New Santa Ana | Category Archives: OC Sheriff

Man convicted of escaping from the O.C. Jail and kidnapping a cab driver

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The first of three inmates charged with carrying out an elaborate escape from the Orange County Men’s Central Jail along with two other inmates in 2016 has been convicted of the escape and kidnapping of a 72-year-old cab driver to help aid in the escape. The three escaped inmates were the targets of a statewide manhunt that lasted more than a week.

Bac Tien Duong, 48, was convicted by a jury of one felony count of escape by a prisoner and one felony count of kidnapping. The jury failed to reach a verdict on one felony count of taking of a vehicle.

He faces a maximum sentence of eight years and eight months in state prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 14, 2021.

On January 22, 2016, Duong is accused of escaping from the Orange County Men’s Central Jail along with inmates Hossein Nayeri and Jonathan Tieu after spending several weeks cutting through jail vents in order to access the jail’s plumbing tunnels and climb up on the jail’s roof.

Duong and the other two inmates are accused of using jail sheets to rappel down the side of the jail. Later that day, Duong called an unlicensed taxi service he located in a Vietnamese-language periodical, and 72-year-old Long Ma arrived to drive the three escapees to various points in Orange County and Rosemead. At various points, Duong held the cab driver at gunpoint.

Over the next few days, the three escapees and the abducted cab driver drove to various locations around California, ending up in San Jose.

On January 29, 2016, Duong drove with Ma back to Southern California. Duong arranged to turn himself in at a Santa Ana auto shop and after dropping Duong off at the auto shop, Ma drove away.

Nayeri and Tieu were captured in San Francisco the next day after a man recognized the two escapees from media reports. Then -Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer presented Matthew Hay-Chapman with a $100,000 reward for providing the information that led to the capture of Nayeri and Tieu.

When he escaped, Duong was facing charges for attempted murder with a 25-life gun-use enhancement, assault with a firearm, first-degree burglary, and discharging a firearm at an inhabited dwelling. His trial is still pending on those charges.

Nayeri was sentenced in October to two consecutive terms of life without the possibility of parole along with another seven years to life for kidnapping and torturing a marijuana dispensary owner. After the commission of those crimes in October of 2012, Nayeri fled to the country of Iran, before traveling to the Czech Republic where he was arrested and extradited to the United States.

Nayeri and Tieu are still awaiting trial on the jail escape.

Deputy District Attorney Jake Jondle of Special Prosecutions is prosecuting this case.

The OC Sheriff arrested a suspect in a string of bank robbers in four counties

Posted on April 2, 2021 by Editor Posted in Banking, Crime, OC Sheriff, Orange County Leave a comment

ALISO VIEJO, Ca. (April 2, 2021) – Sheriff’s Department investigators arrested a man suspected of a series of recent bank robberies across Southern California.

At approximately 2:40 p.m. on March 10, 2021 a male suspect committed a bank robbery in the 26000 block of Aliso Creek Road in the city of Aliso Viejo.

Upon investigation, it was determined the suspect was involved in a series of bank robberies in February 2021 and March 2021 in Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego counties. The suspect targeted banks in grocery stores. He would pass his cell phone to the teller, which contained a note demanding money and indicating the suspect was armed.

Orange County Sheriff’s investigators wrote multiple search warrants and their work led to identification of the suspect. Kyle Marquise Adlam, 24, was arrested and booked into Orange County Jail on Wednesday, March 31, on suspicion of robbery.

Traffic stop leads to a large drug bust in Irvine

Posted on April 2, 2021 by Editor Posted in Drugs, Irvine, OC Sheriff Leave a comment

O.C. Sheriff narcotics investigators seized thousands of illicit pills, drugs, guns and cash after a traffic stop in South Orange County.

At about 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the city of Irvine, which resulted in the discovery of illicit pills stamped as known prescription medication. Investigators collected 40,000 counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine and 10,000 counterfeit Xanax pills containing fentanyl.

The roadside seizure led to the issuance of a warrant to search the suspect’s Irvine residence where investigators collected additional substances including two pounds of the hallucinogenic psilocybin, 29 grams of cocaine, and 800 THC vape cartridges. An additional 6,515 pills of illicit Adderall containing methamphetamine and 10,100 illicit Xanax pills containing fentanyl also were found at the residence, along with two handguns, one assault rifle, and about $124,000 in cash.

The 24-year-old man was booked into Orange County Jail on suspicion of felony possession of narcotics for sale, felony transport of narcotics for sale, and felony possession of controlled substances for sale.

