California Criminal Attorney Blog

Garden Grove Roomies Convicted of Theft from Law Firm

Fri, 11 May 2012 09:52:31 -0800

Two Orange County women were convicted after they altered a check from a Newport Beach law firm to the amount of $285,000. Alexa Polar, 35 and Robin Pabello, 34 will each serve 305 days in county jail and 3 years probation.

Polar, worked as a paralegal at the law firm when the altered check was taken. The women used the funds for a lavish shopping spree to Tiffany & Co., private jet to New York, cashier’s checks and property lease on a multi-million dollar home in Murietta.

The crime was discovered after the bank that issued the check rejected the check deposited by the receiving bank.

San Diego County Woman Accused of Attempted Murder in Orange County

Thu, 10 May 2012 15:26:10 -0800

A 50-year-old woman from San Diego County is in custody on $1 million bail after beating another woman with a rock to whom she owed $100,000. Authorities say Minh Tam Thi Phan lured the victim Catherine H. to an Orange County restaurant under the guise that she was going to pay her back for the money Catherine H. loaned her. Phan drove to a restaurant in Westminster where she pretended the money was kept. When she returned to the car, she drove away and pulled into a residential neighborhood.

When they pulled over, Phan beat the victim over the head with a rock. The victim was able to get out of the vehicle and summoned help. When the victim left, Phan locked herself in the vehicle and hit herself with the rock, presumably to say she was assaulted by Catherine H.

Phan is charged with premeditated attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment. Several charges contain sentencing enhancements for causing great bodily injury. If convicted on the Orange County criminal case, Phan faces 11 years to life in prison.

Orange County Man Victim of Hit-And-Run

Wed, 09 May 2012 14:29:07 -0800

An Oakland man was charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and hit-and-run. He is also charged with special enhancements for attempted premeditated murder and inflicting great bodily injury. Ferndando Toscano 38, of Oakland is the man authorities say was behind the wheel of a white van when he allegedly put his car in reverse and drove over the 27-year-old victim.

According to witnesses, the victim and his girlfriend were in the parking lot of Spoons when for some reason he victim ran after the white van. The witnesses reported the driver stopped, put the van in reverse and ran over the victim. As if once was not bad enough, the driver then put the van in drive and drove over the victim a second time.

A partial license plate helped officer locate the van in a parking lot of the Comfort Inn in Santa Ana where it was impounded. Toscano was arrested when he went to Santa Ana Police Department to pick up his van. Currently, Toscano is being held at the Orange County Jail on $1million bail.

If Toscano is convicted, he faces life in prison. If Toscano was smart, he would hire an Orange County criminal defense attorney to defend his case.

Orange County Man Goes to Prison for Arson and Animal Abuse

Tue, 08 May 2012 16:57:09 -0800

As an Orange County criminal defense attorney, I don’t always agree with the punishment handed down by the Orange County DA’s Office. However, I am happy to report that Jaime Garcia will be going to prison for arson and killing his dog. What a sicko.

Garcia pleaded guilty last month to arson, animal cruelty and an enhancement of using a deadly weapon. The details are too disturbing to share, lets just say five years in state prison is not enough for me.

Chino Hills Man Convicted for Killing His Wife

Tue, 01 May 2012 07:00:45 -0800

Samir Wahid of Chino Hills was convicted of first degree murder in the death of his wife Iman Wahid. Wahid and Iman were divorced and Wahid was angry over the divorce payments he was ordered to make to Iman.

Wahid saw Iman on Sedona Avenue in Chino Hills and chased her down and stabbed her. Wahid faces life in prison without the possibility of parole for what the jury found to be that he committed the murder while lying in wait and for financial gain.

No comment from Wahid’s Chino Hills criminal defense attorney.
http://www.pilchmankay.com/

Pasadena Firefighter Convicted in Rancho Cucamonga Court in Wife’s Death

Tue, 01 May 2012 06:58:29 -0800

A former Pasadena firefighter, Michael Burton, was convicted of manslaughter in the death of his estranged wife in a Rancho Cucamonga court. Burton faces up to 12 years in prison following the guilty verdict. While prosecutors charged Burton with first degree murder, the jurors who deliberated five hours felt that manslaughter was the more reasonable charge.

