Orange County District Attorney Press Release, For Immediate Release: May 22, 2012
Contacts:
Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486
MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR EMBEZZLING OVER $350,000 IN EMPLOYEE WAGES FROM PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS AND FILING FALSE TAX RETURNS TO HIDE THEFT
*This is the first prosecution in Orange County for fraud related to a public works contract
SANTA ANA – A man will be arraigned on an indictment tomorrow for embezzling over $350,000 in employee wages from public work contracts and filing false tax returns to hide his theft. This is the first prosecution of its kind in Orange County for fraud related to a public works contract. Reza Mohammedi, 57, Tustin, is charged with 15 felony counts of failing to file a return with the intent to evade tax, 15 felony counts of willful failure to pay tax, seven felony counts of taking and receiving a portion of a worker’s wage on public work, six felony counts of recording false and forged instruments, and three felony counts of filing false tax returns. He also faces sentencing enhancement allegations for loss exceeding $100,000 and property damage over $200,000 and a prior strike conviction for criminal threats in 1999. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum sentence of 48 years in state prison. The defendant is being held on $500,000 bail and must prove the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. Reza is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, May 23, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-5, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading
