Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Contra Costa DA announces guilty verdict in Concord hate crime

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Made threats against Jewish community; used online account name “Adolf Hitler”; had assault rifle, ammunition, camouflage fatigues and Nazi paraphernalia

By Bobbi Mauler, Executive Assistant, Contra Costa County Office of the District Attorney

Ross Farca. Herald file photo.

The Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton announced today that a jury has found Ross Farca of Concord, guilty of four felony charges and a misdemeanor hate crime relating to Farca’s June 4, 2019, possession of an assault weapon recovered after Facra posted anti-Semitic mass murder threats on an online gaming platform. (See related article)

“Ross Farca’s criminality disrupted the lives of countless members of the Jewish faith within our community,” Becton said. “Hate crimes and threats of this magnitude will not be tolerated.”

Farca used his account with the screen name “Adolf Hitler” and a reference to the 6 million people killed during the Holocaust and boasted he intended to copy another synagogue shooter and then kill responding law enforcement. During the search of Farca’s residence, Concord Police seized an assault rifle, along with 13 ammunition magazines, ammunition, camouflage fatigues, and Nazi paraphernalia.

In addition to the firearms and hate crime convictions, Farca was convicted of two counts of criminal threats made towards the lead investigating officer during the course of a follow up search of Farca’s residence on October 8, 2019.

“Mr. Farca is a serious danger to members of the Jewish faith,” said trial prosecutor Amber White. “I commend the quick investigative efforts of law enforcement to track the online activity back to Farca and thank the members of the jury for weighing the evidence and finding Mr. Farca responsible.”

Farca, at one time out on bail, was returned to custody where he remained for the duration of the case after the prosecution successfully argued Farca posed an ongoing threat to community safety. Now convicted, Farca is scheduled to be sentenced on December 29, 2021.

Contra Costa DA announces charges against three defendants in organized retail theft operation

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Suspects from San Francisco, Oakland face felony charges of conspiracy, burglary, robbery, and organized retail theft of Walnut Creek Nordstrom Saturday night

By Bobbi Mauler, Executive Assistant, Contra Costa County Office of the District Attorney

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office announced, today, felony charges have been filed related to the retail thefts at Nordstrom, Walnut Creek on Saturday night, November 20, 2021, when approximately 90 individuals stormed the Nordstrom Department Store in Walnut Creek’s Broadway Plaza simultaneously using three separate entrances. (See video from ABC7 news report)

Two employees were assaulted, and one was pepper sprayed by the suspects. Officers arrived on the scene quickly, stopping one of the cars and arresting two people, one of whom was in possession of a firearm. Another person was arrested nearby a short time later in possession of stolen Nordstrom property. The remaining participants in this criminal mob fled from the area in cars at high speeds.

Police are investigating what was clearly a planned event, with the initial calls coming into the department about cars driving recklessly in the area shortly before 9:00 p.m. Nordstrom employees began calling 911 when approximately 80 people entered the store and immediately began stealing merchandise.

The three suspects arrested by the Walnut Creek Police Department are Dana Nika Dawson, age 30 and Joshua Noel William Underwood, age 32 both of San Francisco, and Rodney Barone Robinson, age 19 of Oakland.

“The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office is committed to working with the Walnut Creek Police Department and our retail community to hold those involved in retail theft accountable. We are committed to stopping those who participate in organized retail theft, which has adverse and costly impacts on business owners and consumers as well” stated District Attorney Diana Becton.

The copy of the complaint and charges can be viewed here: CCDA – Dawson Underwood Robinson complaint #01-197688-5

The defendants will be arraigned on the Felony charges on Monday, November 29, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. in Department 25 of the Contra Costa Superior Court.

The Walnut Creek Police Department is continuing to investigate Saturday night’s organized theft ring activity at Nordstrom in the Broadway Plaza. There were no additional major incidents over the course of the weekend in Walnut Creek, although similar thefts took place at a variety of locations throughout the Bay Area. While the Police Department is actively monitoring intelligence, there is no indication that Walnut Creek residents or businesses need to be on a heightened alert. Police are continuing their expanded presence in the downtown area.

