Contra Costa Herald

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

Sheriff’s Office investigates shooting death of robbery suspect by store clerk in Bay Point

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Screenshot of surveillance video of store clerk being pistol whipped by robbery suspect at Kam’s Market in Bay Point on Sun., Dec. 22. Source: KTVU Fox 2 News

Seek possible second suspect

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

On Sunday, December 22, 2019, at about 11:04 PM, Muir Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a market on the 200 block of Port Chicago Highway in Bay Point for a report of an assault with a deadly weapon and shooting. (See KTVU news report and store surveillance video – WARNING: contains violence)

Deputies found a clerk inside the store suffering from a head injury. A man was located on the ground near the store at the intersection of Lynbrook Street and Desanie Way. The man suffered from a gunshot wound and was later pronounced deceased at the scene. He is not being identified pending next of kin notification.

Forensic Services Division Crime Lab and Homicide Detectives responded to the scene. Detectives say the man struck the clerk in the head with a gun during a robbery at the market. During the attack, the clerk shot the man. The clerk was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

A second unknown suspect may also be involved.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Stolen vehicle suspect arrested in Lafayette with two firearms found in car

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By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

On Saturday, December 21, 2019, at about 11:51 AM, Contra Costa Deputy Sheriffs located an occupied stolen vehicle traveling westbound on Highway 24 near the Pleasant Hill Road exit in Lafayette.

The vehicle continued on Highway 24 and eventually exited on 12th Street in Oakland.

Deputies followed the vehicle waiting for cover units to arrive. At no time did Deputies pursue the vehicle. A Deputy conducted a traffic enforcement stop in the area of Willow Street and Goss Street in Oakland.

With the assistance of the Oakland Police Department, the driver and passenger were both detained.

A search of the vehicle found two firearms under the possession of the driver, who was identified as 44-year-old Andres Williams of Oakland.

Williams was later booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on charges that include felon in possession of a firearm, stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property, and a parole hold. The passenger, who is not being identified, was released at the scene.

The Contra Costa Deputy Sheriffs involved in this case were part of the additional Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies assigned to both Lafayette and Orinda following recent violent crimes in those cities.

These Deputy Sheriffs are supplementing Lafayette and Orinda Police Departments’ regular patrols. ​Additional security measures have also been stepped up and are ongoing.

Pittsburg man, associate charged with selling fake oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl

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By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California, Department of Justice

SAN FRANCISCO – Jose Ricardo Loza and Randy Lee Walker were charged in a criminal complaint with distributing fentanyl and heroin, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Postal Inspector in Charge Rafael E. Nuñez, United States Postal Inspection Service.

An affidavit filed in the case by an agent of the United States Postal Inspection Service alleges that Loza sold blue counterfeit oxycodone pills that were laced with Fentanyl.  According to the affidavit, Loza sold to a third party 50 Fentanyl-laced pills on August 22, 2019, when at the auto body shop where he works in Pittsburg, Calif.  Loza allegedly did not initially have enough pills to sell, so he texted Walker, who arrived with more Fentanyl-laced pills.  The affidavit alleges that during the transaction, Loza warned the customer to be careful when taking these pills because he (Loza) gave the same pills to a mutual friend who overdosed and died.  According to the affidavit, a laboratory test verified that a sample of the pills Loza sold contained fentanyl.

In addition, the affidavit alleges that on November 22, 2019, Loza sold 500 more counterfeit pills to an undercover officer and then told the officer that he had 10,000 more of the same pills for sale.  Further, the affidavit alleges Loza sold two ounces of heroin on September 10, 2019.

Loza and Walker are charged with distribution of controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C).

Loza and Walker were arrested on December 12, 2019.  At the time of Loza’s arrest, law enforcement agents found more than 2,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills hidden in hollowed out compartments of his furniture.

Defendants Loza and Walker made their initial appearances Friday morning, Dec. 13 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas S. Hixson.  Both defendants currently are in custody.  Walker’s next court appearance was scheduled for Monday, December 16, 2019, for appointment of counsel. Loza’s next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, December 18, 2019, for a hearing to address detention issues.

