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.




 


The Special Prosecutions Division includes the following: the Major Fraud Unit, Computer Crimes Section, Workers' Compensation Fraud Section, Auto Insurance Fraud Section, Consumer Fraud and Environmental Protection Unit, Special Investigations, Asset Forfeiture Unit, Fish & Game Unit, Code Enforcement, and the NSF Check Restitution Program. The division also encompasses the Clerical Support Services, Fiscal & Administrative Unit, and the Office Systems Unit.

Cases prosecuted by the Major Fraud Unit are characterized by lengthy pre-complaint investigations, complex schemes, significant dollar loss, and aggravated felony conduct.  Whenever possible, local police agencies are encouraged to participate in these investigations.

Due to extensive attorney involvement at the investigative stage, major fraud cases are either prepared for the grand jury or for preliminary hearing before a felony complaint is filed. The key evidence in these cases is usually in the form of physical evidence, such as documents and records.

Members of the local bar and public are encouraged to refer cases of suspected fraud to the unit for screening. It has been this office's experience that a criminal investigation/prosecution will not inhibit a victim's civil action or a victim's financial recovery. Physical evidence collected during the criminal investigation will be made available to the victim for his/her civil action.

The Computer Crimes Section prosecutes cases in which a computer is a significant instrumentality of the crime. Examples of crimes prosecuted in this section are internet crimes against children, pornography utilizing the internet, cyber stalking, hacking cases, internet fraud, white collar and high technology task force statute cases.

Workers' Compensation Fraud cases are usually referred to the District Attorney's Office by employers who suspect fraudulent claims by their employees, and from insurance companies who suspect fraud and report it to the Department of Insurance for investigation. Other cases are initiated from undercover investigations into workers' compensation fraud mills involving attorneys and doctors, and fraudulent auto accident claims filed with insurance companies.

Auto Insurance Fraud Section - These cases may involve the investigation of faked auto accidents and illegal kickback schemes between attorneys and doctors.

The Welfare Fraud Unit files cases as felonies if the overpayment exceeds $400 under Welfare and Institutions Code section 11483 or 11980. If the defendant owes less than $2,000 at the time of the preliminary hearing, has no prior incidents of welfare fraud (including those handled administratively by PSSA), no prior theft-related convictions, and no felony convictions, he/she may plead guilty to an appropriate number of misdemeanor counts of Welfare and Institutions Code violations prior to the preliminary examination. This offer is withdrawn if a preliminary examination is held.

 

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