The Walnut Creek Police Department was actively monitoring intelligence that indicates the group of thieves who stole from the Broadway Plaza Nordstrom were considering similar activity later that day. That was not confirmed, but out of an abundance of caution, they alerted businesses and residents to be prepared. The Police Department called out additional officers and reserves.

The investigation is on-going, if anyone has information regarding this incident, please contact Detective Deng at deng@walnutcreekpd.com. Case information: Docket Number 01-197688-5.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Nine suspects sought in smash and grab robbery of Sun Valley mall jewelry store in Concord Monday

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Nine suspects steal jewelry from Sun Valley mall store in Concord on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. Source: Concord PD video screenshot

By Concord Police Department

On November 15, at approximately 7:30 pm, a group of nine people entered the Iceberg Diamonds jewelry store inside the Sun Valley Mall in Concord, armed with hammers. They began smashing the glass display cases and stealing jewels. Employees tried to intervene and were kept back by the hammer wielding criminals. The suspects got away before police arrived. (See surveillance video)

Some customers inside the mall called reporting what they thought were gunshots heard, but in actuality, they heard the sounds of the hammers breaking glass. No shots were fired.

The case is under investigation by Concord PD Detectives. Anyone with information regarding this case may contact Detective Christine Corey with CPD’s Financial Crimes Unit at 925-603-5828. CPD Case #21-11268

Supervisors approve address change of properties in Saranap area from Walnut Creek to Lafayette

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Lafayette Saranap Mailing Address Place Change Affected Parcels. Source: CCC

Unincorporated area between the two cities south and west of the 680-24 interchange

It might violate Proposition 19 and the property inheritance rights of children of current property owners – County Assessor Gus Kramer

County receives $7.4 million more in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds

By Daniel Borsuk

Over the objections of Contra Costa County Assessor Gus Kramer, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved the situs address change from Walnut Creek to Lafayette of 465 properties in the upscale Saranap area for purposes of the upcoming 2022 delivery of the secured property tax roll to the Auditor. Those properties are located within the Lafayette School District.

At the request of Area 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen of Danville, supervisors voted 5-0 to approve the unusual request that will very likely boost property values of the 465 properties tagged in the situs address change from Walnut Creek to Lafayette. Andersen told supervisors she had been approached by property owners in the Saranap area since 2019 to make the change because the properties are located within the boundaries of the Lafayette School District and are in the sphere of influence of the City of Lafayette.

But Kramer opposed the situs change contending it might violate Proposition 19 and the property inheritance rights of children of current property owners.

“I am concerned about the legal issues,” said the county assessor. “I suggest that you put this off a bit. It is a bit premature.”

Thirty-year Saranap homeowner Joyce Coleman told supervisors she supports the situs change because it will help future residents know what schools their children will attend.

“There’s always been confusion over whether children will attend Walnut Creek or Lafayette schools. This will help solve that problem,” she said.

Prior to the vote, Area 4 Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, who has announced she will not seek re-election in 2022, commented “It’s just beyond me. You’re already in the Lafayette school district. I am doing this only out of respect for Supervisor Andersen.”

Supervisor Andersen noted that after petitioning the United States Postal Service, the USPS approved the request to add Lafayette to its mailing routing system as a recognized city mailing address for the 465 properties. The postal service now recognizes both Lafayette and Walnut Creek as city addresses for the area, The Zip Code remains unchanged at 94595.

County Receives $7.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act Funds

Supervisors learned additional federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds will be heading to county coffers in ensuing months after $7.4 million have been spent during the first quarter of 2021.

The county Employment and Human Services Department has received $4,694,377, the county Health Services Department has received $2,604,182 and the Department of Conservation and Development has received $90,215, said assistant County Administrative Officer Tim Elway.

Through Sept. 30, county departments spent $71.6 million ARPA funds for rental assistance services. The Health Services Department submitted an expenditure of $20.9 million for pandemic responses.

Last August, the County Administrator’s Office had identified $317,327.304 in ARPA funds allocated to the county. Of that amount, $127,606.231 had been received by the county and represents two of the largest funding sources for the county – $112,029,451 for the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund and $15,576,780 for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

Hire New Director of Child Support Services from San Joaquin County

Supervisors voted 5-0 to hire San Joaquin County Director of Child Support Services Lori Cruz as the new Contra Costa County Director of Child Support Services at an annual salary of $345,796 of which $56,489 are pension costs.

