New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Westminster

Four DUI suspects were arrested at a Westminster DUI checkpoint

Posted on June 28, 2021 by Editor Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Westminster Leave a comment

This past weekend, the Westminster Police Department held a DUI checkpoint to enforce traffic laws and to educate drivers on the dangers of impaired driving.

665 vehicles traveled through the checkpoints.
3 of those vehicles were stopped and screened.
6 citations were issued.
4 subjects were arrested for DUI.

The Westminster Police Department reminds you that driving a vehicle while impaired is a dangerous crime. Being a responsible driver is simple: if you are drinking, DO NOT DRIVE.

Remember, if you see something, say something! Your actions could help save someone’s life.

The FBI arrested a Westminster man in connection with the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot

Posted on April 23, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Donald Trump, FBI, Politics, Republican Party, Westminster Leave a comment

Kevin Louis Galetto, 61, a Westminster man, was arrested by FBI agents early in the morning on Friday, April 23, at a home in connection with the Jan. 6 Trumper attack at the U.S. Capitol.

Galetto was taken arrested on a variety of suspected offenses, including:

Assaulting, resisting or impeding officers or employees
Obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder
Obstruction of justice
Entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds
Committing an act of physical violence in any restricted building or grounds
Violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds

The Westminster police were not notified of the arrest in advance nor where they involved in the arrest.

Galetto will appear in a Federal court at 2 p.m. Friday, April 23.

In related news, the New Mexico city of Albuquerque has sent an unpaid bill for former President Donald Trump to a collection agency. The bill for $211,175.94 stems from an event organized by Trump’s reelection campaign in 2019 in the nearby city of Rio Rancho, The Albuquerque Journal reported Thursday.

The Westminster police nabbed a robber and recovered the stolen cash

Posted on March 31, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Westminster Leave a comment

The Westminster Police Department received a robbery call at the 8400 block of Westminster Blvd., at 11 a.m. on March 26.

The robber targeted a business located a block from the Westminster Police Dept. headquarters. The responding police officers were thus able to arrive very quickly. They found out that the suspect had taken a large amount of cash from a business and left in a vehicle just prior to our officers arriving.

The police officers were able to obtain a good vehicle description and they checked the surrounding area locating the unoccupied vehicle at a nearby motel.

Westminster police detectives then conducted surveillance and located the suspect exiting the motel room. Patrol officers detained him and recovered all the stolen money.

The suspect admitted to the robbery and was booked at county jail.

Westminster man arrested on child and revenge porn charges

Posted on March 4, 2021 by Editor Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD, Westminster Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department Civilian Investigator, assigned to Special Investigations, received information about Dillon Nguyen, 23, distributing intimate images and videos involving his ex-girlfriends online after they broke-up. The investigation revealed Nguyen created numerous online social media accounts to post “revenge porn,” which included images and videos of the intimate encounters. The investigation also revealed Nguyen’s release of the sexual encounters included one minor victim.

Nguyen posted these images and videos hundreds of times and included disparaging and identifying information about the victims. The SAPD Civilian Investigator subsequently identified Nguyen after executing multiple (16) online search warrants and located Nguyen’s residence.

The SAPD Civilian Investigator, Detectives from the Special Crimes Section, and members of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force executed one final search warrant at Nguyen’s residence in the City of Westminster. Detectives seized multiple electronic devices during the search warrant and located evidence related to the uploading and distribution of over 500 pornographic images. Nguyen was booked into the Santa Ana Jail for the following violations: Distributing child pornography, possession and control of child pornography and Distribute intimate photos/etc. of another.

Posting revenge porn is damaging to the reputation of the victims, and they are often re-victimized because they live with the fear of being sought out, stalked, and harassed by strangers seeking them out from the online postings. The Santa Ana Police Department takes these crimes seriously and will seek to prosecute suspects engaged in this activity to the fullest extent of the law.

