By John Fout, Community & Media Relations Specialist, Contra Costa County Office of Communications & Media
The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is seeking applicants who are interested in serving on its 18-member Racial Justice Oversight Body (RJOB). The Racial Justice Oversight Body has a current vacancy for a Community Representative who has prior personal criminal or juvenile justice system involvement.
The RJOB is a multi-agency advisory body established by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to oversee the implementation of the recommendations made by the Racial Justice Task Force and accepted by the Board of Supervisors to reduce racial disparities in the justice system. The RJOB also reviews local criminal and juvenile justice data to identify and report on racial disparities.
The Racial Justice Oversight Body is composed of the following 18 members:
Four (4) Ex‐Officio Members:
1. The Sheriff or his designee;
2. The Chief Probation Officer or her designee;
3. The Public Defender or her designee;
4. The District Attorney or her designee;
Five (5) Other Appointed Members:
5. A representative from the Superior Court, as a non-voting member;
6. A representative from a local law enforcement agency, nominated by the Contra Costa County Police Chiefs’ Association;
7. A representative from the Contra Costa County Office of Education;
8. A representative from a Local School District;
9. A representative from Contra Costa County Health Services Department;
Nine (9) community-based representatives selected and appointed by the Board of Supervisors:
10-11. Community Representative Seats 1 & 2: two (2) members of the Contra Costa Racial Justice Coalition;
12-13. Community Representative Seats 3 & 4: two (2) individuals with prior personal criminal or juvenile justice system involvement;
14. Community Representative Seat 5: one (1) representative from a community-based organization that works with justice-involved youth
15-16. Community Representatives Seat 6 &7: two (2) representatives from community-based organizations that work with justice-involved populations, any age;
17. Community Representative Seat 8: one (1) representative from a faith-based organization;
18. Community Representative Seat 9: one (1) representative that is either a school age young person, or from a community based organization who provides services to school age youth.
The Board of Supervisors is seeking applications for one (1) of the seats identified above:
Community Representative Seat 4: one (1) individual with prior personal criminal or juvenile justice system involvement.
Appointments to the Racial Justice Oversight Body are for a term of two years. The appointment to Seat 4 is a mid-term appointment ending December 31, 2020. The full RJOB meets on a quarterly basis with its three subcommittees meeting on a monthly basis. Members serve without compensation, stipends, or reimbursement of expenses. The community-based representatives should reflect the geographic, ethnic, and racial diversity of the County.
Applicants will be interviewed by the Board of Supervisors’ Public Protection Committee: Supervisors Candace Andersen, District II, and Federal Glover, District V. The nomination for the Racial Justice Oversight Body appointment will then be submitted to the full Board of Supervisors for action.
Below is a timeline of the recruitment process for the one (1) vacancy:
• July 21, 2020: Final Day of the Application Period, due by 5:00 p.m.
• July 27, 2020: Public Protection Committee Meeting: Interviews
• August 4, 2020: Board of Supervisors Appointment
Application forms can be obtained from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by calling (925) 335-1900 or by visiting the County webpage at http://www.contracosta.ca.gov/3418/. Completed applications should be emailed to ClerkoftheBoard@cob.cccounty.us. Applications can also be mailed to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Room 106, County Administration Building, 651 Pine Street, Martinez, CA 94553.
Read MoreIt’s time to get the care you’ve been waiting for at Antioch’s Sutter Delta Medical Center
By Monique Binkley Smith, Sutter Health News Bureau Communications Manager
ANTIOCH, CALIF. — California is slowly reopening, but like so many unknowns with COVID-19, it’s unclear how long the return to routine will last.
“A surge in virus spread and infected patients could occur this fall or winter,” says Bill Isenberg, M.D. chief quality and safety officer for Sutter Health. “If this happens, and overlaps with the normal flu season, there could be a significant strain on healthcare services.”
With this in mind, medical experts agree that if you had an appointment postponed or canceled due to COVID-19, now is the time to reschedule it.
