In 1989, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office became the first office in California to successfully introduce D.N.A. "genetic fingerprinting" evidence in a criminal case.


May 2, 2008 -District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that John Lewis (DOB 01/21/75) was convicted by a jury for the gang-related, May 12, 2006, first-degree murder of Oxnard resident Fred Williams. The jury also found true the special allegation that Lewis was a principal in an offense that was committed with a firearm. The jury also found true the special circumstances that the murder was intentionally committed to promote, further, and assist the Black Mafia; and that the murder was committed for financial gain.

April 24, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Don't Borrow Trouble® Ventura County will be presenting a CreditSmart Workshop. The workshop, which is open to the public is being offered free of charge, and is designed to help potential homeowners and borrowers learn about the following: Establishing and maintaining good credit, financial goal setting, understanding credit scoring, avoiding credit traps and restoring your credit score.

April 24, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Amy Flores (DOB 07/28/78), a resident of Fillmore, was arrested pursuant to a felony warrant for welfare fraud, housing assistance fraud and social security fraud.

April 24, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jason Rimmer (DOB 06/07/70) of San Mateo was sentenced by Judge Bruce Clark to two years in state prison for embezzling more than $300,000 from Amgen, Inc. of Thousand Oaks .

April 24, 2008 -District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney's Office has partnered with Community West Bank to help educate the public on the various ways to guard against becoming a victim of identity theft.

April 18, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Grand Jury has indicted Shari Nicole Lopez (DOB 3/18/85) in connection with a conspiracy to burglarize Camarillo residences between November 27, 2007, and December 19, 2007.

April 17, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Grand Jury has indicted Antonio Cervantes (DOB. 8/17/85), Joy Cox (DOB 3/19/58), Manuel Elwell (DOB 4/28/89), and Ricardo Rodriguez (DOB 7/15/88) in connection with a conspiracy to burglarize Camarillo residences between November 27, 2007, and December 19, 2007.

April 17, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Samuel Kaller (DOB: 11/13/59) of Thousand Oaks , has been charged with felony elder endangerment and delaying and resisting police officers.

April 15, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Court of Appeal upheld the gang injunction against the Southside Chiques.

April 15, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Toni Radys (DOB: 6/10/52) of Moorpark, has pled guilty to insurance fraud, grand theft, mental abuse and financial elder abuse with a special allegation of a loss over $150,000. Radys committed the crimes against her mother.

April 11, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that April 13 -19, 2008, is National Crime Victims' Rights Week. During this week, crime victims, service providers, criminal and juvenile justice and other professionals, and community volunteers will join together to recognize the needs and rights of crime victims.

March 24, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Yair Romo Hernandez (DOB 12/3/81) of Thousand Oaks pleaded guilty to one count of felony auto insurance fraud. Hernandez will be sentenced on April 21, 2008, at 1:30 p.m., in courtroom 12, by Superior Court Judge Bruce Clark.

March 17, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Connie Ayala (DOB 11/24/44), a resident of Fillmore, was sentenced to serve 180 days in the Ventura County jail following her guilty plea for public housing assistance fraud. The District Attorney's Government Fraud Unit obtained the conviction following an extensive investigation into allegations of Section 8 housing assistance fraud.

March 14, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Aubulghasem Ahmadpour, (DOB 8/28/49), a resident of Simi Valley, was convicted by jury trial of seven felony counts of filing forged instruments, and passing forged instruments with an intent to defraud, by Ventura County Superior Court Judge James P. Cloninger.

March 11, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the District Attorney's Office has obtained the conviction of Denny Cuellar (DOB 03/26/67) and Edgar Alva Marin (DOB 08/19/82). Cuellar and Marin, residents of Los Angeles , pleaded guilty to possessing counterfeit iPods with intent to sell them.

March 11, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Yvette Macias (DOB 07/11/69) was sentenced to state prison for her role in an identity theft operation. Macias, a former resident of Port Hueneme , was convicted of three counts of felony identity theft, three counts of possessing checks with fraudulent intent, and one count of grand theft.

March 6, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Yair Romo Hernandez (DOB 12/3/81) of Thousand Oaks was arrested and charged with felony auto insurance fraud. Hernandez was arraigned yesterday and entered a not guilty plea. He was arrested Tuesday by detectives from the California Highway Patrol.

March 4, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit has filed and settled a civil case against PipelineZ, LLC and Tom Tom Text, LLC, stemming from a series of seminars the companies held to market their products.

March 4, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on February 29, 2008, Joshua Werkman (DOB 7/19/74), pled no contest to one misdemeanor count of child annoyance/molesting and one misdemeanor count of furnishing alcohol to an underage person.

February 27, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit has filed and settled a civil case against the Oxnard School District, Martinez Architects, Inc., and G-2000 Construction, Inc., stemming from a 2004 release of asbestos during remodeling at the Rose Avenue Elementary School in Oxnard .

February 21, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the grand jury has indicted Lino Hernandez (D.O.B 12/29/82), Alvino Hernandez (D.O.B. 4/1/80) and Alejandro Salas (D.O.B. 8/9/82) for the September 4, 2006, murder of Octavio Lopez and the attempted murder of Abraham Lopez, Richard Gonzalez and Michelle White

February 15, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Ian Morrow (DOB 3/14/69) was arrested on four outstanding arrest warrants on multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of illegal weapons, being an ex-felon in possession of weapons, criminal threats, and being a member of a criminal street gang.