Cruz, a California licensed attorney, who holds a Juris Doctor from Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts Political Science and Print Journalism from the University of Southern California, has served as the Director of Child Support Services in San Joaquin County, the same county where Contra Costa County Administrator Monica Nina was county administrator until her appointment late last year.

Cruz replaces the current director of child support services Melinda Self, who is retiring on Dec. 31, 2021.

Upon accepting the supervisors’ hiring, Ms. Cruz said, “I can bring my 31 years of child support experience to Contra Costa County and bring positive outcomes to your constituents.”

Cruz, who has been a member of the California State Bar since 1989, has served as director of San Joaquin County Child Support Services from April 2014 to present date. From June 2002 to April 2014, she was employed as the Deputy Director of Operations of the Los Angeles County Child Support Services Department. During her career she developed programs to analyze departmental data to measure performance and effectiveness of services, leading a statewide effort to obtain significant data to measure performance and effectiveness of services, and leading a statewide effort to obtain a new funding model for local child support agencies.

Three young Pittsburg men arrested, charged for armed robberies in five Contra Costa communities

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Source: APD

Robbed 25 businesses, their employees and customers

By Detective Thomas Smith, Antioch Police Department

In August of 2021, the cities of Antioch, Pittsburg, Concord, Brentwood, Bay Point, and Clayton began experiencing a rash of armed robberies. Over approximately 90 days, an estimated twenty-five robberies occurred throughout the county. The responsible subjects were described as Hispanic males in their late teens or early twenties, with masks covering their faces. It was determined by investigators from each agency that the robberies were related, and they were able to establish several viable leads to identify the responsible parties.

On November 3rd, 2021, an armed robbery occurred in the city of Concord. Investigators from the Concord Police Department notified the other involved agencies, and the suspect vehicle was located and stopped in the city of Bay Point. All three occupants were residents of Pittsburg, CA, and were suspected of being responsible for the series of robberies in Contra Costa County. Evidence of the robbery(ies) was located inside the vehicle, and all three suspects were taken into custody.

Following their apprehension, investigators from the Pittsburg, Antioch and Concord Police Departments served several residential search warrants in the city of Pittsburg. During the searches, evidence linking the suspects to the robberies was located. On Friday, November 5th the cases were presented to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. The District Attorney’s Office reviewed the cases and filed felony charges with enhancements, on 18-year-old Samuel Banales-Melena, 20-year-old Jonathan Medina-Flores, and 18-year-old Rogelio Medina-Flores for their participation in the robberies.

This case was successful due to the collaboration of the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation. This investigation weighed heavily on the implementation and use of technology, to include license plate reading cameras in the City of Antioch and other technological surveillance efforts. The Antioch Police Department would like to thank the Pittsburg Police Department for taking lead on the investigation, as well as the Concord Police Department for their diligent efforts in apprehending the suspects in these cases, bringing a violent crime spree to an end. As always, the investigation is on-going. If you have any information regarding these robberies, please contact the Antioch Police Department at your earliest convenience.

Anonymous tips or information about this – or any other incident – can be sent via text to 274637 (CRIMES) with the keyword ANTIOCH.

Meals on Wheels Diablo Region seeks volunteers to deliver grocery bags to seniors

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Meals on Wheels volunteer Ted Dason. Photo: MOWDR

By Rachel Heggen, Community Relations & Development Specialist, MOWDR

At 66, Dianne never imagined she would depend on others to do her grocery shopping.  Walking is difficult for her, which makes going to the supermarket challenging, and because she lives on a fixed income, she faces yet another obstacle to obtaining healthy food.

“I didn’t plan on my life coming down to this.” says Dianne. “I had a well-paying job, but now, I’m on disability. With the high cost of living nowadays, it’s really been tough.”

In 2020, Meals on Wheels Diablo Region (MOWDR) partnered with the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano to launch the Grocery Bag Program to help seniors like Dianne who face food insecurity. Twice a month, a MOWDR volunteer is able to deliver healthy groceries and fresh produce along with her weekly meals.

“It’s a wonderful program,” says Dianne. “It’s been life-saving.”