Pittsburg resident Norma Lester-Atwood is a mammographer, so she knows the importance of catching breast cancer early. Lester-Atwood is typically right on schedule for her own mammogram, but this spring, shelter-in-place orders delayed her mammogram by two months. As soon as she could, she had the screening procedure and she’s glad she did, because her mammogram and a subsequent biopsy revealed a Stage 0 (non-invasive) tumor in one of her breasts. After a lumpectomy to remove the tumor, Lester-Atwood feels she is well on her way to recovery.
“As a mammographer, I tell my patients that it’s important to come in for a mammogram because I’ve seen patients who developed fast-growing tumors between screenings,” says Lester-Atwood.
As Lester-Atwood’s experience shows, timing is everything when it comes to staying healthy. Getting cancer screenings at the recommended intervals can help spot early signs of tumor growth before it turns into advanced cancer.
“Some women don’t realize that mammograms are needed regardless of your family history, because most women with breast cancer have no family history or other identifiable risk factors,” says Octavio De La Rosa, manager of Medical Imaging Services at Sutter Delta Medical Center in Antioch, part of the Sutter Health not-for-profit integrated network of care.
Screening for colorectal, prostate and lung cancers are also vital. “Simply put, screening saves lives,” says De La Rosa. “Delayed screenings can postpone detection of cancer, which may translate into needing more intensive treatment and a more difficult path for patients.”
Taking Steps to Protect Patients and Staff
Sutter Delta’s imaging center, located inside Sutter Delta Medical Center at 3901 Lone Tree Way, has resumed screening mammogram services and is taking steps to protect patients:
- Mandatory Masking – Staff, patients and visitors must wear masks at all times.
- Isolation – Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms is isolated from waiting areas, patient rooms, entrances and spaces the general population uses.
- Cleaning –Increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting in all spaces.
- Screening – Everyone is screened for symptoms of COVID-19 before entering.
Resources to Help with Health Insurance Disruption
Health insurance coverage can be disrupted by wage or job loss, but there are options available.
In California, the Every Woman Counts program covers mammograms and cervical cancer screening for women with no or limited insurance who meet other eligibility criteria. Call 1-800-511-2300.
Other options include extending employer-based coverage through COBRA and CalCOBRA, shopping for plans and applying for premium assistance through Covered California or Medi-Cal. Charity care and financial assistance may also be available.
Read MoreBy Allen Payton
In response to some concerns by county residents and questions to county Supervisor Candace Andersen and health services spokespeople, it was revealed this week that Contra Costa is accepting patients from hospitals as far away as Imperial County along the border with Mexico. That’s because our county has mutual aid agreements with that and other counties in the state.
In response to a resident’s question “is CCC getting patients from other counties that are overloaded (such as Imperial County, or other counties)?” Gayle Israel, Chief of Staff for Board of Supervisors Chair Candace Andersen, wrote in an email, “We have two patients in Contra Costa hospitals from Imperial County. Also have 15 Contra Costa residents in Alameda County Hospitals. Reporting shows hospitalizations by county where hospitalized, not by residency. So, we are +13 beyond what is reported on our hospitalized dashboard.”
Asked by the Herald why the patients from Imperial County are in Contra Costa, Will Harper, Communications Specialist for Contra Costa Health Services responded, “We took on these patients as part of a mutual aid agreement to provide relief to hospitals in Imperial County,”
Asked if there are patients transferred to hospitals in Contra Costa County from any other county in the state, he responded, “Yes. We have mutual aid agreements with counties and offer help when they become over capacity.”
In addition, the resident asked Supervisor Andersen, “how many of the hospitalizations are from the four active nursing home outbreaks, and how many of the deaths are from the nursing home outbreaks?”
Israel responded, “Ten of the 11 deaths since Friday were from congregate care facilities, nine from the same facility. Had a record number of cases over the weekend, but also hit target for first time for tests per day – higher amount of tests = higher cases. Health Officer says we have the data for # of hospitalizations from congregate care facilities, but he didn’t have at his fingertips. We are asking for that information – however, we have been told all along that those critically ill in skilled nursing facilities are not typically transferred to hospitals, so that number is likely low.”
As a result, communications staff for county health services were asked by the Herald if a statistic can be included on the County Health Services’ Coronavirus Hospital Dashboard that shows in which other counties Contra Costa patients are located and which patients in Contra Costa hospitals are from other counties, Harper responded, “currently, there is not, though we are always working to expand the amount of data on our website and have added many dashboards over the past 1-2 months.”