February 14, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that David Glen Snader (DOB 12/18/84) of Camarillo has been charged with felony auto insurance fraud. Snader is scheduled to be arraigned February 15, 2008, at 9:00 p.m. in courtoom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court.

February 11, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory Totten announced today that Ronald Berlinsky (DOB 12/25/49) of Westlake, California, pled guilty to one count of felony auto insurance fraud.

January 24, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Felix Lee Dua, Jr. (DOB 10/04/84), of Corona, has been sentenced to serve 180 days in jail after being caught in an Internet sting operated by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. Dua was convicted of felony Internet child luring.

January 24, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten today announced that Judge Edward Brodie sentenced Rudolfo Sandoval (DOB 02/26/1987), a.k.a. "Menace," a Ventura Avenue Gangster, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Ryan Jason Briner.

January 23, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jesenia Sosa (DOB 8/2/73), a resident of Ventura, was sentenced to serve 150 days in the Ventura County jail following her guilty plea for housing assistance fraud. The District Attorney's Government Fraud Unit obtained the conviction following a six-month investigation into allegations of housing and welfare fraud.

January 16, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Norma Fonseca (DOB 12/16/63) and Salvador Rosas Castillo (DOB 6/17/72), both of Oxnard , have been charged with felony auto insurance fraud.

January 15, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jason Bucy (DOB 03/12/74), of Thousand Oaks, has been sentenced to serve 365 days in jail after being caught in an Internet sting operated by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. Bucy was convicted of internet child luring, attempted dissemination of matter harmful to a minor, and possession of child pornography.

January 14, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the conclusion of the District Attorney's review of the circumstances surrounding the July 1, 2006, fatal shooting of Edward Medina by Officer Michael Purdy of the Oxnard Police Department.

January 11, 2008 -District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Daniel Damien Martinez (DOB 10/17/84) of Oxnard, was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Rebecca Riley to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional six years for the attempted rape and murder of 25-year-old Lorena Gonzalez of Oxnard, the assault on 30-year-old Alfred Leon of Ventura, and the premeditated attempted murder of 25-year-old Luis Rios of Santa Paula.

January 11, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten today announced that a final judgment and permanent injunction has been obtained in a civil environmental protection case against Vintage Production, LLC and Occidental Oil and Gas Holding Corporation. Vintage is a Delaware corporation which owns and operates several crude oil and natural gas producing properties in Ventura County .

January 10, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory Totten announced today that Maria G. Carranza (DOB 12/12/56) of Newark, California,  pled guilty to one count of felony auto insurance fraud.  The case stems from an automobile accident on May 29, 2006, that involved Carranza.

 

January 7, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Ruby Elizabeth Stirling (DOB 1/28/69), a resident of Simi Valley, was arrested pursuant to a felony warrant for welfare fraud, identity theft, and committing a new felony offense while released on bail.

January 7, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the conclusion of the District Attorney's review of the circumstances surrounding the November 14, 2006, fatal shooting of Adrian Canley by Senior Deputy Shane Matthews of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

December 20, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a civil complaint has been filed against Quest Home Loans, Inc., dba Quest Mortgage ('Quest'), and its owner/broker, Oscar Vasquez (DOB: 11/30/71), of Oxnard. Quest specializes in sub-prime home loans to members of the Spanish-speaking community.

December 14, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Lidia Salazar (DOB 08/03/67) was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Bruce A. Clark to four months in the Ventura County jail following Salazar's conviction for workers compensation insurance fraud.

December 4, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory Totten announced today the sentencing of Christopher Strauch (DOB 1/31/89) of Port Hueneme . Strauch pled guilty to one count of PC 459 second degree commercial burglary and was sentenced to 180 days in the Ventura County jail.

December 4, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory Totten announced today the arraignment of Kenneth Morton (DOB 1/3/57) of Oxnard . Morton is charged with two counts of violating PC 368(b)(1) elder abuse, a great bodily injury enhancement under PC 368(a)(2), and one count of violating PC 597(b) animal cruelty. Bail is set at $100,000.

December 3, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Randi Lynn Deason (D.O.B. 11/13/74), a resident of Ojai, was sentenced to serve 150 days in jail and placed on felony probation for 48 months. Ventura County Superior Court Judge Edward Brodie sentenced Deason after she was convicted of one count of felony grand theft and one count of forgery relating to her embezzlement from Washington Mutual Bank in Ojai.

December 3, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Ventura County Superior Court Judge Bruce Clark has sentenced Tomer Rotholz (DOB 11/4/63) to two years in prison, for his participation in a workers' compensation fraud scheme.

November 16, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Teresa Arias (DOB 10/03/73), a resident of Oxnard , was arrested pursuant to a felony arrest warrant for welfare fraud. The arrest took place in Oxnard and was the result of an extensive investigation conducted by the Bureau of Investigation - Government Fraud Unit into allegations of welfare fraud.

November 16, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Joseph Wally Kraus aka Jojo Kraus (DOB 06/11/78) has been sentenced to serve 10 years in state prison for his role in an identity theft ring that victimized Ventura County for approximately three years.

November 15, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit has filed and settled a civil case against Catalytic Solutions, Inc. stemming from its alleged unpermitted treatment of hazardous waste at Catalytic Solutions, Inc.'s Oxnard manufacturing plant.

