St. Patrick’s Day Weekend OCSD DUI deployment coming to a city near you

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (March 13, 2015) — The Orange County Sheriff’s Department (DUI) DUI Task Force will be deploying roving DUI patrols during this St. Patrick’s Day Holiday weekend within the cities of Mission Viejo, Lake Forest and Rancho Santa Margarita. In addition to regularly scheduled DUI Task Force officer, these DUI patrols will be looking to stop and arrest drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs.

According to OCSD's spokesperson, Emily Osterberg. St. Patrick’s Day has become a deadly day in the United States, with a dramatic spike in drunk-driving fatalities. In 2013, there were 31 people killed in drunk-driving crashes on March 17. From 2009 to 2013, there have been 276 drunk-driving fatalities around the holiday, with almost three-fourths of the drivers being twice the legal limit. Every one of those lives was lost because of bad decisions. 

Recent statistics reveal that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems.  A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent).  Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department DUI Task Force offered this advice to partygoers: “Get ahead of the decision this year. If you know you’re going to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with alcohol, make a plan ahead of time for how you’ll get home. Don’t wait until you’re too buzzed to decide, and don’t let your friends drive drunk.” Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving, so if you have anything to drink, count on a sober friend or public transportation to get you home safely. 

Use this party-planning checklist to stay safe this St. Patrick’s Day:

• Plan to drive sober or designate someone else to. If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation to get home safely. Save the number of a taxi company in your phone so you always have a backup plan.
• Before you take your first sip of green beer, leave your keys at home or give them to a friend. 
• If you know people who are about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely. 
• If you’re the designated driver, don’t drink. Enjoy non-alcoholic beverages and brag about your VIP (very important partygoer) status online using the hashtag #designateddriver. Only drive sober or ride with a sober driver.
• Use the DDVIP app. The California Office of Traffic Safety DDVIP app is now available for free download on iOS and Android devices. Launched last year, the new app offers enhanced features, allowing users to “Map a Spot” with their current location to find DDVIP partnering establishments in their area or a “List of Spots” to search all participating bars and restaurants throughout California. Also through the app, users who consume alcohol can easily order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb – all from one screen.  

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reminds you to ‘Report Drunk Drivers: Call 9-1-1!’

Funding is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

What do a Casino Owner, Businessman and NFL player have in common? Massive Tax Fraud Scheme

Ex-Casino Owner, Nevada Businessman and Former NFL Player Sentenced to Prison in Massive Tax Fraud Scheme: Court Orders More than $35 Million in Restitution

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca - A former casino owner from Henderson, Nevada, a former businessman from Las Vegas and a former NFL punter from Upland, California, were sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas to serve prison time and ordered to pay more than $35 million in restitution for conspiracy and fraud related to their promotion of a fraudulent tax product through the now-defunct National Audit Defense Network (NADN), according to announcement by Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

Alan Rodrigues, NADN’s former general manager and executive vice president, was sentenced to serve 72 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and to pay a $2,000 special assessment by U.S. District Court Judge Miranda Du of the District of Nevada.  Rodrigues was ordered to pay restitution of more than $35 million to customers of NADN who purchased the fraudulent tax product.  

Weston Coolidge, a businessman who previously served as NADN’s president, was sentenced by Judge Du to serve 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and to pay a $2,000 special assessment for his part in the fraud.  Coolidge was also ordered to pay restitution of more than $35 million to victims of the fraud.  

Joseph Prokop, who previously served as the National Marketing Director for Oryan Management and Financial Services, a company affiliated with NADN, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison to be followed by 30 months home confinement and three years of supervised release.  Prokop was also ordered to pay a $1,800 special assessment and restitution to victims of more than $35 million.  At sentencing, Judge Du found that the defendants were responsible for fraud losses of more than $36 million and an intended tax loss of more than $60 million.

