August 26, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury has convicted Raul Quiroz (DOB: 8/8/79), of Camarillo , of first-degree murder for the August 27, 2005, shooting death of Brian Szostek, age 24.

August 18, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jose Carranza (DOB 1-2-78), of Oxnard, was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Nancy Ayers to an indeterminate sentence of 40 years to life in prison and a consecutive determinate sentence of nine years and four months.

August 16, 2010 - In response to a significant volume of media inquiries, District Attorney Gregory D. Totten released the following statement regarding the official misconduct investigation involving the City of Oxnard :

July 23, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Michael Nuciforo (DOB 2/15/55) and James Nuciforo (DOB 10/25/52) pleaded no contest to three felony counts of workers' compensation premium fraud and admitted a special allegation that their conduct caused losses of over $100,000.

July 23, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County Grand Jury has indicted Joshua Graham Packer (DOB 9-21-1989) of Ventura .  After hearing evidence against Packer, the Grand Jury found probable cause to believe and has formally accused Packer of three counts of first degree murder for his killings of Brock and Davina Husted and their unborn child, Grant, at their Faria Beach home on May 20, 2009.  Packer is also charged with using a knife in the killing of each of the victims. 

July 19, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Francisco Barajas (DOB 7/20/87), of Taft, was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Charles Campbell to life without the possibility of parole for the killing of Roberto Chavez Nunez, age 28, of Oxnard .

July 16, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Hilary Zanuzoski (DOB 5/21/1973) of Camarillo pleaded guilty to a violation of Penal Code section 550(a)(1) felony auto insurance fraud.

July 16, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Oxnard resident Eduardo Enrique Ventura (DOB 7/15/63), of Oxnard , was held to answer for the February, 10, 2010, murder of Oxnard resident Francisca Herrera.

July 6, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the arrests of Steven Kall (DOB 3/12/55), Anne Adams (DOB 4/6/63), and Jimmy Silva (DOB 7/2/84). The arrests took place following an indictment issued by the Ventura County Criminal Grand Jury.

July 1, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Elizabeth Ann Jones (DOB 01/23/1966) of Newbury Park has been sentenced by the Honorable Judge Edward Brodie to seven years and eight months in prison following her convictions in April on ten felony charges including grand theft, forgery, computer fraud, and tax evasion.

July 1, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Abraham Morales (DOB 3/5/84) was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the July 23, 2006, first-degree murder of William Wimbley, an Oxnard resident.

June 29, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Charles Smith aka “Chuck Smith” (DOB 11/17/1949) of Camarillo was sentenced to 180 days in the Ventura County jail and placed on felony probation for three years after pleading guilty to four counts of felony tax evasion.

June 17, 2010 - Federal and local authorities this morning arrested 13 individuals linked to mortgage fraud operations that filed fraudulent loan applications with several banks and other lenders, generated millions of dollars in loan fees and real estate commissions, and caused millions of dollars in losses when the homes went into foreclosure because the purchasers were unable to make their monthly payments.

June 16, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Honorable Edward F. Brodie sentenced Jesus Jimenez Lopez (DOB 09/09/1962) of Ventura to three years probation and 120 days in the Ventura County jail for charges arising out of an undercover operation by the Department of Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR), involving smog testing fraud.

June 15, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit entered into a Stipulated Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction against Reeds & Son Furniture Oxnard, Inc., a California Corporation doing business as Reeds Furniture To Go, Reeds Closeout Center and Reeds Furniture ( Oxnard ), and Donald M. Wickman of Thousand Oaks .

June 9, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury has found Emmanuel Vasquez (DOB 10/3/1987) and Maria Martinez (DOB 2/18/1970), both of Oxnard , guilty of carjacking, robbery, vehicle theft, and possession of a firearm by a felon and multiple counts of possession of a controlled substance.

June 9, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Abraham Morales (DOB 3/5/84), of Oxnard , was convicted by a jury for the July 23, 2006, first-degree murder of William Wimbley, an Oxnard resident. The murder was committed in broad daylight at the Wooley Gas Station in Oxnard .

June 7, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Neil Scott Sipos (DOB 11/14/1962), a certified public accountant from Thousand Oaks , was charged by complaint with seven counts of felony grand theft and the aggravated white collar crime enhancement.

June 3, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on June 1, 2010, Kelly Clough Gladstone (DOB 7/1/1960), of Thousand Oaks , was convicted of a single charge of misdemeanor failure to perform duties of a notary public, in violation of California Government Code section 8228.1(a).

May 26, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that no charges will be filed against Heather Deen Locklear related to a collision occurring in the early morning hours of April 17, 2010.

