Four suspects charged for auto repair insurance fraud from undercover operation in Contra Costa
Working for auto body shops in Concord, Richmond and Pittsburg
By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Office of the District Attorney, Contra Costa County
The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the California Department of Insurance partnered to conduct an undercover operation targeting auto repair insurance fraud in Contra Costa County. Today investigators arrested the last two of four employees at four different auto repair shops caught in the sting operation.
Auto repair shops provide estimates to customers for insurance claims knowing that the customer’s ultimate decision on whether to proceed with the repair, and pay for it, may depend on the insurance company approving and paying out for the claim. This can create an incentive for the estimator to overlook or even encourage a customer known to be committing a fraud. Accepting business with knowledge or reckless disregard for the fact that a customer intends to commit insurance fraud is a felony punishable by up to three years in prison and an additional fine of up to $50,000.
An undercover officer visited several auto body repair shops in Contra Costa County and told estimators that they wanted to claim and repair pre-existing damage on a new insurance policy initiated after the damage occurred. The officer requested a repair estimate from the shop to assist with the false insurance claim.
Four individuals have been charged in the sting operation including:
Kyle Coburn (30-years-old) of AW Collision in Concord;
Marco Hernandez (49-years-old) of 101 Auto Body in Richmond;
Estephanie Gonzalez-Marquez (26-years-old) of Tepa Autobody in Pittsburg;
Vu Hoang (33-years-old) of Kee’s Auto Body in Concord.
The District Attorney’s Office also reminds consumers to be wary of listening to anyone who suggests lying to an insurance company related to an insurance claim. Providing false or misleading information in support of an insurance claim is a felony punishable by up to five years state prison and an additional fine of up to $50,000.
Anyone with information about possible auto insurance fraud can report that information to the District Attorney’s Office via email at DA-ReportFraud@contracostada.org
Police arrest suspect connected to bank robberies in Contra Costa County
Alamo resident
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
On Thursday, February 20, 2020, at about 3:35 PM, Lafayette and Walnut Creek Police arrested 41-year-old Brendan Gray at his home in Alamo. Gray is a suspect in a series of recent bank robberies that occurred in Contra Costa County.
On February 19, 2020, at about 3:46 PM, a bank robbery happened at the Wells Fargo Bank on the 3600 block of Mt. Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette. During the investigation, Detectives determined that robbery was connected to one that occurred at the Wells Fargo Bank on Moraga Way in Orinda on February 12, 2020, and at a Wells Fargo Bank in Walnut Creek on February 1, 2020.
Lafayette Police Detectives, assisted by Danville Police, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, and Walnut Creek Police were able to identify a suspect vehicle and identify Brendan Gray as the suspect in the robberies.
An arrest warrant was obtained and with the assistance of Walnut Creek PD, Gray was taken into custody without incident. Gray was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on three counts of first degree robbery. He is being held in lieu of $300,000 bail.
The Lafayette Police Department is asking anyone with additional information regarding these cases to contact Detectives at (925) 283-3680 or (925) 299-3234 or email Sergeant Rossberg at tross@so.cccounty.us. Tips could also be emailed to the Lafayette Police Department at: 94549TIP@gmail.com
Walnut Creek man sentenced to prison for trying to meet minor online for sex acts
WARNING: Graphic content
By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
Martinez, Calif. – On Friday February 14, 2020, Justin Arthur Cook, a 34-year-old Walnut Creek resident, pleaded guilty to one count of arranging to meet a minor to engage in sex acts. Cook was immediately sentenced to four years in state prison by the Honorable David Goldstein and ordered to register as a sex offender for life.
On August 4, 2019, Cook used a social media site to inquire about family incest. An undercover police officer contacted Cook and they began to message each other. During the conversation, and over the next four days, Cook learned the undercover officer had a 7-year-old daughter and made repeated statements he wanted to sexually abuse the young girl. On August 8, 2019, Cook traveled to Target in Walnut Creek to purchase a bottle of “lube” and then to an apartment complex in Walnut Creek to meet the child. Cook was arrested and admitted to communicating with the undercover officer.
On August 12, 2019, Cook was charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and he has remained in custody since the date of his arrest. Cook will begin to serve his sentence immediately. Deputy District Attorney Kate Jewett prosecuted the case on behalf of the People.
The investigation was conducted by a multi-agency Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is managed by the San Jose Police Department. In Contra Costa County, detectives and investigators from the Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, San Ramon, Concord and Moraga Police Departments, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, United States Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Contra Costa County Probation Department, and Inspectors from the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office participate in the task force. The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Concord Police Department’s Violence Suppression Unit for the substantial assistance they provided with the investigation.
Parents are encouraged to discuss online safety with their children, and can visit the website www.kidsmartz.org or our website for further information.
Case information: People v. Cook, Docket Number 05-191646-9
Technology executive wants media to enter war against ransomware, work with FBI
PC Matic CEO calls on nation’s newspapers to help combat threat of cyberattacks
The financially hobbled newspaper industry already faced with downsizing, needs to join the fight against the growing cyberattack crisis, a leading ransomware industry executive said Wednesday.
Noting that struggling United States newspapers can play a vital economic role in their communities, PC Matic Chief Executive Officer Rob Cheng on Wednesday called on the nation’s newspaper publishers and editors to play a bigger role in combatting the rising threat of cyberattacks that can strike business, government, schools, hospitals, or all forms of enterprise.
“The American press are the first responders in every city, town, county, and school district that can raise the public conscience and understanding about the threats of ransomware attacks in our society,” said Cheng.
Cheng announced an unusual proposal whereby the U.S. media would work with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies in combatting cyberattacks in many activities of American business and life.
Whether such a cooperative information feed between federal-local law enforcement authorities and the press could feasibly and legally work is unclear. At least with this observer, it might infringe on the freedom of the press amendment issues if the FBI inquires where and how a news reporter compiled information concerning an alleged cyberattack case. This might present constitutional legal questions.
The Contra Costa County Library System was a victim of a cyber security attack, just last month. It affected all library branches and the Martinez administrative offices, which experienced a network outage due to a ransomware attack. The Library worked with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney’s Office to investigate the attack. (See related article).
Cheng could not address how the United States press can respond to this growing threat to every sector of American business and society when the American newspaper industry is financially under stress.
The news industry has numerically declined with one in five local newspapers closing since 2004 due in part to advertising going to online news startups, according to a 2019 University of North Carolina study.
When asked what the ransomware war has cost United States business, Jeff Gaynor, a retired Army Colonel securities communications officer speaking on behalf of PC Matic, answered, “We don’t know what cyberware attacks have actually cost the U.S. business sector. It’s been swept under the rug.”
But Gaynor said United State insurance companies need to do a better job of controlling the huge $1 billion ransomware payouts to policyholders.
“This is a risk-based decision, you betcha!” said Gaynor.
The Herald recommends Martinek for Congress in District 9
There are two candidates challenging six-term incumbent Congressman Jerry McNerney, retired U.S. Marshal and L.A. police officer Antonio “Tony” Amador who is running for his third time and newcomer, financial advisor and decorated combat Army veteran William Martinek. I’ve compared the two to decide who to support and vote for. Both are good men and have already served our nation. Both want to serve our country, again as a member of Congress. Both offer a serious contrast to McNerney.
Martinek is from Brentwood and jumped into the race early, showing a sincere interest in serving the people of our district. Amador, from Lodi in the San Joaquin County part of the district, only entered the race after he met Martinek and thinks he would be the better Republican candidate. They have similar views on the issues: national security and defense, transportation, jobs and economic development, and working to solve the problems of illegal immigration and homelessness. So, the main differences are age and life experience, but also commitment to run a serious campaign.
Amador is in his 70’s, married, a father, grandfather and great grandfather, and has a long history of public service, which is great, and I applaud him for that. Martinek is a much younger, married father who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan defending our national interests, which I also applaud. He wants to take his energy to Washington, D.C. to work for us.
They both believe they can do better for our district than McNerney who is now in his 12th year in the House of Representatives.