On May 27, 2014, after a six-week jury trial, the three defendants were convicted of one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, 13 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns and four counts of mail fraud.  Rodrigues and Coolidge were each convicted of an additional two counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns.

The evidence at trial established that through NADN, the defendants promoted and sold a product called Tax Break 2000 to customers throughout the United States.  NADN began to promote and sell Tax Break 2000 in early 2001.  Tax Break 2000 purported to be an online shopping website.  

The defendants falsely and fraudulently told customers that buying the product would allow them to claim legitimate income tax credits and deductions under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by modifying the website each customer was provided to make it accessible to the disabled.  NADN charged $10,475 for the product to maximize the fraudulent income tax credits and deductions that individuals would claim on their tax returns.  Although the price of the product that was claimed on the tax returns was $10,475, the customers only paid between $2,000 and $2,695 out-of-pocket.  The remainder of the cost was covered by a promissory note that customers were not expected to repay. 

The defendants knew that the websites provided to customers made little, if any, money from sales commissions and that they did not entitle the purchaser to either a tax credit or any deductions.  The defendants nonetheless taught and directed the tax return preparers working for NADN to prepare thousands of tax returns for customers that claimed the fraudulent tax credit and deductions.  When special agents of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began to investigate Tax Break 2000 and NADN, the evidence showed that the defendants sought to cover up the fraud by creating false IRS Forms 1099 that reported fictitious income to make it appear that the websites were in fact earning money.

From 2001 through approximately May 2004, NADN sold the Tax Break 2000 product more than 18,000 times to thousands of customers located throughout the United States.  As a result of the defendants’ fraud, thousands of NADN customers were audited by the IRS.  On April 13, 2004, the Tax Division filed a civil complaint seeking to enjoin, among others, NADN, Rodrigues, Coolidge and Prokop from selling fraudulent tax schemes, including Tax Break 2000.  NADN ceased operations in May 2004.

Bonnie and Clyde, The Musical, at Saddleback College!

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – Bonnie and Clyde come to Saddleback college on April 10-19 in the McKinney Theatre. 

With Music by Frank Wildhorn, Lyrics by Don Black, and Book by Ivan Menchell, this gritty American biographical crime film has been transformed into an edgy musical. Songs include: This World Will Remember Me, You’re Goin’ Back to Jail, You Can Do Better Than Him, Raise A Little Hell, The Bank, This World Will Remember Us, The Shootout, and Dyin’ Ain’t So Bad. 

Directed by Trevor Biship, this thrilling and sexy musical has a non-traditional score combining blues, gospel, and rockabilly music. Another interesting aspect to the musical is the work of set designer Kaitlyn Pietras, an LA-based scenic and projection designer who is dedicated to exploiting and merging the mediums of theatre, architecture, and film into her work. Don’t miss this fearless, shameless, and electrifying story of love, adventure, and crime that captured the excited attention of the entire country. Now, the most notorious couple of the twentieth century takes on a whole new adventure: the stage. 

Director Trevor Biship stated, “Set Designer Kaitlyn Pietras and I were inspired by images of the people, homes, and open roads and wastelands taken during the Dust Bowl, images, by Dorothea Lange and other photographers that were so evocative"

Dates:  April 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, at 7:30 p.m. and April 12, 19 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling (949) 582-4656 (noon-4 Tuesday-Friday) and online atwww.saddleback.edu/arts.  Prices are $15 general; $10 students/seniors.

The Department of Theatre Arts program at Saddleback College produces several fully-staged shows each year.  All students are given the opportunity to audition for every production yet Theatre Arts students are given priority in the casting process.  In addition there are numerous opportunities for students to contribute in backstage activities through the Entertainment and Theater Technology program.

Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Pkwy 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 third left to Theatre Circle, turning right into Lot 12.

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 over 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visitwww.saddleback.edu and for Fine Arts information, please visit www.saddleback.edu/arts.  

