California Criminal Attorney Blog

In the category of truth is stranger than fiction, here is an interesting story. Sunmee Kim, 36 was arrested after Irvine Police Detectives became suspicious of her story of abuse. It seems, Kim went to IPD to report abuse by a 44-year-old Irvine businessman. When she appeared at IPD, she had injuries consistent with abuse. When officers arrested the businessman and he was at the Orange County Jail, Kim went to his home and cleaned out his house.

What tipped officers off was her evasiveness regarding photo identity. Officers ran her prints in the law enforcement database and discovered warrants for her arrest. It appears, Kim would use fake identities, make false claims and when the individual she made claims against were in custody, she would go to their home and steal their belongings.

Kim, allegedly would meet Korean businessmen online at a Korean dating website, establish a relationship and then take their money or property. Currently, Kim is wanted in connection to three such cases of identity theft, robbery, grand theft, fraud and extortion in cases in Garden Grove, Orange and Irvine.

Kim is currently charged with grand theft and grand theft with a firearm. Her Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney appears to be from the public defender’s office and she has pleaded not guilty.

An elderly man who lives at Crown Cove Senior Living Center in Corona Del Mar was the victim of an alleged theft by a 24-year-old woman who tried to befriend him. Authorities say, Yeni Miranda Salgado of Anaheim had visited the elderly man at least twice when she went to his room to clean. The elderly man had a safe containing over $5,000 that went missing. Authorities have arrested the woman on suspicion of burglary.

Orange County law enforcement agencies made 476 DUI arrests between December 16, 2011 through December 25, 2011. This is up from 443 arrests last year. Officers from 38 county law enforcement agencies were a part of this anti-driving under the influence campaign. So far, no DUI related deaths have been reported in Orange County this holiday season.

Anaheim, Buena Park, Huntington Beach, Laguna Niguel and Westminster will all conduct additional DUI checkpoints until the end of the year. As always, it is best to always have a designated driver when planning a night out on the town. Even a $50 cab ride is a lot less expensive than hiring an Orange County DUI Attorney to handle your case should you get arrested.

A 16-year-old boy was charged with one count of murder and an enhancement for personal use of a dangerous or deadly weapon in Orange County Superior Court. Despite being only 16, prosecutors decided to charge Jesse Shockey as an adult rather than keep him in juvenile court. If convicted, Shockey faces 26 years to life in prison.

Authorities say two weeks before Dylan Austin was killed, Shockey got into a fight with some of Austin’s friends at Lark View Park in Huntington Beach. On December 21, 2011, Shockey returned to the same park with his friends when he saw Austin and his friends at the park as well. When the groups started to approach one another, Shockey allegedly armed himself with a knife and started a physical fight with Austin. During the altercation, Shockey allegedly drove the knife into Austin’s chest, killing him.

Shockey’s Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney did not enter a plea on his behalf. Instead, the case was continued to January 17, 2011 for arraignment and bail review.

William Wallace, 30, of Anaheim is expected to be arraigned today in Orange County Superior Court, for the alleged killing of his wife, Zazeli Preston by what authorities say was the result of blunt force trauma. Wallace is being held in the Orange County Jail on $1 million bail and is expected to be in Fullerton Superior Court today for arraignment.

Law enforcement officials say, Preston was killed some tome between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in their Orange County home. Preston’s two young children from a previous relationship as well as the couple’s 7 week old baby were inside the apartment when the incident occurred. Wallace called 911 on Christmas Day to make a report of Preston’s need for medical attention. When officers arrived at the scene, they found Preston unresponsive in her bed and took her to the hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

Wallace was charged with one count of murder and if convicted, faces 25 years to life in state prison. It is expected that Wallace’s Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney will plead not guilty on his behalf at his arraignment.

California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced the creation of the eCrime Unit. The eCrime Unit will be staffed by DOJ attorneys and investigators with the focus being the prosecution of identity theft and other cyber crimes involving technology.