May 26, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County Criminal Grand Jury indicted Donald Otto Clobes, Jr. (DOB 05/02/1971) of Ventura; Geoffrey Todd Rotondo (DOB 12/26/1974) of Ventura; Christopher Albert Reno (DOB 08/18/1985) of Camarillo; Bryan Keith Eckenrode (DOB 04/17/1986) of Camarillo; Bryan Linnaeus Booher (DOB 05/15/1977) of Ventura; Tanya Marie Miranda (DOB 03/29/1978) of Oxnard; John Robert Jenkins (DOB 12/23/1979) of Oxnard; and Bernie Rudolfo Smith (DOB 12/23/1973) of Ventura.

May 24, 2010 - announced today that Clinton Tod Harwell (DOB 10/1/58), of Westlake Village, was sentenced to serve 365 days in the Ventura County jail, placed on formal probation for 48 months, and ordered to pay $167,895 in restitution to the victim.

May 21, 2010 - District Attorney Greg Totten announced today that James Edward Lowther (DOB 6/16/1959), formerly of Santa Ynez, pleaded guilty to felony auto insurance fraud. Lowther will be sentenced on June 21, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 13. He faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in state prison and a $50,000 fine.

May 21, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney's Office Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Unit has filed a felony complaint against Alfonso Corona (DOB: 03/26/70) and Maricela Corona (DOB: 04/18/68) of Newbury Park, and, Mirna Carranza (DOB: 07/07/84) of Moorpark.

May 20, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that former Rio School District Board Member Brian Martin was sentenced to 17 years in state prison. Martin had earlier pled guilty to continuous sexual abuse of a child and admitted a special allegation that he personally inflicted great bodily injury on the child by impregnating her.

May 19, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Brian Jeffrey Campbell (DOB 03/07/89) of Moorpark, was sentenced to serve 240 days in the Ventura County jail for possessing child pornography.

May 12, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that John William Vanderwall (DOB 12/13/63), a licensed real estate agent from Simi Valley, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of felony grand theft and admitted a special allegation of taking more than $50,000 in a case filed by the Ventura County District Attorney's Real Estate Fraud Unit.

May 7, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Maykel Zakari (DOB 09/29/1976) pleaded guilty to three felony counts of commercial burglary and one felony count of identity theft related to his role in an identity theft ring.

May 5, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on April  28, 2010, his Fish and Game Prosecution Unit obtained a Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction in a civil environmental protection case against Shull Bonsall, Jr., an individual doing business as Rancho Canada Larga. Shull Bonsall, Jr., is the Trustee of the Shull Bonsall Family Trust which owns property in and along the Canada Larga Creek in the County of Ventura.

April 29, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Kyle Martin Rubin (DOB 4/12/1988), of Newbury Park, was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Kevin DeNoce to three consecutive life sentences plus ten years and eight months in prison for burglarizing multiple homes and attempting to murder three people as they slept, including an eight-year-old girl and her mother.

April 26, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the conviction of Rio School District Superintendent Sherianne Cotterell (DOB: 2/4/61), a resident of Oxnard . Ms. Cotterell was convicted of shoplifting in violation of Penal Code section 484(a) as a result of a July 20, 2009 arrest made by the Oxnard Police Department.

April 26, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Peter Joseph Wagner (DOB 06/30/1957) of Thousand Oaks pleaded guilty to four counts of felony sales tax evasion. The case against Wagner followed an investigation conducted by the California State Board of Equalization (“BOE”).

April 23, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Elizabeth Ann Jones (DOB 01/23/1966), of Newbury Park , pleaded guilty to 10 felony counts including grand theft, forgery, computer fraud, and multiple counts of income tax evasion.

April 21, 2010 - The Ventura County District Attorney's Office will hold its annual National Crime Victims' Rights Week ceremony on Thursday, April 22, 2010, beginning at noon. Due to the possibility of rain, the program has been moved to the Lower Plaza Assembly Room in the Hall of Administration at the Ventura County Government Center, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura .

April 21, 2010 - 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 19, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the week of April 18 – 24, 2010 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.

April 19, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Rufino Perez (DOB 8/26/1960), of Oxnard , was sentenced after pleading guilty to felony auto insurance fraud. Perez was placed on formal felony probation for a period of three years and sentenced to serve 180 days in the Ventura County jail.

April 13, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a six-count complaint in a triple homicide case has been filed against Joshua Graham Packer (DOB 9-21-1989), of Ventura .  Packer is charged with the May 20, 2009, murders of Davina and Brock Husted as well as their unborn baby, Grant Husted.   

March 31, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that no charges will be filed against Jon Hixon, of Santa Paula , for a water spraying incident that occurred outside First Assembly Church in Ventura on Sunday, March 28, 2010. Mr. Hixon, a police officer employed by the Ventura Police Department and parishioner of the church, was off duty at the time of the incident.

March 26, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Alysa Rosen (DOB 3/11/63) of Thousand Oaks, a former member of the California State Bar, was arraigned on felony charges of identity theft, forgery and grand theft.

