New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: Crime

Sixteen uninsured drivers charged with insurance fraud after filing auto accident claims

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

SIXTEEN UNINSURED DRIVERS CHARGED WITH INSURANCE FRAUD AFTER GETTING INTO CAR ACCIDENTS AND FILING FRAUDULENT INSURANCE CLAIMS

SANTA ANA – Sixteen uninsured drivers were charged with insurance fraud for attempting to purchase an insurance policy, reinstate a lapsed policy, or add additional coverage after being involved in a car accident. The defendants below each face a maximum sentence ranging from one year in jail for misdemeanors to five years in state prison for the felony charges with enhancements. The defendants charged in these cases were a part of Operation Crash and Buy, which was a statewide operation cracking down on fraudulent insurance claims from uninsured drivers.

“Unfortunately, this type of insurance crime is surprisingly common,” said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. “Insurance fraud is an expensive drain on the state’s economy that totals into the billions of dollars annually in California. This is not a victimless crime. The costs of these scams are passed along to consumers through higher rates and premiums–everyone pays for insurance fraud.” Continue reading→

SAPD seeks help in identifying suspect who shot and killed 15-year-old Edgar Campos

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Homicide Detectives Request Public Assistance in Shooting Death of 15 Year Old Victim

Victim: Edgar Jovany Campos (15) Santa Ana

Details: On Friday, 11-07-2014, at approximately 6:40 PM, officers responded to the area of 400 North Laurel (located in Councilman Roman Reyna’s Ward 5) reference a male who had been shot. When officers arrived, they located the 15-year old victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper torso. OCFA Paramedics responded to the scene and transported the victim to UCI Medical Center for treatment.

SAPD Homicide Detectives responded to the scene to take over the investigation. Their preliminary investigation revealed the victim was walking in the area of 400 North Laurel when suspect(s) in a vehicle fired an unknown type firearm at the victim striking him once in the upper torso. The suspect vehicle then fled in an unknown direction after the shooting. There is currently no description for the vehicle or any suspect(s) at this time. Continue reading→

Drunk driver arrested after hitting several cars and an ambulance

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Westminster Leave a comment

A suspected drunken driver was arrested Wednesday, after leading police on a pursuit that ended with the vehicle crashing into an ambulance, at about 4:40 p.m., at Bristol Street and McFadden Avenue, according to the O.C. Register.

During the chase, which started in Westminster and led to Santa Ana, the suspect was involved in a total of four collisions, including one at Newhope Street and Edinger Avenue, according to Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna, according to MYNEWSLA. Continue reading→

15-year-old boy shot in Reyna’s Ward 5 is now on life support

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Politics, Public Safety, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Police say a 15-year-old boy was on life support at UCI Medical Center in Orange on Tuesday following a shooting in an alleyway last week, according to the O.C. Register.

The incident happened at about 6:40 p.m. Friday in the 400 block of North Laurel Street, which is in Santa Ana Councilman Roman Reyna’s Ward 5. Police say the shooting was gang related. Continue reading→

Young woman arrested after leading police on a chase that started and ended in Santa Ana

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

A 20-year-old woman named Kimberly Camacho was arrested after leading police on a pursuit in an allegedly stolen car through multiple Orange County cities Friday evening, according to the O.C. Register.

The chase began in the 1600 block of East First Street at around 4:28 p.m., when Santa Ana police officers observed a white sedan that matched a description of one reported stolen from Garden Grove, said Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department, according to Fox News.

Continue reading→

Eight men charged with trying to hook up with prostitutes in Orange County

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

November 6, 2014

EIGHT MEN CONVICTED OF LOITERING WITH THE INTENT TO COMMIT PROSTITUTION OR ENGAGING/AGREEING TO ENGAGE IN PROSTITUTION

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) convicted eight men in October 2014 of loitering with the intent to commit prostitution or engaging/agreeing to engage in prostitution. The defendants in these cases approached a woman, whom they believed to be a prostitute, loitering in areas known for prostitution and human trafficking in Orange County. Some defendants agreed to engage in commercial sex with a woman and were subsequently arrested by law enforcement.