Hasti Fakhrai-Bayrooti, Rancho Santa Margarita attorney convicted of DUI & killing bicyclist

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA -  Hasti Fakhrai-Bayrooti, 41, Rancho Santa Margarita attorney, was convicted today of crashing her car into a bicyclist and killing him while driving under the influence of prescription drugs.

According to the Orange County District Attorney's office, at approximately 6:45 p.m. on March 15, 2013, Fakhrai-Bayrooti was driving her car southbound on Santa Margarita Parkway in Mission Viejo after consuming prescription drugs, including Xanax and Suboxone. She swerved into a bike lane, crashing into 54-year-old bicyclist Eric Billings between the intersection of El Toro Road and Los Alisos Boulevard, causing the victim to roll over the hood and windshield. The victim died at the scene as a result of sustaining multiple traumatic injuries from the crash.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) arrived at the scene and investigated this case. OCSD arrested the defendant on Sept. 23, 2013, after the Orange County Crime Laboratory analyzed the blood evidence.
At the time of the crime, Bayrooti had been an active member of the State Bar of California since 2005.
Deputy District Attorney Stephen Cornwell of the Homicide Unit is the prosecutor of record.

Valley Springs Manor Owners charged with Elder Abuse

Posted CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA  –  Valley Springs Manor owner Herminigilda Noveda Manuel and administrator Edgar Babael were charged today with fourteen felony counts of elder abuse for abandoning the residents of their facility, according to the California Attorney Generals office.

Manuel and Babael operated Valley Springs Manor, a residential care facility for the elderly that was ordered closed in October 2013 after the Department of Social Services found multiple licensing violations. After the closure, paramedics arrived at the facility and found fourteen residents had been abandoned by the operators with no personnel to tend to their activities of daily living and medical needs. Both defendants are charged with fourteen felony counts and could face up to 17 years in state prison and a fine of up to $6,000 per count.

This case arose from a joint investigation by the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (BMFEA) and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.  

HOA seeks relief from attorney's dirty tricks, inflated billing

(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," HOA seeks relief from attorney's dirty tricks, inflated billing, March 8 2015  Donie Vanitzian, Special to The Time

Question: I'm a director at my homeowner association. It's painful to admit, but the board made a terrible mistake in the attorney we hired. Our management company representative was taking a real estate class where another attorney from his firm was soliciting business for him. Without board knowledge or consent, the management representative turned over all our association files and information. Before realizing what had happened we received a horrendous bill for his "review of association operations."

Soon we learned of his agenda and that he's not a nice person. He likes to stick it to people, likes to hurt people, and he enjoys power and dirty tricks. He creates "projects" for himself for the sole purpose of generating invoices for us to pay.

Without board knowledge and consent, he made dozens of unnecessary phone calls and charged us for them. Numerous times he took it upon himself to call the city attorney, claiming it was on the board's behalf, and did the same thing when he called insurance companies. Our association was billed thousands of dollars just for his bloviating phone calls. Asked whether he had filed the construction defect lawsuit we'd been waiting for, he said he'd "already filed it." Later, we learned he had never filed it.

He palms all his work off to his "associates." When the board received a draft of another lawsuit we were going to file, we found so many things wrong in the documents we sent it back to him. He charged us to fix problems he caused in the first place. He has a sloppy law firm that doesn't read documents; they look at the front page, skim or thumb through pages like a deck of cards and bill us for that.

The board voted to fire him but he shows up uninvited at every meeting, making us uncomfortable conducting business and even billing us for his attendance. How can we get rid of this guy?

Answer: Sticking it to people, abusing power and playing dirty tricks are not part of the lawful practice of law. Looking at the face of legal documents and skimming pages with the belief that one can glean their content by diffusion defies logic. The board must take an unyielding stance with the law firm and management company. Both are vendors that must obey your directions, withdraw or be terminated because neither is authorized to unilaterally take action without board consent. Call and write the city attorney and insurance companies, putting them on notice that this attorney no longer represents your association.