The SAPD is proud to be a partner in the Los Angeles Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC) – a task force dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of persons involved in child abuse and exploitation involving the internet https://www.icactaskforce.org/

O.C. CHP officer charged with using confidential police records to help a friend

Posted on February 23, 2021 by Editor Posted in CHP, Crime, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer, Westminster 1 Comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A California Highway Patrol officer has been charged with using a department computer to illegally access a confidential law enforcement database to provide vehicle information to a friend who owned a car registration service.

Todd Steaffens, 43, has been charged with three misdemeanor counts of computer access and fraud and three misdemeanor counts of disclosing Department of Motor Vehicle information without authorization.

He faces a maximum sentence of three years in the Orange County Jail if convicted on all charges.

Steaffens has worked for the California Highway Patrol since 2007.

Between February 2020 and July 2020, Steaffens is accused of using a CHP computer at the Westminster office to unlawfully access the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS), which provides law enforcement access to national databases maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and others. Any information obtained from the system can be used for official use only.

Between February 2020 and July 2020, Steaffens is accused of accessing CLETS after receiving text messages from a friend who owns Pacific Automotive Services in Los Angeles asking the officer to run the vehicle identification numbers of different vehicles he was interested in buying. Steaffens is accused of providing that information to the owner of Pacific Automotive Services.

“This conduct of misuse of an official confidential law enforcement database to run a friend’s prospective car purchase has to be about the dumbest thing an officer can do to jeopardize his career and criminal record ,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Even minor transgressions such as these must be prosecuted because they are unlawful and still rises to the level of abuse of power.”

Steaffens is scheduled to be arraigned on April 21, 2021 at the Central Justice Center in Department C54.

Deputy District Attorney Dustin Chupurdy of Special Prosecutions is prosecuting this case.

The Westminster Police are looking for a critical missing person

Posted on February 11, 2021 by Editor Posted in Public Safety, Santa Ana, Westminster Leave a comment

The Westminster Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating a critical missing person. Donald Carnevale, age 69, was last seen leaving his residence at around 9:00 AM on Thursday, February 11, 2021 in the area of Bolsa Ave. and Brookhurst St.

He stated he was going to the CVS Pharmacy but never returned.

Carnevale is 5’11”, 130 lbs., and was last seen wearing a tan jacket, blue Wrangler long sleeve shirt, and jeans.

Anyone with information is urged to call 9-1-1.

Westminster man pleads not guilty to molesting three girls and a dog

Posted on December 17, 2020 by Editor Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Westminster 2 Comments

Clemens Thomas Brzoznowski Jr., an 82-year-old man, pleaded not guilty today to sexually assaulting three girls he is related to as well as a dog in Westminster.

Brzoznowski Jr. was charged last month with 18 felony counts of sex acts against the girls, that allegedly took place from April 2004 to May 2007. He is also facing sentence-enhancement allegations for having multiple victims and substantial sexual conduct with a child. He is also charged with a misdemeanor count of sexual contact with an animal, which is purportedly a dog, in July of this year.

Brzoznowski Jr. has victimized several young children in his family over a period of several years, according to the Westminster Police Department. He has family in Peru the police department fears he is at risk of fleeing prosecution. His victims have lived in fear of Brzoznowski for several years. They now believe that he will retaliate against them for reporting his crimes if he is released.

Brzoznowski entered his plea in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana. He was ordered to return to court for a pretrial hearing in Westminster that starts on March 5.

Diverse array of drugs and guns seized by police in Westminster

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Editor Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Drugs, Guns, Westminster Leave a comment

Anaheim Police Department investigators recently conducted an investigation that lead to a search warrant being served in Westminster, according to their Facebook page.

The investigation resulted in the seizure of cocaine, heroin and psilocybin (cop-talk for “magic mushrooms”) that was packaged for street level sales.

The Anaheim police detectives also seized a large variety of weapons and what they suspect to be illegal obtained cash.

Various police agencies and Caltrans targeted homeless camps by the 22 Freeway

Posted on October 6, 2020 by Editor Posted in Caltrans, Crime, Drugs, Garden Grove, homeless, Westminster Leave a comment

The Garden Grove Police Department’s SRT officers partnered with CHP – Westminster, Caltrans Orange County District 12, Westminster Police Department, CA, and City Net to do outreach along the SR-22 Freeway yesterday, as reported on Facebook.