The Santa Ana Police Department, Brea Police Department, Irvine Police Department, Garden Grove Police Department, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) investigated these cases. Deputy District Attorney Kelly Manley of the HEAT Unit prosecuted these cases. Continue reading→

The OCDA is seeking additional victims of man who sodomized victims he met through Craigslist

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, OCDA Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14WF4079

Date: November 6, 2014

LAW ENFORCEMENT SEEKS PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF MAN CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT AFTER MEETING VICTIMS THROUGH CRAIGSLIST

WESTMINSTER – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the Garden Grove Police Department (GGPD) are seeking the public’s help with identifying potential additional victims of a man charged with sexual assault after meeting his victims through Craigslist. Blaise Ryan Christie, 32, Garden Grove, is charged with two felony counts of sodomy by force with sentencing enhancement allegations for committing the specified offense against more than one victim. If convicted, Christie faces a maximum sentence of 30 years to life in state prison. He is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 3, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. in Department W-1, West Justice Center, Westminster.

Between September 2014 and October 2014, Christie is accused of posting an advertisement on Craigslist soliciting someone for companionship, offering thousands of dollars a week. On two separate occasions, Christie is accused of meeting with 24-year-old Jane Doe #1 and 20-year-old Jane Doe #2, engaging in consensual sex, and forcibly sodomizing the victims. Continue reading→

Man sentenced for killing a 17-year-old rival in Fountain Valley

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

November 6, 2014

Case # 12WF2176

MAN SENTENCED 18 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR SHOOTING-MURDER OF RIVAL 17-YEAR-OLD

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced yesterday, Nov. 5, 2014, to 18 years to life in state prison for shooting and murdering a 17-year-old rival. Reda Hassan Safieddine, 21, Fountain Valley, was found guilty by a jury Sept. 18, 2014, of one felony count of second degree murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death and one misdemeanor count of brandishing a firearm.

At the time of the crime, Safieddine, then 18-years-old, and the victim had an ongoing rivalry. A few hours before the shooting on Aug. 13, 2012, the defendant encountered the victim and argued with him in a residential neighborhood in Santa Ana. After the verbal confrontation, Safieddine and the victim went separate ways. Continue reading→

Garden Grove church leader charged with lewd acts and having sex with a child

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Churches and Religion, Crime, Garden Grove, OCDA Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718

Date: November 6, 2014

LAW ENFORCEMENT SEEKS POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF VOLUNTEER CHURCH LEADER CHARGED WITH UNLAWFUL SEXUAL INTERCOURSE AND LEWD ACTS UPON A CHILD

WESTMINSTER – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the Garden Grove Police Department (GGPD) are seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a volunteer church leader who is charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a child and committing lewd acts upon a child. Vincent Daniel Lavello, 50, Garden Grove, is charged with one felony count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child at least ten years younger than the defendant and six felony counts of lewd acts upon a child. If convicted, Lavello faces a maximum sentence of five years in jail. The defendant is being held on $50,000 bail. His arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 5, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. in Department W-1, West Justice Center, Westminster.

At the time of the crime, Lavello was a volunteer church leader at Calvary Chapel West Grove in Garden Grove. Continue reading→

Westminster man charged with DUI accident that killed a passenger, who was left in a gutter

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, OCDA, Westminster Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14WF3770

Date: November 7, 2014

DRUNKEN DRIVER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR MURDER FOR CRASHING INTO BRICK WALL AND REMOVING PASSENGER FROM VEHICLE AND LEAVING VICTIM IN GUTTER

SANTA ANA – A drunken driver is scheduled to be arraigned today for murder for crashing into a brick wall and removing the passenger from the vehicle and leaving the victim in the gutter. Jonathan Samoff, 25, Westminster, is charged with one felony count of murder. If convicted, Samoff faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison. Samoff is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled for continued arraignment today, Nov. 7, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department W-2, West Justice Center, Westminster.

At approximately 3:15 a.m. on March 8, 2014, Samoff is accused of driving while under the influence of alcohol and speeding in the City of Westminster. Samoff is accused of crashing the vehicle into a brick wall and landing on the sidewalk in front of a light-pole. The defendant is accused of causing the crash that killed 26-year-old passenger Isaias Tang. Samoff is accused of removing Tang from the vehicle and leaving him in the gutter. Continue reading→

15-year-old boy shot in Roman Reyna’s Ward 5

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 7 Comments

Police say a 15-year-old boy was hospitalized in critical condition after he was shot in an alleyway Friday night at about 6:40 p.m. in the 400 block of North Laurel Street, according to Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department, according to the OC Register.