The Grocery Bag Program provides food to low-income seniors in Antioch, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Oakley, Pittsburg, Concord, Martinez and Walnut Creek. MOW Diablo Region Grocery Bag Coordinator Casey Claibourne says, “the program currently serves 160 clients, but there are many more people who need the service. The only way we can offer it is to find more volunteers.”

“You can tell most of the seniors are struggling, and from the looks of things, most likely they do not have a lot in their refrigerator,” says Ted Dason, who’s been volunteering since February. “If anyone is considering being a volunteer, I tell them, it’s super rewarding and it literally only takes about two hours every month.”

If you would like to learn more or volunteer for the Meals on Wheels Diablo Region’s Grocery Bag program, contact Casey Claibourne at cclaibourne@mowdr.org.

About

MOW Diablo Region delivers meals to seniors, 60 years or older, who are homebound, not able to drive, unable to prepare food themselves, and do not have a caregiver that prepares their meals. Meals are provided based on need, not on income. Volunteer drivers deliver over 1,000 hot, nutritious meals to homebound seniors every day. Meal deliveries also provide a needed safety-check and is often the only human interaction a senior will have all day.

Jury convicts Pleasant Hill man for aggravated possession of child pornography, attempting to destroy evidence

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Investigation conducted by multi-agency Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force

By Scott Alonzo, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County Office of the District Attorney

On Tuesday October 26, 2021, after a six-day trial, a jury in Contra Costa County found 30-year-old Pleasant Hill resident Won Kwak guilty of aggravated possession of child pornography and attempting to destroy evidence. 

The jury found that on November 24, 2020, Kwak knowingly possessed over 600 images of child sexual abuse material, depicting pre-pubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The jury also found Kwak attempted to destroy evidence on his laptop computer when he deleted thousands of sexually explicit files as officers served a search warrant at his residence.

On November 24, 2020, members of the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force served a search warrant at Kwak’s residence after it was discovered someone at the residence was making child pornography files available for sharing on the internet. When officers knocked on the front door, Kwak looked through the blinds, saw the police officers, and then went to his computer and began deleting files of child pornography. Concord Detective Daren Billington, a digital forensics expert, was able to recover many of those files and demonstrate to the jury exactly what Kwak did to delete them.

Kwak’s sentencing is scheduled for January 7, 2022, in front of the Honorable Joni T. Hiramoto. Kwak faces a maximum penalty of five years in state prison. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Max Laettner with the Interpersonal Violence Division.

This investigation was conducted by the 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, Martinez, Danville, Pleasant Hill, 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.

Parents seeking additional resources can visit www.kidsmartz.org or the website for the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force at www.svicac.org. Reports of illegal activity involving minor victims on the internet should be reported at once to your local police department.

Case information: People v. Kwak, Docket Number 01-195765-3

 

Concord man sentenced to nine years in prison for attempted murder of elderly victim in dog park

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Has history of arrests

By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County Office of the District Attorney

On October 22, Noah M. Harris, born July 23, 1979, was sentenced to nine years in state prison for the attempted murder of a victim at a dog park. Harris used a box cutter to slice the neck of the victim as they were engaged in a verbal dispute. Harris was sentenced by the Honorable Terri Mockler.

On May 27, 2021, Harris threw a rock at the victim’s car as the victim drove in a Concord dog park. Harris was seen blocking the road in the dog park. The victim and Harris exchanged words after the rock was thrown. Harris approached the victim in his Toyota Prius and threatened the victim’s life five times. Harris yelled at the victim, “Do you want to die today?” A witness to the attack said that Harris also tried to spit on the victim.

He was on probation at the time and was arrested by Concord police for 1203.2(A) – Revocation Of Probation, 245(A)(1) – Assault w/Deadly Weapon Or Assault w/Force Likely To Produce GBI,  and 368(B)(1) – Elder Or Dependent Adult Abuse.

In September, a Contra Costa County jury found Harris guilty of five felonies related to this attack, including attempted murder, elder abuse and causing great bodily injury. The case was investigated by the Concord Police Department. Deputy District Attorney Lindsey Williams prosecuted the case on behalf of the People.