March 26, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Michael Nuciforo (DOB 2/15/55), James Nuciforo (DOB 10/25/52), and Brenda Stout (DOB 3/11/58) were arraigned on five felony counts of insurance premium fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit insurance fraud.

March 23, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury has found Kyle Martin Rubin (DOB 4/12/88) of Newbury Park guilty of three counts of attempted murder, three counts of first degree residential burglary and one count of attempted first degree residential burglary.

March 17, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a 26-count complaint has been filed against three Oxnard residents in connection with the February 19, 2010, murder of Oxnard business owner Sun Cha Kays.

March 16, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Clinton Tod Harwell (DOB 10/1/58) of Westlake Village was arraigned on March 15, 2010, in the Ventura County Superior Court on one count of felony grand theft and a special allegation that he took more than $65,000.

March 12, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Honorable Edward Brodie sentenced 36-year-old Todd Martin Schoepflin (DOB 01-30-1974) of Simi Valley to one year in Ventura County jail and five years of formal felony probation following his convictions February 2, 2010, on charges of embezzlement and computer fraud.

March 9, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Luis Lima (DOB 7/15/84), of Newbury Park , was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Charles Campbell to 25 years to life in prison for the killing of Juan Nabte, age 21.

March 3, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced the arrest of Enrique Sandoval Martinez (aka Enrique Sandoval and Antonio H. Padilla) who is charged with grand theft and money laundering.

March 1, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Rudolfo Negrete (DOB 1/27/82), of Oxnard , has been found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder for the shooting deaths of Daniel Campos, Alexander Jordan, and Cynthia Jordan. Negrete was found to have used a firearm and to have murdered Alexander and Cynthia Jordan in the course of a robbery. The jury also found the multiple murder special circumstance to be true. Additionally, Negrete was convicted of conspiracy to commit arson for the burning of the Jordans' car.

February 26, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Senior Deputy District Attorneys Ryan Wright and Miles Weiss and District Attorney Investigator Frank Huber were recognized for their distinguished service in law enforcement by the United States Attorney's Office, Central District of California at its Tenth Annual Awards Ceremony held today in Los Angeles, California .

February 25, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Michael Nuciforo (DOB 2/15/55) and James Nuciforo (DOB 10/25/52) were arrested following a year-long investigation by the District Attorney's Office Bureau of Investigation Workers' Compensation Fraud Unit.

February 25, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Siaku Tuuholoaki (DOB 02/06/61), of Thousand Oaks, was ordered to pay $15,791 in restitution to a Thousand Oaks homeowner for work he performed as an unlicensed building contractor.

February 25, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jeffrey Alan Graham (DOB 10/11/70), of Thousand Oaks, was sentenced to 30 days in the Ventura County jail and ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution to an Ojai homeowner for working as an unlicensed building contractor.

February 16, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that murder charges have been filed against Eduardo Enrique Ventura (DOB: 7/15/63), of Oxnard , in response to the February 10, 2010, slaying of Oxnard resident Francisca Herrera-Sufle.

February 11, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on February 10, 2010, Claudiu Negrea (DOB 08/12/67) aka Marvi Hult, aka Hans Peter Schoffauer, of Romania, was sentenced to three years in state prison for his role in a scheme to defraud car buyers on the Internet.

February 10, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Ryan Philip Edelstein (DOB 05/11/85 ), of Thousand Oaks, pled guilty to the unlawful discharge of materials into a sewer, a misdemeanor, in violation of Penal Code section 374.2(a).

January 28, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Michael Bryant (DOB 12/31/85), of Oxnard , was convicted by a jury for the January 23, 2007, first-degree murder of Oxnard resident Ordie Jaloma.

January 8, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Gerardo Rosales Villa (DOB 6/11/76) was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Patricia Murphy to 22 years in prison for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and with gross negligence, which caused the deaths of Miguel Gallardo, Guillermo Aguiniga, Juan Gallardo, Raul Fletes, and Horacio Sanchez.

January 6, 2010 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Ronald Lewis Dixon (DOB 11/29/1970), of Oxnard, was sentenced to serve 90 days in the Ventura County jail after being convicted of auto insurance fraud. Dixon was also placed on formal probation for three years.

December 30, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Claudiu Negrea (DOB 08/12/67) a.k.a. Marvi Hult a.k.a. Hans Peter Schoffauer, of Romania , pleaded guilty to two counts of grand theft and one count of fraudulent use of an access card.

December 29, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that murder charges have been filed against Alex Compian (DOB 5/3/88) for the killing of Mario Cisnernos in the late evening on December 24, 2009, in the city of Oxnard.

December 24, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that David Allen Smith (DOB 10/2/83), of Port Hueneme , has been sentenced to serve 365 days in jail for possessing child pornography.