It's your association. It's your meeting. Eject anyone who is not invited, including that attorney. If meetings are held on association property, the lawyer is trespassing if he stays after being asked to leave. You can and should call the police. Do not pay any invoice for his unwanted presence; return it to him with an explanation.

Lawyers have ethical duties and professional responsibilities they must comply with in regard to dealing with and retaining clients. Pursuant to Business and Professions Code Section 6148, if it is reasonably foreseeable that total expense to a client will exceed $1,000, "the contract for services in the case shall be in writing." That same code section says that fees and rates must be included in the written agreement, and that bills must clearly state how they are calculated and what services were performed. A global, generic invoice does not comport with the statute. The attorney's failure to meet these obligations makes his agreement for services voidable. He can collect only a "reasonable fee." That fee does not include payment for services that were unnecessary or unauthorized.

However, you're not stuck with the terrible mistake imposed upon your association. Your board voted to fire the attorney; write him a letter to that effect and dispute any unsubstantiated and unreasonable charges, even if they have already been paid. If your management company approved charges without board authorization, it shares in the responsibility for reimbursement.

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.

Jacob Bonzer, Former Farmers Insurance agent gets 7 years for over $9k commissions from fraudulent policies

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA-- A former insurance agent was convicted and sentenced today to seven years in state prison for receiving over $900,000 in commission and premium payments from fraudulent insurance policies. 

Jacob Richard Bonzer, 28, Chicago, Ill. pleaded guilty today to 49 felony counts of grand theft, one felony count of forging a false Department of Insurance report of examination, one felony count of transacting insurance business without certificate of authority, 45 felony counts of insurance fraud, with sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime over $500,000, and a taking over $200,000. He was also ordered to pay $918,302 restitution to the victims.

According to the Orange County District Attorney's office (OCDA), On Aug. 4, 2009, Bonzer obtained his insurance license and was hired the next day by Farmers Insurance Group (FIG) as a reserve agent at a FIG branch in Brea. On July 31, 2010, Bonzer was terminated from FIG for failing its career program.

After Bonzer's termination, FIG opened an investigation and found 128 homeowner's policies which listed their mailing address as Bonzer's office. No premium was ever collected by FIG on any of these 128 policies. The policies were validly issued but the named of those insured did not own the properties thereby making the policies fraudulent.

Bonzer was paid and received commission from FIG for $46,000 for all 128 fraudulent policies. Bonzer never returned his commissions on these policies. On Nov. 17, 2010, CDI received notice of Bonzer's termination from FIG and began investigating this case.

In September 2011, CDI received information that a citizen's name appeared on a FIG Memorandum of Fire Insurance for a property this citizen was never associated with. The FIG policy showed that it involved another FIG Agent.

Bonzer had created a fictitious company by the name of CBG and Company. Bonzer approached the Agent and represented to the Agent that he had a good relationship with CBG and Company, which processes mortgages. Bonzer claimed to have received the names of the homeowner's involved in short sales from CBG and Company. Bonzer provided these names to the Agent which resulted in 791 policies being bound.

None of the people in the 791 insurance policies owned the properties Bonzer listed, making them fraudulent. The Agent received full commission in the amount of $573,242 which was split with Bonzer on these properties even though no premium was paid to FIG for these fraudulent policies.

The FIG Agent repaid to Farmers Insurance Company his commission chargebacks of $333,489. Bonzer never returned his commissions on these policies.

GW Mutual Risk Retention Group Premium Insurance Fraud
In 2012, Bonzer created a fictitious insurance company by the name of GW Mutual Risk Retention Group, LLC (GW Mutual) which he registered in Florida. GW Mutual is not licensed by California to write insurance, nor to transaction business within the State of California. The defendant sold workers' compensation and commercial insurance policies through his agency, Bonzer Insurance Brokerage, located in south Orange County.