November 13, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Francisco Martinez (DOB 10/4/65), of Ventura , was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Edward F. Brodie to life in prison without the possibility of parole for his participation in the murder of Manuel Campos (DOB 10/15/38) of Oxnard .

November 7, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the conviction of Carl Lee Beckel (DOB 08/27/48), a resident of Ventura . Beckel pleaded guilty to one count of grand theft and admitted to taking more than $50,000.

October 18, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Sheryl Ann Connelly (DOB12-19-59) and James Joseph Connelly (DOB 12-21-52) were arrested on one count of felony grand theft and one count of public assistance fraud after a lengthy investigation by the Ventura County District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation - Government Fraud Unit.

October 17, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the District Attorney's Office has obtained the conviction of Ellen Prince (DOB 03/09/66). Prince, a resident of Port Hueneme , pleaded guilty to two counts of grand theft and possession of a blank check with intent to defraud.

October 9, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney's Office has partnered with Community West Bank to help educate the public on the various ways to guard against becoming a victim of identity theft.

October 5, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury found Santiago Trevizo (12/5/48) guilty of six counts of violating Penal Code section 288(a), lewd act upon a child, against three different victims. The charges stemmed from the years 2000/2001 as to two victims and 2004/2005 for the third victim .

October 5, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the month of October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, community leaders, law enforcement, judges, advocates, and concerned citizens are working together

October 1, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory Totten announced today that Rodney Gibson Sr. (DOB 7/13/1945) of Henderson , Nevada , and his son, Rodney Gibson II (DOB 6/2/1970) of Oxnard , California , were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit auto insurance fraud and two counts of auto insurance fraud.

September 28, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the District Attorney's Office obtained the conviction of Joseph Wally Kraus aka Jojo Kraus (DOB 06-11-78). Kraus, a resident of Port Hueneme, pled guilty to 17 felonies, including seven counts of identity theft, four counts of receiving stolen property, two counts of possession of a blank check with fraudulent intent, and one count each of forging a California driver's license, forging a government identification, possession of a completed check with fraudulent intent, and possession of a computer used to make counterfeit money.

September 28, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on September 25 and 26, 2007, a combined law enforcement team, composed of investigators from the Ventura County District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation, the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), and the City of San Buenaventura conducted a "sting" operation against illegal contractors operating in Ventura County.

September 21, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jed Knudsen (DOB 12/14/1968), a resident of West Valley, Utah; Shaun Mitchell (DOB 04/14/1971), a resident of Taylorsville, Utah; Eric Larson (DOB 09/12/1979), a resident of Wellsville, Utah; Harold Haase (DOB 05/24/1947), a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah; and John Neal (DOB 10/24/1971), a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah, were arrested in Simi Valley by the District Attorney's Office - Bureau of Investigation for felony violations of California Civil Code section 1812.217, a section of the California Seller- Assisted Marketing Plan (SAMP) Act. Bail for each was set at $10,000.

September 21, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the guilty plea of Denise Cabrera (DOB 2/16/79) of Oxnard . Cabrera pled guilty on September 20, 2007, to one felony count of theft from an elder and four felony counts of fraudulent use of an access card.

September 20, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Tomer Rotholz (DOB 11/4/63), Yosef Khatib (DOB 10/30/69) and the corporations run by them, Tapuz Enterprises, Inc. and Nativ Engineering, Inc., respectively, each pled guilty to one felony count of insurance fraud.

September 19, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jason Rimmer (DOB 06-07-70) of San Mateo and Robert Troy Nipar (DOB 08-13-63) of Simi Valley each pleaded guilty to one count of felony grand theft in connection with a fraudulent billing scheme involving Amgen, Inc. of Thousand Oaks .

September 12, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the District Attorney's Office obtained the conviction of Richard Aluise (DOB 08/31/72), a resident of Newbury Park . Aluise pled guilty to one count of felony distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. This matter was investigated by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department and the Southern California High Tech Task Force.

September 6, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today a warning to Ventura County residents that an unlicensed paving company may be operating in Ventura County. The company includes nearly a dozen men who previously operated for about a month in Nevada and scammed dozens of residents and businesses in that state.

September 5, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Glenn Gerard Calkins (DOB 08/15/50), a resident of Simi Valley , was sentenced to serve 180 days in jail for possessing child pornography. Calkins was convicted of one count of felony possession of child pornography. This matter was investigated by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department and the Southern California High Tech Task Force.

August 30, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory Totten announced today the arrest and arraignment of Kui T. Li (DOB 5/29/1981), of Goleta , by the District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation. Li is charged with two counts of auto insurance fraud.

August 29, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Adelina Magana (DOB 1/7/88) of Oxnard, was sentenced Tuesday August 28, 2007, by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Rebecca Riley to 3 years probation and credit for time served of 507 days for her participation in the murder of her step father, Manuel Campos of Oxnard.

August 28, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that murder charges have been filed against Paul Carillo (DOB 1/28/88), of Ventura , Manuel Rodriguez (DOB 2/20/88), of Santa Paula , and Miguel Gonzalez (DOB 5/24/87), of Santa Paula , for the killing of Edgar Flores (DOB 11/25/79) on August 24, 2007.

August 8, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Ross Wollschlager, previously determined to be a sexually violent predator, has been ordered released into Ventura County no later than August 14, 2007, by the California Court of Appeal.

