Contra Costa Herald

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

Pittsburg woman guilty of embezzlement of nearly $250,000, identity theft from local employers

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

Yesterday, Sept. 5, 2019, 44-year-old Pittsburg resident Jenelle Renee Silva was convicted by a Contra Costa County jury of six felonies, including the embezzlement of $247,456.08 from her former employer Bay Area Washout Systems located in Pittsburg. In addition, the jury found Ms. Silva committed the aggravated, white collar crime enhancements of two or more felonies involving a loss of over $100,000.

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office previously prosecuted Ms. Silva for embezzling $80,000 from the insurance company where she worked before Bay Area Washout Systems. Accordingly, she had a prior felony conviction in 2011 for embezzlement at the time of her conduct in this case.

In approximately 2012, Bay Area Washout Systems elevated Jenelle Silva to office manager and she obtained access to the company’s books and records, including the accounting software known as Quickbooks. One of her job duties included printing checks for the partners of the company to sign.

From 2012 through January 2017, she printed additional checks written out in her own name. She traced the managing partner’s signature onto those checks and then deposited them. She also used a company credit card to pay her daughter’s phone bill.

The evidence showed that the defendant tried to delete any evidence of her crimes by removing the records for the checks from Quickbooks entirely or changing the entries to make the checks look like legitimate business expenses. A forensic accountant determined that Silva spent the stolen funds on personal expenses such as groceries, gasoline, Starbucks, and movies.

Silva also was charged with the identity theft of both Bay Area Washout Systems and Thomas Koebel, General Manager for the company, and used it “to obtain, and attempt to obtain credit, goods, services, real property, and medical information” without his consent, according to the charging document, which can be viewed, here: Indictment Silva December 2018  An effort to reach Koebel for comment was unsuccessful prior to publication.

Deputy District Attorney Jeremy Seymour of the Special Operations Division prosecuted the case on behalf of the People. Sentencing is set for October 18 at 1:30 p.m. before the Honorable Judge Castellanos. Jenelle Silva faces up to five years in state prison for this conduct.

Case information: People v. Jenelle Silva, Docket Number 05-182401-0

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Bay Area’s largest home health care agency and San Ramon woman among 28 health care industry workers charged in Medicare patients-for-cash kickback scheme

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Amity Home Health and CEO, 13 doctors among those charged in alleged multi-million dollar scheme to receive referrals

SAN FRANCISCO – Federal complaints have been filed against 30 defendants charged in a patients-for-cash kickback scheme, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson,  Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett, and Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG), Steven J. Ryan.

The complaints, unsealed this morning, describe a wide-ranging patients-for-kickback scheme.  At the center of the scheme are Amity Home Health Care, the largest home health care provider in the San Francisco Bay Area, and Advent Care, Inc., a provider of hospice care.  According to the complaints, all the defendants participated in the scheme whereby Amity, under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Ridhima “Amanda” Singh, paid kickbacks to marketers, doctors, and other medical professionals in exchange for the certification or referral of patients for home health or hospice services.  Also charged are 28 people including doctors, nurses, marketers, a social worker, and additional employees of Amity. According to the complaints, every single defendant charged was recorded by law enforcement officers either offering, accepting, or approving illegal payments for patient referrals. Advent Care Inc. Complaint  CEO Singh Complaint

Caroline Prescott. From her LinkedIn profile.

Caroline Prescott, age 53, of San Ramon, is listed as Marketing Director and the only one from Contra Costa County charged in the alleged scheme. On her LinkedIn profile Prescott lists her position as Director of Sales and Marketing for Landmark Villa, Senior Residential & Assisted Living in Hayward, CA.

Title 42, United States Code, Section 1320a-7b, makes it a crime for any person to knowingly solicit, offer, or pay a kickback, bribe, or rebate for furnishing services under a Federal health care program.  Because many of the patients were insured by Medicare, a taxpayer-funded insurance plan, the referral of patients through the kickback scheme violated the statute.

“The complaints allege a scheme for doctors, nurses, and other medical care professionals to trade patients for cash,” said U.S. Attorney Anderson.  “This is the largest cash-for-patients scheme ever charged criminally in the Northern District of California.”

“The transition to a home health agency should be based on medical and personal needs – not cash payments or thinly disguised referral bribes as alleged in these cases,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan.  “We will continue working with law enforcement partners to guard these vital government health programs as patients and taxpayers deserve better.”