Burton and his wife were in the process of a contentious divorce, however resided in the same home pending their divorce. When Burton’s wife Otilia Burton arrived home after a night out, an argument ensued and according to Burton, Otilia struck him in the chest and in an effort to defend himself, Burton grabbed the sword and stabbed her.

After the stabbing, Burton contacted Rancho Cucamonga Sheriff deputies and when authorities arrived, they found Burton had injuries to his hands and what appeared to be self-inflicted wounds to his neck. Burton had also attempted an overdose. Burton was transported to the hospital and treated for his injuries.

Burton’s Rancho Cucamonga criminal defense attorney successfully argued self-defense to the jury and this is what spared Burton a life sentence.
http://www.pilchmankay.com

Orange County DMV Employee Pleads Guilty in Fraud Scheme

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:31:40 -0800

Michelle Carbajal, 38, plead guilty to 42 felonies, including altering public documents and computer fraud for crimes from September 2008, to April, 2010, at the Fullerton DMV. In exchange for her guilty plea, Carbajal will spend seven months in custody.

Carbajal, a 9 year veteran of the DMV, was charged with accepting $23,000 from 12 different people if she would alter their driver's license records showing they passed the written and driving tests to obtain a commercial license, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Contact Pilchman & Kay for a free consultation for those charged with internet fraud.

Mortgage Fraud Arrest in Los Angeles County

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:24:42 -0800

Several people have been charged in a multi-million dollar mortgage fraud scheme involving a six properties in Los Angeles County, authorities said.

The suspects stand accused of obtaining titles to the properties, getting loans in the names of straw buyers and then selling the residences at inflated prices, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.

Two of the home loans were in names of victims of ID fraud, authorities said.

The suspects allegedly used fake bank account and employment documents, according to authorities.

The suspects were identified as Gerard A. Bueno, 35, of La Habra Heights; Jesus Vega Jr., 28, of Hacienda Heights;  Andres Victoria, 26, of Albany, N.Y.; Alejandro Valdelmar, 44, of Long Beach;  Jose Carlos Henriquez, 42, of Lynwood; George H. Kent, 66, of La Mirada; Laura Garcia, 31, of Paramount; Beatriz Miranda, 56, of Hawaiian Gardens; and Michael Palomares, 27, of Compton.

The case was investigated by the Sheriff's Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General.

For a free consultation with a mortgage fraud defense attorney, contact Pilchman & Kay.

Man Arrested After Woman Interrupts Burglary

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:24:05 -0800

Kris Do Young Shin, 31 was caught in the act of burglarizing the home of a woman in mid afternoon on Friday. The resident reported to Cypress police that she entered her home around 3 p.m. and found Shin in her home. She said Shin fled with a laptop and a key ring that contained keys to her home and car.

Shin was arrested in La Palma when an officer spotted his vehicle after the description was broadcast to law enforcement. Shin was arrested on suspicion of residential burglary and possession of stolen property. During the search of Shin's vehicle, officers found what appears to be other stolen property.

According to news reports, Shin may have a pending Orange County Superior Court case for felony burglary and possession of burglary tools. There was no mention if Shin already has an Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney representing him. Cypress Police are asking anyone with information to contact them.

California Appellate Court Overturns Craigslist Sex Sting Conviction

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:05:44 -0800

In what seems to be a huge victory for people surfing the internet, the Fourth District Court of Appeal in Santa Ana, California just overturned a conviction for a man who was caught in an internet sting by Huntington Beach Police. Gregory Aguirre, 53 of El Monte was arrested after he arrived at a Carl’s Jr. restaurant to meet a fictitious 13-year-old girl for sex in 2010.

Aguirre was charged with three felony counts, PC 288.4(b), Meeting a Minor to Commit Lewd Conduct, PC 664(a)-28(a)- Attempt Lewd Act on a Minor, and PC288.3(a) Luring of a Child with Intent to Commit Specified Crime.

The ad placed by Huntington Beach Police Department investigators read, “Hi wanta play with me2nite---w4m (hb).” Aguirre along with 100 other people responded to the ad. The officers replied to the responders by adding “Hi Im Jess, Im 13 yrs old and looking to make some $ in exchange for stuff.” Aguirre and “Jess” continued corresponding, including sexually explicit exchanges.