The boy was shot in City Councilman Roman Reyna’s Ward 5. Reyna lost badly in this year’s Santa Ana Mayoral election after a picture of him with two hard core gang bangers emerged on Facebook. The picture cost Reyna every single law enforcement endorsement and he was hammered with campaign mailers that touted his alleged gang connections. Continue reading→

Funeral and church services set for the three girls killed by a hit and run driver on Halloween

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Churches and Religion, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Funeral and church services for the three girls killed by a hit and run driver in north Santa Ana on Halloween have been set, according to information posted at the makeshift memorial that neighbors and friends and family of the deceased have erected on the 1400 block of East Fairhaven Avenue near Jacaranda Street.

A rosary for Andrea Gonzalez will be held from 5-9 p.m. Friday at Holy Family Cathedral, with services scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, which is located at 566 S. Glassell St. in Orange. Gonzalez’ family is welcoming all who want to come to the service to attend.

A wake for twin sisters Lexi and Lexandra Perez Huerta, will be held tonight, Friday, from 6-9 p.m., at Funeraria del Angel, which is also known as MacDougall Family Mortuary, located at 1610 E. First St., in Santa Ana, with services scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, located at 1322 E. Third St., in Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Garden Grove Nail Salon Manager sentenced for pimping out one of her employees

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Garden Grove Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

November 4, 2014

Case # 14CF1482

NAIL SALON MANAGER SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS AND TWO MONTHS IN PRISON FOR ATTEMPTED PIMPING OF EMPLOYEE

SANA ANA – A nail salon manager was convicted and sentenced today to two years and two months in state prison for the attempted pimping of an employee. Cam Da Le, 48, Garden Grove, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of attempted pimping.

Circumstances of the Case

On April 30, 2014, Le instructed 25-year-old Jane Doe to perform commercial sex acts on a customer of a nail salon they both worked at. Le collected all of the money the victim earned while performing sex acts and only paid the victim the tips she collected.

The Orange Police Department (OPD) conducted an investigation as to whether the nail salon was acting as a brothel. Le derived support from the earning and proceeds of the prostitution of Jane Doe knowing she was working as a prostitute. The defendant caused, induced, persuaded, and encouraged Jane Doe to prostitute and to agree to engage in commercial sex acts with an OPD undercover officer. Continue reading→

Mother ruled sane when she tried to kill her two kids by stabbing them while they slept

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Westminster Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 09WF1952

Date: November 3, 2014

MOTHER FOUND SANE FOR PREMEDITATING AND DELIBERATELY CARRYING OUT ATTEMPTED MURDER OF HER TWO YOUNG CHILDREN BY STABBING THEM WHILE THEY WERE ASLEEP

*Previous jury found her guilty of attempted murders

SANTA ANA – A mother was found by a jury Friday to have been sane and had premeditated and deliberately carried out the attempted murder of her two young children by stabbing them while they were asleep. Thuy Thi Le, 43, Westminster, was found guilty by a jury Feb. 4, 2014, of two felony counts each of attempted murder, and child abuse and endangerment with sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a deadly weapon and committing great bodily injury. This case was a retrial of the sentencing enhancement for premeditation and deliberation related to her attempted murder conviction as a former jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, finding 11 to one for the sentencing enhancement to be true. A unanimous jury found the sentencing enhancement to be true on Oct. 27, 2014, which makes the punishment an indeterminate “to life” sentence. Le faces a maximum sentence of two life sentences plus five years in state prison at her sentencing Jan. 16, 2015, at 1:30 p.m. in Department C-39, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

LAPD officer charged with lewd acts with a girl and exposing himself in Huntington Beach

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Huntington Beach 1 Comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

November 5, 2014

Case # 14WF4144

LAW ENFORCEMENT SEEKS POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF LAPD OFFICER ARRESTED ON CHARGES FOR ATTEMPTED LEWD ACT WITH 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND INDECENT EXPOSURE TO FIVE FEMALE VICTIMS

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) and the Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) are seeking potential additional victims of a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer arrested on charges for attempting to commit a lewd act with a 12-year-old girl and indecent exposure to five female victims in Huntington Beach. Ryan Eric Galliher, 33, Huntington Beach, is charged with one felony count of attempted lewd act upon a child under 14 years old, one felony count of contacting a minor with the intent to commit a lewd act, five misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure, and one misdemeanor count of engaging in lewd conduct. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. Galliher is out of custody on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 5, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department W-2, West Justice Center, Westminster.

At the time of the crimes, Galliher was employed as an officer with the LAPD. Continue reading→