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Los Angeles Business Owner Sentenced to Federal Prison for Medicare Fraud

admin — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:32:00 GMT

The owner of a Los Angeles medical supply company that fraudulently collected about $2 million from Medicare for unneeded medical equipment has been sentenced to 57 months in federal prison. Marlon Palma was sentenced by a United States District Judge in Los Angeles.

She was the co-owner of Santos Medical Supply. She pleaded guilty in March 2010 to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Palma admitted to fraudently bilking the Medicare program by submitting false claims for $5,000 power wheelchairs that were not necessary, and in some cases, they were never provided to the patients. She bought Medicare patient information and bogus prescriptions from a clinic and patient recruiters and then used the information to bill Medicare. Her company submitted nearly $3 million worth of fraudulent claims to Medicare.

She was initially arrested in September 2008, after an criminal investigation by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. This is a agency which utilizes investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General's Fraud Section at the United States Department of Justice in Washington, and the United State’s Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, California.

Five other people pleaded guilty or were convicted at trial:

Elsie Edmonds, pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge;
Heber Gonzalez, pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge.
Kelechi Ajoku, jury conviction of making false statements.
Leslie Duarte, pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charge.
Gloria Hernandez, pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General.

Healthcare fraud is defined as the intentional deception of healthcare transactions by a provider, employer group, or member for the sake of receiving an unauthorized benefit or financial gain. If you are convicted of this federal crime, you could face imprisonment and substantial fines.

Many healthcare providers, including doctors and therapists, may inadvertently be pursued as having committed healthcare fraud due to billing errors used to determine how to bill an insurance company. An insured individual may pursue compensation for something he believes he has coverage, and then discover that they are not actually provided coverage and is now facing healthcare fraud charges. To protect yourself from the consequences of these federal criminal charges, it is important to obtain the services of a qualified Los Angeles healthcare fraud attorney.

If you are facing charges involving healthcare fraud, it is crucial to contact Federal crime lawyers at Law Offices of Marks & Brooklier to develop a legal strategy for your defense. Federal crime attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have many successful years of experience effectively representing our clients against federal crimes and will be happy to review your situation at no charge in our initial consultation. Just call our office to set up a confidential meeting to discuss your specific situation.

Oxnard Street Gang Members Indicted for Federal Drug Trafficking

admin — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:42:00 GMT

A task force of FBI agents and officers with the Oxnard Police Department arrested 22 people linked to the Colonia Chiques street gang on federal and state narcotics charges. The arrests are the result of an eight-month investigation into Ventura County’s largest street gang. The investigation focused on the drug trafficking activities. A federal grand jury in Los Angeles returned nine indictments that charge 12 defendants with distributing methamphetamine, heroin, and crack cocaine.

The 12 defendants are named in nine indictments. The defendants are:

Richard Bravo, distributing over 10 grams of methamphetamine
Mario Castellon, distributing 71 grams of heroin
Pablo Reynosa, same indictment as Castellon
Jose Rodriguez Espinoza, three methamphetamine transactions
Jaime Garcia, two methamphetamine transactions
Moises Limon, distributing approximately 39 grams of methamphetamine
Luis Alberto Rodriguez, selling three ounces of methamphetamine
Jose Soto-Martinez, distributing nearly three ounces of crack cocaine
Jerardo Villa, two transactions involving a quarter-pound of heroin
Genero Garcia Melena, named in the same indictment as Villa
Rene Che Blanco, selling approximately one ounce of methamphetamine
Freddie Clemente Avalos Jr., same indictment as Blanco.

The eight defendants named in the grand jury indictments are expected to be arraigned on the charges in United States District Court in Los Angeles. Most of the defendants named in the grand jury indictments face mandatory minimum sentences of at least five years and statutory maximum sentences of 40 years in federal prison if they are convicted. Two defendants face potential life sentences because of prior convictions.

The investigation was led the by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oxnard Police Department. The following agencies provided support during the investigation and this morning’s takedown: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department; the Ventura Police Department; the Simi Valley Police Department; the Santa Barbara Police Department; the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department; the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Ventura County Probation Agency; and FBI Field Offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Phoenix.

At the Law Offices of Marks & Brooklier, attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier are well-known federal drug trafficking defense lawyers with extensive experience defending clients facing federal drug crime charges. If you have been charged or under investigation for any type of federal drug crime, you need to contact us immediately to begin the procedure of defending you against these charges.