Some county residents have expressed concern that people are crossing the border from Mexico, which for now is closed to non-essential travel, testing positive and filling up hospitals in California, and might be increasing the state’s Coronavirus statistics, resulting in a negative impact on decisions by government officials regarding reopening businesses, schools, sports and other activities. In addition, a video about what is happening in Riverside County, that COVID-19 patients are being flown in from Imperial County, raised questions about how the patients arrived in Contra Costa County.
The following additional questions were sent to county health services spokespeople late Tuesday night: People are wondering are those patients you referred to American citizens, or at least residents of Imperial County, or are they Mexican citizens or residents who have come across the border and entered the hospitals, there? Also, how did they arrive in Contra Costa? Do you know if they were flown, here to our county?
Please check back later for answers to the questions and any other updates to this report.
Read MoreIncluding three recipients from Contra Costa County
Travis Credit Union (TCU) recently awarded 20 local high school students the Mary Keith Duff Memorial Scholarship. TCU offers the annual scholarships to assist its young members with the increasing cost of higher education and to reinforce its commitment to the financial success of our country’s future leaders.
All of the winning students received a ‘Gala in a Box,’ which included the scholarship award announcement of $2,000 to help with college expenses, as well as a $200 gift card that could be used towards a family dinner celebration. TCU board members as well as executive leadership members coordinated live Zoom calls with the families to join with them virtually in opening the ‘special delivery’ box and celebrating their achievement.
Scholarship recipients in Contra Costa County include Serena Connel of Clayton Valley Charter, Kassandra Ruiz of Pinole Valley High School, and Yesenia Roman of Pittsburg High School.
“We’re so appreciative of the recognition of all the hard work these kids put in,” says Rikki Rivera, mother of scholarship winner, Kennedy Rivera. “My husband and I were both recently furloughed due to the pandemic – so financially this scholarship has helped us out more than we anticipated when she first applied. This is very helpful to our family.”
The TCU Board of Directors established the scholarship program in 2004 and named it the Mary Keith Duff Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of a long-time board member. To date, TCU has contributed $437,000 to the program and will continue to award $40,000 annually.
“As a credit union, we are founded on the philosophy of ‘people helping people,’ and we stand behind the principles that promote human development and social responsibility,” says Patricia Moreno, chairman of the board for TCU. “Offering these scholarships is just one way we are assisting young members.”
To apply for the scholarship, college-bound high school seniors, who are TCU members in good standing, needed a GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) as well as a 500 word personal statement essay, expressing their plans for the future.
“These student’s achievements in school and community signify that they have the dreams and determination to make a difference in the lives of others,” added Barry Nelson, president and CEO of Travis Credit Union. “We are proud to honor them and be part of their plans for the future.”
A video featuring the honored students can be found here.
Headquartered in Vacaville, California, Travis Credit Union is a not-for-profit cooperative financial institution serving those who live, work, worship, or attend school in in Alameda, Colusa, Contra Costa, Merced Napa, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, and Yolo Counties. Currently, Travis Credit Union is the 13th largest credit union in California with more than 214,000 members and more than $3.3 billion in assets. As one of the leading financial institutions in Contra Costa, Solano, Napa, Yolo and Merced Counties, Travis Credit Union’s strength lies in its faithful commitment to its members and the community; its solid, secure history; and its long-standing track record of dedicated service.
Allen Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreDougherty Valley High grad
By Kayla Turnbow, Navy Office of Community Outreach
NORFOLK, Va.- A 2013 Dougherty Valley High school graduate and San Ramon, California, native returned home June 16, marking the end of a seven-month deployment aboard USS Harry S. Truman. Since departing its homeport of Norfolk, Virginia in November 2019, the aircraft carrier sailed in the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
Lt. j.g. Andrew Zhao is an electrical division officer aboard the carrier. As an electrical division officer, Zhao is responsible for ship-driving and supervising electricians.
“The best part about my job is seeing the professional and personal progress of the electricians as they learn their trade, gain leadership skills, and sailor-ize,” said Zhao.