December 23, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney's Office Fish and Game Prosecution Unit obtained a final judgment in a civil environmental protection case against Vintage Production, LLC and Occidental Oil and Gas Holding Corporation.

December 17, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the District Attorney's Office will not seek the death penalty for Joe Fidel Flores (DOB 04/23/80) of Santa Paula.

December 17, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Cindy Ann Skipper (DOB 01/24/73), of Ventura, was sentenced to serve 365 days in jail for stealing from her employer, the Law Office of Jody Moore.

December 17, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the District Attorney's Office will receive an award in the amount of $570,000 over the course of two years to investigate and prosecute cold cases involving DNA in Ventura County .

December 16, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Daphne Ann Brenon (DOB 3/30/56), of Westlake Village, was sentenced to serve four years, eight months in state prison, and fined $915,650 for her role in an embezzlement from the Spanish Hills Homeowners Association (SHHOA).

December 11, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury has found Ramon Dominguez (DOB 3/21/89), of Oxnard , guilty of the premeditated and deliberate attempted murder of Antonio Nava.

December 9, 2009 - District Attorney Greg Totten announced today that Lauro Aguilar-Martinez (DOB 10/21/1974) of Glendale was sentenced after pleading guilty to misdemeanor auto insurance fraud.

December 7, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Hidalgo Lopez Gomez (DOB 8/26/1979) of Oxnard was sentenced after having pleaded guilty to felony auto insurance fraud.

December 4, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Randy Barrett (DOB 04/27/1968) was placed on 60 months formal probation and ordered to serve 240 days in jail as the result of his conviction for felony grand theft.

December 2, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that David Henry Teal (DOB 6/24/1964) of Newbury Park was sentenced to serve 180 days in jail after previously pleading guilty to one count of felony possession of child pornography.

December 1, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury has found Gerardo Rosales Villa (DOB 6/11/76), of Fillmore, guilty of killing Miguel Gallardo while driving with gross negligence, and while under the influence of alcohol.

November 13, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Ronald Lewis Dixon (DOB 11/29/70), of Oxnard, pleaded guilty to one count of felony auto insurance fraud.

November 10, 2009 - District Attorney Greg Totten announced today that Hidalgo Lopez Gomez (DOB 8/26/79), of Oxnard, pleaded guilty to felony auto insurance fraud. When Gomez pleaded guilty, he submitted a cashier's check to the victim, Infinity Insurance, for $3,574, which represents the full amount of restitution.

November 2, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Kenneth Price (DOB 5/17/69) has been convicted by a jury for the July 26, 2008, first-degree murder of his mother, Newbury Park resident Linda Price.

October 27, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the filing of a criminal complaint against Jonathan Aaron (DOB: 8/26/82). Aaron is accused of murdering Valerie Victoria Ankerstrom on October 16, 2009, in the city of Port Hueneme .

October 23, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Colonia gang member, Julio Solis (DOB 7/30/86) was sentenced to 21 years in prison after a jury convicted him of committing a gang robbery.

October 21, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Armando Landa (DOB 02/06/68) was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of felony workers' compensation fraud.

October 19, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the grand jury has indicted Jaime Paredes (DOB 1/24/1979) for the July 1, 2009, mass shooting at Family Dental Care in Simi Valley . Parades' wife, Mariela Paredes, was pronounced dead at the scene. Three additional employees received serious gunshot wounds but survived.

October 16, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury has found Sergio Jacobo Ramos (DOB 4/9/81) guilty of the attempted murder of William Kyle Hoffman and found true the special allegation that Ramos personally and intentionally discharged a firearm during the commission of that crime. The jury also found Ramos guilty of one count of committing an assault with a semiautomatic firearm arising from the same incident.

October 16, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that after an investigation conducted by the Contractors State License Board and the Ventura County District Attorney's Office Bureau of Investigation, the Workers Compensation Fraud Unit filed a criminal complaint against Edward Anthony Cortez (DOB 12/31/68) of Lompoc, California.

September 29, 2009 - 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.

September 29, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Unit obtained full restitution in the amount of $220,091 on behalf of crime victim Carolyn Koenig.

September 24, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jose Jesus Quiroz (DOB 4/30/77) of Oxnard was sentenced after pleading guilty to felony auto insurance fraud.

September 22, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Cindy Ann Skipper (DOB 01/24/73) of Ventura pleaded guilty to one count of grand theft, one count of tax evasion and admitted to taking more than $50,000.

September 22, 2009 - District Attorney Greg Totten announced today that the District Attorney's Office will seek the death penalty for Jeffrey Aguilar (DOB 12/31/85) of Oxnard .

September 18, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced that the arraignment of Alonzo Gene McCowan (DOB 7/5/60) and Kimberly Ann Oglesby McCowan (DOB 11/6/63) was continued to Monday September 21, 2009, in courtroom 13 of the Ventura County Superior Court.

