Contra Costa Herald

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

Alamo: Livorna Road Shoulder Widening Project construction begins Monday, July 15

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Livorna Road Shoulder Widening project Work Area Map. Source: CCC Public Works Dept

By Kelly Kalfsbeek, Community & Media Relations Coordinator, PIO, Contra Costa County Public Works Department

Alamo, CA – Contra Costa County Public Works will begin construction of the Livorna Road Shoulder Widening Project on Monday, July 15, 2024, and continue through Friday, August 2, 2024, barring unforeseen circumstances. Work will take place between 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, weather permitting. The work consists of roadway shoulder widening along a 200-foot segment of Livorna Road between Douglas Court and Paseo De Sol.

Traffic control will be used. Message boards will alert drivers about the work. Drivers should expect delays of up to 10 minutes through the construction zone and consider alternative routes during working hours.

Funding for this project is provided by a local Transportation Development Act grant and Gas Tax Funds. For more information visit: https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/9876/Livorna-Road-Shoulder-Widening

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 150 County buildings throughout Contra Costa County. CCCPWD provides services such as Parks and Recreation, Sandbag 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 at: www.cccpublicworks.org

27 Contra Costa seniors receive National Merit Scholarships

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6 awarded corporate-sponsored scholarships

14 awarded $2,500 scholarships

7 awarded college-sponsored scholarships

26 from 4 high schools and one home-schooled student

By Contra Costa County Office of Education

A total of 27 students from Contra Costa County have been named recipients of National Merit Scholarships in the 69th annual program funded by corporations, U.S. colleges and universities, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced. These distinguished students are from Campolindo High School in Moraga, Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon, Miramonte High School in Orinda and Monte Vista High School in Danville. One winner was homeschooled.

Corporate-Sponsored Scholarship Winners

Celebrating academic excellence, six seniors from four Contra Costa County high schools have been recognized as winners in the scholarship program. These students are among about 770 distinguished high school seniors nationwide announced in the first National Merit Scholars group for 2024.

“These six high school seniors stand out for their exceptional academic achievements and well-rounded accomplishments,” Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said. “Their dedication and hard work, supported by the encouragement of their families, have earned them this distinguished honor. I also want to thank the teachers and support staff whose commitment and guidance nurtured the talents of these high achieving students.”

Sponsored by corporations, company foundations and other business organizations, these scholarships are designed to assist students who are either children of employees, residents of communities served by the company/funder, or are pursuing college majors and careers that align with the sponsor’s objectives.

Scholarship winners were chosen from a group of students who had reached the Finalist level in the National Merit Scholarship competition and met the criteria established by their scholarship sponsors. Most of the awards are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study and offer annual stipends ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, or a single payment between $2,500 and $5,000.

High school juniors entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, marking the beginning of their journey towards this prestigious recognition. In September 2023, 114 Contra Costa County students were honored as National Merit Semifinalists, representing the highest-scoring program entrants in California, and comprising less than one percent of the nation’s seniors.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CORPORATE-SPONSORED NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Campolindo High School

  • Laurel K. Tringe

Dougherty Valley High School

  • Ansh Maroo
  • Elaine Peng
  • Neal Y. Yan

Miramonte High School

  • Alexander Poe Battersby

Monte Vista High School

  • Alan Fang

$2,500 Scholarship Winners

Fourteen Contra Costa County high school seniors were among 2,500 students named National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®).

“Congratulations to these 14 amazing students who have illustrated the exceptional academic standards in this county,” Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said. “The students, their families and their school communities should be proud of this accomplishment.”

National Merit $2,500 Scholarship winners are the Finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.

These scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the Finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®); contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the Finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY $2,500 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Campolindo High School

  • Christopher W. Seo
  • Naina Srivastava
  • Yu Xin Wang

Dougherty Valley High School

  • Nidhi Gaonkar
  • Shirin Kaur Grewal
  • Anna E. Lau
  • Taneesh V. Matharasi
  • Ananya Pinnamaneni

Miramonte High School

  • Cameron Corbin Berg
  • Nicole Y. Guo

Mont Vista High School

  • Sheldon U. Tan
  • Adithya Ramesh
  • Hannah Abigail Yang

Homeschool

  • Benjamin G. Klieger

College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarships

The National Merit Scholarships provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the sponsoring institution. 149 higher education institutions are underwriting these awards through the National Merit Scholarship Program.

