California Criminal Attorney Blog

Orange County Man Pleads Guilty to Inflated-Stock Crime

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:04:56 -0800

Gregory Harry pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud in federal court and faces up to 20 years and $5 million fine. According to the agreement, Harry, a partner at Global Group Inc., with offices in Orange County allegedly created a false newsletter about a fake company in the oil business with huge profits. Harry and his partners new the company was a shell and worth less than $130,000.

In the plea, Harry admitted to selling shares of stock in the shell company making millions of dollars. According to earlier reports, the sale netted over $ 6 million.

Montebello Physician Arrested for Sexual Assault

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:53:41 -0800

Dr. Arturo Vargas, 41 a physician with Kaiser has been arrested by Montebello Police Department. Dr. Vargas is being charged with multiple felony counts of sexual abuse, including sexual penetration by a foreign object, sexual battery and sexual exploitation by a physician. No word on any pending Accusations by the California Medical Board.

A patient of Dr. Vargas' apparently went to Montebello PD last summer and reported the alleged assault. After conducting their investigation, MPD forwarded their report to the LADA's office for review and filing. An arrest warrant went out for Dr. Vargas in early January, 2012 and Dr. Vargas posted bail.

Currently, Dr. Vargas is on leave from Kaiser pending further investigation.

Brother and Sister Sentenced in Money Laundering Scheme

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:45:01 -0800

The owners of a toy company were sentenced to 37 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to a money laundering scheme that converted pesos to dollars through their business. According to prosecutors, the owners used their business, ATC to launder money from a drug-trafficking operation from Columbia. Meichun Huang, 58 from Irvine and his sister, Ling Yu, 52 of Arcadia were sentenced last week in federal court.

During a 4 year investigation, authorities tracked more than $8 million in cash deposits to ATC all in an amount under the $10,000 reporting requirements. Once the money was deposited, it was returned after the goods made at ATC were exported and sold, thus "cleaning" the money. As part of their plea agreement, Huang and Yu were ordered to pay $200,000 in restitution and forfeit $1 million to the government.

Orange County Sheriff Investigates Home-Invasion Robbery

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:41:25 -0800

Orange County Sheriff deputies were out investigating a home-invasion robbery in the city of Anaheim. The alleged robbery occurred around 11:30 a.m. near Brookhurst Street and Cerritos Avenue. At the moment, no further details are available.

Deadlocked Jury in Craigslist Rape

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:02:43 -0800

An Orange County jury is deadlocked in a rape trial where Michael Delgado is accused of raping a woman who answered a Craigslist ad for housekeeping work. Delgado is charged with 7 counts of sexual assault including, rape, oral copulation by force, false imprisonment and sexual penetration by foreign object.

If convicted, Delgado faces more than 10 years in state prison. Calls to Delgado's Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney have not been returned.

Police Chase Totals Car and Injured Officer

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:15:34 -0800

A Buena Park man was arrested after a high-speed chase in Orange County on Saturday. Ronnie Armstrong, 20 took police up to 100 mph trying to catch him while he was driving a stolen vehicle.

When officers were able to surround Armstrong he accelerated in the front yard of a home, drove through a fence and abandoned the vehicle in the backyard before taking off on foot.

Armstrong is charged with assault with a deadly weapon, possession of stolen property and felony evading and felony hit and run. If convicted, Armstrong faces more than five years in state prison.

Pair Arrested in Orange County for Robbery from Craigslist Seller

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:33:38 -0800

A man selling his laptop on Craigslist was the victim of a robbery in Irvine. Xavier Parnell, 24 and Matthew Davis, 22 contacted a seller of a laptop on Craigslist. The pair set up a meeting with the victim at an Irvine park to purchase the computer. When the victim showed the laptop, Parnell reached into his coat and pulled out what appeared to be a handgun. Parnell demanded the seller handover his computer and when the victim complied, the men fled in a car driven by Davis.

Detectives from Irvine tracked the pair down in Dana Point and conducted a traffic stop pulling the men over. A black replica handgun was found in the car but the laptop had already been sold to a 3rd party. Officers were able to retrieve the laptop and arrested the pair for robbery, conspiracy and petty theft.

It is unknown at this time if either man has an Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney and when they are to be arraigned in court.

An Orange County Woman Arrested for Identity Theft

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:29:28 -0800

A woman Anaheim was arrested for allegedly stealing another woman’s identity and using her credit card to purchase luxury items. Detectives say Judy Nguyen ordered luxury items online using stolen credit cards and then waited at the victims home for the delivery driver to drop them off.

Irvine detectives received a report from the victim that someone tried to use her credit card to purchase a Louis Vuitton purse online. Detectives waited at the victim’s home on delivery day and saw Nguyen waiting for the package to be delivered. When the package was delivered they saw Nguyen retrieve the package. Detectives arrested Nguyen after she retrieved the package.

When Irvine detectives searched Nguyen’s home they found more than $6,000 of stolen merchandise. Nguyen is being charged with grand theft, identity theft and unauthorized use of a credit card . If convicted, Nguyen faces over 4 years in state prison.

Irvine Soccer Coach Arrested for Sex Crimes

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:25:47 -0800

Robert Vincent Peace, a soccer coach for the Irvine Blades was arrested and charged with multiple counts of child pornography and coercing a 13-year-old to send pornographic videos of herself. Peace is being accused of possessing over 2,000 images of child pornography on his computer and his vehicle.