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison.  A term of supervised release, fines, forfeitures, and restitution also may be ordered, 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.

The complaint contains allegations only and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Weingarten is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Linda Love.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service.

Man shot, killed by masked gunmen inside Pittsburg home Saturday morning

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By Pittsburg Police Department

Early Saturday morning, just after midnight, Pittsburg Officers responded to the report of a shooting at a residence in the 200 block of Havenwood Circle. Upon arrival, officers located a 34-year-old male resident suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso. Officers provided aid to the man until medical personnel arrived. The man, identified by his fiance as Rafael Lopez, later died from his injuries.

Pittsburg Police Department Detectives and Crime Scene Personnel responded to the residence to conduct the investigation. From initial information, officers learned that two masked gunmen entered the residence and engaged in an altercation with the man and other people inside the residence. During this, the two suspects shot the victim and fled the residence in a gray or silver import sedan. Investigators are working to confirm information the man and the suspects knew each other, and this incident was the result of a disagreement that had occurred.

Detectives are currently contacting witnesses and obtaining additional statements. Additional information is not available at this time.

The Pittsburg Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance and asks anyone with additional information to please contact the Pittsburg Police Department Tip-Line at 925-252-4040.

This is the city’s seventh murder in 2019.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Pleasant Hill man arrested for possession, production of child pornography

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Daniel Joseph Feliciano. Photo by CCDA.

By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa District Attorney

On Tuesday December 10, 2019, 29-year-old Pleasant Hill resident Daniel Joseph Feliciano was arrested for possession and production of child pornography.

On December 11, 2019, acting on a tip from an electronic communication service provider, investigators executed a search warrant in the 100 block of Burns Court in Pleasant Hill and seized numerous electronic devices containing images of children under the age 18 engaged in sexual activity.

Feliciano was arrested for possession and production of child pornography, as well as committing lewd acts with a child under 13. Feliciano was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility and his bail was set at $500,000.

A formal charging decision will be made by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

The charges are a result of an investigation by Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is managed by the San Jose Police Department. In Contra Costa County, detectives and investigators from the Walnut Creek, Concord and Moraga Police Departments, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Contra Costa County Probation Department and Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office participate in the task force along with Special Agents from the United States Department of Homeland Security and the United States Secret Service.

Parents are encouraged to discuss online safety with their children and can visit the website www.kidsmartz.org for further information. If you believe your school or community organization would benefit from a smartphone and social media awareness presentation, please contact the District Attorney’s Office at DA-Commentary-Feedback@contracostada.org.

Anyone with information can contact Senior Inspector Darryl Holcombe at 925-957-8757.

Martinez, San Ramon residents sentenced to prison for selling fraudulent financial instruments

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Defendants ordered to pay restitution to victims

By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California, Department of Justice

OAKLAND – Sharon Ringgenberg was sentenced to 15 months in prison for her role in a scheme to commit wire fraud, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett, and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter.  In addition to the prison term, Ringgenberg was ordered to pay restitution totaling $705,000 to victims of the scheme.  The sentence was handed down by the Hon. Jon S. Tigar, U.S. District Judge on December 6, 2019.

Ringgenberg, 70, of Martinez, Calif., pleaded guilty to the charge on August 10, 2018. According to her plea agreement, Ringgenberg conspired with codefendants Craig Scott, 53, of Oakland, and Kenneth Taylor, 57, of San Ramon, to commit wire fraud.  In her plea agreement, Ringgenberg admitted that from November 2008 through May 2012, she and Taylor sold fraudulent standby letters of credit and proof of funds statements to clients of a company called Success Bullion USA, LLC (“Success Bullion”).  These financial instruments were fraudulent because they reported false client creditworthiness and client balances that exceeded Success Bullion’s assets.  Success Bullion falsely purported to be a subsidiary of a large Hong Kong financial institution.  Ringgenberg acted as an officer of Success Bullion and signed and provided false documents on behalf of the company.  Success Bullion used brokers, including co-defendant Scott, to find clients.