The consequences of being convicted of a federal drug crime in California can carry severe consequences, including considerable state prison time. We advise you to contact us for a free case evaluation of your federal criminal charges.

California Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Mail Fraud & Money Laundering

admin — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 18:18:00 GMT

In Los Angeles, California, a Downey man was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for running two fraud schemes. A Ponzi scheme that took in at least $30 million from about 500 victims, and a mortgage fraud scheme that preyed on homeowners by stealing the equity from their homes and taking title to their properties. Juan Rangel pleaded to one count of mail fraud and one count of money laundering. More than a dozen victims addressed the court during the hearing, including an investor who had been convinced to invest money she received after her son was killed while serving as a marine in Iraq.

The mail fraud count to which he pleaded guilty related to a Ponzi scheme in which his company, the Commerce-based Financial Plus Investments, recruited investors through advertisements in Spanish-language newspapers. Rangel and Financial Plus promised to pay investors annual returns as high as 60 percent, claiming their investments and lending business generated substantial profits. However, Rangel instead used victims' money to make Ponzi payments to prior investors and for his own personal use, including the monthly mortgage payments on his $2.5 million mansion and payments for his Lamborghini sports car. Rangel also admitted that he a mortgage fraud scheme targeting Latino homeowners facing foreclosure. He admitted that the mortgage fraud scheme caused lenders to fund more than $10 million in fraudulent loans.

If you have been charged with a federal crime such as mortage fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, or any related crime, you will need a skilled federal criminal defense attorney to represent you in court. Federal attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have been successfully defending individuals on federal charges for decades. Federal charges are a serious crime with severe consequences that can affect you for many years. If you have been arrested or under investigation for any federal fraud crime, it is important that you contact a Los Angeles federal fraud criminal defense attorney to discuss your case. Contact us for a free case review.

South Los Angeles Gang Leader Gets Life in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

admin — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 18:38:00 GMT

A federal judge sentenced a South Los Angeles gang leader to life in prison without parole, capping a years-long investigation into a large drug-trafficking operation run out of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Alphonso Eugene Foster is the second man handed a life sentence in United States District Court in Los Angeles for leading a PCP manufacturing conspiracy that produced hundreds of gallons of the drug for distribution in Southern California and on the East Coast. Ten others were convicted on various drug charges and have been given sentences ranging from four to 25 years in prison.

Federal prosecutors said Foster and convicted co-defendant and gang leader Kim Vernell Walker, ran a trafficking operation which included a home in Landers purchased by a straw buyer that was turned into a large-scale lab for cooking PCP. Police raided the place in 2007 and seized more than $1 million worth of PCP. Foster and Walker hid their operation, in part, by opening a graffiti removal business in San Bernardino which acted as a front for buying the precursor chemicals needed to make PCP.

Because there are severe consequences when charged with a federal drug trafficking charge, it is important that you consult an aggressive Los Angeles federal drug trafficking criminal defense attorney. You will need assistance from our skilled staff immediately, to ensure that your case is being handled in the right manner. You have many options in your defense, including legal challenges to the evidence obtained, as well as the arrest procedure. Taking the exact procedural steps in an arrest is a requirement that law enforcement must follow. If they have not done so, our office may be able to have your charges reduced or possibly even dismissed. At the Law Offices of Marks & Brooklier you will find strong advocates who can aggressively defend you against any drug violations charges. Federal lawyers Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have been successfully representing individuals for decades and can do the same for you. Call our office for a free consultation.

California Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Producing Child Pornography

admin — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 19:32:00 GMT

A Union City, California man pled guilty and was sentenced today to 20 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for conspiring with a woman in the Philippines to produce child pornography.

According to the plea agreement, Donald Snyder conspired with a woman in the Philippines, known only by her Internet username to produce child pornography. Initially, he used live Internet webcam showing young girls engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Eventually, the two discussed via Internet instant messaging the prospect of forming a business partnership whereby she would photograph minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct in the Philippines and then e-mail the images to him to sell in the United States. To further this business partnership, he wired money to the Philippines so that she could purchase a digital camera to take the photographs.

Soon after Snyder provided the seed money, she began emailing sexually explicit photographs of girls who were 7, 10, and 14 years old. At times, he directed the photography sessions by watching via his webcam and communicating his instructions for the poses he wanted via instant messaging. While she was photographing the young girls in the Philippines, Snyder used the Internet to market the photographs to select individuals. Before he could widely circulate the images, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant for his residence and arrested him.

Snyder was indicted by a federal grand jury. He was charged with conspiring to produce child pornography, distributing child pornography, and possessing child pornography. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to produce child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(e). The sentence was handed down by a United States District Court Judge. He had faced a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years. The terms of his supervised release require him to receive sex offender treatment, register as a sex offender, and avoid all contact with minors. He has been in custody since his initial appearance in federal court. He will remain in custody and be transferred to a federal institution to serve out his sentence. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Los Angeles federal child pornography criminal defense attorneys at Marks & Brooklier are experienced and qualified to represent individuals who have been accused of federal child pornography or any related federal offense. Having the most skilled federal criminal defense attorney will ensure you are provided with the defense you require to overcome the charges in your case. Attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have the experience necessary to present the type of defense that will allow a jury to view the facts without being caught up in the nature of the charges made against you. Contact our office for a free consultation.

California Man Pleads Guilty in Mortage Fraud Scheme

admin — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:43:00 GMT

In Sacramento, California, Shane Burreson, of Orland, pleaded guilty before a United States District Judge for his role in a multi-million-dollar builder bailout mortgage fraud scheme. According to documents, between September 2006 and April 2007, he was president of Nor Cal Innovative Investments Inc. (NCII). Through NCII, he recruited investors and straw buyers to purchase new homes in Chico from homebuilders at artificially inflated prices. After the close of escrow, he others would rebate significant sums back to the buyer or the buyer's agent. With only a few exceptions, the rebates were entirely concealed from lenders and appraisers. Lenders would finance 100 percent of the inflated purchase price. In addition to falsifying the sales price, employees of NCII would falsify loan applications and supporting documents so that buyers of the inflated homes could qualify for homes loans. Many times these loan files would rely on the use of false employment information, such as fictitious employers or exaggerated incomes to get the loans to close.

This case is the product of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Butte County District Attorney's Office. Burreson faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison for mail fraud, a $250,000 fine. The maximum statutory penalty for money laundering is 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Because these types of federal cases are complex, it is best to retain the services of a skilled federal criminal defense lawyer to assist you in handling the issues involved in defending this type of case. Our skilled attorneys will thoroughly evaluate your situation to determine the proper legal defense. Federal attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier are committed lawyers have the experience and resources to launch a complete investigation on your behalf and aggressively defend you against these charges. Call our office for a free case evaluation.

Huntington Memorial Hospital Official Arrested on Federal Mail Fraud Charges

admin — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:25:00 GMT

In Los Angeles, California, the former director of construction for Huntington Memorial Hospital was arrested on federal mail fraud arising from his role in a construction kickback scheme that brought him more than $3 million in illegal payments. David Hamedany, of Glendale, was arrested by special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Hamedany was the director of construction for Huntington Memorial Hospital from 2006 through June 2010, where he had authority to enter into contracts and approve invoices for the hospital. According to the indictment of a federal grand jury, he authorized payments of $3.8 million to construction companies that later made kickback payments of more than $3 million to entities controlled by Hamedany. The indictment specifically says that three Northern California companies received most of the money involved in the fraudulent contracts, collectively receiving more than $3 million from the hospital. The payments were pursuant to invoices approved by Hamedany, even though the three companies performed no construction work for the hospital. These three companies allegedly paid kickbacks of more than $2.5 million to entities controlled by Hamedany.

The federal indictment charges Hamendany with 12 counts of mail fraud. Each count of mail fraud carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He is expected to be arraigned in United States District Court in Los Angeles. FBI agents seized approximately $480,000 from a bank account into which he transferred approximately $585,000. This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Huntington Memorial Hospital has cooperated in the investigation.

Most federal mail fraud schemes are complex in nature and require detailed examination by a highly experienced federal mail fraud criminal defense lawyer in order to provide a aggressive legal defense of the case. If you have been indicted, or under investigation for mail fraud, it is critical to contact Marks & Brooklier immediately to begin your legal defense. Examples of mail fraud can include soliciting funds from unsuspecting individuals for false purposes using the mail, using the mail to send out deceptive promotion, or removing mail from someone's mail box in the commission of theft for the purposes of stealing checks. Federal attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have been successfully representing clients for decades in all Los Angeles County District Courts. Call us to set up a free consultation, which are strictly confidential.

