Los Angeles White Collar Crime 2Posted on: April 1, 2010 at 6:16 p.m.When a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney represents someone charged with a Los Angeles White Collar Crime, it usually involves intensive paperwork, accounting and serious investigation. When choosing a lawyer to represent you for Los Angeles White Collar Crime accusations, finding an attorney who uses the best investigators and sophisticated defense techniques is absolutely necessary. One recent example of a Los Angeles White Collar Crime involves a doctor, who is also an ordained minister, pleading not guilty for failing to report more than $1 million of income. The woman claimed that an herbal product she sold was a cure for cancer and operated a medical clinic in the San Fernando Valley. She was arraigned for tax evasion, wire fraud, mail fraud, witness tampering and criminal forfeiture charges. She failed to report almost $1.3 million and other crimes. If this woman is found guilty of this Los Angeles White Collar Crime and the related charges, she faces over 100 years in federal prison and fines of over $2 million. The woman’s Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney claims that she never claimed the herb would cure cancer and was simply trying to give cancer patients and increased level of energy. A Los Angeles White Collar Crime, such as fraud, embezzlement, RICO, extortion, etc., carries with it heavy penalties. When the federal government investigates an individual for tax evasion, it will spare no expense to make sure it has gotten every dime it is owed. In such an instance, an accused individual truly needs a highly skilled Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney who can provide top-notch defense to all charges. Prosecutors know they can make a name for themselves by prosecuting someone for a Los Angeles White Collar Crime, so an equally motivated defense lawyer is probably the best way to go. If you or someone you know has been charged with a Los Angeles White Collar Crime, you need the skilled criminal defense lawyers at Kestenbaum Eisner & Gorin, LLP. With over 50 years of combined experience, our skilled team will analyze every financial document, hire the best investigators and make sure to craft an effective white collar defense. Call us today at 877-781-1570 for your initial consultation on any arrest, charges filed or accusations regarding Los Angeles White Collar Crime. Tagged as: los angeles white collar defense attorney Los Angeles White Collar Crime CasePosted on: March 15, 2010 at 10:49 p.m.An attorney, two chiropractors and a paralegal administrator pleaded not guilty to charges that they took part in a large-scale auto insurance fraud ring. The group is accused of defrauding 19 insurance companies by filing false claims for staged accidents, with the loss estimated at nearly $550,000. The case stems from an investigation dubbed "Operation Big Fish," in which 63 people have been charged and 27 have already pleaded guilty or no contest, according to prosecutors. Los Angeles White Collar Crime Attorney teams are seeing a rise in white collar charges since the state and federal government are taking a closer look at the financials of different companies. Accounting fraud, embezzlement, insurance fraud and other white collar crimes are coming to the forefront as the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office audits the financial records of professionals throughout the city. The crime is not reserved for bankers or CEO's, in fact, this recent White Collar criminal ring was not on a major financial scale. However, the penalties for a Los Angeles White Collar crime is significant. If convicted of a white collar crime, you could face years in prison, heavy fines, elimination from certain associations, loss of professional license and much more. However, with a skilled lawyer working for you, any owner, executive or professional can avoid a majority of the penalties associated with these crimes. At Kestenbuam, Eisner & Gorin, our skilled team is highly skilled in all major areas of white collar crime. As former criminal prosecutors with the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office, we know how the prosecution will use their tactics to put you behind bars. Our knowledge of the law, experience with accounting laws and overall legal skill will help us to craft the best defense possible for your particular case. We will fight on your behalf to help you stay out of prison, free from fines and off probation. Tagged as: los angeles white collar defense attorney Two Former San Bernardino County Officials Accused Of San Bernardino White Collar CrimePosted on: February 14, 2010 at 2:01 a.m.Bill Postumus, the former San Bernardino County Supervisor, and James Erwin, the county’s former assistant assessor were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of accepting bribes for a multi-million settlement. This is the second time that the two former county officials have been arrested in connection with a political corruption probe. They are accused of accepting bribes to push for a $102 million settlement between the county and a developer, according to state and county prosecutors. Prosecutors contend that Postmus accepted $100,000 from the developer for his vote in support of the settlement. According to them, the money was funneled through two political action committees that he secretly controlled. Postmus then allegedly transferred $50,000 from one of the committees into his campaign account, using some of the funds for personal meals and entertainment. According to the complaint, Colonies gave Erwin $100,000, which was deposited into a political action committee he allegedly controlled as well. In addition to money, Erwin is accused of accepting gifts such as a private jet trip to New York, prostitutes and a watch. He was earlier charged with perjury for allegedly failing to report those gifts after he was appointed assistant assessor in 2007. If convicted on all the new charges, Erwin faces up to 12 years in prison and Postmus faces up to eight. Both men are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday and both are expected to plead not