A federal grand jury indicted Taylor, Ringgenberg, and Scott on April 13, 2017, charging them with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, two counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, and two counts of subscribing to a false tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1).

In addition to the prison term and restitution, Judge Tigar ordered Ringgenberg to serve a three-year period of supervised release and forfeit $295,000 in additional proceeds that she received from the scheme.

Scott pleaded guilty to his part in the scheme on August 12, 2018.  In his plea agreement, Scott admitted that from 2009 to May 2012, he was a broker for Success Bullion.  Scott solicited customers and acted as a broker for fraudulent standby letters of credit and proof of funds statements sold by Success Bullion. Judge Tigar sentenced him on December 6, 2019, to five years of probation with a year of home confinement and ordered him to pay restitution of $527,575 to victims of the scheme, to forfeit $20,000 in additional proceeds he received from the scheme, and not to sell securities as part of his term of probation.

Similarly, Taylor, pleaded guilty to his part in the scheme on March 1, 2019.  Judge Tigar sentenced him on October 18, 2019, to 36 months of prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to him to forfeit $3,436,002 and to pay $1,100,774 to the Internal Revenue Service and $90,000 to a victim of the fraud scheme.  Before handing down the three-year sentence against Taylor, Judge Jon S. Tigar found that “Mr. Taylor enriched himself greatly, and he did so out of greed [. . . t]hat’s all,” and that “[t]his was a sophisticated, day-in-day-out fraud scheme that lasted for many years.”

Assistant United States Attorney Colin Sampson and Tax Division Trial Attorney Charles A. O’Reilly are prosecuting the case.  This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation.

Two more suspects from Fairfield, Vallejo arrested in Lafayette, Oakland, Benicia home invasion robberies

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Joseph Wells, Adama Diop, Immanuel Wells and Mayaebone Tanyao were arrested for the home invasion robberies. Photos by Lafayette PD

The Lafayette Police Department announces that two additional suspects have been arrested in connection with home invasion robberies that occurred in Lafayette, Oakland and Benicia. (See related articles here, here and here).

In all, four suspects were booked into the Martinez Detention Facility (MDF):

-22-year-old Joseph Wells of Fairfield. He was booked on charges that include burglary, kidnapping, kidnapping for ransom, false imprisonment, robbery, vehicle theft and conspiracy. He is being held in lieu of $1.5 million bail.

-20-year-old Adama Diop of Fairfield. He was booked on charges that include burglary, kidnapping, kidnapping for ransom, false imprisonment, robbery, vehicle theft and conspiracy. He is being held in lieu of $1.5 million bail.

-24-year-old Immanuel Wells of Vallejo. He was booked on possessing stolen property and conspiracy charges. He is being held in lieu of $40,000 bail.

-21-year-old Mayaebone Tanyao of Fairfield. She was booked on child endangerment, possession of stolen property and conspiracy charges. She is being held in lieu of $140,000 bail.

The four suspects are currently in custody at MDF. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on the Lafayette cases is asked to contact the Lafayette Police Department at (925) 283-3680 or (925) 299-3234. For any tips, email: 94549TIP@gmail.com or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Coroner’s Jury finds death of Walnut Creek man was “At the hands of another person”

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Killed during shooting by police in June

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announced that a Coroner’s Jury reached a finding in the June 2, 2019 death of 23-year-old Miles Anthony Hall of Walnut Creek, following a shooting by police. The finding of the jury is that the death is at the hands of another person, other than by accident. (See related article)

The Coroner’s Jury yesterday reached the 11-0 verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matthew Guichard.

A Coroner’s Inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in fatal incidents involving police officers, is a public hearing, during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding: Accident, Suicide, Natural Causes, or At the hands of another person, other than by accident.

Former Con Fire Battalion Chief charged with 12 felonies for falsifying payroll records, misappropriation of taxpayer monies

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By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office

Earlier this week the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed criminal charges against former Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) Battalion Chief Louis Manzo Jr. of Danville. Con Fire worked closely with our Office on the investigation and the filing of 12 felonies against Manzo. Con Fire reported the initial allegations to our Office earlier this year.