20 Arrested in Federal Gun Smuggling Case

admin — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:49:00 GMT

In a case aimed at stopping the flow of United States weapons to the Mexican drug war, federal authorities indicted 20 men on charges of buying an estimated 700 weapons in Arizona and conspiring to transfer them to the U.S., mainly to the Sinaloa drug cartel. The arrests were carried out by at least 100 federal agents. This is the latest crackdown targeting an international trafficking network that has seen as many as 60,000 weapons seized in Mexico and traced to sources in the United States.

Authorities at the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms said the case demonstrates the need to include long-barreled weapons in the requirement for gun sellers to report multiple weapon sales. This proposal has been opposed by the National Rifle Association as an inappropriate reach of federal authority. Gun advocates believe many of the weapons possessed by Mexican drug traffickers were acquired from weapons stocks officially supplied by the U.S. government to Mexico. This case involves the relatively common use of straw purchasers, who are legal residents of the state who buy the weapons from licensed gun dealers and certify that they are for their own use. But they eventually sell the guns to the Mexican drug cartels. None of those charged in this federal indictment are licensed gun dealers. But the indictments identify a number of Arizona dealers that legally supplied large quantities of weapons to individual buyers.

One of the defendants, Uriel Patino, purchased 26 AK-47 rifles from Lone Wolf Trading Company in Glendale, Ariz., on March 26; 10 more on June 2 from the same outlet; 16 on July 8; and 12 on August 5, in addition to purchasing a number of other weapons. In all these cases, he signed a federal form certifying that he was not buying the weapons for someone else. But on August 8, federal agents found all 12 of the AK-47s purchased on August 5 concealed in a stove and a television in an apparent attempt to smuggle them into Mexico through the border crossing at Lukeville, Arizona.

The federal firearms bureau announced that it was proposing to require an estimated 8,500 gun dealers along the southwestern United States border to provide notice of multiple rifle sales, but gun advocates have opposed this and said it is just an attempt to blame lawful gun dealers for border enforcement problems and the violence in Mexico.

If you have been charged with a federal weapons violation, it is critical that you contact the Law Offices of Marks and Brooklier immediately. Federal criminal defense lawyers Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have been successfully representing clients on gun smuggling and other related illegal gun violations for decades. Our aggressive and experienced team of Los Angeles federal weapons charges attorneys will focus on how best to defend you against the charges brought against you. Following our complete free confidential interview, we will be able to determine the correct strategy to pursue in defending your case.Our federal criminal attorneys have been serving clients in California and Los Angeles County since 1976.

Ten People Indicted For Federal Real Estate Fraud in Bakersfield, California

admin — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:24:00 GMT

In Bakersfield, California, David Marshall Crisp, Carlyle Lee Cole, Julie Dianne Farmer, Sneha Ramesh Mohammadi, Jayson Peter Costa, Jeriel Salinas, Robinson Dinh Nguyen, Michael Angelo Munoz, Jennifer Anne Crisp, and Caleb Lee Cole, were charged in a 56-count indictment with conspiracy to commit bank, mail and wire fraud, and with individual counts of mail fraud. Some of the defendants were also charged with wire fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to launder money. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in Fresno, California. David Crisp was arrested in San Diego. Carlyle Cole was arrested in Ventura County, Farmer, Mohammadi, Costa, Salinas, Munoz, and Caleb Cole were arrested in Bakersfield. Nguyen was arrested in Monterey, California. Jennifer Crisp surrendered to police.

David Crisp and Carlyle Cole were the owners of Crisp, Cole & Associates (CCA). They also controlled Tower Lending, CCA’s in-house mortgage broker business. The indictment alleges that, from approximately January 2004 to September 2007, the defendants perpetrated a scheme to defraud mortgage lenders by submitting fraudulent loan applications, including misrepresentations concerning the borrower’s income, assets, employment status, and intent to use the home as the borrower’s primary residence. The indictment says the defendants perpetrated the scheme in part by flipping homes, which is the selling of a single home on multiple occasions, through a series of fraudulent transactions to co-defendants, straw buyers, and others in order to artificially inflate the prices of the residences. The defendants typically increased the loan amounts and used close to 100 percent financing, in order to extract the inflated equity amounts from the properties on each financing transaction. CCA generally acted as the real estate brokerage on the sales, and Tower Lending acted as the mortgage brokerage on the financing transactions, generating substantial commissions and fees for the defendants on each transaction. The scheme involved more than $20 million in losses to lenders.

This case is the product of an extensive investigation by the FBI with assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. They were assisted by the Bakersfield Police Department. The maximum penalty for the conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and bank fraud counts is 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The maximum penalty for money laundering is 10 years in prison and a fine of $500,000. Any sentence will be determined after consideration of any statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

This law enforcement action is part of the work being done by the United States Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. It was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. It includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.

If you have been charged with federal crime such as mortage fraud, bank fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, or any related crime, you will need an experienced federal criminal defense attorney to represent you in court. Federal attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have been successfully representing clients on federal charges for decades. Federal criminal charges are a serious crime that must be handled in the proper legal manner to avoid dire legal consequences that can affect you for many years. If you have been arrested or under investigation for federal real estate fraud, it is important that you contact a Los Angeles federal real estate fraud criminal defense attorney to discuss your case. Contact us for a free, strictly confidential, consultation 24/7.

Border Patrol Agent Arrested for Harboring Illegal Aliens & Making False Statement

admin — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:16:00 GMT

A San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge announced the arrest of United States Border Patrol Agent Marcos Gerardo Manzano, Jr., and Jose Alfredo Garrido-Morena, as a result of an investigation conducted by the Border Corruption Task Force.

Gerardo Manzano Jr. was arrested at the Imperial Beach Border Patrol Station, 1802 Saturn Blvd., San Diego, California. He is employed as a United States Border Patrol Agent. He was arrested pursuant to a federal arrest warrant charging him with harboring illegal aliens and making a false statement. Jose Alfredo Garrido-Morena, was arrested by members of an FBI SWAT team in the 3600 block of Shooting Star Drive in San Diego, California. He was also arrested pursuant to a federal arrest warrant charging him with being a deported alien with no legal right to enter or remain in the United States. He is not employed by any U.S. government agency.

According to a federal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court, Southern District, of California, Marcos Gerardo Manzano, Jr. and his father, Marcos Gerardo Manzano, Sr., are charged with violations of federal immigration laws and making a false statement. Jose Alfredo Garrido-Moreno is charged in a separate complaint with being a deported alien found in the United States. Marcos Gerardo Manzano, Sr. is currently a fugitive. Manzano, Jr. and Garrido have been booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center, where they will remain pending their initial appearance. This investigation was conducted by the Customs Border Protection - Field Operations, Customs Border Protection-Internal Affairs, Border Patrol, and the FBI.

Violation of United States Immigration laws is always considered a federal offense. If you are convicted of a federal violation, it can result in prison time, penalties, and as this is an immigration violation, possible deportation. When facing an a federal charge of harboring illegal aliens or any immigration law violation, it is extremely important to obtain the services of a skilled federal harboring illegal aliens criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. At Marks & Brooklier, federal lawyers Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier are highly experienced lawyers who have been serving Los Angeles County for decades. We have successfully represented many clients on all types of federal criminal charges and can do the same for you. Call our office anytime for a free case evaluation.

Man Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy Targeting Casinos Across the United States

admin — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 19:32:00 GMT

The co-founder of a criminal enterprise known as the Tran Organization pled guilty in San Diego to conspiring to participate in the organization’s scheme to cheat casinos across the country out of millions of dollars. Van Thu Tran, pleaded guilty plea before a United States Magistrate Judge.

A three-count indictment was returned in San Diego and unsealed which charged her and 13 others each with one count of conspiracy to participate in the affairs of a racketeering enterprise; one count of conspiracy to commit several offenses against the United States, including conspiracy to steal money and other property from Indian tribal casinos; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment also charges five other people with one count of conspiracy to commit several offenses against the United States, including conspiracy to steal money and other property from Indian tribal casinos; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

In her plea agreement, Van Thu Tran admitted that she, along with co-conspirators Phuong Quoc Truong, Tai Khiem Tran and others, created a criminal enterprise defined in the indictment as the Tran Organization, based in San Diego, for the purpose of participating in gambling cheats at casinos across the United States. She also admitted that she and her co-conspirators unlawfully obtained up to $7 million during card cheats. As part of her plea agreement, she agreed to the forfeiture of her interests in various assets, including jewelry. At sentencing, she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, forfeiture of certain assets, and payment of restitution to the victims.