September 18, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Seth Taylor (DOB 7/28/74), a peace officer working for the California Highway Patrol, has pleaded guilty to three violations of Penal Code section 415(3), disturbing the peace by offensive language, and to one violation of Penal Code section 415(1), disturbing the peace by fighting.

September 17, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney's Office Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Unit filed a felony complaint against Alonzo Gene McCowan (DOB 7/5/60) and Kimberly Ann Oglesby McCowan (DOB 11/6/63), a married couple from Camarillo.

September 17, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the District Attorney's Office has received an award in the amount of $1,665,231, over the course of two years, to assist, investigate, and prosecute cases involving real estate and mortgage fraud in Ventura County . The grant comes from the American Recovery Reinvestment Act and is aimed at curbing recent increases in real estate and mortgage fraud.

September 11, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the retirement of Deputy Chief Investigator Vinse Gilliam and the appointment of Ken Valentini to the position of Deputy Chief Investigator.

September 11, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Judge Bruce Young sentenced Martin A. Suarez (04/06/68) of Oxnard to serve seven years, four months in state prison for stealing more than $100,000 from 18 different victims in three separate cases.

September 11, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten today announced the arrest of Elizabeth Ann Jones (DOB 01/23/66), a 43-year-old Newbury Park resident, following the filing of a felony complaint on August 28, 2009, charging her with grand theft, forgery, computer fraud, and the aggravated white collar crime enhancement.

September 10, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Unit has filed a felony complaint against John William Vanderwall III (DOB 12/13/63) of Simi Valley . The complaint charges Vanderwall with one count of grand theft (Penal Code section 487(a)).

September 10, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Armando Landa (DOB 02/06/68) pleaded guilty to one count of felony workers' compensation fraud. The California Department of Insurance, Fraud Division, investigated the case.

September 1, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Daphne Ann Brenon (DOB 03/30/56) of Westlake Village pleaded guilty to two counts of grand theft, one count of filing a false tax return and admitted to taking more than $150,000.

August 27, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on August 26, 2009, Judge Rebecca Riley sentenced Michael Terry Bush (DOB 09/24/49) of Oxnard to serve ten years, four months in state prison for embezzling more than $516,000 from Big Brand Tires.

August 26, 2009 - District Attorney Greg Totten announced today that Rodolfo Donjuan (DOB 1/17/1984), of Camarillo , was sentenced after pleading guilty to felony auto insurance fraud. Donjuan was placed on formal probation for a period of five years and ordered to serve 180 days in the Ventura County jail. He was also ordered to pay restitution to Infinity Insurance in the amount of $5,326.

August 24, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Larry Eugene Barkley (DOB 11/26/73) of Ventura, was sentenced to a term of 30 years to life in prison for the willful, deliberate and premeditated attempted murder of Anthony Ornelas.

August 19, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Paul Lafflitio (DOB 6/25/1984) of Simi Valley was sentenced after previously pleading guilty to felony evading a peace officer and felony auto insurance fraud.

August 13, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Richard Gene Ballard (DOB 10/10/50) of Camarillo was sentenced today to two years in prison for possessing child pornography in the Camarillo Library and his home last year. Superior Court Judge Bruce Young also ordered Ballard to register as a sexual offender.

August 7, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Veronica Sanchez Gallegos (10/30/80), a licensed real estate agent residing in Ventura , pled guilty on August 6, 2009, to one felony count of theft from an elder, five felony counts of grand theft, and admitted a special allegation of taking more than $500,000.

August 6, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that David Alvin Swoish (DOB 06/09/66) of Simi Valley pled guilty to two counts of grand theft, two counts of corporate embezzlement, one count of filing a false tax return, and admitted to taking more than $150,000.

August 3, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Ismael Santos (DOB 11/20/84) of Thousand Oaks , pleaded guilty to one count of felony auto insurance fraud. Santos will be sentenced on September 2, 2009, in Ventura County Superior Court. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in state prison and a $50,000 fine.

August 3, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Special Prosecutions Division has concluded a civil prosecution conducted against real estate businesses owned and operated by Oscar Soto Vasquez                   (DOB 11/30/71), of Fillmore and his wife Delia.

July 29, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Rodolfo Donjuan (DOB 1/17/1984) of Camarillo pleaded guilty to one count of felony auto insurance fraud. This case was investigated by the California Department of Insurance Fraud Division.

July 23, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jennifer Joann Zito (DOB 10/8/73), of Chatsworth, was arrested on a 16-count felony complaint charging multiple counts of embezzlement, grand theft and filing false income tax returns.

July 21, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger presented Catherine Duggan, director of the District Attorney's Crime Victims' Assistance Program, with the Governor's Crime Victim Advocate Award.

July 9, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on July 8, 2009, a jury found Larry Eugene Barkley (DOB 11/26/73) of Ventura, guilty of the willful, premeditated and deliberate attempted murder of Anthony Ornelas.