In all, 24 individuals were contacted and provided resources. That generally means the individuals were provided with housing options, mental and drug treatment, etc.

Two arrests were made, including one for possession of fentanyl. The suspects were not identified.

Cal-Trans also placed cleanup work orders for four large transient encampments.

Now if only this would happen all along the Santiago bike trail in Santa Ana, leading to Harte Park in Orange…

This week’s Cochino List includes 11 Westminster eateries and cafes

Posted on September 26, 2020 by Editor Posted in Disease, Food, Food & Health, Health, Health and Medical, Insects, OC Health Care, Orange County, Public Safety, Restaurants, Santa Ana, Westminster 1 Comment

The O.C. Health Care Agency has released a list of the eateries (including restaurants, caterers and even school kitchens) that they inspected and shut down for the week of Sept. 17 to Sept. 25. Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved.

Yummy Bakery & Food To Go, 9550 Bolsa Ave., Suite 115E-1, Westminster, Closed: Sept. 21, Reason: No water supply, Reopened: Sept. 22
Giai Phat Food Co., 9550 Bolsa Ave., Suite 123, Westminster, Closed: Sept. 21, Reason: No water supply, Reopened: Sept. 22
Sky Cafe, 9550 Bolsa Ave., Suite 129, Westminster, Closed: Sept. 21, Reason: No water supply, Reopened: Sept. 22
Westminster Farmer’s Market, 9550 Bolsa Ave., Suite 115-D, Westminster, Closed: Sept. 21, Reason: No water supply, Reopened: Sept. 22
Kensho, 9550 Bolsa Ave., Suite 125, Westminster, Closed: Sept. 21, Reason: No water supply, Reopened: Sept. 22
Cho Tam Bien, 9550 Bolsa Ave., Suite 115-E, Westminster, Closed: Sept. 21, Reason: No water supply, Reopened: Sept. 22
Ghien Mi Go Restaurant, 9500 Bolsa Ave., Suites G-L, Westminster, Closed: Sept. 21, Reason: No water supply, Reopened: Sept. 22
Com Tam Que Huong, 9500 Bolsa Ave., Suite B-H, Westminster, Closed: Sept. 21, Reason: No water supply, Reopened: Sept. 22
Mai Anh Food To Go, 9550 Bolsa Ave., Suite 115-C, Westminster, Closed: Sept. 21, Reason: No water supply, Reopened: Sept. 22
Update: Cafe Goc Pho at 9880 Bolsa Ave., Westminster, which was ordered closed Sept. 15 because of a rodent infestation, was allowed to reopen Sept. 18.
T4 Tea For U, 9500 Bolsa Ave., Suite A, Westminster, Closed: Sept. 21, Reason: No water supply, (How does a tea house not have water?) Reopened: Sept. 22
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, 1145 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, Closed: Sept. 23, Reason: Cockroach infestation
Class 302 Cafe, 18090 Culver Drive, Irvine, Closed: Sept. 23, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Sept. 25
Dos Toros, 221 Main St., Suite U, Huntington Beach, Closed: Sept. 22, Reason: Cockroach infestation
Commonwealth Mini Market, 3501 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, Closed: Sept. 21, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Sept. 23
Azinoya Teriyaki at Anaheim Marketplace, 1440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Suite G-2, Anaheim, Closed: Sept. 21, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened Sept. 23
BLVD Hotel, 2430 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, Closed: Sept. 21, Reason: Rodent infestation
Broken Yolk Cafe, 2701 Harbor Blvd., Suite E-6, Costa Mesa, Closed: Sept. 17, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Sept. 18
Claim Jumper, 7971 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, Closed: Sept. 17, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Sept. 19
Update: Westend at 814 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa, which was ordered closed Sept. 17 because of a cockroach infestation, was allowed to reopen Sept. 18.
Update: A&J’s Drive-In at 403 S. Brookhurst St., Fullerton, which was ordered closed Sept. 16 because of a cockroach infestation, was allowed to reopen Sept. 24.