The investigation of the Tran Organization’s casino-cheating conspiracy has led to the filing of three separate indictments. According to the three indictments, the defendants and others executed a “false shuffle” cheating scheme at casinos in the United States and Canada during blackjack and mini-baccarat games. The members of the criminal organization bribed casino card dealers and supervisors to perform false shuffles during card games, thereby creating “slugs” or groups of unshuffled cards. After tracking the order of cards dealt in a card game, a member of the organization would signal to the card dealer to perform a “false shuffle,” and members of the group would then bet on the known order of cards when the slug appeared on the table. By doing so, members of the conspiracy repeatedly won thousands of dollars during card games.

The members of the organization used sophisticated mechanisms for tracking the order of cards during games, including hidden transmitter devices and specially created software that would predict the order in which cards would reappear during blackjack games.

Mike Waseleski, a former casino card dealer, was found guilty by a federal jury in San Diego for his part in the Tran Organization’s cheating scheme to steal approximately $1.5 million from Resorts East Chicago Casino.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s San Diego Field Office; the Internal Revenue Service; the San Diego Sheriff’s Department; and the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Gambling Control. The investigation received assistance from federal, state, tribal and foreign authorities, including: the Ontario Provincial Police; the National Indian Gaming Commission; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington; FBI Resident Agencies in Gulfport, Miss., Tacoma, Wash. and Toledo, Ohio; the Indiana State Police; the Rumsey Rancheria Tribal Gaming Agency; the Sycuan Gaming Commission; the Barona Gaming Commission; the Mississippi Gaming Commission; and the Washington State Gambling Commission.

It is obvious that you and your company's future may be at stake if you are facing federal racketeering charges for a RICO violation. These charges can result in serious consequences and it is critical to immediately deal with these federal criminal charges if you wish to avoid a conviction. Federal criminal defense lawyers Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have an outstanding record of success defending clients against racketeering charges and other federal crimes. We are confident we can do the same for you in your case. With our extensive experience in the courtroom, we will be able to provide you with the resources you need to fight your racketeering charges. Contact a Los Angeles racketeering criminal defense lawyer today for a free case evaluation.

Former Chase Bank Official Convicted of Bank Bribery

admin — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 18:26:00 GMT

In Riverside, California, a former official with Chase Bank has been found guilty of disclosing the existence of a suspicious activity report (SAR) filed with federal officials, and then soliciting thousands of dollars in bribes to help the borrower deal with a possible criminal investigation related to the illegally disclosed SAR.

Frank E. Mendoza, of Victorville, was convicted of three counts of bank bribery and one count of unlawfully disclosing a SAR. The federal jury took only 30 minutes to deliver their verdict, which included a not guilty finding on a charge of attempted economic extortion. At trial in United States District Court, the jury determined that he demanded a $25,000 bribe, and accepted $10,000 in bribes from the customer, and disclosed the existence of a SAR. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau that receives SARs from financial institutions around the country, believes he is the first bank official in the nation to be convicted of criminal charges for revealing the filing of a SAR.

The evidence presented showed that Mendoza, who was employed as a loss mitigation specialist for Chase Bank, conducted an investigation of a delinquent borrower on mortgage loans made in relation to seven properties in Palmdale, California. He reported that he suspected fraud in relation to the mortgages, which led the bank to file a SAR with FinCEN. Months later, Mendoza suggested that the borrower pay $25,000 in exchange for his assistance with Chase and a possible federal criminal investigation. During this conservation, he disclosed the filing of the SAR and said that a federal criminal investigation of the borrower was imminent.