August 7, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Consumer and Environmental Protection Division, in conjunction with the California Attorney General's Consumer Law Section, has filed a joint civil unlawful business practices action against IMERGENT, INC. ("Imergent"), and STORESONLINE, INC. ("StoresOnline"), both headquartered in Orem , Utah .

July 31, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Estella Magana (DOB 1/20/54) of Oxnard , was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Herbert Curtis to life in prison without the possibility of parole for her participation in the murder of her husband, Manuel Campos (DOB 10/15/38) of Oxnard .

July 27, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Rosalinda Robles (DOB 07/10/67), a former resident of Ventura, was arrested by investigators from the District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation pursuant to a felony arrest warrant for grand theft.

July 25, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the arraignment of Angela Daily (DOB 9/3/79), a resident of Ventura . Daily was charged with three counts of auto insurance fraud.

July 23, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the arraignment of Jose Antonio Mosqueda (DOB 1/8/1989), a resident of Ventura, California . Defendant Mosqueda was charged with one felony count of animal cruelty, a violation of section 597(a) of the Penal Code.

July 23, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that he has received an opinion from the Attorney General of California regarding the right of school employees to address school board meetings.

July 20, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the District Attorney's Office obtained the conviction of Glenn Gerard Calkins (DOB 08/15/50), a resident of Simi Valley . Calkins pled guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.

July 20, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Sarah Ann Garcia (DOB 06/05/78), a former resident of Ventura, was arrested by investigators from the District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation pursuant to a felony arrest warrant for grand theft. The arrest took place in Oxnard and was the result of a two-month investigation conducted by the Bureau of Investigation - Government Fraud Unit with the cooperation of the City of Ventura Housing Authority and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - Office of Inspector General.

July 13, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that his office has concluded its inquiry and review of the expenditures by the Channel Islands Beach Community Service District (CIBCSD).

June 27, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten today announced that Judge James Cloninger sentenced Javier Carriedo Acevedo (DOB 1-13-84), a.k.a. "Listo," a Ventura Avenue gangster, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Ryan Jason Briner.

June 20, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the arraignment of Juliana Ramirez (DOB 3/1/1988) of Carpinteria. Defendant Ramirez is charged with three felony counts of auto insurance fraud and one misdemeanor count of obstructing a police officer in the course of his investigation.

June 20, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the filing of a criminal complaint against Jason Rimmer (06-07-70) of San Mateo and Robert Troy Nipar (08-13-63) of Simi Valley . Rimmer and Nipar are each charged with one count of grand theft and one count of criminal conspiracy in connection with a fraudulent billing scheme involving Amgen, Inc. of Thousand Oaks .

June 15, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Andrew Sean Korotzer (D.O.B. 09/07/66), a resident of Moorpark, was sentenced to serve 180 days in jail and placed on felony probation for 60 months. Judge Bruce Clark sentenced Korotzer after Korotzer was convicted of one count of grand theft and one count of identity theft relating to his scheme to defraud the Prudential Life Insurance Company into paying him commissions that he had not earned.

June 11, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit has filed and settled a civil environmental protection and unlawful business practices action against Aera Energy LLC ("Aera"), of Bakersfield , and Baker Petrolite Corporation ("Baker"), of Houston.

June 8, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Louise K. Steele, also known as Louise Whittaker (DOB 09/17/65), a former resident of Simi Valley and Oxnard, has been sentenced to serve five years and four months in state prison. Steele was convicted of 10 counts of felony grand theft and admitted to stealing $304,663 from Bennett Construction.

June 6, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced that Jessica Diane Stubblefield (DOB 05-28-68) of Camarillo pled "no contest" to embezzling nearly $3,000 from a foundation she formed for a cancer-stricken child. When the 7-year-old child was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2005, Stubblefield solicited funds from friends, neighbors, co-workers, and the general public under the pretext that she had formed the "Tommy for Life Foundation."

June 4, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today Ashley Marie Ponce, a resident of Oxnard (DOB: 03/17/1982) pled no contest to seven counts of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter for her role in the seven person traffic fatality on State Route 118 near Moorpark.

June 1, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that David Proctor Mark was sentenced to 18 years in state prison by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Kevin McGee. Mark was convicted on March 14, 2007, of gross negligence vehicular manslaughter while driving under the influence and fleeing the scene of the collision which resulted in the death of 19-month-old Alex Hurd. He had a prior conviction for driving under the influence and for first degree burglary.

May 31, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that District Attorney investigators arrested Bette Jones (DOB10-27-65) on one county of felony grand theft.  Bette Jones was the former program administrator for the Medical Staff Office of the Ventura County Medical Center . While in that position, Jones embezzled approximately $33,086, over a five-month period, from the physician's Medical Staff Fund account.

May 22, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jesenia Sosa (D.O.B. 8/2/73), a resident of Ventura, was arrested by the District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation pursuant to a felony arrest warrant for grand theft and welfare fraud. The arrest took place in Ventura and was the result of a six-month investigation conducted by the Bureau of Investigation - Government Fraud Unit into allegations of housing and welfare fraud. The investigation revealed Sosa received $18,121 in public assistance funds for which she was not legally eligible.

May 21, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Estella Magana (DOB 1/20/54) of Oxnard, was convicted by a jury of First Degree Murder with two special circumstances, Lying in Wait and Financial Gain, for the killing of Manuel Campos (DOB 10/15/38) of Oxnard.