Limited visiting at the OC Jails resumes

Posted on March 30, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca.: The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has resumed limited visiting at the Orange County jails, as of Friday, March 26.

Due to successful COVID-19 mitigation efforts in the jails and the County of Orange being designated as a “red tier” county, the Sheriff’s Department has established visiting protocols keeping the safety of those in custody, Department personnel, and visitors a top priority.

“We understand the value of visitation and know those in our custody and their loved ones have been impacted over the last year as we navigated the challenges of COVID-19,” said Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes. “We look forward to reinstating visiting in a way that is safe for all.”

The Sheriff’s Department temporarily suspended visiting in March 2020 based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in consideration of the Sheriff’s Department’s COVID-19 prevention efforts.

Over the last year, the Department routinely assessed the feasibility of safely reintroducing visiting days. With COVID-19 considerations in place, inmates will now be able to schedule one visit a month.

The Sheriff’s Department will continue to reassess procedures to determine further expanding visiting practices.

VISITING PROCEDURES

Visiting at all facilities is by appointment only. No walk-ups will be accepted. Members of the public wishing to visit an inmate must call and make an appointment at the facility the inmate is housed at currently. The phone numbers to schedule a visit at each facility are listed below.

Newly booked inmates under mandatory 14-day quarantine and those housed in medical isolation or quarantine will not be eligible for visitation.

When calling to schedule, it is recommended to have the booking number of the inmate you wish to visit. Booking numbers can be searched through the online database link here: Inmate Information. Visitors should be prepared to provide a contact phone number in case of housing changes or other incidents occur that may affect the visit.

Two adults and two minors will be permitted to visit any one inmate.

All facilities will require face coverings and have screening procedures in place. Face coverings will not be provided. Non-compliance will result in denial of a visit.

SCHEDULING A VISIT

To schedule a visit, call the facility of the inmate you wish to visit from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Visiting hours are Friday-Monday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Para hacer una cita para visitar, llame de Lunes a Viernes de las 8am – 5pm.

Intake Release Center- 550 North Flower Street, Santa Ana CA 92703

· IRC Scheduling number: 714-647-6050

· Visitors with a scheduled appointment will line up outside the Intake Release Center lobby and maintain physical distance

· The IRC lobby will be limited capacity for those with ADA considerations

· More information: IRC Visiting

Central Jail Complex- 550 North Flower Street, Santa Ana CA 92703

· Central Jail Scheduling number: 714-647-4543

· Visitors with a scheduled appointment will line up outside the Intake Release Center lobby and maintain physical distance

· The IRC lobby will be limited capacity for those with ADA considerations

· More information: Central Jails Visiting

Theo Lacy Facility- 501 The City Dr. S, Orange, CA 92868

· Theo Lacy Facility Scheduling number: 714-935-6202

· Appointments must be made 24-72 hours in advance

· Visitors with a scheduled appointment will line up outside the lobby and maintain physical distance

· The Theo Lacy Facility lobby will be limited capacity for those with ADA considerations

· More information: Theo Lacy Visiting

An O.C. inmate died after a suspected suicide

Posted on March 15, 2021 by Editor Posted in OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (March 15, 2021) – A 41-year-old male inmate housed at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana died yesterday evening at approximately 7:45 p.m. of a suspected suicide.

The man was booked into the Orange County Jail by the Cypress Police Department on Aug. 18, 2020, on multiple charges including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and mayhem.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will investigate the in-custody death. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct an in-custody death review.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will continue to evaluate protocols and procedures to ensure the highest level of care is provided to those in custody.

No additional information will be released at this time.

OC Sheriff’s Deputy charged with filing a false police report and perjury

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Editor Posted in OC Sheriff, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – An Orange County Sheriff’s deputy who served as a field training officer has been charged with two felonies in connection with filing a false police report under his trainee’s name and forging a victim’s signature.

Chad Matthew Renegar, 30, has been charged with one felony count of filing a false police report and one felony count of perjury. He faces a maximum sentence of 4 years and 8 months in state prison if convicted on all charges.

He is scheduled to be arraigned on March 24, 2021 at the Central Justice Center in Department C55.

Renegar has worked for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for eight years. He is currently on administrative leave.

On May 16, 2019, Renegar was assigned to work in the city of Rancho Santa Margarita as a field training officer for a newly assigned patrol deputy.