The criminal complaints describe how Amity and some of its employees bribed individuals associated with hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and doctors’ offices to induce those individuals to send patients to Amity and Advent.  Amity and the other defendants often disguised the kickbacks as payroll, phony medical directorships, and, at other times, as “entertainment,” reimbursements,” “gifts”, or “donations.”  Further, several of the defendants are doctors and other health care professionals who allegedly received bribes in exchange for making referrals to Amity and Advent and other home health agencies so that the companies could provide and bill for services.  In the case of Amity, Singh and her employees allegedly compensated these professionals in cash for each patient referral and for making introductions to physicians, case managers, or other health care professionals who could refer patients.

In addition, some of the defendants are described as “marketers.” Marketers received from Amity and others, cash and gifts, such as tickets to Warriors games, in exchange for patient referrals.  Marketers had clients that consisted of case managers at hospitals, social workers at skilled nursing facilities, doctors, and office staff at doctors’ offices.  Singh allegedly instructed marketers to take clients out to elaborate meals, sporting events, and purchase gifts for individuals willing to provide Amity with patients, mainly Medicare patients.  When patient referrals were slow, Singh allegedly directed the marketer to incentivize clients with gifts in an effort to induce them to refer more patients to Amity.

In sum, the following individuals and companies have been changed in the scheme:

Defendant Role Age/Residence Case Number
AMITY HEALTH CARE Home Health Care Provider 19-71440
ADVENT CARE, INC. Hospice Care Provider 19-71459
SINGH, AMANDA CEO of Amity 33, Livermore 19-71430
ADDISON, BRENDA Amity employee 49, Oakland 19-71431
BHANDARI, BHUPINDER Doctor 59, Pleasanton 19-71441
DEGUZMAN, MERVINA Nurse/Case Manager 41, San Jose 19-71447
HICKS, KIMBERLY Doctor 59, Oakland 19-71451
KABANSKAYA, YELENA Doctor 39, San Jose 19-71452
MYINT, GERALD Doctor 68, Union City 19-71448
NGUYEN, TAM Doctor 44, San Jose 19-71453
POSADA, JUAN Doctor 58, Cupertino 19-71449
SCZENDZINA, EWELINA Marketer 42, Gilroy 19-71434
TAYLOR, SCOTT Doctor 61, Oakland 19-71455
WATSON, HENRY Doctor 63, Oakland 19-71423
ZHANG, ZHENG Doctor 62, Saratoga 19-71457
SANTOS, GLENNDA Marketer 47, Castro Valley 19-71433
MANCUSO, APRIL Doctor 38, Los Gatos 19-71445
REYNOLDS, KERISIMASI Doctor 37, Los Gatos 19-71446
CARIAGA, CATHERINE Nurse/Case Manager 31, Fremont 19-71458
TIRONA, TERENCE Nurse/Case Manager 33, Hayward 19-71454
DEL ROSARIO, SAL Case Manager 44, San Jose 19-71456
GAY, ANDRE NICOLAS Doctor 39, Union City 19-71460
HASAN, MARIAM Doctor 37, Milpitas 19-71450
ROY, BELINDA Nurse/Case Manager 59, Fremont 19-71443
SUNO, NICOLE Marketer 38, San Leandro 19-71421
TEODORO, STELLA Nurse/Case Manager 37, Union City 19-71444
TACORDA, HILDA Marketer 40, Hayward 19-71432
PINA, REBECCA Marketer 38, Redwood City 19-71442
SINGH, VINEETA Social Worker 42, Hayward 19-71422
PRESCOTT, CAROLINE Marketing Director 53, San Ramon 19-71420

 

Each defendant is charged with illegally influencing patient referrals for federally funded health care through payments, in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(b)(2)(A).  In addition, Singh is charged with lying to investigators, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001, and tampering with witnesses in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b)(3).