Case information: People v. Harris, Docket Number 01-196158-0

According to localcrimenews.com, Harris was also arrested by Concord police in 2015 for 602(L) trespassing, in 2018, also in Concord, for an outstanding warrant and in 2020 by Martinez police for 243(A) battery.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Buchanan Field Airport to simulate and extinguish airplane fire this week

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Photo by Contra Costa County

PLEASE DO NOT CALL 911 RELATED TO THESE LIVE FIRE TRAINING EXERCISES.

Who: Contra Costa County Airport Operations

What: Live fire training exercises for Aircraft Rescue and Firefighter (ARFF) personnel

Where: Buchanan Field Airport, Concord (Westside, near Marsh Drive)

When: Week of October 25th-29th with exercises each day

Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting training helps Airport Operations to prepare for ANY emergency situations that Buchanan Field and the surrounding community may face. It is an annual requirement for ARFF personnel to maintain the Federal Aviation Administration certification for Buchanan Field. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these exercises, please contact Buchanan Field Airport at 844-FLY-ToUs (844-359-8687).

About Buchanan Field Airport:

Buchanan Field Airport is the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Logistic Support Area for rotorcraft in the event of major catastrophic events such as earthquakes or fires in the Bay Area. Buchanan Field Airport is operated and maintained without the use of County General Funds and contributes over $4 million annually back to the County General Fund, local schools, and to other public entities from associated possessory interest and sales tax.

About Contra Costa County Public Works Department:

Contra Costa County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) maintains over 660 miles of roads, 150 miles of streams, channels and other drainage and over 200 County buildings throughout Contra Costa County. CCCPWD provides services such as Parks and Recreation, Sand Bag Distribution and Flood Control throughout unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County. CCCPWD operates two airports, Buchanan Field Airport in Concord and Byron Airport in Byron. For more information about CCCPWD, please visit us here.

 

Walnut Creek man, CEO of East Bay-based internet companies indicted on wire, securities fraud charges

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Alan K. Anderson arrested in connection with alleged scheme to raise money by creating false impression of profitability and sending false contracts to investors; companies market child-friendly services

SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Alan K. Anderson, charging him with wire fraud and securities fraud charges related to a scheme to use materially false and fraudulent pretenses to induce investors to make contributions to three businesses that were marketed as providing child-friendly internet services, announced Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair.  alananderson_indictment USDOJ

The indictment filed October 13, 2021, and unsealed today, describes how Anderson, 59, of Walnut Creek, used misrepresentations to solicit investments for the three businesses.  According to the indictment, Anderson owned and controlled Imbee, Inc., a Delaware corporation based in Walnut Creek marketed as a child-friendly social media platform; Fanlala, a California corporation marketed as a service providing internet-based music streaming for children; and Fruit Punch, a California corporation marketed as providing music-streaming service for children.  The indictment alleges that beginning as early as April of 2010 through May of 2019, Anderson raised money for his companies by making false representations and creating false documents to support his bogus claims.  For example, the indictment alleges Anderson created fraudulent income statements and profit and loss statements and misrepresented the companies’ profitability to investors and potential investors; that Anderson created and altered contracts to represent falsely that one or more of his companies would be acquired by larger companies; and that Anderson created and altered contracts to make fraudulent claims that his companies created partnerships with other existing companies.  In addition, the indictment describes how Anderson emailed an investor to falsely claim Imbee was worth $21.6 million and that the investor owned 70% of the company.

In sum, the indictment charges Anderson with four counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, and one count of securities fraud, in violation of 15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b) & 78ff and 17 C.F.R. 240.10b-5.  Anderson was arrested today in Walnut Creek.  He will make his initial federal court appearance tomorrow at 10:30a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson, in San Francisco.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, each count of wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. The securities fraud charge carries a maximum 20 years of imprisonment and a $5,000,000 fine.  In addition, the court also may order a term of supervised release, fines or other assessments, and restitution, if appropriate.  However, any sentence following conviction would 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.

In addition, in 2019, due to lies and misrepresentations he had made to previous shareholders, Anderson was issued a Desist and Refrain Order from the California Department of Business Oversight, preventing him from selling additional stock in Imbee, Inc. in the state “by means of any written or oral communication which includes untrue statements or omissions of material facts.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christiaan Highsmith and Scott Joiner of the Office’s Corporate and Securities Fraud Section are prosecuting this case with the assistance of Claudia Hyslop, Morgan Byrne and Ralph Banchstubbs.  This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.