Street racers arrested in Fountain Valley

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Editor Posted in automobiles, Crime, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, SAPD, Westminster 17 Comments

On August 1, 2020, at 10:26 PM, FVPD Officers responded to the intersection of Brookhurst and Talbert regarding a car club intersection “take-over.”

Upon Officers arriving on scene, at least one subject in the crowd hurled an unknown object at the Officer’s Police car, causing a large crack to the front windshield.

Upon the arrival of additional Officers, hundreds of subjects began fleeing the area in all directions. Two of these subjects fled in in their vehicle in a reckless manner and Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop. This vehicle continued for nearly 1 mile before eventually yielding.

The driver, Andrew Phan, an 18-year-old resident of Westminster, was arrested for VC 23109(a)-speed contest and VC 2800.1(a)-evading a Peace Officer. The passenger, Khanh Le, a 19-year-old resident of Fountain Valley, was arrested for VC 23109(c)-aid/abet a speed contest. Phan’s modified vehicle was impounded for 30 days. (DR# 20-24674).

Santa Ana man indicted for stealing $783,328 from Boeing employees’ retirement plan

Posted on July 9, 2020 by Editor Posted in Crime, Federal Government, Fraud, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Westminster Leave a comment

LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury today indicted an Orange County man on charges that he fraudulently obtained access to Boeing employees’ retirement accounts and siphoned their money by making hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of fraudulent money transfers to himself.

Hoa Vo, 30, whose aliases include “Hoa Thanh Tran Vo” and “Andy Vo,” of Santa Ana, is charged with three counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

According to the indictment, from January 2019 to June 2019, Vo obtained the personal identifying information of Boeing employees, along with information about their retirement accounts, known as Voluntary Investment Plan (VIP) accounts. Vo then allegedly made fraudulent withdrawal requests for checks and electronic money transfers totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the VIP accounts of various Boeing employees.

Knowing that notifications and checks related to these fraudulent requests would be mailed out, Vo placed holds on the Boeing employees’ mail with the United States Postal Service, the indictment further alleges. Once the mail was held, Vo allegedly intercepted the mail by presenting to a postal employee a fraudulent California driver’s license with a Boeing employee’s personal identifying information, and a fraudulent note purportedly written or signed by the Boeing employee authorizing Vo to pick up the employee’s mail.

Vo allegedly then deposited the stolen checks into a bank account that had been fraudulently opened in a Boeing employee’s name. Vo also cashed checks written to himself from the fraudulently opened bank account by using the Boeing employee’s forged signature, and endorsed the checks himself, according to the indictment.

In total, Vo attempted to obtain approximately $783,328 from Boeing employees’ VIP accounts, and actually obtained approximately $360,847, the indictment alleges.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted of all charges, Vo would face a statutory maximum sentence of 92 years in federal prison.

This matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Huntington Beach Police Department, the Irvine Police Department, and the Westminster Police Department.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel S. Lim of the Santa Ana Branch Office.

Stanton two striker charged with a hate crime after attacking basketball players at a Westminster Park

Posted on July 7, 2020 by Editor Posted in Crime, Hate, OCDA, Racism, Stanton, Westminster 1 Comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Stanton man has been charged with a hate crime for using a hatchet to break out a car window while a man was driving away after an altercation at a park. The man hurled a racial slur for black people at a man playing basketball with his cousins and attempted to punch him before the victim and his fellow basketball players got in the car and attempted to leave.

Christopher Robargae, 33, of Stanton has been charged with one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon, one felony count of violation of civil rights with a violent injury, and a felony enhancement of a hate crime. Robarge has also been charged with one misdemeanor count of vandalism. He pleaded not guilty today.

Robargae has prior strikes for assault with a deadly weapon and burglary. He faces 38 years to life in prison if convicted on all counts.

On June 30, 2020, the victim and his cousins were playing basketball in a Westminster park when a man, later identified as Robargae, is accused of approaching the victim and called him a derogatory name for black people. The man took a swing at the victim, but missed.