The training officer and trainee responded to a call from a woman who reported her license plate had been stolen. Despite the woman telling the two deputies her license plate had been stolen in Santa Monica, which is outside of the jurisdiction of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the deputies had the woman sign a CHP form to report her stolen license plate.

A sergeant later rejected the report because of the out-of-county location of the crime. Renegar is accused of instructing the trainee to change the location of the theft to Rancho Santa Margarita. When she didn’t, Renegar is accused of typing the report for her under her name, filling out a second CHP form and changing the location to Rancho Santa Margarita, and forging the victim’s name.

“Maintaining trust and accountability between law enforcement and the communities they are sworn to protect has never been more important,”said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Dishonesty among the ranks of our law enforcement jeopardizes that trust and it will not be tolerated.”

Deputy District Attorney Jake Jondle of Special Prosecutions is prosecuting this case.

An inmate died at the O.C. Central Men’s Jail this morning

Posted on February 9, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, Santa Ana Leave a comment

A 42-year-old male inmate housed at the Central Men’s Jail in Santa Ana died today at approximately 7:47 a.m. of a suspected suicide.

The man was booked into the Orange County Jail by the Orange Police Department on Nov. 8, 2018, on multiple charges including attempted murder and a parole violation.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will investigate the in-custody death. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct an in-custody death review. No additional information will be released at this time.

Positive COVID-19 cases in the O.C. Jail are decreasing

Posted on February 5, 2021 by Editor Posted in Disease, OC Sheriff, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (February 5, 2021): The Sheriff’s Department has seen a dramatic reduction in the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the Orange County Jail system in the last month as a result of the department’s robust mitigation efforts. On January 5, 2021, 1,109 general population inmates were COVID-19 positive. As of the morning of February 5, 2021, nine general population inmates are COVID-19 positive.

“Since early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be challenging for everyone, and the Orange County Jail system has not been immune from this challenge,” said Don Barnes, Sheriff-Coroner. “Although in December we saw an outbreak in our facilities, we remained steadfast with our strict health and safety protocols, which have proven to be successful throughout the year. This has been accomplished without releasing serious and violent offenders who may pose a danger to Orange County residents.”

Since the pandemic began in March 2020, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Custody Operations Division and the Orange County Health Care Agency’s Corrections Health Services (CHS) have worked collaboratively to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the Orange County Jail system. These mitigation efforts include regular temperature checks of staff and inmates, mandatory masks for staff and inmates, regular testing, diligent hygiene and cleaning practices, release of low level sentenced offenders, pausing public visiting and halting non-essential services.

“We are confident that our efforts will result in the continued successful mitigation of COVID-19 in our jails,” Barnes said. “We will continue to meet the challenges of navigating this pandemic with the health and safety of our staff, contract partners and inmates remaining our top priority.”

The O.C. inmate who died of COVID-19 this week was accused of killing his mother

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Disease, Fullerton, OC Sheriff, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The O.C. inmate who died at the O.C. Jail intake center this week was Ah Le Fang, a 37-year-old man, who was in jail while he was awaiting trial on charges of killing his mother and wounding her boyfriend in 2017.

Fang died on Thursday of medical complications after testing positive last month for COVID-19, according to the O.C. Sheriff’s Department. Fang tested positive for COVID-19 in December and was hospitalized on Jan. 6. He is the second person incarcerated in Orange County jails to have died of COVID-19.

Fang’s mother called the Fullerton police to report she was being attacked, on Aug. 15, 2017. The responding police officers found her outside her apartment complex at 134 S. Pritchard Ave., suffering from a stab wound to her abdomen. Her boyfriend also had a stab wound to an arm.

Fang’s mother and her boyfriend were taken to a local hospital, where she passed away.

Fang pleaded not guilty way back in 2018 and he was awaiting a jury trial that was scheduled for this July.

The O.C. Sheriff’s Department says that 2,270 Orange County Jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. Currently there are sixty-one O.C. inmates who are dealing with the virus.

In December, an O.C. Superior Court judge ordered Sheriff Barnes to release half of the O.C. inmates after the ACLU filed a lawsuit accusing Barnes of not doing enough to protect medically vulnerable inmates during the pandemic.

An O.C. inmate died after testing positive for COVID-19

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Disease, Don Barnes, OC Sheriff, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (January 21, 2021) –A 37-year-old male inmate housed at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana died this morning of medical complications after testing positive for COVID-19.

The inmate was booked into jail in August 2017 by the Fullerton Police Department on suspicion of homicide and attempted murder. The inmate tested positive for COVID-19 in December 2020, and was transferred to a local hospital on January 6, 2021. He is the second Orange County Jail inmate to die from medical complications of COVID-19.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 2,270 Orange County Jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. Currently, there are 61 COVID-19 positive inmates.