But, the final, major difference I had to look at is which of the two Republicans will run a more serious campaign to replace the incumbent. In his first run for Congress, in 2014, Amador only raised and spent about $60,000, yet came within 5 percent of McNerney. Had he run a more aggressive campaign and raised more money to get his message out to the voters, Amador might have won. But, then in 2016, again waiting until the last minute, while the San Joaquin County Republican Party Chairman, he jumped in the race against Kathryn Nance, who had been campaigning for several months. Amador came in second in the primary, beating Nance by 2.6% of the vote, and making it into the general election. But, this time – during the presidential election year – he lost to McNerney by almost 15%.
If the Republicans hope to take the most winnable Congressional district in the entire nine-county Bay Area, plus San Joaquin County, it’s going to take a candidate who will be aggressive and raise the necessary funds, like Ricky Gill did in 2012, who raised and spent almost $3 million. But the candidate needs more life experience than Gill had, having just graduated from law school.
Martinek is that candidate. He’s serious about serving our nation and has already done so in the Army, and he wants to make things better for his family and ours, in both Contra Costa and San Joaquin Counties. And he’s willing to do put in the hard work to campaign aggressively and raise the needed funds to get his message to the voters so they can become familiar with him by the November election.
Please join me in voting for Republican William Martinek for Congress in the 9th Congressional District. For more information read the Herald article, here and visit www.williammartinekforcongress.com.
Allen Payton, Publisher & Editor
Frazier introduces bipartisan resolution asking Dep’t of Homeland Security to delay REAL ID implementation
Millions of Americans could be rejected at airport security without a delay in REAL ID implementation date
Sacramento – Earlier today, Assemblymembers Jim Frazier (D-Fairfield) and Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield), Chair and Vice-Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee, introduced AJR 28, a resolution asking the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to delay REAL ID implementation for domestic air travel by at least three years.
“Over 7 million Californians have a REAL ID and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) estimates that 16 million Californians will need one by October 1st of this year,” said Assemblymember Frazier. “That means more than twice as many people need to come into a DMV field office between now and October, than in the entire previous two years combined.”
AJR 28 calls for DHS to delay REAL ID requirements for traveling on a domestic flight by at least three years, allowing for a five-year cycle for most Californians to come into the DMV when their IDs expire.
“The DMV has failed on the implementation of REAL ID,” said Assemblyman Vince Fong. “We have already seen very clearly the many problems plaguing the DMV, which have caused undue frustration to the public visiting the department. In order to prevent bigger customer service issues, we need to give California more time for implementation in order to reduce confusion for Californians and to prevent future travel problems at our airports.”
REAL ID is not just a California problem. The American Travel Association estimates that 72% of Americans do not have a REAL ID, and that 57% of Americans are unaware they need one to fly inside the US. The American Travel Association estimates that 78,500 Americans will get rejected by airport security on the first day of REAL ID implementation and that the U.S. economy will lose out on nearly $300 million of travel related economic spending in the first week.”
Assemblymember Frazier represents the 11th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Antioch, Bethel Island, Birds Landing, Brentwood, Byron, Collinsville, Discovery Bay, Fairfield, Isleton, Knightsen, Locke, Oakley, Pittsburg (partial), Rio Vista, Suisun City, Travis AFB, Vacaville and Walnut Grove.
My Big Idea Coach Business Bootcamp to be held in Martinez Sunday, March 1
Roses are red, Violets are blue, at MyBigIdeaCoach Business Bootcamp 2020 We want to see YOU!
By Cathy Jensen, Coordinator, My Big Idea Coach Team
You know the feeling you get when you are surrounded by people on the same path as you, focused on common goals?
That feeling HELPS YOU to not only succeed, but to have FUN doing it.
It’s making the in-person connections that bring both SUCCESS and FULFILLMENT within reach, when you surround yourself with people PASSIONATELY DOING the same things that you are. Like you, they are transforming their own lives, growing their business, while making an impact, changing our world.
That’s what’s missing from a lot of online business courses and programs these days. Connecting with cool people makes a lot of difference in the satisfaction level and whatever results you get, be it money or fame or lifestyle upgrades.
So…It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for….and I’m SO excited too…to invite you to join us and participate in the Live 2020 Grand Opening of the MyBigIdeaCoach Business Bootcamp, March 1, 2020, 10:30 a.m.-1:30p.m.!
WHY?