May 21, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Luis Miguel Rincon Alejandre was sentenced today to nine years in prison by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Allan Steele. Alejandre was convicted March 23, 2007, of felony gross vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run which resulted in the death of eight-year-old Gerardo Zaragoza Jr., and driving without a license.

May 10, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Robert James Callahan (DOB 05-10-1982), a 25-year-old Arleta resident, pled guilty on May 10, 2007, to a felony charge of child luring. The prosecution of Callahan followed an investigation by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

May 9, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Manuel John Perez, Jr. (D.O.B. 03/17/69), a resident of Oxnard, was arrested by the District Attorney's Office - Bureau of Investigation pursuant to a felony warrant for writing and passing account-closed checks totaling $4,352.97. The arrest took place in Oxnard and was the result of a three-month investigation conducted by the Non-Sufficient Funds Check Restitution and Prosecution Unit.

May 4, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that investigators from the District Attorney's Office - Bureau of Investigation, Government Fraud Unit, along with the Ventura Police Department, Street Crimes Unit, and a state parole agent executed a search warrant in the 300 block of Barnett Street in the city of Ventura.

April 26, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney's Office has partnered with Community West Bank to help educate the public on the various ways to guard against becoming a victim of identity theft.

April 23, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the week of April 22-28, 2007, is National Crime Victims' Rights Week. During this week, crime victims, service providers, criminal justice, juvenile justice and law enforcement professionals, as well as community volunteers, will join together to recognize the needs and rights of crime victims across our nation.

April 20, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory Totten announced today that the Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit filed and settled a civil consumer protection complaint against High Tech Pet Products, Inc., ("High Tech") of Ventura and Nicholas Bonge ("Bonge") (DOB 08/03/1954). High Tech is an Internet company engaged in the business of advertising and selling pet products. Bonge is the owner and president of High Tech.

April 20, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the conclusion of the District Attorney's review of the circumstances surrounding the July 9, 2006, death of Raymond Hopper while being arrested by Ventura County Sheriff's deputies.

April 19, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Andrew James Schroller (DOB 08/27/58), a Ventura resident, has been sentenced to 13 years and 8 months in state prison for his theft of more than $1.1 million from his former employer, Secorp Industries, Inc.

March 28, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten today announced today that on March 27, 2007, a jury convicted Javier Carriedo Acevedo, DOB 1/31/84, of first degree murder for death of Ryan Jason Briner, age 26.

March 28, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that attempted premeditated murder charges were filed against Matthew Shear, (D.O.B. 11/8/82) for attempting to kill his girlfriend. The complaint also alleges the defendant personally inflicted great bodily injury, and that he used a knife when committing the offense.

March 23, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury found Luis Miguel Rincon Alejandre guilty of felony gross vehicular manslaughter and felony hit and run resulting in the death of 8-year-old Gerardo Zaragoza Jr. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on April 20, 2007, in courtroom 13 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He is facing up to 11 years in state prison.

March 22, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the grand re-opening of Safe Harbor West at its new location. The center is a coalition of public and private agencies dedicated to serving child victims of sexual and physical abuse and adult victims of sexual assault. The mission of the program is to maintain a facility that promotes dignity and respect while minimizing trauma and maximizing criminal prosecution.

March 21, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a felony warrant was issued for the arrest of Kristian Joylynn Carrillo (D.O.B. 09/23/73), a resident of Ventura, charging Carrillo with one count of grand theft and three counts of perjury. The criminal complaint was the culmination of a seven-month investigation conducted by the Bureau of Investigation - Government Fraud Unit into allegations of housing fraud.

March 15, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that David Michael Sellers (DOB 05/05/48), a resident of Santa Paula , was sentenced to serve 180 days in jail for possessing child pornography. This matter was investigated by the Oxnard Police Department, the Santa Paula Police Department, and investigators from the District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation assigned to the Southern California High Tech Task Force (SCHTTF).

March 13, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Robert Parker Young (DOB 4/5/54) was sentenced by Superior Court Judge Herbert Curtis to nine years in state prison. In January 2007, before trial testimony was to begin, Young pled guilty to the charge of elder abuse/neglect and admitted an enhancement that he proximately caused the death of a person over the age of 70.

 

March 13, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory Totten announced today that the Consumer and Environmental Protection Division filed and settled a civil consumer protection complaint against Pacific First Bancorp Mortgage Corporation (" Pacific First Bancorp") , of Van Nuys, with branch offices at 365 Esplanade Drive, Suite 205 Oxnard , California , and its broker, Federico Jorge Triebel. Pacific First Bancorp specializes in sub-prime home loans to members of the Spanish-speaking community.

 

March 5, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the arraignment of Paula Shaw (DOB 1/12/1968), a resident of Bullhead City, Arizona . Defendant Shaw was charged with three counts of auto insurance fraud, two counts of elder abuse, and one count of filing a false police report.

 

February 26, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Chad Nichols (D.O.B. 9/3/1971), pled guilty today to one count of felony Corporal Injury to Spouse. Nichols is presently a sergeant for the Port Hueneme Police Department and has been on administrative leave since March 17, 2006. The victim is the defendant's wife and mother to his three minor children.

February 26, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a Ventura County jury has convicted Andrew James Schroller (DOB 08/27/58), a Ventura resident, of theft, forgery, and tax evasion charges. The jury deliberated 90 minutes before convicting Schroller on 17 counts that included corporate embezzlement, grand theft, eight counts of forgery, six counts of filing false state tax returns, and one count of failing to file a state tax return. The jury also found that he embezzled more than $1 million. The matter was investigated by the Ventura Police Department and the California Franchise Tax Board.

