Announce Support for John Moorlach for Senate

“Moorlach has the right answers to California's budget woes.”   Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA  – Friday, Congressman Tom McClintock announced his full support for John Moorlach in the open 37th Senate District special election.  Today, the Cotobuzz Journal followed suit, adding to the strong endorsements on the heels of Moorlach winning the California Republican Assembly’s support last Saturday. “John Moorlach has consistently been one of the most correct, most level-headed forecasters of California’s budget and fiscal situation,” said Congressman McClintock.   “John is one of California’s most reliable taxpayer advocates.  And, his reforms that pulled Orange County out of debt and onto a solid fiscal platform demonstrate that he has the right answers to California’s budget woes.  Every conservative should be backing John Moorlach for Senate.  It's just that important.” According to the CotoBuzzJournal, John Moorlach is a common problem solving candidate, who will not simply go along to get along. Prior to winning his seat in Congress, Tom McClintock served in the California State Senate and State Assembly, where he earned a reputation as California’s top budget and fiscal expert.  In Congress, Tom McClintock has earned a national following among fiscal conservatives.

If you get a call from an OC Sheriff's Deputy, chances are its a scam, unless

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA  - The Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) is advising the public to be aware of phone scams involving subjects pretending to be law enforcement personnel.  Several instances of this type of fraud continue to occur throughout Orange County.

Suspects fraudulently identifying themselves as law enforcement officers, call victims claiming they have a warrant for their arrest. The reasons for the warrant vary; the most recent being failing to appear for jury duty or unpaid tickets.  The victim is then told they can resolve the issue by obtaining a pre-paid money card and calling back with the card number.  Once the number is obtained, the funds can be accessed anywhere in the world. 

The scammers are using names of actual Orange County Sheriff’s Department personnel; have voicemails using the officers’ names and “spoof” caller identification so the numbers of actual law enforcement agencies will appear on the victim’s phone.

The OCSD wants the public to know that the Orange County Sheriff’s Department DOES NOT solicit by phone and will never restrict the form of payment.  In addition, payments related to warrants and/or citations are handled directly through the Court.

The public can help combat this scam by doing the following:

• Do not call back or hang up if you are talking to them. 
• Call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-647-7000 or 949-770-6011 to determine if an OCSD employee is actually calling you and to file a report. 
• Contact the Court directly to inquire about bail or fine payment. The link http://www.occourts.org/locations contains court locations and contact information in Orange County. 

For more information on current scams and how to stop them, please visit the Scams page on our website at http://ocsd.org/about/info/safe/scams.