Bonzer defrauded his customers using multiple P.O. boxes, virtual assistants, business entities, office spaces, e-mail accounts, website domains, and bank accounts. Bonzer collected over $632,000 in premium from California consumers, who believed they were purchasing valid coverage.

Bonzer was questioned by a customer about GW Mutual's ability to transact insurance in California. He provided the customer a fraudulent CDI Report of Examination as proof. The lack of coverage with a licensed insurance company places these businesses in a position of lifetime exposure to potential financial loss.

Bonzer spent the money he received from premium payments on personal living expenses, including renting luxury high-rise apartments, travel, wine clubs and fine dining.

Deputy District Attorney Debbie Jackson of the Insurance Fraud Unit 

Three arrested in theft of billion email addresses, largest reported data breach

These men allegedly made millions of dollars by stealing over a billion email addresses from email service providers.  The data breach was the largest in U.S. history and was the subject of a Congressional inquiry in June 2011.

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - An indictment was unsealed yesterday against Viet Quoc Nguyen and  Giang Hoang Vu two Vietnamese citizens who resided in the Netherlands, for their roles in hacking email service providers throughout the United States.  

The guilty plea of one of the defendants was also unsealed at the same time.  In addition, a federal grand jury returned an indictment this week against David-Manuel Santos Da Silva, a Canadian citizen for conspiring to launder the proceeds obtained as a result of the massive data breach according to announcement by Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Horn of the Northern District of Georgia, Special Agent in Charge J. Britt Johnson of the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Reginald Moore of the United States Secret Service’s (USSS) Atlanta Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Veronica F. Hyman-Pillot with the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation’s

“This case reflects the cutting-edge problems posed by today’s cybercrime cases, where the hackers didn’t target just a single company; they infiltrated most of the country’s email distribution firms,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Horn.  “And the scope of the intrusion is unnerving, in that the hackers didn’t stop after stealing the companies’ proprietary data—they then hijacked the companies’ own distribution platforms to send out bulk emails and reaped the profits from email traffic directed to specific websites.”

In August 2012, the FBI, with the assistance of its legal attaches stationed abroad and in conjunction with Dutch law enforcement officials, executed a search warrant in the Netherlands that disrupted continued compromises of those companies while allowing U.S. authorities to advance its investigation.  That investigation targeted not only the hackers but the businesses that helped monetize the data that was stolen from those victim companies. 

According to allegations in the indictments, between February 2009 and June 2012, Viet Quoc Nguyen, 28, a citizen of Vietnam, allegedly hacked into at least eight email service providers (ESPs) throughout the United States and stole confidential information, including proprietary marketing data containing over one billion email addresses.  Nguyen, along with Giang Hoang Vu, 25, also a citizen of Vietnam, then allegedly used the data to send “spam” to tens of millions of email recipients.  The data breach was the largest in U.S. history and was the subject of a Congressional inquiry in June 2011.

David-Manuel Santos Da Silva, 33, of Montreal, Canada, was also indicted by a federal grand jury on March 4, 2015, for conspiracy to commit money laundering for helping Nguyen and Vu to generate revenue from the “spam” and launder the proceeds.

According to allegations in the indictments, Da Silva, the co-owner, president and a director of 21 Celsius Inc., a Canadian corporation that ran Marketbay.com, entered into an affiliate marketing arrangement with Nguyen that allowed the defendants to generate revenue from the computer intrusions and data thefts. 

As an affiliate marketer, Nguyen allegedly received a commission on sales generated from Internet traffic that he directed to websites promoting specific products.  Nguyen allegedly used the information stolen from the ESPs to send “spam” emails to tens of millions of customers and provided hyperlinks to allow the purchase of the products.  These products were marketed by Da Silva’s Marketbay.com.

Between approximately May 2009 and October 2011, Nguyen and Da Silva received approximately $2 million for the sale of products derived from Nguyen’s affiliate marketing activities.