February 26, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on February 14-15, 2007, a combined law enforcement team, composed of investigators from the Ventura County District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation, the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), and the Ventura Police Department conducted a "sting" operation against illegal contractors operating in Ventura County . Members of the CSLB's Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) posed as homeowners at a house near Ventura 's Ocean Avenue Park and invited suspected unlicensed contractors to bid on various home improvement projects that included landscaping, kitchen remodeling, concrete work, roofing and painting.

February 22, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit obtained convictions in two separate cases for misdemeanor contracting without a license, in violation of the California State Contractors' licensing law. Convicted were Manuel Martinez (DOB12/30/56), a resident of Camarillo, and Roy Dale Dickerson (DOB 5/17/51), a resident of Thousand Oaks. Both cases were the result of investigations conducted by the California Contractors' State Licensing Board (CSLB).

February 9, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the grand jury has indicted Daniel Ramirez (DOB 7/27/80) for the December 9, 2006, murder of Michael Velasquez. Ramirez resides in Port Hueneme where the murder occurred. The indictment accuses Ramirez of one count murder with a special allegation of use of a firearm.

February 8, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the California Landscape Contractors Association chose Safe Harbor East in Simi Valley as the recipient of an "extreme landscape make-over" as part of the organization's charitable work. The California Landscape Contractors Association is a non-profit trade organization of licensed landscape and landscape-related contractors throughout the state of California. Also included among its approximately 3,200 members are landscape suppliers, landscape architects, public officials, educators, and students. Although formally incorporated in 1952, CLCA has been meeting as an association since 1937.

February 6, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the promotion of Senior Investigator Glen Kitzmann to the position of deputy chief investigator. Mr. Kitzmann's law enforcement career spans more than 28 years, including the last 16 with the District Attorney's Office.

February 6, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Gail Marie Bush (DOB 1-24-68), formerly of Thousand Oaks, pled guilty to felony grand theft of over $10,500 from the Area Housing Authority of the County of Ventura and to felony perjury.

February 2, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Dolly Ann Leahy (DOB 12-06-63), a former resident of Moorpark, was sentenced to serve eight years in state prison for her role in a complex embezzlement from her former employer, Power One. Leahy was convicted of three felonies, including one count of corporate embezzlement and two counts of money laundering. She was also convicted of stealing more than $500,000 from Power One, and of laundering more than $150,000 in criminal proceeds. This matter was investigated by the District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the California Franchise Tax Board and the FBI.

February 1, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Julie Marie Sergojan (DOB 06/21/56), a Thousand Oaks resident and former Los Angeles County deputy district attorney, was sentenced to 10 years in state prison on Wednesday, January 31, following her guilty pleas to nine felony charges arising from three separate fraud schemes. Sergojan pled guilty to felony charges of identity theft, grand theft, loan fraud, forgery, and passing bad checks. Sergojan's crimes were investigated by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

January 31, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory Totten announced today the retirement of Chief Investigator Gary Auer.  Deputy Chief Investigator Rob Briner has been appointed to replace Mr. Auer as Chief Investigator.

January 31, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten today announced that, after a lengthy and intensive investigation by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, the Ventura County Criminal Grand Jury has indicted John Joseph Lewis.

January 25, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Ventura County Safe Harbor West is now officially accredited with the National Children's Alliance. Safe Harbor West, a multidisciplinary interview and advocacy center for child physical assault and child and adult sexual assault victims, provides forensic medical examinations and forensic interviews in a safe, secure, victim-friendly setting. The center also links victims and their families with support services from victim advocates and local non-profit agencies. The Safe Harbor multidisciplinary team is a collaboration between law enforcement, social services, sexual assault nurse examiners, victim advocates, and public prosecutors.

January 24, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten today announced the conclusion of the District Attorney's review of the circumstances surrounding the June 12, 2006, fatal traffic accident involving Oxnard Police Officer Frank Brisslinger that resulted in the death of Cindy Conolly. The accident occurred on the beach just south of the Mandalay Beach Resort in Oxnard.

January 24, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Christina Edwardson (D.O.B. 2/12/52), a resident of Ventura, was arrested by the District Attorney's Office - Bureau of Investigation pursuant to a felony warrant for grand theft. The arrest took place in Ventura and was the result of a 3-month investigation conducted by the Bureau of Investigation - Government Fraud Unit into allegations of housing fraud. Edwardson received more than $42,000 of housing assistance for which she was not legally eligible.

January 17, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Andres Alfredo Rosales (D.O.B. 1/15/86), a resident of Camarillo, was arrested by the District Attorney's Office - Bureau of Investigation pursuant to a felony warrant for identity theft. The arrest took place in Camarillo and was the result of a 6-month investigation conducted by the Bureau of Investigation - Government Fraud Unit and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Social Security Administration.

January 14, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the conclusion of the review of the circumstances surrounding the August 21, 2005, fatal shooting of Armando Nava by Officer Derek Stephens of the Oxnard Police Department.

January 12, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced the conviction of Anthony Thomas Leahy (DOB 2/17/60), a former resident of Moorpark. Leahy pleaded guilty to 15 felonies including one count of corporate embezzlement, two counts of grand theft, nine counts of money laundering, one count of tax evasion, and one count of failure to file a corporate tax return in order to evade taxes. He admitted to stealing more than $500,000 from his wife's former employer, Power One of Camarillo, and to laundering more than $1,000,000 in criminal proceeds.