Following a scheduled return from deployment in March, after operating in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations, Truman remained underway in the Western Atlantic as a certified and ready carrier force ready for tasking. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, the Truman continued to conduct operations underway, minimizing the potential spread of the virus aboard the ships, in order to maintain maritime stability and security and ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied and partner interests.
Truman sailed more than 56,000 nautical miles, deploying dynamically to support dual-carrier operations, air defense exercises, anti-submarine warfare exercises, and interoperability with joint services and with allies and partners. The ship also completed multiple strait and choke point transits, to include the Strait of Gibraltar, the Suez Canal and the Bab-el Mandeb Strait, while operating under three Combatant Commanders – U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), U.S. European Command (EUCOM), and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
“During deployment, my proudest accomplishment was being able to go every day on a multiple-extension deployment with a smile and be encouraging to fellow officers in the wardroom and be a light in the division as well,” said Zhao.
Truman demonstrated the Navy’s continuing regional commitment to EUCOM and CENTCOM areas of responsibility by hosting 80 embarked guests, including political and military leaders from eight ally and partner nations. These embarks directly supported U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet theater security objectives and greatly enhanced U.S. relationships and partnerships with multiple NATO ally and partner nations and Gulf Cooperation Council members.
“I’m so very proud of all our sailors!” said Capt. Kavon Hakimzadeh, commanding officer of Truman, “Their resilience, perseverance, and utter dedication to mission has been nothing short of exemplary. It has been my greatest honor to serve as Truman’s commanding officer this deployment!”
According to Navy officials, maintaining maritime superiority is a vital part of a Navy that is present today and prepared for tomorrow. The impact affects Americans and their interests around the world, as more than 70 percent of the Earth is covered by water and 90 percent of all trade travels by sea.
The foundation of the Navy the nation needs includes a focus on warfighting, warfighters and the future of the fighting force.
Sailors’ jobs are highly varied aboard Truman. More than 6,000 men and women serve aboard the ship during deployment keeping all parts of the ship running smoothly. Each crewmember performs a number of tasks outside of their traditional job or rating.
“As an electrical division officer, I am in an administrative and supervisory role for the electricians onboard the Truman,” said Zhao.
Throughout the deployment, Truman performed numerous training exercises to develop tactical competencies. From carrier strike force operations as the flagship of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, to exercises with partner navies and forces, the ship developed key skillsets to maintain readiness and interoperability. While conducting stability operations in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, the strike group was called upon during an international crisis to assert American commitment to the region and act as a primary de-escalatory catalyst.
As a member of the U.S. Navy, Zhao, as well as other sailors, know they are a part of a service tradition providing unforgettable experiences through leadership development, world affairs and humanitarian assistance. Their efforts will have a lasting effect around the globe and for generations of sailors who will follow.
“I joined the Navy to serve the country since I came from an immigrant background and our family was thankful for the opportunities here,” added Zhao.
Read More
For school, community college and special districts in Contra Costa County
By Scott O. Konopasek, Assistant Registrar of Voters, Contra Costa County Elections Division
The candidate filing period for offices in school, community college and special districts is from July 13 to August 7, 2020 in order to appear on the November 2020 ballot. If an incumbent does not file by the August 7 nomination deadline, the seat is extended five calendar days until August 12, to non-incumbents only. The same dates apply to candidates for city offices who will file in their respective city, as usual.
In the past, filing for office has been conducted in the Elections Division office. This election however, as a result of COVID and social distancing requirements, filing for office will be conducted at the County Administration Building at 651 Pine Street in the Chambers of the Board of Supervisors.
Elections staff will issue documents and accept filings from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm daily. Appointments for filing the Declaration of Candidacy will be made at the time papers are issued.
“This is a safety measure to protect our staff and the public as the November election gets into gear. It is an example of the types of common sense protective measures we will employ throughout this election cycle.” said Debi Cooper, County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar.
To ensure the safety of all, candidates will wear face coverings and abide by social distancing protocols. Entourages will not be permitted into the Board Chambers, but may congregate outside or in the lobby of the Admin Building as long as public health rules are respected.
Download and view the Candidate’s Guide which gives you vital information on running for office, filing requirements, qualifications, deadlines, and more. The guide is for general information only and does not have the force and effect of law, regulation or rule.