Mendoza’s bribery solicitation caused the borrower to contact the FBI. After the borrower delayed paying any bribe money, he agreed to accept $10,000 in cash. During two meetings in the borrower’s car, the borrower made two $5,000 payments to Mendoza. Following the second payment, special agents with the FBI arrested him, recovered the second cash payment, and recovered from his wallet two $100 bills that were part of the first bribe payment. Mendoza is scheduled to be sentenced by a United States District Judge as a result of the guilty verdicts. He faces a statutory maximum penalty of 95 years in federal prison.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is a bureau within the Treasury Department responsible to protect the United States financial system from criminal abuse. FinCEN administers the Bank Secrecy Act, which is the federal anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing statute. The Bank Secrecy Act and FinCEN regulations require all banks to have Anti-Money Laundering programs in place and to report suspicious transactions and large currency transactions. The case against Mendoza was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which received assistance from FinCEN.

Federal law and California law both make bribery a criminal offense. The purpose of bribery statutes is to prevent people from seeking preferential treatment from public officials from using their office for personal gain. If a government official is offered or seeks anything of value for himself in exchange for performing an official act, a fraudulent action, or any action in violation of their official duty, the elements of bribery may be met.

If you are under investigation or have been arrested for bribery, you need to consult a Los Angeles bribery criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. By becoming involved early on in the process, your lawyer will have a much better chance of representing your legal interests. At Marks & Brooklier, we have successfully represented clients for decades throughout Los Angeles County who are facing state or federal bribery charges. To discuss your case with federal criminal defense lawyers Donald Marks or Anthony Brooklier, call our office anytime, 24/7, for a free case consultation. All consultations are strictly confidential and protected by law.

Former FBI Employee Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements to a Government Agency

admin — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:56:00 GMT

In San Jose, California, former FBI employee pled guilty in federal court in San Jose to making false statements to a government agency. Rachelle Thomas-Zuill admitted during her plea agreement that she worked as an employee of the San Francisco Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2003 to 2010. She was an FBI personnel security specialist, where she was responsible for overseeing background investigations to determain security clearances for FBI personnel. She had Top Secret Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance. She was required annually to file a security financial disclosure form (SFDF) disclosing certain financial information. Thomas-Zuill knew that her supervisors would review her financial information on her SFDF to assess whether she had personal financial problems which might threaten her continued suitability for Top Secret clearance.

Thomas-Zuill admitted in the plea agreement that she knowingly submitted an SFDF that contained false statements regarding her financial situation. She claimed in that SFDF that she personally owned three properties with a total outstanding mortgage debt of $866,000 when she knew that she actually owned six properties with outstanding mortgage debt of $2,276,000. She admitted that she made this false statement to conceal from her supervisors that she was financially overextended. She failed to keep up with the payment of her mortgages and by August 2008 all but one of her six properties went into foreclosure. Shel was charged in a Criminal Information with one count of making false statements to a government agency, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(3).

The maximum statutory penalty is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 plus restitution if appropriate. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

18 U.S.C. § 1001 is a broad statute that makes giving false statements to the federal government a crime. Section 1001 covers three broad categories. First, § 1001 prohibits falsifying, concealing, or otherwise covering-up a material fact. Second, it criminalizes the making of materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or representations to any federal department and their employees. Third, it criminalizes the use of a writing or document containing materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements to any federal department. To get a conviction, the government has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt (1) that the defendant did indeed make a false statement (2) that the statement was in fact material (3) that the defendant acted with a specific intent to mislead (4) that the matter was within the jurisdiction of a federal government agency.

If you are facing false statements to a government agency or any type of federal crime, you need to immediately contact the law offices of Marks & Brooklier to discuss your case. Federal criminal defense lawyers Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have been successfully representing clients in all California District Courts for decades. Their record of success is unmatched. When you visit our office, you will sit down with a skilled Los Angeles false statements to a government ageny attorney who will explain your best legal options. All consultations are free and available 24/7. Call our office today.

California Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Minors

admin — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 21:02:00 GMT

In Fresno, California, a United States District Judge sentenced Steven Patrick Arthur, of Porterville, to 120 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor. Should Arthur ever be released from federal prison, he will be subject to a lifetime term of supervised release.

This was the maximum possible punishment for the four counts of conviction. Federal prisoners must serve at least 85 percent of any prison sentence imposed, and there is no parole in the federal prison system. In imposing this sentence, the judge noted the tremendous impact the crimes had on the victims and their families, some of whom addressed the court. He acknowledged that since Congress has made child sexual exploitation laws one of its highest priorities, the sentence in this case needed to be appropriately long and severe. This case is the result of an investigation by the Porterville Police Department with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tulare County District Attorney's Office.