“Thank you to the school communities and families who supported and challenged these students to achieve this accomplishment,” Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey said. “We are proud of these scholars for representing our County as National Merit Scholarship winners. These scholarships are highly competitive and require far more than just high-test scores. Your hard work has paid off, and we wish you the best as you embark on your college journeys.”

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY COLLEGE-SPONSORED NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

The Contra Costa County students who have been awarded College-Sponsored Merit Scholarships are:

Monte Vista High School

  • Owen Chen – National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship
  • Alice Jiang – National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship
  • Emily M. Kalin – National Merit Purdue University Scholarship

Dougherty Valley High School

  • Prerita Babarjung – National Merit University of Texas at Dallas Scholarship
  • Dhruv Harinath – National Merit Claremont McKenna College Scholarship
  • Vaishnavi Kolluru – National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship
  • John Park – National Merit University of Southern California Scholarship

Each award recipient submitted a detailed scholarship application, including an essay and information on extracurricular activities, awards, and leadership roles. Their SAT or ACT scores were also considered, alongside academic records and recommendations from high school officials.

Of over 15,000 scholarship Finalists nationwide, about half will become Merit Scholarship winners in 2024.

Scholarship recipients represent less than one percent of the nation’s seniors and are among the highest-scoring program entrants from each state. According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, awardees possess the strongest combination of academic skills, extracurricular achievements, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. During the 2024 competition, more than 6,870 academic champions will be selected for National Merit Scholarships, totaling about $26 million.

Merit Scholars are selected based on their academic skills, extracurricular achievements, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. More information about the National Merit Scholarship program can be found online at https://www.nationalmerit.org/.

According to The National Merit Scholarship Corporation, by the conclusion of this year’s competition, over 6,870 Finalists will receive National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million. More winners of college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship awards will be announced on July 15.

About Contra Costa County Office of Education

One of 58 counties in California, Contra Costa County (CCCOE) has the 11th largest public-school student population in the state (approximately 169,225 students). Officially established in 1932, CCCOE has a long history of providing direct services to some of our county’s most vulnerable students, including young people who are incarcerated, homeless, or in foster care, as well as students who have severe physical or emotional challenges.

CCCOE also provides support services to schools and school districts in Contra Costa County; services that can be handled most effectively and economically on a regional basis rather than by each of the county’s 286 schools or 18 school districts. These services range from budget approval and fiscal support to technology infrastructure, communication support, and high-level professional development opportunities for educators. CCCOE maintains a website at www.cocoschools.org.

Paving work for Alamo Roundabout Project June 20 – July 17

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Alamo Roundabout Project Location map. Source: CCC Public Works

Expect up to 15-minute traffic delays

Part of the Danville Boulevard/Orchard Court Complete Streets Improvement Project

By Kelly Kalfsbeek, Community & Media Relations Coordinator, PIO, Contra Costa County Public Works

Alamo, CA – Contra Costa County Public Works will perform surface treatment work as part of the Alamo Roundabout Project starting Thursday, June 20, 2024, through Wednesday, July 17, 2024, weather permitting. Message Boards will be posted in advance to advise of the scheduled work. Drivers should expect delays of up to 15 minutes near the area of work. Work consists of applying a pavement surface treatment and final roadway striping along Danville Blvd. from Stone Valley Road to St. Alphonsus Way.

Thursday, June 20, 2024, through Friday, June 28, 2024, 8:00 pm to 6:00 am: Night-time work will include pavement surface treatment work. One-way traffic control will be implemented, and flaggers will be present.

Monday, July 8, 2024, through Wednesday, July 17, 2024, 8:00 pm to 6:00 am: Night-time work will take place for roadway striping operations. One-way traffic control will be implemented, and flaggers will be present.

The Danville Boulevard/Orchard Court Complete Streets Improvement Project-Alamo Roundabout Project will improve safety of vehicles, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic along Danville Boulevard. The project will construct sidewalks and bicycle facilities, improve landscaping and electrical work, reconstruct pavement, apply a pavement surface treatment, replace traffic striping and pavement markings, and install curb extensions and ramps along this segment of Danville Boulevard. It will also create a roundabout at the intersection of Danville Boulevard and Orchard Court. Funding for this project is provided by the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program grant, Measure J Regional Funds, and Gas Tax Funds. For more project information about this project visit: www.contracosta.ca.gov/alamoroundabout.