Harris wishes to develop the eCrime Unit to collaborate with other jurisdictions to protect California consumers and businesses who lose millions of dollars annually due to cyber theft.

In addition to the targeting of cyber crimes, Harris hopes the eCrime Unit can put an end to child exploitation and the distribution of child pornography, the unlawful dissemination of unauthorized copyrighted material, counterfeiting and piracy.

While the eCrime Unit will be staffed by 20 California attorneys and investigators, it will remain to be seen if this is enough to put a dent in the criminal enterprises of cyber criminals. Orange County, California is a hotbed of cyber criminal activity and the Orange County DA’s Office alone staffs about 20 individuals in their White Collar Unit.

Our Orange County Criminal Defense Attorneys currently defend individuals charged with cyber crimes and can assist individuals looking for the best criminal defense attorneys in Orange County.

When you are being investigated for white collar fraud, embezzlement, theft or other financial crimes, you should always seek the advice of a competent criminal defense attorney before speaking to any investigator. Unlike other crimes, white collar crimes take time to investigate, process and file. Often, law enforcement agencies will conduct several interviews with suspects, witnesses and victims before they ever submit their case to the DA's office.

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas has taken a very tough stance on white collar crimes. Often, in Orange County, individuals will be charged with tens or hundreds of counts relating to criminal conduct. While the numbers are certainly eye-popping, the custody time associated with white collar crimes is equally dramatic.

If you want to best protect yourself, it is important to contact an Orange County Criminal defense attorney to assist you in handling your case from the very beginning.

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced the arrest of Christopher Fox, of Laguna Niguel and Curtis Melone of Huntington Beach on 37 felony counts of grand theft, conspiracy and unlawful collection of advance fees. Both men are being held at the Orange County Jail on $500,000 bail.

The men are alleged to have collected over $6 million in up-front fees through their Orange County based company, Green Credit Solutions. A third man, King Harris III, of St. Louis, Missouri is also alleged to have been involved in the fraud.

The California Attorney General’s Office launched an investigation into Green Credit Solutions after receiving numerous complaints from consumers from Better Business Bureau, State Bar of California and Department of Real Estate.

Individuals who contacted Green thought they were working with an attorney-backed loan modification service. They were told their $3,500.00 fee would be held in an “attorney escrow account” until services were completed. In reality, the funds were deposited in the account of a disbarred attorney and they transferred to Green.

Harris is a disbarred Tennessee attorney and marketing materials referred to his alleged partners as the defunct law firm of “Smith Harris PLL.”

In California, foreclosure consultants are prohibited from collecting money before services are performed. Any attempt to collect such fees could result in criminal prosecution. If you are in need of legal advice, seek a consultation with an Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney.

Raymond Yates, president of Morningside, a recovery home in Newport Beach was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence against his wife or cohabitant. Yates was arrested on December 4, 2011 but later posted $50,000 bail. Yates has a court date December 16, 2011.

Morningside recovery home is also in hot water with the city of Newport Beach. The city is seeking an injunction against them. Neighbors in the upscale neighborhood repeatedly complain about the noise and other disturbances presumably from the residents of the rehab facility. It is unclear at this time what will come of the injunction.

Yates has had previous brushes with the law for alcohol related issues according to the OC Register. Should alcohol be an issue in the arrest, perhaps Yates will take up residency at the recovery home.

Two women who are roommates in Garden Grove have been arrested for allegedly stealing over $250,000 from the Newport Beach law firm where one of the women worked.

Alexa Polar and Robin Pabello stole a check intended for the law firm in the amount of $19,500 and altered the check to reflect an amount in excess of $250,000. With the illegal proceeds, the women went big, chartering a plane to NYC for a shopping spree vacation with friends. In addition to the extravagant travel expenses, the women also leased an 11,000 sq. foot home in Murrieta.

The alleged theft was discovered after the issuing bank rejected the check the receiving bank had processed. Both women were charged with two counts of forgery, grand theft and embezzlement, including the sentencing enhancements of loss over $100,000. If convicted, they each face up to six years in state prison.