Contra Costa Herald

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

UPDATE: It was a prank – Danville resident receives fraudulent COVID-19 Sheriff’s Dep’t violation letter

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

Tuesday, April 21, 2020 UPDATE: Further investigation of this incident by the Danville Police Department has determined that the COVID-19 notice was put on the door by a member of the household as a prank.

ORIGINAL POST: The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff would like to call your attention to a phony “cease and desist” letter that appears to have originated from the Sheriff’s Office.

A Danville resident on Lakefield Ct. notified the Danville Police Department that she found the warning letter on her door this morning. The letter is titled, ‘Notice to Cease and Desist for Specific Activity.’ The letter mentioned the reason was ‘non-essential construction activity,’ a reference to activities (or businesses) that are not allowed during the Health Officer order to shelter at home because of COVID-19. The letter included a Sheriff’s Office badge and warned of civil penalties for violations.

The Sheriff’s Office has not issued any such letters. Anyone who receives one should ignore it and notify the Office of the Sheriff at (925) 646-2441.

The Danville Police Department is looking into this fake letter. Any resident who might have received a similar letter or has any information is asked to contact Sergeant S. Stapleton of Danville PD at (925) 314-3700.

 

Danville Update: Operation LOVE today and tomorrow, Farmers Market re-opens April 11

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From Town of Danville

After being suspended in March due to the Shelter in Place Order, the Danville Farmers Market will be returning this Saturday, April 11, 2020 at the Railroad Avenue Parking Lot.

The Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association (PCFMA) and the Town of Danville have worked to create guidelines under which the farmers market could return to provide residents with fresh fruits and vegetables.  These guidelines include:

  1. Limitations on the number of vendors and booths with plenty of space in between
  2. No non-essential vendors or activities. This would include entertainment, hot food, and community booths (including the Town Council booth)
  3. No self-serve or sampling allowed
  4. A hand-washing station will be supplied at the information booth
  5. Restrooms will not be operational
  6. Customers may not touch any sale item prior to purchase
  7. Producers may not touch customers’ reusable bags
  8. Unpackaged food and cash may not be handled by the same person
  9. Customers are asked to wear masks, adhere to social distancing and follow any other regulations posted at the Farmers Market

Operation LOVE Friday & Saturday

On April 10 & 11, 2020 residents can bring needed medical supplies to the Village Theatre & Art Gallery, 233 Front Street as part of Operation LOVE. The donation drive will run from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and residents will be able to drive up and drop items off.  A volunteer wearing safety attire will take the donation. Operation LOVE seeks to help out frontline medical workers in need of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  Items being sought are: 1.  Masks; 2.  Goggles; 3.  Disinfectant wipes; 4.  Gloves; 5.  Gowns; 6.  Hand Sanitizers; 7.  Brown lunch bags (nurses store their masks in them)

SRVUSD Schools Closed for Rest of the Year

As a result of the coronavirus and the ongoing shelter order, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District has elected to suspend school through the remainder of the school year.  All school-related special events are cancelled. For more information on this closure, go to https://www.srvusd.net/coronavirus

Maintaining Good Social Distancing

One of the common concerns expressed to us has to do with children and teenagers not maintaining good social distancing and getting together in large groups in the parks, on the trails and in parking lots.  The shelter in place order prohibits group gatherings outside of the family unit (this includes sports practices, training, or social gatherings), and requires individuals to maintain the six-foot social distance. These guidelines are in place to help limit the spread of the coronavirus and help to flatten the curve.  Parents are asked to speak to their children about this serious issue and try to get everyone to work together to curb the spread.

Motorcyclist dies in I-680 crash in Danville Sunday night

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By CHP – Contra Costa

This evening at approximately 8:11pm, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a collision involving a downed motorcyclist on northbound I-680 just north of El Cerro Blvd in Danville. Upon emergency personnel and CHP arrival, the male rider (unknown identity at this time) of a red 2004 Honda CBR motorcycle was unfortunately declared deceased at the scene.

Another vehicle that may have struck the rider after he was down on the roadway remained on scene and that party was fully cooperative throughout the investigation. Additional possible witnesses also remained on scene to aid in the investigation.

A sigalert was issued shortly after the collision shutting down all lanes of I-680 northbound but the center median and number one lane opened shortly thereafter to allow traffic to continue northbound while the investigation took place. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the deceased male rider of the motorcycle.

This incident is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez at (925) 646-4980. Thank you.

Fatal big rig crash on I-680 in Alamo takes life of Oakland man Saturday morning

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By CHP – Contra Costa

This morning, Sat., March 7, 2020 at about 5:59 am, Contra Costa CHP was advised of a vehicle collision involving a big rig at I-680 southbound, just south of Stone Valley Road. Upon emergency personnel and CHP arrival, the solo male driver of the big rig (64-year-old male from Oakland) had been ejected and was declared deceased at the scene. A prior non-injury collision was in the roadway just before the Freightliner big rig crashed. The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office will be handling the release of identity of the male driver.

It appears that the big rig driver was unable to avoid the collision that was just ahead of him. He veered his big rig to the left in an attempt to avoid the previous crash, towards the concrete center divider, but subsequently crashed into the concrete barrier. It appears that the driver was not wearing his seatbelt because he was ejected onto the roadway. Unfortunately, the driver did not survive and was declared deceased at the scene. No other drivers were injured.

This incident is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed this collision or the events leading up to it, please contact Contra Costa CHP in Martinez at (925) 646-4980. Thank you.

Fairfield woman arrested for Alamo bank robbery Tuesday

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Linked to two other robberies in Pleasant Hill and Martinez

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

On Tuesday, January 21, 2020, at about 11:07 AM, Valley Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to the Union Bank on the 3100 block of Danville Boulevard in Alamo for a reported bank robbery. A woman apparently fled with some cash after threatening a bank teller.