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 150 County buildings throughout Contra Costa County. CCCPWD provides services such as Parks and Recreation, Sandbag 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 at www.cccpublicworks.org.

San Ramon Valley school district opens 2nd annual 30 Under 30 Alumni Recognition nominations

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District seeks to highlight exemplary young alumni

By Ilana Israel Samuels, Director of Communications, Family and Community Engagement, San Ramon Unified School District

The San Ramon Unified School District, in partnership with the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation, is pleased to announce the second annual 30 Under 30 Alumni Recognition Campaign. Nominations are now open to highlight SRVUSD graduates who are 30 years old or younger and have made a positive impact in our community and beyond.

The 30 Under 30 Alumni Recognition Program will recognize SRVUSD alumni who:

  • Graduated from a school or program in SRVUSD
  • Are currently 30 years old or younger (in 2024)
  • Are thriving in their endeavors since graduating from SRVUSD in one or more of the following ways:
  1. They have made a significant impact on or contribution to the San Ramon Valley community; and/or
  2. They have achieved their college and/or career goals; and/or
  3. They have accomplished something else significant or impactful along their pathway since graduating.

Anyone can nominate alumni by filling out the 30 Under 30 application and submitting it by August 19, 2024. The winners will be announced in fall 2024, and honored and celebrated in a variety of ways. Winners from the 30 Under 30 honorees in 2023 can be viewed on the district’s 30 Under 30 web page and in the video.

Any questions from the community can be sent to communications@srvusd.net.

About San Ramon Valley Unified School District: Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) is one of the highest-achieving school districts in California. With approximately 29,000 students, the district encompasses the communities of Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, and a small portion of Walnut Creek and Pleasanton.

SRVUSD has been recognized at state and national levels with many awards and achievements. The district is designated by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, as a Learning 2025 Lighthouse District because it serves as a model of positive change in public education and is committed to the whole child. Based on a foundation of academic excellence, SRVUSD’s work is guided by the district’s Strategic Directions, and broadening the definition of success so all students can thrive. The district maintains graduation rates above 96%. The Learner Profile outlines the competencies the district aspires for students to possess upon graduation, preparing students to be Critical Thinkers, Creative Contributors, Intentional Collaborators, Adaptable Learners, and Effective Communicators.

About the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation (SRVEF): The San Ramon Valley Education Foundation invests in education, supports parent organizations, and engages our community for the benefit of and in partnership with SRVUSD. The vision of the Major Gifts and Endowment Fund of the SRVEF is to provide a stable, local funding source that will enable the San Ramon Valley Unified School District to undertake long term and innovative educational programs to enhance the curriculum. Over the past years distributions from the Endowment Fund have helped fund significant programs that directly impact SRVUSD students. Learn more at www.srvef.org.

 

Ilana Israel Samuels  

She/Her/Hers

Director of Communications, Family and Community Engagement

 

San Ramon Valley school district recognizes employees, volunteers for support of special needs students

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Source: SRVUSD

SRVUSD reinforces commitment to fostering partnerships of families of students with exceptional abilities to ensure every student thrives. 

By Ilana Israel Samuels, Director of Communications, Family and Community Engagement, San Ramon Valley Unified School District

Danville, CA – San Ramon Valley Unified School District believes that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, regardless of their abilities or challenges.

SRVUSD is a single-district Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) and operates a continuum of special education programs to meet the needs of students from birth to age 22. The SELPA has a Community Advisory Committee (CAC), with a purpose to improve and promote communication between schools, parents/caregivers, and public agencies to increase community awareness, facilitate parent education and support, and coordinate activities on behalf of children with exceptional needs. Annually, the CAC puts on the Bright Lights award program to recognize staff, students, and community members who go above and beyond (list of winners is below).

SRVUSD is unwavering in its commitment to fostering an inclusive educational environment that embraces students with disabilities, ensuring they have equitable opportunities to thrive. By implementing comprehensive support systems, individualized learning plans, and accessible resources, the district strives to meet the diverse needs of every student.

“It is imperative that students with exceptional abilities have access to and receive an inclusive education experience,” said Dr. John Malloy, Superintendent, San Ramon Valley Unified School District. “Our special education programs and services are part of our Strategic Directions at SRVUSD and were created to foster empathy, understanding, and respect for diversity, and prepare all students for success.”