Law enforcement then set up a meeting at a Carl’s Jr in Huntington Beach. When Aguirre arrived, he was immediately arrested. When he was interviewed, Aguirre said he went to the Carl’s Jr to meet “Jess” and engage in sexual intercourse. Aguirre had condoms with him. In addition, Aguirre told officers he really didn’t believe “Jess” was a minor.

Aguirre went to trial and was convicted. He neither requested nor was he given an entrapment instruction for the jury. The court of appeal stated in their opinion “The police lured defendant into an electronic conversation with Jess without providing any indication at the outset that she was underage….The police quickly disclosed Jess was 13 years old once defendant contacted her, but in response to defendant’s request for a picture of Jess, the police selected a photograph of an attractive and mature female body.”

The court further stated, “Our overview of the record suggests a reasonable jury could find that the police conduct would illegitimately ensnare normally law-abiding individuals in an illegal conversation they would not have otherwise pursued. In sum, the jury might have believed the conduct of the police was likely to induce a normally law-abiding person to commit some or all of the charged crimes. We therefore reverse the judgment.”

It must be noted that Aguirre’s computer was seized and there was no evidence of any child pornography on his computer, furthering the justices opinion that Aguirre was just that a law abiding person who got trapped by police conduct.

If you or a loved one has been arrested for any internet sex crime, it is important to contact our office for a free consultation with an experienced Orange County sex crime attorney.

Canadians Arrested for Conspiracy to Distribute More Than 37 Kilograms of Cocaine

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:47:34 -0800

A multiagency operation led to the arrest of June Jie Zhang, 31 of Toronto and John Philip Co, 41, of Richmond, British Columbia in what investigators are saying was a money laundering and drug ring.

Homeland Securities investigators contacted Zhang and Co while posing as a broker for a Mexican drug trafficker. The agents had agreed to sell the cocaine to the suspects and were paid $750,000. Authorities arrested Co at a storage facility in Costa Mesa as he was waiting to collect the cocaine and Zhang was arrested in Commerce at a casino.

In addition to their drug trafficking efforts, Zhang and Co are also believed to have laundered $15 million of drug proceeds in the last year alone.

73-Year-Old Man Arrested for Suspicion of Lewd Act at Preschool

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:45:14 -0800

Orange County Sheriff’s deputies were called out to Serra Catholic Preschool in Ladera Ranch after a witness reported seeing a man with his hands down his pants, watching the children enter the school grounds. The witness described the suspect as Wiheimino Gatbonton, 73 who upon being interviewed, admitted to being in the parking lot of the school.

Deputies arrested Gatbonton on charges of committing a lewd act in front of children and booked him in the Orange County Jail. According to jail records, Gatbonton has posted bond. No court appearance date known at this time.

Tustin Police Make Arrest In Auto Burglary Case

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:28:54 -0800

The Tustin Police Department announced the arrest of three individuals suspected of committing 13 car burglaries in their city. The three men were found in a white sedan with stolen items, including electronics.

Officers made a vehicle stop after locating the vehicle that matched the description by witnesses of individuals who were seen breaking into cars. Police pulled over the car in the 16000 block of Main Street near the zoo.

Arrested were Marquise Cortes Benjamin,19, Christopher Leyva, 18, and one juvenile. The adults were booked on charges of PC 459-Burglary and PC 496- Possession of stolen property.

Officers say they suspect the trio of committing at least 13 auto burgs but could be responsible for more. They say these crimes often go unreported or unnoticed and could expect more victims to come forward.

Man Arrested for Videotaping People in Restooms

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 08:04:57 -0800

Johnny Nguyen was arrested for videotaping over 10 people using restrooms at Cypress College. Police say Nguyen, 19, was using a cell phone to record individuals using the restroom while he was in the next stall. All recordings took place in men's restrooms.

A victim, noticed he was being filmed and detained the suspect while police arrived. No court date known at this time.

Woman Convicted of One of the Largest ID Ring in So Cal

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 08:00:23 -0800

Kristine Ogandzhanyan was convicted in a bench trial before Judge David Carter on Wednesday. Ogandzhanyan is the wife of a key player in what is being called one of the biggest ID theft cases in the state.

The scam began by the defendants approached low-paid employees of call centers for account information. The defendants forged checks with this information and stole at least $8 million from victims in Orange County, Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County. Officials even say victims were from Texas, Arizona and Nevada.

All defendants face 30 years in federal prison.