Deputy Sheriffs, assisted by the Danville Police Department, immediately launched an investigation. The Crime Lab responded to the location.

During the investigation, 37-year-old Chelsea Michelle Smith of Fairfield, was identified as the suspect. Sheriff’s Office Detectives determined she was in the City of Fairfield and notified the Fairfield Police Department, which detained her.

Detectives later responded to Fairfield and arrested Smith who was then booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on a first degree robbery charge. She was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. Smith has since bailed out.

Smith appears to be linked to two other robbery incidents that occurred in Contra Costa yesterday. One was in Pleasant Hill and the other was in Martinez.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Unit at (925) 313-2600. Tips could be emailed to: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Navy recognizes sailor from Alamo as a Recruiter of the Year

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SAN ANTONIO – (Dec. 12, 2019) Lt. Jeffrey Underwood (center), of Alamo, Calif., assigned to Navy Recruiting District (NRD) San Antonio was recognized as the NRD’s Active Officer Recruiter of the Year during an annual awards banquet held at the Embassy Suites Landmark. Presenting the awards were (left to right) NRD Command Master Chief Francisco Valdovinos, NRD Commanding Officer Cmdr. Nicholas Gamiz, NRD Chief Recruiter Master Chief Navy Counselor Matthew Maduemesi, and NRD Executive Officer Cmdr. Michael Files. For his meritorious service, Underwood was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. NRD’s area of responsibility includes more than 34 Navy Recruiting Stations and Navy Officer Recruiting Stations spread throughout 144,000 square miles of Central and South Texas territory. (U.S. Navy Photo by Burrell Parmer, Navy Recruiting District San Antonio/Released)

Rep. DeSaulnier moves Saturday’s “Women in Leadership, Politics, Society” Town Hall to larger venue in Danville

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Rep. Mark DeSaulnier

Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) announced that due to overwhelming interest in this week’s “Women in Leadership, Politics, and Society” town hall in Danville, the location has been moved to a larger venue in order to accommodate all attendees. The town hall will now be held at Charlotte Wood Middle School on Saturday, November 2nd at 1:00 p.m.

At the town hall, Congressman DeSaulnier will be joined by a panel of local leaders who will explore the most pressing issues facing women today, like achieving gender and economic equity in the workplace and society, overcoming barriers to women’s health care, and increasing the representation of women in government.

“Women in Leadership, Politics, and Society” Town Hall
Saturday, November 2nd, 2019
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
New Location: Charlotte Wood Middle School
600 El Capitan Dr., Danville,

Doors open at 12:30 p.m.

This event is open to the public, press, and photographers.

To confirm your attendance, please RSVP online at https://desaulnier.house.gov/town-hall-rsvp or call (925) 933-2660. To request ADA accommodations or for more information, contact one of Congressman DeSaulnier’s offices in either Walnut Creek or Richmond.

Coroner’s Inquest Jury finds death of San Ramon man in Martinez jail was an accident

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Karthik Kandaswamy from his LinkedIn account.

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

Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announces that a Coroner’s Jury has reached a finding in the November 4, 2018 death of 26-year-old Karthik Kandaswamy of San Ramon. The finding of the jury is that the death is an accident.

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

Kandaswamy was arrested by San Ramon Police for battery and resisting arrest on Saturday, Nov. 3. He ingested drugs after being booked into the jail and following efforts by sheriff’s deputies and jail medical personnel, was unresponsive and died early in the morning of Nov. 4

According to his LinkedIn account, he was a 2012 graduate of Dougherty Valley High School and earned a degree in computer science and engineering in 2015 from Santa Clara University.

A Coroner’s Inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in all 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.

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.

San Ramon native, Cal High grad exemplifies “We Build, We Fight” legacy of U.S. Navy Seabees

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Constructionman Apprentice Sara Harris, U.S. Navy Seabees. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Bradley Gee

By Alvin Plexico, Navy Office of Community Outreach

GULFPORT, Ms. – “We Build, We Fight” has been the motto of the U. S. Navy’s Construction Force, known as the “Seabees,” for more than 75 years. Constructionman Apprentice Sara Harris, a 2017 California High School graduate and native of San Ramon, California, builds and fights around the world as a member of naval construction battalion center located in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Harris is serving as a Navy builder, who is responsible for building and repairing wood structures, working with masonry and concrete, and installing interior finish work.

Harris credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned growing up in San Ramon.

“Growing up San Ramon, I learned how to build things from my dad,” said Harris.

Building in austere environments can be a challenge. Fighting in harsh conditions can also be a challenge. Building in austere environments while fighting in harsh conditions takes a special kind of person with a great deal of perseverance and determination. These are the kinds of people serving here at Gulfport, the home of the Atlantic Fleet Seabees. These are the people who provide crucial support to Seabee units deployed around the world.

The jobs of many of today’s Seabees remained unchanged since World War II, when the Seabees paved the 10,000-mile road to victory for the allies in the Pacific and in Europe, according to Lara Godbille, director of the U. S. Navy Seabee Museum.

For more than 75 years Seabees have served in all American conflicts. They have also supported humanitarian efforts using their construction skills to help communities around the world. They aid following earthquakes, hurricanes and other natural disasters.

Harris is playing an important part in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.

A key element of the Navy the Nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, according to Navy officials, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.

“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”

Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community and career, Harris is most proud of graduating boot camp.

“It’s the most important accomplishment I’ve had so far,” said Harris.

As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Harris and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.

“It’s exciting to start this career,” added Harris. “I’m having a lot of fun!”