The complaints merely allege that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum $500,000 fine.  The corporations are subject to a $1,000,000 for each violation.  In addition, Singh faces a maximum statutory penalty of 5 years and a $250,000 fine for the § 1001 charge and a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years and a $250,000 fine for the § 1512 charge.  In addition, the court also may order an additional 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.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office of the U.S. Attorney, Northern District of California’s new Corporate Fraud Strike Force and is the result of an investigation by the FBI and HHS-OIG.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

German national charged with traveling to U.S. to engage in illicit sexual conduct with Brentwood minor

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OAKLAND – Adam Soboll has been charged with traveling to the United States with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Tatum King.  Soboll was arrested in Brentwood, Calif., on August 25, 2019, and charged by complaint on August 28, 2019.

According to the complaint, Soboll, 31, of Germany, identified himself as a fifth grade teacher in Germany.  The complaint alleges Soboll met the then-14-year-old minor online in October 2018, and communicated with the minor from Germany using Snapchat and online gaming platforms, as well as over other messaging applications.

In January 2019, Soboll began discussing the possibility of visiting the minor in Brentwood, Calif.  Soboll and the minor discussed where he should stay in the area and the various forms of sexual conduct in which they would engage when he arrived.

On July 31, 2019, Soboll traveled from Europe to the United States.  Soboll stayed at a hotel in Brentwood, California and engaged in sexual conduct with the minor at the hotel.  On August 25, 2019, police responded to the hotel following a report from the minor’s mother and arrested Soboll.

Soboll is charged with traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(b).

A complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants, including Soboll, are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum statutory sentence of 30 years.  Further, additional terms of supervised release, fines, and restitution 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.

Defendant made an initial federal court appearance this morning before the Honorable Donna M. Ryu, U.S. Magistrate Judge.  Magistrate Judge Ryu ordered the defendant detained pending further proceedings.  His next court appearance is scheduled for September 4, 2019, before the Honorable Kandis A. Westmore, U.S. Magistrate Judge, for a detention hearing.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha Schott.  The case is being investigated by HSI, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, and the Brentwood Police Department.

Orinda man indicted by federal grand jury in $2.7 million scam against bank

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Alan Safahi. Photo from his LinkedIn profile.

Alan Safahi charged in connection with alleged bank and wire fraud scheme

SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury indicted Alan Safahi on charges related to an alleged bank fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter.

Safahi. June 1, 2013 photo from his Facebook page.

The indictment alleges that between June 2013 and September 2014, Safahi, 58, of Orinda, Calif., fraudulently entered into an agreement with a bank by which the bank was to be a backer for prepaid charge cards.  According to the agreement, Safahi’s company, Card Express, would issue and service the charge cards.  Further, the agreement required Card Express to fund 100% of the value of the cards and to turn over to the bank the total amount that the cards were supposed to be worth.  Instead of complying with the agreement, Safahi allegedly directed the employees of Card Express to maintain two sets of books.  One set of books maintained by Card Express was accessible to the cardholders and accurately reported the total amount for which the prepaid charge card was purchased, as well as the balance after any purchases.  The second set of books, however, was provided to the bank and fraudulently stated that the amount the cardholder spent on the day the card was used was the total value of the prepaid card.  Thus, Safahi caused the bank to believe the sponsored cards had much lower balances overall than they actually did have.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Safahi is also CEO and founder of ZED Network, a financial services company based in Ontario, Canada. An online search shows Card Express was based in Irvine, CA and was listed as a government contractor. A call to the company number was unsuccessful because it is disconnected.

The indictment further alleges Safahi fraudulently diverted funds that should have been turned over to the bank, i.e., the difference between the value of the cards and the amount Card Express reported to the bank was prepaid for the cards.  Safahi allegedly used some of the diverted funds to fund Card Express.  Safahi allegedly used other diverted funds to maintain his personal lifestyle, including by purchasing his home.  According to the indictment, on or about September 24, 2014, Safahi no longer was able to maintain sufficient cash flow to conceal his fraud and reported the true overall balance of the prepaid charge cards to the bank.  After reporting the true balance of the cards to the bank, Safahi promptly shut down Card Express, causing the bank and its customers to lose money.  According to the indictment, the overall balance of the charge cards Safahi reported to the banks on September 24, 2014, was approximately $2,735,531.27 larger than previously reported.