The victim and his cousins left the basketball court and attempted to drive away, but Robarge is accused of following them and using a hatchet to smash the driver’s window.

“We have made it incredibly clear at every opportunity, including statements to the media, public appearances and in court filings that hate will be punished to the fullest extent of the law in Orange County. This defendant must not have gotten the message,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The full force of the District Attorney will be behind this case so that this defendant and any other person who tries to hate in the future by an act of violence will know Orange County is not a place to be a hater.”

Robargae is currently being held on $750,000 bail at the Intake Release Center.

Deputy District Attorney Matt Plunket of Special Prosecutions is prosecuting this case.

Westminster Councilman Contreras is leading in fundraising in the race for District 1 of the O.C. Board of Supervisors

Posted on January 30, 2020 by Editor Posted in 2020 Elections, Elections, Orange County, Santa Ana, Sergio Contreras, Westminster Leave a comment

WESTMINSTER, CA — In another significant boost of momentum and demonstration of the strength and viability of his campaign for Orange County Board of Supervisors District 1, today Westminster City Councilmember Sergio Contreras’s campaign announced that he has by far the most net cash-on-hand of anybody in the race, with $78,862 after debts.

Incumbent Supervisor Andrew Do has $60,345 more in debt than cash-on-hand, while Contreras’s main Democratic opponents Miguel Pulido and Kim Nguyen have $25,706 and $6,972 cash-on-hand after debts, respectively.

In response to today’s campaign finance filings, Sergio Contreras’s campaign consultant Mac Zilber released the following statement:

“The people of Orange County are rallying around the common sense, forward-thinking message that Sergio is putting forward, and the Q4 report is just the latest testament to that. This report represents a stunning blow to incumbent Andrew Do — that voters want less politics and more problem solving from their representative on the Board of Supervisors– and underscores Sergio’s place as the best-positioned Democrat in the race. Sergio leads the field of candidates in endorsements and fundraising by a wide margin, demonstrating his broad-based support and that he is far and away the strongest candidate to flip the seat red-to-blue. We are encouraged by Councilmember Contreras’s strong performance and deeply grateful for the support our campaign has received from constituents across the 1st District and will continue working hard to expand his coalition of support in the weeks ahead.”

Previously, Councilmember Sergio Contreras announced the following endorsements:

Organizations:

Democratic Party of Orange County
Orange County Labor Federation (OCLF)
California Nurses Association (CNA)
SEIU – USWW
SEIU 2015
American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 36
American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME) United Domestic Workers (UDW) Local 3930
American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2076
American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1734
Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA) Local 652
International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 12
International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 501
National Union of Healthcare Workers
United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers Local 220
Painters & Allied Trades District Council 36
UNITE HERE Local 11
Ironworkers Local 433
Ironworkers Local 416
UFCW Local 324
Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties

Elected Officials:

U.S. Congressman Alan Lowenthal
U.S. Congresswoman Linda Sanchez
U.S. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (Ret.)
California State Senator Lena Gonzalez
California State Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva
California State Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris
California Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell
California State Senator Josh Newman (Ret.)
Garden Grove School Board Trustee Walter Muneton
Garden Grove School Board Trustee Teri Rocco
Garden Grove Councilmember Kris Beard (Ret.)
Westminster School Boardmember Jamison Power
Westminster School Boardmember Amy Walsh (Ret.)
Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley
Costa Mesa Councilman Manuel Chavez
Rancho Community College Trustee Lawrence Labrado
Santa Ana Unified School District President Valerie Amezcua
Santa Ana Councilmember Sal Tinajero (Ret.)
Santa Ana Councilmember David Benavides (Ret.)
Santa Ana School Board Trustee Alfonso Alvarez
Anaheim Elementary School Boardmember Juan Gabriel Alvarez
Anaheim Elementary School Boardmember Ryan Ruelas
Anaheim Elementary School Boardmember Dr. Jose Pablo Magcalas
Anaheim Elementary School Boardmember D.R. Heywood (Ret.)
Anaheim Union High School District Clerk of the Board, Annemarie Randle-Trejo
Huntington Beach Union High School District Trustee Duane Dishno
Fullerton School Boardmember Aaruni Thakur
Oceanview School District Vice President Gina Clayton-Tarvin
Midway City Sanitary District Director Margie L. Rice

The first Supervisorial District includes the cities of Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Westminster, the unincorporated community of Midway City, and parts of Fountain Valley. The first Supervisorial District is 42% Democratic and 24% Republican by registration – making it one of the most flippable major local offices in California.