Bright Lights is an awards program established by San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s SELPA’s Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that celebrates this commitment to inclusive practices by recognizing staff, students, and community members who go above and beyond in support of our students with special needs. We were thrilled to celebrate these outstanding 2023-24 Bright Light Award winners on May 14, 2024, at a reception and at the Board of Education meeting:

Stephanie Huff– School Psychologist, Counseling Enriched Program at Monte Vista High

Stephanie Berman– Behavior Analyst, multiple sites

Kelly Crotti– Teacher, Walt Disney Elementary

Jenna Tooliatos– Resource Specialist, Los Cerros Middle School

Sushma Rathi– Teacher, Montair Elementary

Sarah Sanchez– Teacher, Infant Program at Hidden Hills Elementary

Simran Badwal– Teacher, San Ramon Valley High School

Angie Kojreka– Administrator

Ollie Frieson– Student Volunteer

Neil Chandran– Student and Community Partner

About San Ramon Valley Unified School District: Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) is one of the highest-achieving school districts in California. With approximately 29,000 students, the district encompasses the communities of Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, and a small portion of Walnut Creek and Pleasanton.

SRVUSD has been recognized at state and national levels with many awards and achievements. The district is designated by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, as a Learning 2025 Lighthouse District because it serves as a model of positive change in public education and is committed to the whole child. Based on a foundation of academic excellence, SRVUSD’s work is guided by the district’s Strategic Directions, and broadening the definition of success so all students can thrive. The district maintains graduation rates above 96%. The Learner Profile outlines the competencies the district aspires for students to possess upon graduation, preparing students to be Critical Thinkers, Creative Contributors, Intentional Collaborators, Adaptable Learners, and Effective Communicators.

 

 

South Gate Road to Mt. Diablo closed weekdays for 5 weeks starting May 28

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Source: CA State Parks

ROAD CLOSURE STARTS TUESDAY for construction of new bike turnouts

By CA State Parks

Starting Tuesday, May 28 South Gate Road will be closed weekdays to all traffic including cars, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Each week for approximately five weeks, the road will be closed from Monday 8 a.m. through Friday 2 p.m. It will be open weekends.

All trails and fire roads will remain open, and visitors who walk or cycle to the park will be able to access Summit Trail at the South Gate Entrance.

During the road closure period, camping at Live Oak Campground, and the Buckeye, Wildcat, and Barbecue Terrace Group Camps will only be available Friday and Saturday nights.

This closure is for the construction of additional bike turnout lanes to enhance road safety. This latest phase of the project was made possible by fundraising coordinated by our partner organization California State Parks Foundation.

Yellow circle indicates South Gate Road entrance. Map source: CA State Parks

There are three other entrances to Mount Diablo State Park: Mitchell Canyon Road, North Gate Road and Green Valley Road (Macedo Ranch). Please check under Brochures/Campground Map for more details. There is no vehicle access to the Summit from Macedo Ranch or Mitchell Canyon.

Thank you for your cooperation during this temporary closure.

For more information about Mt. Diablo click, here.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Over 100 San Ramon Valley school district students receive county, state recognition at Science & Engineering Fair competitions 

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Dougherty Valley High School student Gatik Trivedi won first place at the state Science & Engineering Fair for his entry entitled NeuroGuardian. Photo: SRVUSD

Four Dougherty Valley High students win amidst 900 entries at state competition.

By Ilana Israel Samuels, Director of Communications, Family and Community Engagement, San Ramon Valley Unified School District

Danville, CA (May 9, 2024) – More than 65 high school students and 40 middle school students recently placed or received special awards at the 2024 Contra Costa County Science & Engineering Fair, including students from Diablo Vista, Gale Ranch, Iron Horse, Los Cerros and Windemere Ranch Middle Schools; and from California, Dougherty Valley and Monte Vista High Schools. Students submitted projects in the categories of Behavioral Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Environmental, Math and Computer Science, or Physical Sciences.

The students prepared for the science fairs in part by meeting with coaches to work on their research experiments and craft presentations. The students were excited to participate and represent their schools at this annual fair.