In sum, the indictment charges Safahi with bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344, four counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, and one count of money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957.  Safahi made his initial appearance today and was released on a $250,000 bond.  The defendant was ordered to appear on September 13, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. before the Honorable Susan Illston for a status and trial setting conference.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum $1,000,000 fine on each count of bank and wire fraud.  If convicted of money laundering, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.  In addition, the court also may order an additional 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.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert David Rees is prosecuting this case with the assistance of Kathy Tat.  This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service. Criminal Investigations.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Brentwood police arrest San Francisco man for attempting to force female into prostitution

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By Brentwood Police Department

Thanks to a collaborative effort between officers and detectives, Kevin Winans (30-year-old San Francisco resident) was taken into custody on pandering charges. On Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, Winans was arrested in Brentwood after attempting to coerce a female into prostitution. At the time of arrest, Winans drove his vehicle from the Bay Area to pick up the female in Brentwood. Inside Winans vehicle, detectives located an amount of supporting evidence. Winans remains in county jail on pandering and obstruction charges.

Fortunately, in this case, officers and detectives were able to make an arrest before someone became a victim of sex trafficking.

For more information on the National Human Trafficking Hotline, Child Sex Trafficking or Sextortion please visit:

https://humantraffickinghotline.org/

http://www.missingkids.com/theissues/trafficking

http://www.missingkids.com/theissues/sextortion

Walnut Creek man indicted by Contra Costa Grand Jury for child porn possession

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William Cashell arrest photo. Courtesy of Johnson County, KS Sheriff.

William “Will” Cashell. Photo from his Facebook page.

Martinez, Calif. – Yesterday, Tues., August 27, 2019, a grand jury indictment was unsealed against defendant William Cashell, a 44-year-old resident of Walnut Creek, California and Johnson County, Kansas. He was indicted for two counts of possession of child pornography.

Cashell appeared in Martinez, California for an arraignment in Department 263 before the Honorable David Flynn. Cashell pleaded not guilty to the charges alleged in the indictment. Cashell remains out of custody on his own recognizance. Deputy District Attorney Scott Prosser is the prosecutor assigned to the case on behalf of the People. DDA Prosser is with our Sexual Assault Unit.

On May 2, 2019, investigators from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force served a warrant at Cashell’s residence after it was discovered he was storing child pornography in his e-mail account. Investigators also located child pornography on a smartphone belonging to Cashell. Cashell was initially charged in a criminal complaint on June 11, 2019 and remained at large until July 20, 2019 when was arrested in Johnson County, Kansas and extradited back to Contra Costa County.

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.

Case information: People v. Cashell Docket Number 05-191603-0

Concord man found guilty of first degree residential burglary

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

Last week, defendant Curtis Hill, a 59-year-old Concord resident, was convicted, by a Contra Costa County jury, of first degree residential burglary. On August 16, 2019, the jury returned findings that the Defendant had been convicted of three prior strike offenses – two prior residential robberies and a residential burglary. In his prior residential robbery conviction, he committed great bodily injury on a person over the age of 60.

The charges stem from the evening of August 3, 2018, when Hill entered the victim’s Concord home. He selected jewelry from a bedroom in the home and then fled the scene. Later that same evening, he was arrested by the Concord Police Department.

Hill has a long history of theft, violence, and disorderly conduct in the downtown Concord area. His behavior has made him a longstanding nuisance and danger to the residents of Concord and law enforcement in the area.

This conviction constitutes a third strike for the defendant. He is next in court on September 27, 2019, to set a sentencing before Judge Christopher Bowen.

Deputy District Attorney Chris Sansoe prosecuted the case on behalf of the People. DDA Sansoe is assigned to our Office’s Victims of Violent Crime Unit. The trial lasted 14 days in Department 40 before Judge Bowen.

Case information: People v. Curtis Lee Hill, Docket Number 05-181909-3

Walnut Creek man sentenced to over two years in prison for mail theft conspiracy targeting San Francisco apartment complex

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Tyler Goforth with his girlfriend and co-defendant, Jesslyn Felix in a photo posted on his Facebook page Oct. 3, 2017.

Girlfriend and co-defendant who also pleaded guilty, to be sentenced in September

By United States Attorneys Office, Northern District of California

Tyler Goforth was sentenced to 27 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution for his role in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud stemming from a mail theft scheme, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and United States Postal Inspection Service Inspector in Charge Rafael Nuñez.  The Honorable Maxine M. Chesney, U.S. District Judge, handed down the sentence.