guilty. White collar crimes are often times kept in the dark, but people are accused of them all the time. This incident has had its fair share of media attention, but there are many other cases that go unnoticed by the general public. Often times, people are wrongfully accused of San Bernardino white collar crimes and it can have devastating effects on their careers and lives. A San Bernardino white collar crime accusation can significantly tarnish a politician or businessperson’s image and track record. In order to protect your track record, credibility and rights, you should immediately contact San Bernardino white collar defense attorney team at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin. We are one of the top rated defense attorney teams in the country and will work diligently to protect the different aspects of life that a white collar crime can affect. Tagged as: los angeles bribery, los angeles white collar defense attorney Los Angeles White Collar Crime DefensePosted on: January 16, 2010 at 12:14 a.m.The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced on Monday that it has charged Beverly Hills, California-based NewPoint Financial Services, Inc. and its co-owners and controller for conducting an unregistered offering fraud aimed at Iranian-Americans in the Los Angeles area. The SEC obtained an emergency court order to freeze their assets and preserve remaining funds that were collected from investors. The SEC also seeks preliminary and permanent injunctions and civil penalties against the defendants. The SEC’s complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that NewPoint, co-owners John Farahi and Gissou Rastegar Farahi, and its controller Elaheh Amouei targeted investors in the Iranian-American community by touting New Point on a daily finance radio program that John Farahi hosts on a Farsi language radio station in the Los Angeles area. The SEC alleges that the Farahis or Amouei misled more than 100 investors into purchasing more than $20 million worth of debentures that they falsely told them were low-risk. Many investors also were falsely told that they were investing in FDIC-insured certificates of deposit, government bonds, or corporate bonds issued by companies. The SEC alleges that most of the money raised was instead transferred to accounts controlled by the Farahis to, among other things, fund construction of their multi-million dollar personal residence in Beverly Hills. According to the SEC allegations, Farahi and Amouei also made further misrepresentations to investors in an effort to lull them into keeping their money with NewPoint, saying that their money is safe and that they are guaranteed to get the entirety of their investment back. A hearing on whether a preliminary injunction should be issued against the defendants and whether a permanent receiver should be appointed is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. A white collar crime is defined as an illegal act(s) using deceit and concealment to obtain money, property, or services, or to secure a business or professional advantage. This can differ from violent crimes because they usually don’t involve physical violence and tend to relate to financial matters instead. A conviction can carry heavy consequences depending on the severity of the crime. In the case of the NewPoint co-owners and controller, there may be penalties as well as civil consequences that the defendants might face if convicted. An experienced team of Los Angeles white collar crime defense attorneys can guide you through the process of white collar trials and devise a strategy that can prove your innocence or reduce consequences. Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP can offer you advice and legal counsel if you have been accused or charged with a white collar crime. Tagged as: los angeles embezzlement, los angeles white collar defense attorney White Collar Crime and Los AngelesPosted on: December 31, 2009 at 6:11 a.m.Los Angeles white collar defense is incredibly complicated for many reasons: juries like to convict "crooked" executives; the evidence can be difficult to follow; prosecutors can make a name for themselves convicting a high profile individuals; etc. This is why defense attorneys must be knowledge regarding the law and equipped to go "toe to toe" with the city, state or federal government's best lawyers. High profile defense attorney must be able to speak with the press without getting flustered or giving too much information away. In a recent white collar case, a New York man was formally charged last week in scam at New York University. John Runowicz, who worked as an administrator for NYU’s Chemistry Department, has been accused of falsely submitting receipts by attaching them to University reimbursement request forms. Investigators in the case believe Runowicz scavenged discarded receipts at a local liquor store and claimed that they were departmental expenses to be paid for by the department’s petty cash reserves. Investigators estimate that Runowicz submitted roughly 13,000 false receipts between 2003 and January of 2009, conning the University out of more than $409,000 in petty cash expenses. Runowicz, who was fired from the University this past summer after an internal audit revealed his activities, has been charged with falsifying business documents in both the first and second degrees, and grand larceny. If convicted, he could be facing up to 15 years in prison. When most people think of criminal activities, they tend to think of violent crimes such as robbery or assault. However, many crimes are committed everyday in Los Angeles that, like Runowicz’s alleged criminal activity at New York University, is entirely without violence. Crimes such as embezzlement, fraud or identity theft are typically committed with no threat of violence whatsoever. These crimes are commonly called “white collar" crimes, and while they may not appear as dangerous as violent crimes, they are also taken very seriously in Los Angeles. Most white collar crimes also involve lengthy jail sentences, large fines and either probation or parole in the case of a conviction. If you or someone you know has been charged with a