January 10, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced that Maria Lucille Velarde, a.k.a. Maria Lucille Gabrie (DOB 08/19/57), a resident of Moorpark, was sentenced to four years and eight months in state prison for her role in two frauds that victimized elders that she cared for at Leisure Village in Camarillo.

January 8, 2007 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced that the death penalty will not be sought for Javier Acevedo (D.O.B. 01/13/84). Acevedo is charged with the May 5, 2004, murder of Ryan Briner in Ventura. A jury trial is scheduled for April 18, 2007, in Ventura County Superior Court. Acevedo's co-defendant, Rodolfo Sandoval, was 17 years old at the time of the murder and is not eligible for the death penalty.

2006

December 21, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced the conviction of Andrew Sean Korotzer (DOB 09/07/66), a resident of Moorpark. Korotzer pled guilty to one count of grand theft and one count of identity theft relating to his scheme to defraud the Prudential Life Insurance Company into paying him commission that he had not earned. This matter was investigated by the Investigations Division of the California Department of Insurance.

December 20, 2006 -  District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced that Shoshanah Rebekkah Abrams aka Susan Abrams, a former resident of Ventura, pled guilty to two counts of grand theft from the Jewish Federation of Ventura. This matter was investigated by the Ventura Police Department.

 

December 13, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced that Esther Torres-Anaya (DOB 06/05/73) of Oxnard was sentenced to five years, four months in state prison after pleading guilty to felony theft from an elder, tax fraud, and embezzlement by a public officer.

December 12, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced that his office is participating in a statewide campaign called, "Make it Home for the Holidays." This outreach program seeks to bring greater public awareness to the problem of driving under the influence (DUI), a crime that typically increases during the holiday season, too often with tragic results for innocent citizens.

November 28, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the District Attorney's Office obtained the conviction of Jamie Leslie Gaspar (DOB 06/27/81), a resident of Simi Valley . Gaspar pled guilty to committing felony grand theft and admitted to stealing more than $150,000 from her employer, Valley Growers Nursery, Inc. This matter was investigated by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

November 21, 2006- District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the death penalty will not be sought for Jermaine Robair (D.O.B. 6/19/81). Robair is charged with the May 24, 2006, murder of Steven Knapp in Oxnard . A jury trial is scheduled for April 18, 2007, in Ventura County Superior Court.

November 20, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Juanita Canley aka Juanita Browne (DOB 01/17/59) and Hiep Quang Le (DOB 08/09/55), both residents of Ventura , were arrested without incident by the District Attorney's Office - Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Ventura Police Department. Both individuals were transported to and booked at the Ventura County Sheriff's Department-Main Jail. In issuing the warrants for their arrest, Superior Court Judge James Cloninger set bail for Browne at $100,000 and $10,000 for Le.

November 20, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Sam Grair (D.O.B. 07/08/63), a former resident of Ventura, has been sentenced to serve five years and four months in state prison for his role in a switched lottery ticket scheme. Grair had pled guilty to committing felony grand theft and to presenting a fraudulent claim to a government agency.

November 17, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced that a jury convicted Maria de Carmen Del Valle (D.O.B. 8/2/61) of attempted murder of her eleven-year-old daughter. The jury also found the special allegations that she used a knife, caused great bodily injury, and premeditated the attempted murder to be true. The jury also found defendant guilty of felony child abuse on her ten-year-old son.

 

November 15, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Chiropractor Kent Pollock (DOB 7/25/44), a Camarillo resident, was sentenced after pleading guilty to 15 felony counts of insurance fraud, including a special allegation that he stole more than $50,000. The case against Pollock followed an investigation conducted by the Ventura County District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation and CNA Insurance Company.

November 14, 2006 - On November 9, 2006, Ventura County Sheriff Ojai station detectives capped a three-week investigation into the theft of avocados by trucking company employees. Florentino Castaneda (38), Fortunato Mendoza (46), and Francisco Ponce (32), all residents of Ventura , were employed by Castaneda trucking and had been hired by two companies to deliver the fruit from growers to the market. Over the course of several months, the suspects took their loads back to the trucking company's yard on Ventura Avenue where they skimmed off a portion of their loads prior to delivering the fruit to market. It is estimated that well over $700,000 worth of avocados were stolen during the growing season, which typically runs from March through September.

November 14, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten today announced that he will seek the death penalty against Randolph Kling for charges related to the murders of Michael and William Budfuloski.

November 13, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory Totten announced today the arrest of Gloria Estrada (D.O.B. 11/25/65) of Oxnard . The defendant is charged with two counts of auto insurance fraud.

November 8, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the conviction of Dolly Ann Leahy, formerly known as Dolly Barrera (D.O.B. 12/06/63), a former resident of Simi Valley . Leahy pled guilty to one count of corporate embezzlement and two counts of money laundering. She admitted to stealing more than $500,000 from her former employer, Power One, an electronics manufacturer in Camarillo , and to laundering more than $150,000 in criminal proceeds. This matter was investigated by the District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the California Franchise Tax Board and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

November 6, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit, in conjunction with the Consumer Protection Division of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, has filed and settled a joint civil unlawful business practices prosecution against Hussein Thiab Abuatieh and Abdallah Abutarboush who have managed and operated three retail automotive electronics stores in the County of Los Angeles and one store in the County of Ventura under the fictitious business name of "Stereo 1." The defendants also operated retail stores in Kern County and San Bernardino County and the District Attorneys of those counties joined in the stipulation for entry of the final judgment. The case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair (BEAR) and the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) of the California Department of Consumer Affairs, and the Bureaus of Investigation of each District Attorney's Office.

November 6, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Elijio Castro (D.O.B. 5/12/76), pled guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter in the stabbing death of 24-year-old Emanual Manzano. He also admitted to the use of a knife in the stabbing and violating a deferred entry of judgment on a drug offense.

 

November 6, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Margie Delores Lopez (D.O.B. 12/7/63), a resident of Fillmore, was arrested by the District Attorney's Office - Bureau of Investigation pursuant to a felony warrant for grand theft. The arrest took place in Fillmore and was the result of a three-month investigation conducted by the Bureau of Investigation - Government Fraud Unit into allegations of housing fraud.

 

November 1, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the arrest of Yannick Truchi (DOB 05/19/65) of Camarillo . The defendant is charged with one count of insurance fraud under Penal Code section 550(a)(1).

 

October 27, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory Totten announced today that Manoj Majithia (DOB 6/15/55) and Poonam Majithia (DOB 3/31/70) of Camarillo were each arraigned on two felony counts of insurance fraud.

October 25, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a Ventura County jury has found Alberto Carrillo (DOB 3/20/84) guilty of first degree murder for the March 5, 2005, shooting death of Pedro "Pete" Reveles. The jury also found that Carillo used a firearm in the commission of the crime and that the crime was committed for the benefit of or in association with a criminal street gang.

October 25, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Alejandro Lopez (DOB 11/20/79) was sentenced on one felony count of workers' compensation fraud. The case against Lopez followed an investigation conducted by the Fraud Division of the California Department of Insurance.

 

October 23, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Superior Court Judge Vincent O'Neill, Jr. issued a permanent "gang injunction" against the Southside Chiques (hereinafter "SSCH"), a criminal street gang that claims territory in the cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme . The permanent injunction order prohibits activities of the SSCH members in a 4.26 square mile area designated as the "Safety Zone."

October 17, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that April Lynn Chadwick (D.O.B. 7/15/77), a resident of Santa Paula, was arrested by the District Attorney's Office - Bureau of Investigation pursuant to a felony warrant for welfare fraud and grand theft. The arrest took place at Chadwick's home in Santa Paula and culminated a four-month investigation into allegations of welfare fraud and HUD Section 8 housing fraud. Chadwick defrauded public assistance programs of more than $4,550 in benefits for which she was not legally entitled.

October 17, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on October 16, 2006, Dan Bradley Davis (DOB 2/15/1958), a resident of Camarillo, was sentenced to nine years, eight months in prison for auto insurance fraud. On August 30, 2006, Davis was convicted of one count of insurance fraud and one count of forgery for passing an altered check. Special allegations of a prison prior and the commission of an offense while out on bail were also found to be true.

October 13, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney's Office has partnered with Community West Bank to help educate the public on the various ways to guard against becoming a victim of identity theft.

 

October 11, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit has filed and settled a civil unlawful business practices action against Patina, Inc., of Ventura .

 

October 11, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Ruby Elizabeth Stirling (D.O.B. 1/28/69), a resident of Thousand Oaks , was arrested pursuant to a felony warrant for welfare fraud. The arrest took place in Moorpark and was the result of a nine-month investigation by the Bureau of Investigation - Government Fraud Unit into allegations of welfare fraud.

 

October 9, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Mary Teixeira (D.O.B. 10/5/76) and Rudy Torres (D.O.B. 2/22/31), both residents of Fillmore, were arrested by the District Attorney's Office - Bureau of Investigation pursuant to separate felony warrants for grand theft. The arrests took place in Ventura and were the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Investigation - Government Fraud Unit into allegations of housing fraud.

 

October 5, 2006 - The District Attorney's Office will be participating in a forum entitled "Understanding and Avoiding Real Estate Fraud" on Friday, October 6, 2006. The forum is offered to members of Ventura County 's real estate profession by the Real Estate Fraud Advisory Team (REFAT), in conjunction with the District Attorney's Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Program. REFAT is comprised of real estate professionals from every field in the industry and its mission is to educate the public and real estate industry professionals regarding fraudulent schemes and practices that are occurring at an alarming rate. The F.B.I. considers mortgage fraud to be one of the fastest growing white-collar crimes in the United States .

 

October 5, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the conviction of Eric Victoria (DOB 09/18/75), a resident of Camarillo . Victoria pled guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. This matter was investigated by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department and investigators from the District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation assigned to the Southern California High Tech Task Force (SCHTTF).

 

October 2, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Robert Troy Caron (DOB 11-02-1957), a resident of Camarillo and licensed California attorney, has been arrested and charged with twelve counts of securities fraud arising from his improper solicitation and management of private investments in strawberry farming from 1999 through 2001. The filing of criminal charges against Caron follows a three year investigation conducted by the Ventura County District Attorney Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the California Department of Corporations.

September 29, 2006 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the sentencing of three Thousand Oaks residents: Alex Albillar, Albert Alibllar, and John Anthony Madrigal. On May 17, 2006, a jury found the three defendants guilty of forcible rape in concert and forcible digital penetration in concert of a 15-year-ol