Sergio Contreras, a husband, father, homeowner, and registered Democrat, has served on the Westminster City Council since 2012, where he successfully championed the largest upgrade to Westminster’s park system since 1996, encompassing 22 park facilities and representing a $10.4 million investment in the community. Contreras oversaw the city’s first general plan update in decades. He also placed emergency call boxes in all Westminster parks to enhance public safety, and fought to place outdoor exercise equipment in local parks to improve public health.

Contreras previously served on the Westminster School Board from 2004 to 2012, including serving as president of the board in 2012. On the School Board, Contreras helped pass a $130 million school bond to modernize Westminster’s school facilities and make them safer. In that role, he established an all-day kindergarten system, making Westminster School District the first in Orange County to provide day-long kindergarten at all school sites. Contreras also increased access to music and arts programs districtwide, while expanding after-school programs.

Now, Contreras works as the Senior Director of Education and Healthy Schools for the Orange County United Way where he creates strategic community partnerships to empower students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. Contreras lives in Westminster with his wife Adriana, where their children Sergio III and Chloe attend local schools.

Recently, Contreras’s upbringing and life’s story was featured in the OC Weekly, which you can find here.

For more information visit: https://www.sergiocontrerasforsupervisor.com

Westminster man arrested in $20 million health care insurance fraud and kickback scheme

Posted on January 30, 2020 by Editor Posted in Fraud, OCDA, Westminster Leave a comment

LOS ANGELES/ORANGE, Calif. — Bradley Dean Groscost, 59, of Westminster, and Felix Koltsov, 57, of Beverly Hills, self-surrendered last week to the Orange County Central Justice Center after being charged with multiple felony counts of insurance fraud, money laundering, and unlawful referrals for allegedly conspiring to bill insurers in excess of $20 million as part of a kickback referral scheme.

“These co-conspirators allegedly ordered screenings and prescriptions for patients in order to enrich themselves, as part of a kickback referral scheme,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “By investigating health care fraud, my department is helping keep insurance costs down for all California consumers and businesses.”

From 2014 to 2017, Groscost operated five workers’ compensation clinics in Southern California. Doing business as DSJ MGT, Inc. in Fountain Valley, Groscost controlled treatments, referrals, and medical and financial records at the clinics even though he was not licensed to practice medicine.

The Department of Insurance’s investigation, with the assistance of the National Insurance Crime Bureau, discovered that Groscost allegedly received approximately $2.1 million in kickbacks from Koltsov, owner of LFPS Inc. and Resource Pharmacy Inc., for patient referrals for urine drug screenings and compound cream prescriptions. Koltsov’s companies billed workers’ compensation insurance carriers over $20 million for these claims.

The investigation also revealed that Groscost allegedly failed to report employees to the Employment Development Department (EDD) and paid them as independent contractors. He failed to report over $5.1 million in wages to EDD and as a result, avoided paying over $510,000 in taxes. As of July 5, 2019, Groscost owed EDD over $1.6 million in taxes, penalties, and interest.

“These fraudulent workers’ compensation claims funnel resources away from injured workers and make it more difficult to provide the treatment to those workers who truly need it,” said District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is collaborating with the California Department of Insurance to crack down on workers’ compensation fraud and preserve resources for the truly injured.”

This case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Christine Oh of the Insurance Fraud Unit of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Koltsov surrendered to the court on January 22, 2020, and posted bail of $500,000. Groscost surrendered to the court on January 24, 2020, and remains in custody. His bail is set at $500,000.