July 8, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Lester Eugene Varnum (DOB: 3/19/86) of Camarillo, was found guilty of second-degree murder for the death of Deyvis Soza. Varnum struck Mr. Soza with his truck after a dispute with him and two other men who worked with Varnum.

July 7, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Tomas E. Mercer (DOB 2/7/81) was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to violating the probation imposed on him after he was convicted of violating PC 192(c)(3) vehicular manslaughter.

July 6, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Chrystal Ceja (DOB 8/3/85) of Oxnard, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact of murder and money laundering. Ceja was one of six defendants indicted in the case of People v. Jeffrey Aguilar.

July 2, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that murder charges have been filed against Alex Medina (DOB 12/16/94) in the Ventura County Superior Court for the killing of Seth Scarmanich (DOB 6/30/92) on April 26, 2009.

June 29, 2009 - The California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) has urged Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to abandon his Administration's proposal to commute the sentences of criminal aliens in state prisons in order to refer them to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation.

June 23, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury found Michael Terry Bush (DOB 9/24/49), of Oxnard, guilty of corporate embezzlement of more than $500,000.

June 17, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten issued a Consumer Protection Advisory today to Ventura County residents who may be facing foreclosure due to their inability to make timely payments on their home loans.

June 15, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit has filed and settled a civil law enforcement action against Kmart Corporation (“Kmart”), of Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

June 15, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit has joined with the Office of the California Attorney General, as well as the offices of 19 other district attorneys, and the Los Angeles City Attorney in filing a civil law enforcement action against Target Corporation of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

June 12, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jose Herrera (DOB 6/13/79), of Canoga Park, was sentenced to three years felony probation and 90 days in the Ventura County jail after pleading guilty to felony auto insurance fraud.

June 9, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Rebecca Braswell (DOB 9/26/80) was sentenced by the Honorable Bruce Clark to life without the possibility of parole for her role in the shooting death of her ex-husband John Marmo.

June 5, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Richard Gene Ballard (DOB 10/10/50), of Camarillo, pleaded guilty to two counts of felony possession of child pornography and three counts of misdemeanor sexual exploitation of a child.

June 3, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that murder charges will not be filed against Claudia Valenciana (DOB 5/8/74), of Ventura, for the killing of Robert Edward Perez, Jr. (DOB 10/17/71) of Ventura, on March 2, 2009.

May 22, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Christopher Lester Oswald (DOB 6/21/67), of Camarillo, pleaded guilty to two counts of felony possession of child pornography.

May 20, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on May 19, 2009, the Honorable James Cloninger sentenced David Larry Gardner, aka Larry Gardner (DOB 03/02/41), of Ojai, to 33 years in prison following his convictions in 2008 of 29 felony charges in two separate cases.

May 15, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jose Herrera (DOB 6/13/79) pled guilty to a violation of Penal Code section 550(a)(1), insurance fraud.

May 15, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the death penalty will not be sought for Calvin Sharp (DOB 8/20/79). Sharp is charged with the August 12, 2007, murder of Sev'n Molina, aged 6, in Thousand Oaks.

May 15, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on May 15, 2009, Peter Joseph Wagner (DOB 06/30/57), a Thousand Oaks resident, was arraigned on a felony criminal complaint charging him with four counts of felony sales tax evasion.

May 13, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit has arrested and charged Sean Joseph McConville (DOB 3/11/1980) of Simi Valley with 20 felony counts of petty theft with a prior arising from mail solicitations relating to property tax reassessments.

May 6, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Catherine Duggan, Director of the District Attorney's Crime Victims Assistance Program, has received the Governor's Crime Victims Services Award. This prestigious award recognizes Ms. Duggan's leadership in advancing the rights of victims of crime.

May 5, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney's Office Auto Insurance Fraud Unit arrested and charged Jose Herrera (DOB 6/13/79) of Canoga Park , with one count of felony auto insurance fraud.

May 5, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Enrique (Erick) Boelcke (DOB 08/17/44), formerly of Santa Monica, was sentenced to serve five years and four months in state prison for embezzling from his former employer, Santa Clara Organics.

April 30, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the grand jury has indicted Hollis Walters (D.O.B 5/13/88), and Robert Wilcox III (D.O.B. 8/26/77) on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, three counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery for the March 21, 2009, crime which occurred at the Subway and Cold Stone Creamery restaurants in the city of Camarillo.

April 28, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that assistance in obtaining domestic violence restraining orders is available at the District Attorney's East County Office.

April 20, 2009 - 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 20, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Bogdan Ion Paun (D/O/B 10/18/69), a resident of Hollywood, was sentenced to serve one year in jail for his role in a “skimming” operation that victimized the Bank of America in Newbury Park.