“Public employees must always be held to a higher standard as stewards of taxpayer dollars. Further, employees in positions of trust and management must conduct themselves in an honorable manner. Manzo took advantage of his knowledge of Con Fire’s internal system to fraudulently mispresent his hours and time off requests, in two separate fraud schemes,” said Deputy District Attorney Dodie Katague. DDA Katague is with our Office’s Consumer Protection Unit within the Special Operations Division.

During the course of one scheme, Manzo would take vacation days but then later change his timecard record to claim special pay for an extra assignment outside of his normal course of duties. When Manzo took a vacation day, Con Fire needed to cover that shift for public safety purposes. Manzo would also list events for his special assignment that he did not attend or did not happen on the days he said they did. He then would go back and not claim vacation time to ensure his bank of vacation hours remained unaffected in relation to his pension.

The second scheme Manzo employed was to claim overtime pay for out-of-office work events he said he attended. A review was conducted of his GPS logs on his assigned work vehicle. The investigation determined that Manzo did not attend these events or was never near the event location.

In total, the loss to Con Fire is $46,000 in direct salary payments and $19,000 in costs incurred to cover shifts while Manzo was out of the office or claiming to be on special assignment.

Manzo faces up to nine years in state prison. Defendant is also subject to Government Code 7522.72 regarding the forfeiture of his pension and his pension will have to be recalculated without the fraudulent vacation days.

Case information: People v. Louis Manzo Jr., Docket Number 01-192362-2

Operation Omega Red ends with 15 gang members and associates sentenced to over 165 years in state prison

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Crimes solved by Concord Police, FBI include Highway 4 shooting murders in 2015 and 2016

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

Operation Omega Red, put together by Concord Police Department, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and all of our partner agencies, resulted in the arrest and successful prosecution of 15 gang members and their associates.

Since the arrests took place in August of 2016, the cases against the Norteño gang members and their associates have resulted in 15 individuals being convicted of felony offenses, most of those being serious or violent strike felonies. The most dangerous individuals, such as Thomas “Lil T” Leon and Armando “Mando” Amaro, received 35-year sentences in prison each. Other violent offenders such as Jesse “Manos” Loyola were sentenced to 25 years in prison. In all, over 165 years of custody time resulted from the Omega Red prosecutions.

“We focused our efforts on the violence drivers – the individuals who were committing the most serious acts of violence and putting the community in the greatest danger,” said Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton. These violence drivers include Thomas “Lil T” Leon, Armando “Mando” Amaro and Jesse “Manos” Loyola.

Today, the last two defendants in the Omega Red case, Jesse “Manos” Loyola and Armando “Mando” Amaro pleaded no contest to attempted murder with firearm use and committing the crimes for the benefit of the Norteño gang.

Between July of 2015 and June of 2016, there were 11 shootings between Norteños and Sureños in the Central and Eastern parts of Contra Costa County. Seven of these shootings resulted in homicides. Four of those murders occurred on Highway 4, two occurred in Concord and one took place in Bay Point. Concord Police and other law enforcement agencies believed these shootings were related to an ongoing gang war between Norteños and Sureños in the Central and Eastern parts of Contra Costa County.

In mid-May of 2016, the Concord Police Department, in conjunction with the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and their Law Enforcement partners began a strategic investigation targeting the most violent Norteño gang members suspected of participating in the shootings. The investigation lasted just under three months. It resulted in the arrest of over twenty individuals; eighteen of these individuals were later prosecuted for crimes ranging from conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, drug sales, witness retaliation and firearms crimes.

From the date of the initial arrests in this case in August of 2016, there has been one murder on Highway 4, which was not gang related, and there has only been one gang related murder in the City of Concord.

“This drastic reduction from seven gang driven homicides in under one year to only one in the last three years is a testament to the effectiveness of this kind of targeted law enforcement action and the power of police partnerships across the county,” asserted Concord Police Chief Guy Swanger.