The OCDA reduced or dismissed charges in 67 cases due to OC Sheriff’s Department shenanigans

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Don Barnes, OC Sheriff, OCDA, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has completed its review of the Sheriff’s Evidence Booking Audit.

In mid-November 2019, District Attorney Todd Spitzer became aware of the extent of evidence booking issues within the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) and the existence of department-wide internal audits. District Attorney Spitzer had not been made aware of the extent of these audits previously and only became aware of the matter on November 15, 2019 when he was informed about it from a local newspaper reporter. Although OCSD believes the OCDA should have known, the OCDA questions why the Sheriff’s Department made it so difficult to understand the extent of the issues with evidence booking.

Upon learning of the full extent of the audits, District Attorney Spitzer immediately requested additional information from the Sheriff’s Department about potentially impacted criminal cases to ensure that the District Attorney’s Office was able to “identify any and all cases handled by the OCDA where a defendant’s due process rights may have been negatively impacted by having evidence collected but not booked.”

District Attorney Spitzer also directed two senior prosecutors to oversee the office’s response. Because of the deficiencies in the Sheriff’s audit, District Attorney Spitzer ordered a hand-search of all cases resulting in a conviction over a three-year period – from March 2015 to March 2018 – to determine if there were cases where evidence was collected but not booked.

A total of 22,289 cases were reviewed by a joint team of OCSD and DA investigators
3,639 notifications made to defense attorneys in potentially impacted cases (both active and closed cases)
Charges were reduced or dismissed in 67 cases
Two former OCSD deputies have been convicted of a misdemeanor and a third former deputy is awaiting trial on a felony charge of filing a false police report
All DNA profiles related to potentially impacted cases identified in the Sheriff’s Department evidence booking audit will be expunged from the OCDA DNA database

The OCDA reports on the Sheriff’s Department Evidence Booking Issues can be found here.

Sheriff Barnes names 24-year OCSD veteran Jeff Hallock as new Undersheriff

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Editor Posted in Don Barnes, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (January 13, 2021): Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes has named Jeff Hallock, a 24-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, as the new Undersheriff. Hallock will be responsible for the Department’s day-to-day operations, overseeing more than 4,000 personnel and a $1 billion budget.

Undersheriff Hallock was promoted January 6 in a private badge pinning at Sheriff’s Headquarters.

“Undersheriff Hallock is a consummate leader who serves with integrity and approaches any assignment he is given with an unwavering work ethic and a deep commitment to the betterment of this Department,” said Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes. “His breadth of experience and innovative approach to law enforcement operations will help the Sheriff’s Department continue our tradition of providing exemplary service to the County of Orange.”

Hallock’s previous assignments include Custody Operations, Jail Planning, Patrol Operations, Investigations, Narcotics, Internal Affairs, and Public Affairs, serving as the Public Information Officer.

His accomplishments include serving as the first Field Training Bureau Commander, implementing solutions to keep the department on the leading edge of change. He served as the Public Information Officer during several major incidents that drew national attention, navigating complexities in a forthright and transparent way. Most recently, he served as Assistant Sheriff of Field Operations and Investigative Services, overseeing the department’s response to multiple emergencies in 2020.

Former O.C. Sheriff Sandra Hutchens has passed away

Posted on January 4, 2021 by Editor Posted in Don Barnes, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Sandra Hutchens, Santa Ana 2 Comments

SANTA ANA, Ca. (January 4, 2021): Please see the statement below from Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of former Sheriff Sandra Hutchens.

“In November 2012, Sheriff Hutchens was diagnosed with breast cancer. She courageously fought this disease while still leading this department. Her fight was successful for eight years. Unfortunately, the cancer recently returned and Sheriff Hutchens passed this morning with her loved ones by her side.

“Sandra Hutchens served as the 12th Orange County Sheriff from 2008-2019. She took office at a difficult time. The public’s trust had been broken by the previous sheriff. Upon taking office, she immediately took action to put one of the nation’s largest law enforcement agencies back on track. She was a leader whose ethics matched the culture of the men and women of this department. She restored our pride, gave us back our dignity and rebuilt trust with the people we serve. She kept her oath, kept her promises, and ended her time in office leaving this agency better than when she started.