Each year, 18 successful projects are selected by the judges to represent the Contra Costa County Science & Engineering fair at the state-level competition – the California Science and Engineering Fair.  This year, 11 of the 18 projects moved forward for this special honor were submitted by SRVUSD students, who competed against 900 other entries during the event on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

Four San Ramon Valley Unified School District students from Dougherty Valley High School won big at the California Science & Engineering Fair this year. They each placed 1st or 2nd in their respective categories:

Gatik Trivedi, 1st place, NeuroGuardian: A Multimodal Telemedical Neurodegenerative Monitoring System with Self-learning Predictive Analytics for Late-Stage Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Patients, Computational Systems Medical

Yizhou (Michael) Wang and Yifan (Frank) Shi, 1st place, Development of a Biodegradable Hybrid Inspired Paper Battery Powered by Carbon-Black with Origami Designs Applicable for Biomedical Smart Systems, Chemistry

Vaishnavi Kolluru, 2nd place, Breastmilk: Nature’s Vaccine Against COVID-19, Mammalian Biology

“I am pleased to recognize our students for their outstanding accomplishments at the California Science and Engineering Fair,” said Dr. John Malloy, Superintendent, San Ramon Valley Unified School District. “Their dedication, creativity, and passion for their research projects showcase the depth of talent and potential we have within our educational community. I look forward to their future contributions to science and research. I also thank all of the educators who supported our students through these achievements.”

The California Science & Engineering Fair is the final science fair of the academic year for students throughout the State of California in grades 6-12, serving California’s future scientists and engineers since 1952. The fair is hosted by the California Science and Engineering Foundation.

SRVUSD partners with Bay Area LEEDS to ensure students have access to the tremendous resources the organization provides for the region’s youth to prepare them for a future in STEM careers. In an email, Bay Area LEEDS Executive Administrator, Janice Fujii, and CEO April Treece, noted that this was an outstanding achievement and that our students “worked very hard to excel in their field of study.”

San Ramon Valley Unified School District congratulates all of its participating students for their remarkable science fair achievements and excellence in research.

About Bay Area LEEDS: Bay Area LEEDS helps prepare the region’s youth for tomorrow’s STEM careers with relevant industry tools and skill sets, strengthening the workforce pipeline. We collaborate with business and educators to excite students about pursuing purposeful post-secondary pathways aligned with high-wage, high-skill, high-demand jobs in the global economy. The organization improves STEM education in regional communities by providing STEM teachers professional development, and providing students with meaningful and engaging STEM learning opportunities, while involving current STEM professionals in educating the next generation of STEM leaders and creators. Linking Education & Economic Development Strategies Bay Area LEEDS is one of the few business/education intermediaries in the Bay Area that brings long-term talent development solutions to workforce shortages by engaging STEM career pathway educators (K-16) and employers who have high-demand, difficult-to-fill STEM jobs. Through innovative programming, we develop, plan and execute industry- supported approaches that build a more diverse, inclusive and equitable talent base, assuring economic vitality in our local communities.

About San Ramon Valley Unified School District: Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) is one of the highest-achieving school districts in California. With approximately 29,000 students, the district encompasses the communities of Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, and a small portion of Walnut Creek and Pleasanton.

SRVUSD has been recognized at state and national levels with many awards and achievements. The district is designated by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, as a Learning 2025 Lighthouse District because it serves as a model of positive change in public education and is committed to the whole child. Based on a foundation of academic excellence, SRVUSD’s work is guided by the district’s Strategic Directions, and broadening the definition of success so all students can thrive. The district maintains graduation rates above 96%. The Learner Profile outlines the competencies the district aspires for students to possess upon graduation, preparing students to be Critical Thinkers, Creative Contributors, Intentional Collaborators, Adaptable Learners, and Effective Communicators.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Danville today and tomorrow, May 4 & 5

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By Town of Danville

Can’t decide where to go for Cinco de Mayo? Visit Downtown Danville for restaurants, shops, and fun along Hartz Avenue. There is plenty of free parking along the street or in our municipal lots, which also make for great rideshare pickup/dropoff locations! We’ve been making improvements Downtown, so come check it out while enjoying live music and food specials at our local restaurants. And celebrate the end of National Small Business Week by stopping in one of our many charming shops along your Cinco de Mayo stroll.