Vu was arrested by Dutch law enforcement in Deventer, Netherlands, in 2012 and extradited to the United States in March 2014.  On Feb. 5, 2015, Vu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit computer fraud.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 21, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. of the Northern District of Georgia.  Nguyen is a fugitive.

Da Silva was arrested based upon charges contained in a criminal complaint at Ft. Lauderdale International Airport on Feb. 12, 2015, and is scheduled to be arraigned today in Atlanta before Magistrate Judge E. Clayton Scofield III.

This case is being investigated by the FBI with the assistance of the USSS and IRS-CI.  Law enforcement in the Netherlands and the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs also provided valuable assistance.  This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Peter Roman of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Grimberg of the Northern District of Georgia.

OCSD DUI Court Sting Operation Nabs 3 of 14 and impound 2 vehicles

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - On Monday, March 2, 2015, deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) conducted an undercover ‘Court Sting’ operation at Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach, targeting suspected DUI drivers whose licenses where suspended/revoked as well as drivers who were driving without a license.   

Fourteen offenders were followed by deputies from courtrooms to their vehicles to ensure that they were not driving. While most offenders complied with the law and had other means of transportation, three individuals in court proceeded to get behind the wheel and drove away from the court house, according to OCSD's spokesperson. Emily Osterberg. 

Those who chose to drive were stopped near the court house by waiting deputies. Among those stopped for driving while their license was suspended or driving without a license were Joel Mardoqueo, 35, Oraine Anthony Hibbert, 30,  and Stephen Jake Gibbs, 28. All three offenders received a misdemeanor traffic citation and two of the offenders had their vehicles impounded for thirty days.

Those arrested could face additional jail time, longer driver license suspensions and other financial hits including attorney fees, court costs, lost time at work and the potential loss of a job or job prospects. When family, friends and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous personal embarrassment and humiliation.  In other words. It is not worth it.  Don't do it!

This special DUI operation was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

Please help the Orange County Sheriff’s Department every day of the week: Report Drunk Drivers – Call 9-1-1!

Additional charges against HS teachers Lippert and Ghirelli to include sexual misconduct

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - Additional charges were filed today against two high school teachers for unlawful sexual intercourse and illegally providing alcohol and cocaine to a group of underage students after organizing a camping trip at San Clemente Beach. 
Melody Suzanne Lippert, 38, Covina, is facing additional charges of sexual misconduct, one felony count of furnishing a controlled substance to a minor, and a sentencing enhancement for being four years or older than the minor, in addition to the original previous charge of one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Co-defendant Michelle Louise Ghirelli, 30, West Covina, is facing additional charges of sexual misconduct, one felony count of furnishing a controlled substance to a minor, and a sentencing enhancement for being four years or older than the minor, in addition to the original previous charge of one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

According to the Orange County District Attorney's office, At the time of the crimes, Lippert was a teacher at South Hills High School in West Covina and Ghirelli was an employee at the Covina-Valley Unified School District.

Lippert is accused of organizing a trip that was unapproved by the school or district by sending a group text message and inviting co-defendant Ghirelli and five other male high school students to a camping trip at San Clemente Beach.
Between Nov. 23, 2014, and Dec. 29, 2014, the defendants are accused of camping with the five students at San Clemente Beach and illegally distributing alcohol and cocaine to the underage students throughout the duration of the trip.
At some point during the trip, Lippert is accused of facilitating Ghirelli's sexual relationship with 17-year-old John Doe. 
The Covina-Valley Unified School District reported the case to the Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD), who investigated this case. Additional charges were filed today by the Orange County District Attorney's Office after further investigation into this case by OCSD.
Deputy District Attorney Kristin Bracic of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.

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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Individual arrested in Coto de Caza Golf Club Identified as Mark Minkoff

Posted by CotoBlogzz Coto de Caza, CA - at around 9:30 Sunday morning, several Orange  County Sheriff patrol cars, were dispatched to the ..

Monday, February 03, 2014

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.