“Hemingway described courage as “grace under pressure.” There is no one who embodied that description more than Sandra Hutchens. Sheriff Hutchens lived her life and led this agency with courage, grace and dignity. She bravely closed her life in the same manner. When I last spoke to her she was strong, maintained her sense of humor and continued to have a deep love and appreciation for the people of Orange County. Her legacy will endure for many years through all those she mentored and entrusted with helping her lead the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

“For me personally, she was a mentor and a friend. I will continue to be inspired by her commitment to always do the right thing, regardless of the consequences, and serve with the department and community’s interests first without need for self-recognition. I am tremendously grateful for the opportunities she presented me, and the many lessons I learned from her over the years.

“In keeping with Sheriff Hutchens’ wishes, there will not be a memorial service. Her family has asked that donations be made in her name to Drug Use is Life Abuse (www.duila.org) or the Susan G. Komen Foundation (www.komen.org), two charities she actively supported while in office.”

Beverly Hills Surgeon who preyed on O.C. drug addicts released from jail due to COVID-19

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Editor Posted in OC Sheriff, Santa Ana 1 Comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Beverly Hills surgeon charged with stealing nearly $29 million in an elaborate insurance fraud scheme that involved hiring body brokers to pay patients at Southern California sober living homes to undergo medically unnecessary surgeries, medical testing, and other medical procedures has been ordered to be released from the Orange County Jail after he tested positive for COVID-19. Four others have been charged in connection with the illegal operation.

Dr. Randy Rosen pleaded not guilty on July 2, 2020 to 88 felony counts in two separate cases in connection with recruiting and hiring numerous body brokers to find and pay patients to have medically unnecessary Naltrexone implant surgeries and cortisone shots.

After a complicated two-and-a-half-month preliminary hearing, a judge found on October 1, 2020 there was sufficient evidence to hold Rosen to answer for trial on all 68 felonies as well as all the alleged enhancements and allegations in Case #20CF1682. His bail was set at $10 million.

Rosen is a significant flight risk due to millions of dollars in assets still available to him and the fact that he faces more than 80 years in state prison if convicted on all charges. Dr. C. Hsien Chang, who serves as the Medical Director for Orange County’s Correctional Health Services (CHS), authored a declaration supporting Rosen’s continued incarceration, stating “I am familiar with Randy Rosen’s medical conditions and have complete confidence that CHS can appropriately manage and treat his medical conditions while in the Orange County Jail.”

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office objected to the release of Rosen, arguing that he poses a significant risk to the community if released due to the “massive network of body-brokers amassed by the defendant, the sheer number of medically unnecessary procedures performed on vulnerable drug-addicted patients” and the extended span of time in which the criminal activity was conducted. Rosen was out on $300,000 bail in another criminal case when he continued to engage in insurance fraud through his body broker scheme, prosecutors argued.

A judge ordered Rosen released back to his Los Angeles home under electronic monitoring for up to 30 days.

“We are watching the theater of the absurd,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The criminal justice system shouldn’t have one set of rules for people who are wealthy and a separate set of rules who aren’t. Poor people who pose a low risk to society shouldn’t have to sit in jail because they can’t afford to get out while wealthy people who have demonstrated they have no regard for the law or the lives of other human beings and have nothing to lose walk right out the front door of the jail.”

Prosecutors have charged Rosen with billing numerous insurance companies for the unnecessary procedures performed on drug-addicted patients. The patients were never informed of the fact that patients were being trafficked and paid for these procedures. Due to this massive scheme and conspiracy, the insurance companies were fraudulently billed approximately $135 million and paid out approximately $29 million dollars.

Rosen’s girlfriend Liza Visamanos, 41, of Los Angeles, pleaded not guilty on July 2, 2020 to 56 felony counts in two separate cases in connection with the scheme.

Rosen, 57, of Los Angeles, and Visamanos were arrested June 30, 2020 by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office on nearly $52 million warrants which equals the amount stolen as a result of the scheme.

In addition to submitting patients to medically unnecessary procedures, it is alleged that Dr. Rosen also required the patients to undergo unnecessary drug tests which he sent to Lotus Laboratories, which is owned by his girlfriend, for testing. California law prohibits such referrals where the physician or his immediate family has a financial interest with the person or entity receiving the referral. It is alleged that Lotus Laboratories fraudulently billed at least 22 different insurance providers more than $3 million.

Robert Mellon, 52, of San Diego, Thomas Douglas, 29 of Playa del Rey, Shea Simmons, 28, of Jeanerette, Louisiana, and Patrick Connolly, 28, of Los Angeles, also face felony charges for their involvement in the scheme.