To see the list of all offices up for election in November, including mayors, council members, city clerks and city treasurers, click here. Lists of candidates filing for office will be published twice daily at www.cocovote.us, at noon and at the end of each day. For more details on the November election schedule click, here.
Allen Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreBy CHP – Golden Gate Division
Early this morning, Monday, June 22, 2020, at approximately 4:35 AM, a shooting occurred on eastbound I-80, west of San Pablo Dam Road. Two occupants traveling in a gold color, Ford Fusion sedan were struck by gunfire from an unknown vehicle by an unknown suspect. As a result, both occupants, a male and female, suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
See video of possible vehicle of victims in KTVU FOX2 news report.
Detectives assigned to CHP – Golden Gate Division Investigative Services Unit (ISU) are actively investigating this shooting. Our detectives are requesting assistance from the public in gathering details surrounding this incident. If you or anyone you know have any information that might be helpful, please call the CHP Investigation Tipline at 707.917.4491.
Read MoreWill it affect the county’s planned Road Ahead reopenings?
By Allen Payton
Contra Costa County experienced the greatest one-day spike in COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic at 103 between Thursday, June 18 and Friday, June 19, 2020. According to CCHealth’s Coronavirus Dashboard, the number of cases increased from 2,146 on Thursday to 2,249 on Friday. There was another increase of 45 cases between Friday and Saturday for a total of 2,294 people who have tested positive for the virus in the county, to date.
That has some residents concerned that the county might pull back on some of the planned openings of businesses and activities that are scheduled for July 1st and 15th, as well as schools in July and August, as well. (See related article)
However, in addition to that statistic, the county had 2,457 residents get tested for the Coronavirus between Thursday, June 18 and Friday, June 19, which was also the greatest one-day statistic, in that category.
As of Sunday, June 21, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. there are currently 30 people in the hospital in the county who are infected. There have been a total of 62 deaths attributed to the Coronavirus, which is slightly more than one-tenth (1/10th) of one percent of those who have been tested in the county, which currently stands at 57,989. Also, of the 2,294 people who have tested positive, 1,734 have recovered or 75.6%. That means there are currently 468 people in the county with the virus who are quarantined at home.
Of those who have tested positive, 2.7% have died. That statistic, which has remained fairly constant and actually dropped by 1/10th of one percent in the last month, might alleviate the concerns by county health officials.
However, with residents wondering if the spike in cases could have been caused by all the people participating in protests in the county over the past few weeks, an email was sent Sunday to county health spokesperson, Kim McCarl asking that question. She was also asked if those who test positive are asked what activities they have participated in over the previous two weeks and if there are any concerns by County Health Officer Dr. Chris Farnitano and county health staff that the spike in cases could impact the Road Ahead schedule for reopening.
6/22/20 UPDATE: Will Harper, Media Relations Specialist for Contra Costa Health Services, responded, “We are closely monitoring recent increases in the number of COVID cases and hospitalizations in the county. We expected some increases as more businesses and activities reopened and as we expanded testing. Still, the upward trend is concerning and could affect our reopening timeline.
As people do venture outside their homes and back to normal social interactions, it’s important to do everything possible to reduce the risk for getting or spreading COVID-19. Wear a mask. Maintain six feet social distance. Wash your hands often. Stay home when you are sick.
Regarding the impact of protests: It is challenging to link cases to specific events, especially a gathering where you may not know anyone else who was there with you. We have a small number of reports tied to recent cases that did attend protests, but it is hard to attribute their presence at the protest with their infection versus other contacts they may have had in the past 14 days.”
Asked, again if people who get tested are asked about their activities over the previous 14 days, Harper responded “No, they don’t go back 14 days.” 6/24/20 UPDATE: He later clarified that statement writing, “we do contact investigation/tracing for contacts during the infectious period, which is defined as 2 days prior to symptom onset until patient is isolated (for symptomatic) and 2 days prior to COVID test date until patient is isolated (for asymptomatic).But we also ask where they may have been exposed 14 days from symptom onset/test date. This can be useful information, although keep in mind that we wouldn’t call people (ie close contacts) beyond the 48-hour infectious period mentioned above.”