April 17, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Peter Rodriguez (DOB 12/15/73) of Oxnard, was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Charles Campbell to 19 years to life in state prison for the killing of John Orrantia, aged 28, and the attack on Orlando Orrantia, aged 24, of Ventura.

April 16, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jennifer Lee (DOB 2/24/1983), a resident of Camarillo , was sentenced after pleading guilty to felony auto insurance fraud. Lee was sentenced to five years formal probation and ordered to serve 90 days in the Ventura County jail.

April 16, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Michael Joseph Pearns (DOB 12/14/50) has been sentenced to serve three years in state prison after being found guilty of grand theft of more than $50,000. After a six-day trial, Pearns, a former resident of Agoura, was found guilty of stealing $97,186 from his former employees and business partners.

April 16, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that James Connelly (DOB 12/21/52) and Sheryl Connelly (DOB 12/19/59) were sentenced to serve 120 days in the Ventura County jail and placed on three years supervised probation after pleading guilty to felony grand theft.

April 14, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the week of April 26 through May 2, 2009, is National Crime Victims' Rights Week. During this week, crime victims, service providers, community volunteers, criminal justice and other professionals, will join together to recognize the needs and rights of crime victims.

March 19, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury found Michael Joseph Pearns (DOB 12/14/50) guilty of grand theft of more than $50,000. After a six-day trial, Pearns, a former resident of Agoura, was found guilty of stealing $97,186 from his former employees and business partners.

March 16, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit, in conjunction with the California Attorney General's Consumer Law Section, has settled a joint civil unlawful business practices action against Imergent, Inc. and StoresOnline, Inc. of Orem , Utah .

March 13, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury has found George Christian Costales (DOB: 4/12/69) guilty of felony stalking in violation of Penal Code 646.9(a). Costales, a resident of Michigan, became fixated on the female victim after happening upon her MySpace page on the internet in December 2007.

March 2, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Shannon Marie Butler (DOB: 12/01/83) pled guilty to first-degree murder for the death of John Marmo. Mr. Marmo was murdered outside of his Camarillo home on December 1, 2006.

February 25, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Alan Olin (DOB 11/25/1960), a Thousand Oaks resident, was sentenced to 28 months in state prison and ordered to pay $120,735 in restitution to the Conejo Valley United Soccer Club.

February 25, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Greg Loren Winslow (DOB 12/24/63), a resident of Ventura , was arrested pursuant to a felony warrant for grand theft and misappropriation of public funds.

February 12, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Steve Graben (DOB 3/23/58), formerly of Santa Maria, was sentenced to serve two years in state prison for possessing child pornography. Graben pleaded guilty to one count of felony possession of child pornography.

February 12, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Diego Antonio Ortega (DOB 6/13/70), of Oxnard, was sentenced to serve one year in the Ventura County jail and placed on supervised probation after pleading guilty to felony possession of child pornography.

February 6, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Mohammad Afzal Sarwary (DOB 9/10/66) of Thousand Oaks was arrested on one count of grand theft of government housing funds.

February 3, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Christina Edwardson (DOB: 1/12/1952), a resident of Ventura , was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge David Worley to 90 days in the county jail as a result of her guilty plea on October 16, 2008, to a charge of grand theft.

January 29, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County Criminal Grand Jury has indicted Martin A. Suarez (04/06/1968), a resident of Oxnard.

January 28, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced he is pleased that Governor Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Brown have filed a motion to terminate Receiver J. Clark Kelso's wasteful plans to spend $8 billion of taxpayer funds for the construction of prison healthcare facilities.

January 26, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Lance W. Brown (DOB: 07/15/83) of Port Hueneme pleaded guilty to felony accessory after the fact of murder.

January 26, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that he and 56 other elected district attorneys and the Los Angeles City Attorney dispatched letters Friday to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the members of the California Legislature concerning state budget proposals that would irreparably harm California prosecutors' ability to protect their communities.

January 20, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten today announced that a final judgment and permanent injunction has been obtained in a civil environmental protection case against Aera Energy LLC.

January 12, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Chad Aaron Ward (DOB 05/01/75), a former resident of Ventura , pleaded guilty to five counts of felony grand theft and admitted to taking more than $50,000. This matter was investigated by the Ventura County District Attorney's Office Bureau of Investigation.

January 9, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Armando Lopez (DOB 12/24/82) and his brother Fernando Lopez (DOB 5/10/84), both from Oxnard , were sentenced after pleading guilty to felony auto insurance fraud.

January 7, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Alan Olin (DOB 11/25/1960) plead guilty to one felony count of grand theft and admitted to a special allegation that the theft exceeded $65,000.

January 6, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Daniel Ramirez (DOB 7/27/80) of Oxnard, was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Edward Brodie to 21 years in state prison for the killing of Michael Velasquez, age 45, of Port Hueneme.