Summary of Charges and Defendants – Health Insurance Fraud Cases

As part of the Health Insurance Fraud scheme, Dr. Rosen, (Case No.20CF1682), is charged with eight counts of Creating Documents For Purposes of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Withholding Material Facts on Insurance Claims, eight counts of Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Patient Referrals, and sixteen counts of Money Laundering. He is also charged with White Collar Crime Enhancements as the amount of loss exceeded $500,000 and a crime-bail-crime enhancement for committing additional crimes while released on bail on his previous and still active insurance fraud case in People v. Randy Scott Rosen (Case No. 16CF1363). If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of 84 years and eight months in state prison.

Liza Vismanos, (Case No. 20CF1685), is charged with eight counts of Creating Documents For Purposes of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Withholding Material Facts on Insurance Claims, and eight counts of Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Patient Referrals. She is also charged with White Collar Crime Enhancements as the amount of loss exceeded $500,000. If convicted on all counts, she faces a maximum of 36 years and four months in state prison.

Thomas Douglas, (Case No.20CF1684), is charged with eight counts of Creating Documents For Purposes of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Withholding Material Facts on Insurance Claims and eight counts of Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Patient Referrals, and twenty-seven counts of Money Laundering. He is also charged with White Collar Crime Enhancements as the amount of loss exceeded $500,000. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of 68 years and eight months in state prison.

Robert Mellon, (Case No. 20CF1683), is charged with eight counts of Creating Documents For Purposes of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Withholding Material Facts on Insurance Claims and eight counts of Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Patient Referrals. He is also charged with White Collar Crime Enhancements as the amount of loss exceeded $500,000. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of 36 years and four months in state prison.

Shea Simmons, (Case No. 20CF1681), is charged with eight counts of Creating Documents For Purposes of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Withholding Material Facts on Insurance Claims, eight counts of Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Patient Referrals and eleven counts of Money Laundering. He is also charged with White Collar Crime Enhancements as the amount of loss exceeded $500,000. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of 45 years and four months in state prison.

Patrick Connolly, (Case No. 20CF1677), is charged with eight counts of Creating Documents For Purposes of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Withholding Material Facts on Insurance Claims and eight counts of Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Patient Referrals, and nine counts of Money Laundering. He is also charged with White Collar Crime Enhancements as the amount of loss exceeded $500,000. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of forty-five years and four months in state prison.

Summary of Charges and Defendants – Workers’ Compensation Fraud Cases

As part of the Workers’ Compensation scheme, Dr. Rosen is charged with twenty-four counts of Withholding Material Facts on Insurance Claims and seventeen counts of Creating Documents for Purposes of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims. Vismanos is charged with twenty-four counts of Withholding Material Facts on Insurance Claims. The couple was also charged with the aggravated white collar crime enhancement for losses exceeding $100,000 and $500,000. Dr. Rosen is charged with a crime-bail-crime enhancement pursuant to Penal Code Section 12022.1(b) for committing additional crimes while released on bail on his previous and still active insurance fraud case in People v. Randy Scott Rosen (Case No. 16CF1363).

As part of the Workers’ Compensation Fraud case, Dr. Rosen is facing a maximum of 51 years in state prison if convicted on all charges.

As part of the Workers’ Compensation Fraud case, Liza Vismanos is facing a maximum of 31 years in state prison.

Deputy District Attorney Vincent Marinaccio of the Insurance Fraud Unit is prosecuting defendants Dr. Rosen and Vismanos’ workers’ compensation fraud cases.

Deputy District Attorney Jim Bilek of the Insurance Fraud Unit is prosecuting defendants Dr. Rosen, Vismanos’, Douglas’, Simmons’, Connolly’s, and Mellon’s health insurance fraud cases.

O.C. cold case murder suspect at the Theo Lacy jail dies of COVID-19

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Editor Posted in Disease, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

ORANGE, Ca. (December 18, 2020) –A 68-year-old male inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange died this morning at 5 a.m. of medical complications after testing positive for COVID-19.

The inmate, Eddie Lee Anderson of River Ridge, LA, was booked into jail by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department on July 1, 2019 on suspicion of homicide.

Anderson is suspected of the 1976 murder of Leslie Penrod Harris, and was identified in 2019 by the Orange County Cold Case Homicide Task Force.

Anderson tested positive for COVID-19 within the last week, and was transferred to a local hospital on December 13. He is the first Orange County Jail inmate to die from medical complications of COVID-19. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 1,260 Orange County Jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.