According to court documents, between September 2007 and January 2008, Jennifer Thurman and Steven Arthur administered the tranquilizer Ativan to four minors who were staying at their house. They placed the drug in Oreo cookies or drinks and then gave it to the minors. Once the minors were unconscious, the defendants produced still and video images of each defendant engaged in sexually explicit conduct with the minors. Both defendants filmed each other engaging in sexually explicit conduct with the minors. At least one image depicted violence. Many of the images were then transferred to a computer or to compact disks. Thurman's sentencing is set for February 11, 2011. Arthur and Thurman face multiple felony charges resulting from an indictment in the Tulare County Superior Court.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC mobilizes federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.

If you have been arrested or under investigation for sexual exploitation of a minor or any type of sex crime, you must contact a federal sex crime criminal defense lawyer immediately. At Marks & Brooklier, attroneys Donald Marks, Anthony Brooklier, and our dedicated staff will take a strong role in all aspects of your criminal case. We will not only challenge and dispute all evidence gathered against you, we will also conduct our own internal investigation to ensure there are no other mitigating factors. Retaining our will ensure you receive the best defense for your case. We are well known as hostile and forceful Los Angeles sexual exploitation of minor criminal defense lawyers, which is what you need to win against these charges. Contact our office today.

Sacramento, California Woman Pleads Guilty in Mortage Fraud Scheme

admin — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:56:00 GMT

In Sacramento, California, a United States attorney announced that Melissa Villegas, of Sacramento, the last defendant in a mortgage fraud scheme, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Rick Villegas, of Sacramento, pled guilty to mail fraud in December 2010; Kathleen DeLapp, of Auburn, pled guilty to misprision of felony and Robert Martinson, of Newcastle, pled guilty to mail fraud. This case is the product of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the California Department of Real Estate.

According to court documents, the defendants schemed to defraud mortgage lenders by submitting fraudulent loan applications in the names of straw buyers and other investors. Martinson ran a branch of MAC Real Estate Services out of a gym on Watt Avenue, in North Highlands, which he owned but operated under his wife’s name and license. Martinson purchased dozens of homes throughout the Sacramento area as investment properties and placed title to them in “Sheryl’s LLC.” In 2005, as the housing market began to slow, Martinson unloaded properties from Sheryl’s LLC using straw buyers. DeLapp was a loan processor for MAC Real Estate Services and an account executive for Aegis Mortgage. DeLapp processed some of the loans for Martinson’s buyers. When DeLapp could not process the loans through Aegis, DeLapp, for a fee, assisted Martinson in facilitating real estate loans with other lenders. DeLapp processed loan applications from Martinson that contained inconsistent representations to the lender about occupying the property.

Co-defendants Rick Villegas and then-wife, Melissa Villegas, were mortgage loan officers working out of their home under the license of Landmark Realty Company. In 2006, their company brokered six home loans that contained materially false representations concerning the borrowers’ income, employment history, and intent to occupy the homes as primary residence. Melissa Villegas assisted on two of the loan applications, knowing those two applications contained false declarations of primary residence, false employment, and false income information. Rick signed one of the applications as the loan interviewer, knowing the interview never occurred and that information on the loan applications was false.

The maximum statutory penalty for mail fraud is 20 years in prison, a $25,000 fine, and a three-year period of supervised release. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

Mortgage fraud schemes involve misstatements, misrepresentations and omissions involving a mortgage or a property. Failure to investigate matters appropriately by underwriters insuring a mortgage, or lenders funding a real estate purchase can leave homeowners struggling with unmanageable mortgage debt and the threat of foreclosure. If you have been arrested or notified that you are under investigation for mortage fraud, you will need to consult a mortage fraud criminal defense attorney immediately.

If you find yourself facing federal criminal charges, you will need the services of experienced federal criminal defense lawyer from the Law Offices of Marks & Brooklier in order to provide you with the legal options you need to resolve deal with your case.

Federal attorneys Donald Marks and Anthony Brooklier have successfully represented clients facing mortage fraud cases for decades. We are available to serve you in the Los Angeles and the Southern California area and look forward to meeting with you to plan the correct strategy for your case. Contact a Los Angeles mortage fraud criminal defense lawyer today for your free initial consultation.