Let me tell you. Many of you who are small business owners, like us, want to REALLY GROW your 2020 BUSINESS. You cannot get this information from a book, online or in a YouTube video!
This Business Bootcamp workshop is filled with insider tips and insights on planning, branding, using social media, leveraging e-commerce solutions and much much more, including how we used these business strategies to expand our own business, what we learned, how we did it, and what we would have done differently. You’ll also learn not only how to get more clients but how to increase your customer sales, just to mention a few.
AND we just booked one of the MOST CREATIVE spaces in the Bay Area, THE GALA in Martinez. This Business Bootcamp workshop includes three hours of LIVE instruction and it’s easy to reach by car, train or bus.
We don’t want you to miss out. Our goal is to help you move your Business Dreams into Realities.
And the best part…
You get ALL this, in one session for just $125 USD. ($99.00 for the Bootcamp + $26 for Workshop materials) And you can even use flex-pay with 4 easy payments.
YES, we know we could charge a lot more, after all we’re giving you, including our planning guides for using Instagram and Facebook ads, YouTube and Pinterest!
And here is what you’ll get: our entire kit of custom 2020 Business Bootcamp workshop materials:
- A Custom Business Vision Board
- 12 Month Business Planner Journal
- Workbook with Instructor Notes
- A cool Motivational Poster
So, please take advantage of this opportunity and get kick-started with a renewed vision for your business! REGISTER NOW for the MyBigIdeaCoach Business Bootcamp. We are serious about your business growth, so you also get a FREE Download, a 2020 GOALS SHEET as a bonus.
However, I can’t stress this enough…. Once the MyBigIdeaCoach Business Bootcamp spaces are gone, they’re gone!! You don’t want to miss out on seeing REAL growth in your first Quarter of 2020.
Just CLICK HERE www.calbizexpo.com to REGISTER. OR call us at 707-641-6013.
And take your next step to Success in 2020!
Here’s to Happy Bootcamping!
Sailor from Concord serving aboard guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy
GULF OF ADEN (Feb. 13, 2020) Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Chester Gaza, from Concord, California, strikes eight bells signifying noon aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60). Normandy is part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group and is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points.
Juvenile reckless driver evades CHP on Hwy 4 at over 100 MPH, crashes then caught Monday evening
By CHP – Contra Costa
Monday evening, Feb. 17, 2020 at about 5:59 pm, a CHP unit observed a vehicle driving recklessly at over 100 MPH, in and out of traffic, on Hwy-4 westbound at Laurel Road. The CHP unit initiated a traffic enforcement stop but the vehicle (a 2019 silver Kia Rio) failed to yield to lights and sirens and accelerated away from the patrol officer.
The suspect vehicle led CHP on a pursuit on Hwy-4 westbound to approximately San Marco Blvd. where CHP discontinued the pursuit due to safety concerns for the other drivers on the road and CHP Officers involved due to the reckless manner of driving from the suspect. CHP lost sight of the Kia but as the CHP unit exited Hwy-4 at Willow Pass Road in Concord, the Officer saw that the Kia had crashed into an embankment just off of the off-ramp of Willow Pass Road and had caught fire. A CHP Officer immediately exited his patrol car and put out the blaze with an extinguisher and discovered the Kia was abandoned. Witnesses related to CHP that multiple parties exited the Kia after it crashed and fled the scene.
CHP towed the Kia and set up a perimeter to locate the suspects in and around the Willow Pass Road and Evora Road area. Shortly after the area was surrounded, all four occupants from the Kia were located and detained. All four occupants were male juveniles, including the driver. Thankfully there were no reported crashes or injuries to Officers, other drivers on the road, and only minor complaints of pain to the occupants of the Kia.
The male juvenile driver was arrested and will be booked into the Contra Costa County Juvenile detention center and the other occupants will remain in CHP custody until a parent or legal guardian arranges pickup for each juvenile.
Reckless driving over 100 mph on the highway that endangers all drivers’ safety will not be tolerated. These extremely poor choices from unsafe drivers are the exact drivers we are continually attempting to get off the road at all times. We are thankful nobody was seriously injured or killed due to this reckless driver and we hope that these young juveniles get some guidance, realize the error of their ways, and begin a path to better choices for their future when behind the wheel.
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