#NationalSmallBusinessWeek #livelocallydanville #shopsmall #dinelocal #cincodemayo

Alamo doctor sentenced to prison for distributing opioids outside scope of medical practice

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Photo: CDC

Female defendant pleaded guilty to distributing Norco without a legitimate medical purpose; operated under the name “Mindful Medical”

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

OAKLAND – Parto Karimi, a former Bay Area doctor, has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for distributing powerful opioids outside the scope of medical practice, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), San Francisco Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark. The sentence was handed down on March 15, 2024, by the Hon. Jon S. Tigar, United States District Judge.

Karimi, 59, of Alamo, California, pleaded guilty in July 2023 to one count of distributing hydrocodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, outside the scope of professional practice, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, Karimi practiced medicine from an accessory dwelling unit on the grounds of her suburban home from roughly 2011 to 2022. Her practice operated under the name “Mindful Medical.” Karimi was a licensed practitioner of internal medicine who had previously worked as an emergency room doctor at an East Bay hospital and was authorized to prescribe controlled substances as part of her medical practice.

According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, the DEA began investigating Karimi after receiving concerning information from the family of one of Karimi’s former patients, who had passed away. The investigation included multiple visits by undercover agents to Karimi’s medical practice. During one, on October 1, 2021, an undercover agent asked Karimi for 10mg Norco tablets based on a claim of leg pain resulting from work as a restaurant server. Karimi admitted in her plea agreement that she wrote the undercover agent a prescription for 60 high-dose Norco pills without conducting a physical examination, without asking follow-up questions about the undercover’s reported pain, without obtaining medical records, and without exploring alternative treatment options or trying a lower dose. Karimi admitted that, in doing so, she knew she was acting in an unauthorized manner by prescribing a controlled substance outside the usual course of medical practice. She also admitted she knew the drug she prescribed was a powerful opioid that can be highly addictive and is liable to abuse by patients.

The government argued in its papers that Karimi wrote medical prescriptions for opioids like Norco in exchange for street drugs including cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as cash payments.

In addition to sentencing Karimi to prison, Judge Tigar ordered the defendant to serve three years of supervised release to begin after her prison term is completed. Judge Tigar also ordered the defendant to forfeit her California medical license and to pay a $4,000 fine.

Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Pastor is prosecuting the case with assistance from Laurie Worthen. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by DEA, with assistance from the United States Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and the California Department of Justice Division of Medical Fraud and Elder Abuse.

Former Contra Costa Fire District Battalion Chief admits to felony grand theft

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Louis Manzo, Jr. Source: LinkedIn

Faced 9 years in prison, given 30 days in Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program, 1 year probation

Total loss to district: $65,000

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office secured a felony grand theft conviction against a former battalion chief with the Contra Costa Fire Protection District as part of a negotiated disposition.

58-year-old Louis Manzo, Jr. of Danville was initially charged by the District Attorney’s Office in 2019 with felony crimes related to the misappropriation of public funds that occurred between 2014-2019. Moreover, Manzo, Jr. committed theft of Contra Costa Fire Protection District funds by falsifying information on timekeeping records, paid time off requests, and then redirecting public funds for his personal use. The Fire Protection District lost over 46-thousand dollars in fraudulent salary payments. (See related article)

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.

Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton said: “Acts of public corruption erode the integrity of our institutions that are here to serve our communities. The resolution in this case ensures that the misappropriated funds are returned to the Fire District.”

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Steven Bolen, who said that Manzo, Jr. pled no contest to one count of felony grand theft [PC 487(a)]. He’s been ordered by the court to serve 30 days of custody time through the Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program, one year of court probation, 30 hours of community service, must pay restitution and fines, cannot have any contact with Fire District employees, and is ordered to stay away from all official Fire District locations.

Manzo, Jr. also must comply with searches and seizures of records and other materials related to his finances. In addition to the court-ordered penalties, Manzo Jr.’s felony plea will also affect his county pension benefits under Government Code section 7522.72.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Manzo, Jr. started as a Firefighter in 1990 and had “30 years in fire safety and response, moving through the ranks from Firefighter through Battalion Chief. Manage up to seven stations, overseeing budgets up to $20 million, and leading up to 60 personnel, effectively supporting daily operations, emergency events, and apparatus shops.”

As Battalion Chief, Manzo, Jr. “Managed seven fire stations leading and supporting nine Fire Captains, overseeing up to 60 personnel and a budget of up to $20 million. Oversaw training, development, and education of personnel, driving improvements and building collaborative teams.”

Case No. 01-192362-2 | The People of the State of California v. Manzo, Louis Jr.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.