crime such as embezzlement or fraud, call the attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP today. Let us fight for you, call us at 877-781-1570. Tagged as: los angeles embezzlement, los angeles white collar defense attorney Ex-Model Cindy Crawford Victim Of Alleged Extortion PlotPosted on: December 21, 2009 at 7:33 p.m.In November, ex-model Cindy Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber were victims of an alleged extortion plot. According to authorities, Edis Kayalar, 26, allegedly tried to extort $100,000 from the ex-model and her husband over a photo of their daughter bound to a chair and gagged. Although Kayalar is being charged with one count of a extortion, he is currently believed to be in Stuttgart, Germany after he was recently deported. An arrest in the case has not been made. The photo was purportedly taken by the couple's former nanny earlier this year and shows the girl, then 7, bound to a chair wearing shorts and a T-shirt. The daughter told her parents, who were unaware of the photo, that the nanny took the picture as part of a "cops and robbers" game, according to an affidavit filed in the case. Kayalar stole the photo from the nanny and repeatedly sought to get money from Crawford and Gerber, starting in July, according to the affidavit. Gerber later met with him at a bar, where Kayalar showed him a copy of the photo. Although Gerber eventually gave Kayalar $1,000 in cash “for his trouble" Kayalar believed he could have received $500,000 from the tabloids for the photograph and that he deserved more money from them, according to the affidavit. Although Kayalar is not in the country, he faces one count of a extortion and could face up to two years in prison if convicted. In Los Angeles, extortion is defined as the act of using threats to obtain money or property from a person. A threat in the case of extortion does not include immediate or impending physical harm, but rather the possibility of harm in the future. Extortion is a criminal offense that can result in jail or prison as well as many other consequences if convicted. If the case has received media attention, as is the case here, then the prosecutor’s office typically takes an even tougher stance and may ask for the maximum sentence. If you have been accused of extortion, you need a knowledgeable team to help defend your rights in court. The experienced Los Angeles white collar crime attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP can devise a defense that could have your charges dropped or sentencing minimized. Tagged as: los angeles extortion, los angeles white collar defense attorney Forty Two People Indicted In $4.6 million Medi-Cal FraudPosted on: December 16, 2009 at 8:24 p.m.Healthcare fraud is a major crime, and punishable by years in prison. With the federal government searching for more money to make up for the lack of taxes during the recession, the pressure will be on to find healthcare fraud fraud offenders. During the summer of 2009, 42 people were indicted in connection to a Medi-Cal fraud that targeted disabled patients. The indictment charged the 42 people of conspiring to bill the state program for in-home licensed nursing services. According to law enforcement officials, the $4.6 million scheme used unlicensed individuals to provide in-home nursing care for disabled patients. Medi-Cal fraud is a form of healthcare fraud. According to the United States Attorney’s office, about 75 patients, many of them children with cerebral palsy or developmental disabilities, were treated at home or at school by the unlicensed individuals who stole identities to pose as licensed nurses. "We believe that this is the largest single case alleging Medi-Cal fraud ever filed in the state of California," said United States Atty. Thomas O’Brien. Medicare Plus Home Health Providers, a Santa Fe Springs-based company run by Priscilla Villabroza, hired the unlicensed individuals from 2004 to 2007. O'Brien said that Villabroza billed Medi-Cal for nursing services and was reimbursed somewhere on average between $20 to $35 an hour per nurse, but she only paid her employees $8 to $12 an hour, keeping $4.6 million to herself. Villabroza pleaded guilty in August 2008 to five counts of healthcare fraud. She faces up to 50 years in prison during her upcoming trial. This is only one of long list of instances of Medi-Cal and healthcare fraud accusations in the state of California. Medi-Cal is part of the state's $34 billion Medicaid program that provides health care for more than six million people including the elderly, disabled and low-income families. According to law enforcement officials, some of the people that worked for Villabroza had training overseas and some had no training at all. Although Villabroza pleaded guilty to several counts, there are also 41 other people that were indicted in July. Medi-Cal and Healthcare Fraud are both very serious charges and can carry tough sentences as well. While Villabroza pocketed a large percentage of the Medi-Cal reimbursements, others worked for only $8-12 an hour and are being charged as well. Although some of these employees knew exactly what they were doing, there are others who might have been completely in the dark about Villabroza’s actions. If you have been accused of Medi-Cal and/or healthcare fraud in Los Angeles you need an experienced team of experts to help you minimize charges or have you charges dropped altogether. The Los Angeles Medi-Cal and Healthcare Fraud defense attorneys at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin LLP can help you defend yourself in court if you have been accused of Medi-Cal and/or Healthcare Fraud in Los Angeles. Tagged as: los angeles health care fraud, los angeles white collar defense attorney Kestenbaum Eisner & Gorin LLP has been recognized as one of the best U.S. law firms, based on the experience, professionalism, and ethics of its criminal defense lawyers and attorneys. We aggressively defend clients in all Southern California courtrooms on state and federal charges, including DUI, DMV, misdemeanor, felony, juvenile cases, in the following communities and courthouses. |
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