Peace is charges with 3 counts of lewd act on a child under 14, 6 counts of lewd act on a child, 3 counts of using a minor for sex acts and 1 count of distribution of obscene material and possession and control of child pornography. Additional sentencing enhancements have also been charged for substantial sexual conduct with a child. If convicted, Peace faces 25 years in state prison as well as registrations as a sex offender under PC 290. Pearce is in custody on $500,000 bail.

Peace is accused of meeting the minor on line on stickam.com. The minor, from Endicott, N.Y. and the defendant exchanged messages online and instructing her to send him sexually explicit videos of herself masturbating over a two year period. Once Peace received the videos, he allegedly threatened the victim that if she didn’t continue to send sexually explicit videos of herself, he would publish the one he had over the internet.

Bicyclist Injured in Hit-And-Run

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:54:56 -0800

A male bicyclist was critically injured when he was struck by a pickup in Santa Ana. The driver of the pickup fled the scene after striking the bicyclist and Santa Ana Police Department are seeking the public’s help in locating the hit and run driver.

Authorities described the vehicle as a white pickup with a ladder and rack in the back. It may have a missing hubcap, which could be unrelated to the accident.

Long Beach Fire Captain Convicted of DUI Charged with Probation Violation

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:52:19 -0800

Long Beach Fire Captain John David Hines, 38, of Huntington Beach faces possible prison time for a violation of his terms and conditions of probation. Hines pleaded guilty in September to felony Driving Under the Influence Causing Injury charges. In exchange for his guilty plea, Hines was sentenced to serve 1 year in county jail with four years and four months in prison stayed upon successful completion of probation. Hines was told by Orange County Superior Court Judge Erik Larsh, that if he violated his probation he would serve his prison sentence.

Hines was convicted of DUI for an accident that occurred in April of 2011. Hines left a bar in Long Beach and started to drive home to Huntington Beach when his reckless driving caused his pickup to swerve into a bike lane and strike a bicyclist, Jeffrey Gordon, 47. Hines fled the scene but was followed by other witnesses to the accident.

In September 2011, Hines pleaded guilty to felony driving under the influence, hit and run and sentencing enhancements for causing great bodily injury. Judge Larsh has scheduled his probation violation hearing to March 16, 2012

Nanette Johnston’s Future in the Hands of Jurors

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:47:34 -0800

The murder trial of William McLaughlin has come to a close and now we await the jury verdict in this well publicized case. William McLaughlin was murdered in his Newport Beach home on December 15, 1994. Eric Naposki, Johnston’s “other” boyfriend has already been convicted of being the shooter in McLaughlin’s murder. Now, Nanette awaits her verdict for conspiring with Naposki to Kill McLaughlin for a $1 Million life insurance policy that was in her name.

Johnston’s criminal defense attorney argued that while Johnston may be a thief and manipulator of men, she is no murderer. He argued she has more to gain financially with McLaughlin being alive and there was no evidence of any discord between McLaughlin or Johnston at the time of McLaughlin’s death.

Orange County prosecutors disagree with Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney Mick Hill and say Johnston is greedy and now a murderer. If convicted, Johnston faces the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Seal Beach Shooting Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:39:37 -0800

The man accused of killing eight people in a Seal Beach hair salon pleaded not guilty at his arraignment today. Scott Dekraai appeared in chains and an orange jumpsuit along with his public defender in Orange County Superior Court.

If convicted, Dekraai can face death in the multiple count felony indictment. OCDA Rackauckas hopes to get this case to trial within a year to help achieve closure for the family of the victims.

Yorba Linda Resident Arrested for the Murder of Four Homeless Men

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:28:04 -0800

Itzcoatl Ocampo, 23 of Yorba Linda was arrested after allegedly stabbing a homeless man to death last week. Witnesses saw a man being stabbed behind a fast-food restaurant in Anaheim Hills and chased after him. The bravery of those witnesses is what led police to Ocampo.

Police have alleged, Ocampo is a serial killer who committed similar acts against three other homeless me in Orange County. Orange County Prosecutor Tony Rackauckas is expected to charge Ocampo with four counts of murder with special circumstances. If convicted, Ocampo could be sentenced to death or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Ocampo is a former Marine who attended Estancia High School in Orange County prior to enlisting in the armed forces. His family say he enrolled in the military following the footsteps of his best friend. Unfortunately, his best friend was killed in Afghanistan which had a devastating impact on him.

Ocampo is likely to be arraigned tomorrow in C-5 and his orange county criminal defense attorney has yet to be identified.

Irvine Father Pleads Guilty to Felony Child Abuse For Throwing Son Off Boat

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:11:45 -0800

An Irvine father pleaded guilty today to child abuse and resisting a police officer. Sloane Briles, 35, was accused and now convicted of throwing his son from a Newport Beach harbor boat last summer. Prosecutors argued that Briles should serve actual jail time in that he failed to assist his son or jump into the water to save him. Rather, angry passengers of the harbor beach cruise is what caused Briles to finally jump into the water.

Briles who was out on bail received three years of probation, 180 days county jail, restitution and is ordered to attend and complete a child abuse treatment program. Instead of serving actual jail time, Briles was ordered to enroll in a residential alcohol rehabilitation treatment center run by the Department of Veteran Affairs.
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