Read MoreCHP officer assaulted by one protester
By CHP – Golden Gate Division
Friday afternoon at approximately 1:29 PM, a group of approximately 55 protesters proceeded onto the Alfred Zampa Memorial – Carquinez Bridge pedestrian walkway between Vallejo and Crockett in Western Contra Costa County. At approximately 1:40 PM, protestors crossed over the concrete barrier between the pedestrian walkway and right hand shoulder of Westbound I-80. Protesters subsequently entered the Westbound I-80 lanes of traffic. Westbound I-80 was shutdown, with one lane of traffic intermittently open by CHP officers on scene to relieve congestion. At approximately 3:00 PM all lanes of traffic were opened.
Protest blocking the southbound lanes on the Carquinez Bridge between Crockett and Vallejo, today.
Posted by Contra Costa Herald on Friday, June 19, 2020
Three arrests were made during this incident:
Princess Hodges (20 years old) out of Benicia was arrested and booked for: 243(C) PC (Felony) – Battery on a Peace/Police Officer with Injury, 69 PC (Felony) – Resisting an Executive Officer, 148 (A)(1) PC (Misd) – Resist, Obstruct, Delay Peace Officer, and 21960A VC (Infraction) – Pedestrian On Freeway.
Jeremy Christian Smith-Batha (27 years old) out of Sacramento was arrested and booked for: 69 PC (Felony) – Resisting an Executive Officer, 836.6(A) PC (Felony) – Escape or Attempt to Escape With Force/ETC, 243(B) PC (Misd) – Battery on a Peace/Police Officer, 148(A)(1) PC (Misd) – Resist, Obstruct, Delay Peace Officer, 148(B) PC (Misd) – Take Peace Officer’s Weapon, 22210 PC (Misd) – Manufacture/Possess Leaded Cane/ETC, and 21960A VC (Infraction) – Pedestrian On Freeway.
Michael Joshua Alonso (22 years old) out of Vallejo was arrested and booked for: 148(A)(1) PC (Misd) – Resist, Obstruct, Delay Peace Officer and 21960A VC (Infraction) – Pedestrian On Freeway.
One CHP officer was assaulted by a protester and the protester was later arrested. The CHP officer sustained minor injuries.
Allen Payton contributed to this report. Special thanks to the person who provided the video but chose to not be identified.
Read More
More than $250,000 in Unauthorized Withdrawals From the Foundation’s Bank Accounts
OAKLAND – Francis Robert Fritzky, the former treasurer of the Moraga Community Foundation was charged yesterday with wire fraud and filing a false tax return, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter.
According to an information filed with the court, from at least June 2016 through July 2019, Fritzky was the treasurer of the Moraga Community Foundation (the Foundation) and also on the Foundation’s board of directors. According to the Foundation’s bylaws, the board members and officers were not entitled to compensation or a salary for their services as board members and/or officers. As treasurer, Fritzky was responsible for maintaining and keeping records of the Foundation’s bank accounts, funds, assets, and liabilities. He also had signatory authority on the Foundation’s bank accounts and had access to the money contained within those bank accounts. According to the information, from June 23, 2016, and continuing through July 24, 2019, Fritzky allegedly made unauthorized withdrawals of more than $250,000 from the Foundation’s bank accounts to himself, to a company in which he held majority ownership interest, and to a foundation he founded and controlled. He also allegedly provided false financial reports to the Foundation’s board of directors. For example, Fritzky represented that the ending balance for one of the Foundation’s funds in December 2018 was more than $108,000 and that the ending balance of the other fund was more than $37,000 when the combined balances for both funds was allegedly less than $2,000. Court documents further allege that Fritzky filed IRS Form 990-EZ, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, for the Foundation, falsely reporting that the Foundation’s “Cash, savings and investments” at the end of the year was $111,275, when in fact it was less than that amount.
Fritzky was charged with wire fraud and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 2 and making and subscribing a false tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1)(a). The maximum statutory penalty for wire fraud is twenty years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The maximum statutory penalty for making and subscribing a false tax return is three years in prison and a fine of $250,000. However, any sentence will be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
The charges contained in the information are mere allegations. As in any criminal case, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Frtizky’s first court appearance in this matter has yet to be scheduled.
The case is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Moraga Police Department and IRS Criminal Investigation.
Read More