Goforth, 35, of Walnut Creek, Calif., pleaded guilty to the charge on May 29, 2019.  According to his plea agreement, Goforth admitted that he and his co-defendant, Jesslyn Felix, 35, also of Walnut Creek, traveled repeatedly to the Beacon Apartment Complex, a large apartment building in San Francisco, to steal mail from Beacon residents.  The defendants visited the Beacon more than a dozen times between August 2017 and February 2018.  Goforth and Felix entered one of the mailrooms at the Beacon, forced open mailboxes, and then stole mail.  They then used personal information and documents found in the stolen mail to steal money from Beacon residents, which they spent for personal gain.  Specifically, Goforth and Felix activated credit and debit cards in the victims’ names, stole checks and gift cards, accessed bank accounts belonging to Beacon residents, and stole photo identifications which they then used to carry out their scheme to steal money.  In total, Goforth and Felix stole mail from more than 80 residents of the Beacon and stole more than $40,000 from them.

A federal grand jury indicted Goforth and Felix on January 15, 2019.  The 14-count indictment charged each defendant with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349; five counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1343; six counts of theft of mail, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1708; one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1028A; and one count of possession with intent to use or transfer five or more documents or authentication features, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1028(a)(3).  Goforth and Felix both pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge on May 29, 2019.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Chesney ordered Goforth to serve a three-year period of supervised release to begin at the completion of the prison term.  Goforth has been in custody since May 6, 2019.

Judge Chesney scheduled Felix’s sentencing for September 18, 2019.  Like Goforth, if Felix complies with the plea agreement, the remaining counts pending against her will be dismissed at sentencing.

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

County’s CASE Team arrests Rodeo man on drug, gun charges following investigation

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Drugs, cash and gun seized by the county’s CASE Team. Photo by CCCSheriff.

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

Earlier this month, the CASE Team started an investigation into a person who allegedly possessed a handgun through an illegal transfer. The CASE Team later obtained a search warrant for the suspect and his home.

On August 16, 2019, the CASE Team executed the search warrant at a residence on the 300 block of California Street in Rodeo. The suspect was detained and later arrested without incident at this home. He is identified as 32-year-old James Runkle of Rodeo. The following were recovered at his residence: 9mm semi-automatic pistol, approximately two pounds of methamphetamine, approximately three pounds of marijuana, heroin and U.S. currency.

Runkle was later booked at the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges: illegal transfer of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance while armed, possession of methamphetamine for sales, possession of heroin for sales, possession of marijuana for sales, and child endangerment. Runkle remains in custody in lieu of $385,000 bail. The investigation will be forwarded to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

CASE (Contra Costa County Anti-Violence Support Effort) is a joint effort by the Office of the Sheriff, California Department of Justice, California Highway Patrol, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Pittsburg Police Department, and Probation Officers from the Contra Costa County Probation Department. CASE was created in November 2011 as a collaborative effort to reduce violent crimes in Contra Costa, especially those related to illegal firearms.

Concord man sentenced to 70 years to life in prison for molesting girl

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

Last Friday, Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Lewis Davis sentenced defendant John Benny Gomez of Concord to 70 years to life in state prison. Last year, a jury found defendant Gomez guilty of nine felonies, including the molestation of a female victim, Jane Doe, under the age of 10.

The criminal conduct by Gomez also included forcible oral copulation against Jane Doe and showing the victim pornographic images on his phone. The District Attorney’s Office does not disclose the age or victim’s name in a sexual assault case to protect the confidentiality of the victim.

The criminal conduct occurred in January 2018 at a residence in Concord. The defendant was in a position of trust with the victim. He committed the attack in a remote location at the residence and used force multiple times against Jane Doe. Fortunately, a mandated reporter at the victim’s school conveyed the attack to authorities, which promoted a criminal investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Diana Weiss with the Office’s Sexual Assault Unit. Concord Police Department was the lead law enforcement agency during the investigation. The trial lasted 24 days in June and July of 2018.

“The victim in this case is an innocent young girl. She did not ask for this. She was incredibly brave during this entire process. The defendant continues to this very day to not show any remorse or admit any responsibility for the horrific crimes he committed. I also want to express my deep appreciation for the jury in this case. The jurors heard ample evidence that the defendant was the sole person responsible for his criminal conduct,” said DDA Weiss.

Case information: People v. John Benny Gomez, Docket Number 05-180331-1