January 5, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Juanita Ann Canley aka Juanita Browne, (DOB 01/17/59) of Ventura, has been placed on five years of felony probation and ordered to serve 270 days in the Ventura County Jail. Canley was sentenced for the thefts she committed and kickbacks she received when she was employed as a Deputy Public Guardian for Ventura County .

January 5, 2009 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the conclusion of the District Attorney's review of the circumstances surrounding the death of Reymundo Guerrero during his arrest by Simi Valley police officers on May 15, 2007.

December 16, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Superior Court Judge Kevin DeNoce sentenced Walter Lorea Escamilla (DOB: 6 /3/74 ), a.k.a. "Perro," a Simi Valley Westside Locos gang member, to two consecutive life sentences with the possibility of parole.

December 8, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that his Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit has filed and settled a civil law enforcement action against Lowe's HIW, Inc., ("Lowe's"), of Wilkesboro , North Carolina .

December 8, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that his Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit has filed and settled a civil law enforcement action against Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., ("Home Depot"), of Atlanta , Georgia .

December 4, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Armando Lopez (DOB 12/24/82) and his brother Fernando Lopez (DOB 5/10/84), both from Oxnard , pleaded guilty to felony auto insurance fraud.

November 18, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Nina Marie McMahan (DOB: 7/04/1955), a resident of Port Hueneme , was sentenced today by the Ventura County Superior Court Judge Bruce Clark to one year in the county jail as a result of her guilty plea on October 15, 2008, to a charge of grand theft.

November 12, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Manuel "Manny" John Perez, Jr. (DOB 5/7/72), of Oxnard , was sentenced to the California Department of Corrections following his convictions for several real estate fraud-related crimes.

November 12, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the conclusion of the District Attorney's review of the circumstances surrounding the October 3, 2007, fatal shooting of Thomas Barrera by Sergeant Andrew Salinas of the Oxnard Police Department.

November 6, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that he has appointed Deputy District Attorney James Eicher to serve as Community Prosecutor for the cities of Simi Valley and Moorpark.

November 6, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jose Arellano Vasquez (DOB 09/27/1952), of Oxnard , was sentenced to serve 180 days in the Ventura County jail following his conviction of one felony count of workers' compensation fraud and one felony count of perjury. Vasquez was also ordered to pay $98,801 in restitution to the victim, Corestaff Services, Inc.

November 4, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Norman Anderson (DOB 10/10/46), of Ventura, was sentenced to serve two years in the California Department of Corrections following his felony conviction of workers compensation fraud.

October 31, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Juana Nunez (DOB 11/2/62), a resident of Santa Paula , was arrested pursuant to a felony warrant for welfare fraud and housing assistance fraud.

October 24, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that he will be hosting an open house on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the District Attorney's new offices within the East County Courthouse at 3855-F Alamo Street in Simi Valley .

October 23, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Antonio Cervantes (DOB 08/17/85) of Oxnard was sentenced to serve 15 years in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for seven felony violations of Penal Code section 459, residential burglary. Cervantes was sentenced by the Honorable Bruce Clark

October 22, 2008 - The Oxnard Police Department conducted an investigation of a verbal confrontation that took place on October 19, 2008, between County Supervisor John Flynn and Oxnard City Councilman John Zaragoza on Hill Street near Durley Park in South Oxnard .

October 16, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Delfino Vasquez (DOB 8/3/81) and Walter Escamilla (DOB 6/23/74), both residents of Simi Valley, were convicted by a jury for the gang-related, October 14, 2006, aggravated mayhem, false imprisonment with violence and assault with a deadly weapon, upon victim David Youell.

October 10, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County Criminal Grand Jury has indicted Alfonso Garcia Rubio (DOB: 01-23-1973) for the September 10, 2008, attempted murder of Robert Melgoza.

October 3, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Armando Lopez (DOB 12/24/82) and his brother Fernando Lopez (DOB 5/10/84), both from Oxnard , were arrested and charged with felony auto insurance fraud. Both defendants have pled not guilty.

September 30, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Norman Anderson of Ventura (DOB 10/10/46) was found guilty of two felony counts of Workers Compensation Insurance Fraud. The case against Anderson was filed on June 16, 2004, following an investigation conducted by the California Department of Insurance, Fraud Division.

September 26, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that AnnaMarie Tamayo (DOB 11/3/78), a resident of Santa Paula , was arrested pursuant to a felony warrant for housing assistance fraud. The arrest was the result of an investigation by the District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation - Government Fraud Unit, with the cooperation of the Santa Paula Police Department and the Ventura Police Department.

September 17, 2008 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that David Larry Gardner, aka Larry Gardner (DOB 03-02-1941), from Ojai, pleaded guilty to 24 felonies, including three counts of solicitation of murder, aggravated arson, four counts of extortion, six counts of embezzlement, six counts of forgery, two counts of computer fraud, and two counts of tax fraud.