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Tag Archives: fraud

Scammers pretending to be law enforcement, on the phone

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

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Orange County Sheriff’s Department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, (714) 904-7042/Gail Krause, (714) 647-1840

Law Enforcement Phone Scams Soliciting Money

YORBA LINDA, CA – (November 19, 2013) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department advises the public to be aware of phone scams involving subjects pretending to be law enforcement personnel. Several instances of this type of fraud have been occurring throughout Orange County.

On Tuesday, October 29 a male subject, fraudulently identifying himself as Lieutenant Mike Stevens with the Orange County Warrant Division, called Lorraine Johnson, 69, of Yorba Linda, and told her that an arrest warrant had been issued for her failure to appear in court on a traffic citation. Stevens told her the violation was captured by a traffic camera in Yorba Linda. He also told the victim there was a glitch in the system and the notice to appear in court was never mailed to her. Stevens told her the bail amount was $365 and that he could help her pay her bail. Stevens instructed Johnson to purchase a “MoneyPak” card and provide the card number to him so he could pay her bail. He also advised the victim to stay on the phone with him while she purchased the card just in case she was pulled over by a police officer. He said he could explain to the officer what she was doing so that she would not be arrested on the warrant. Continue reading→

SAPD says suspects are pretending to be cops and are demanding money

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SAPD

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: SAPD advises community of Fraud Alert Suspect spoofing phones with law enforcement phone numbers.

Since September, 2013, the Santa Ana Police Department has had several cases where victims receive a call from a suspect posing as a debt collector. The victims are then told they would be arrested if the debt is not paid and are instructed to pay through PayPal or other electronic means. Continue reading→

There were red flags about Kinde Durkee, but Solorio hired her anyway

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Democratic Party, Jose Solorio, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Details are now coming out about “Prominent Democratic campaign treasurer Kindee Durkee” who was finally arrested by the FBI this weekend — more than four years after the Chronicle reported complaints that she was involved in a fake “Californians for Obama” campaign that ripped off unsuspecting donors, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Chronicle also noted that Durkee was listed as treasurer for a “California for Obama” campaign that sold itself as raising money for the campaign of then-Senator Barack Obama. It scooped up thousands in checks from Californians through promotions ranging from celebrity-studded cruises to campaign office “grand openings,” the Chronicle reported in July 2007. Continue reading→

Treasurer who worked with Correa, Sanchez and Solorio arrested by the FBI

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Democratic Party, Jose Solorio, Loretta Sanchez, Lou Correa, Michele Martinez, Politics, Santa Ana 5 Comments

Kindee Durkee photo by Henry V

Kinde Durkee of Burbank-based Durkee and Associates, a prominent Democratic campaign treasurer who works for federal, state and O.C. lawmakers including U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Rep. Loretta Sanchez and state legislators Lou Correa and Jose Solorio, has been arrested by the FBI on suspicion of mail fraud, according to The Orange County Register.

State Sen. Lou Correa of Santa Ana told the Register the FBI notified him late Friday that he was one of many victims. Correa said he believes he has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds. Durkee had been his campaign treasurer since 1995, according to the Huffington Post.

Correa quickly posted a response on Facebook: Continue reading→

Amezcua wrecked by new mailers divulging his traffic record and support for criminals

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Crime, Elections, Lawyers, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Mayoral Candidate Alfredo Amezcua was completely wrecked today by a pair of mailers that highlighted his defense of gang bangers and drug dealers, and the fraud he committeed while receiving 19 traffic tickets.

In the criminal mailer, Amezcua’s law practice specialties are quoted.  They include working for “dead beat dads,” which is something he should know about; child molesters and sex offenders; gang members; and even drunk drivers.

Amezcua has been harping a lot about crime, but thanks to him a lot of criminals are running free today.

The mailer even discloses that Amezcua represented someone who raped a 13-year old girl, and then he tried to kill her after she reported the incident!

I wonder how many of these guys are walking precincts for Amezcua?

Amezcua really got burned in the mailer about his traffic record.  He clearly got caught altering court records in order to protect what is left of his driving record.  This is fraud!  So much for his talk about integrity.  We now know better.

In related news, Amezcua sent out another fraudulent mailer claiming that he has the support of Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.  No, he doesn’t.  He is a liar.  He will do and say anything to get elected.

I drove by Usual Suspect Debbie McEwens’s house today.  She is the lady who put up traffic barriers in French Park, to keep the Mexicans out.  Now she has an Amezcua sign in her yard.  She might change her mind after she sees these mailers!  But that aside, why would Amezcua seek the support of a woman who cannot stand his own people?

You can see the traffic mailer at this link.

Alfredo Amezcua caught using different names on a host of driving violations

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Elections, Lawyers, Miguel Pulido, Public Safety, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Picture Courtesy of the Amezcua Facts Blog

Alfredo Amezcua is finally sending out mail this week, but the timing is a bit off given the allegations that have come up regarding his driving violations.

Amezcua’s mailers talk a lot about honesty, integrity and public safety, but the reality is that Amezcua has been caught red-handed lying about his name, presumably in order to avoid damaging his driving record.

The problem for Amezcua is that anyone can peruse the Orange County court criminal records and pull up his multitude of driving violations.  Once you do so, it is easy to spot how he has gone about altering his name, from one case to the next, as has been pointed out in the new Amezcua Facts blog.

Call this what you will, but in the end it is fraud.  That is bad enough but what are we to make of a guy who can’t seem to figure out how to drive without getting moving violations?

Santa Ana leads the county in accidents involving pedestrians.  Let’s face it – every time Amezcua gets behind the wheel, pedestrians are in trouble!

But don’t take my word for it, see for yourself.  Go to this link.  Now click below on “Criminal and Traffic Case Access.”  Next click on “Accept Terms,” and then enter his name in the box below, which looks like this:

Next you will see a bunch of cases, which look like this:

Now click on any of the blue cases you see highlighted on the left.  When you do so, click on the “names” field and you will get something like this:

Notice all the shenanigans Amezcua is up to with regard to his name.  He always is his own attorney too, as no other attorney would be willing to play these games.

Next go back and search for “Alfonso” Amezcua and “Manuel” Amezcua, and “Alfredo Manuel” Amezcua.  You will see that this guy has a ton of tickets, for all sorts of violations, and he uses every trick in the book to preserve his driving record, except actually driving by the rules!

Imagine what Amezcua would do as Mayor if he would go to such lengths to lie to the traffic courts?  This is of course a serious matter, that could in fact lead to Amezcua being disbarred and perhaps prosecuted by the State Attorney General.

One of Amezcua’s mailers states that we need a Mayor our kids can be proud of.  Well, that certainly isn’t Amezcua!

Since Amezcua didn’t live in RSCCD District 3, shouldn’t he return his pay?

Posted on by Posted in 2010 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Civic Affairs, Elections, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

A few weeks ago we came across startling evidence that Alfredo Amezcua, who is challenging Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido in the general election, was registered at an address outside of District 3 of the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Education, when he was first appointed then later elected to that seat.

Amezcua lives a few blocks outside of District 3.  He later registered to vote at his law office, on Broadway, but he never really lived there.

Since Amezcua really didn’t live in the Rancho district while he campaigned and served, shouldn’t we ask him to pay back what he defrauded the District taxpayers for, over $92,000?

He served from 2003-2008.  Amezcua was appointed to the board (vacated seat) 9-2003.  He was elected (4 year term) 11-2004.  He did not run for re-election in 11-2008.

While on the Rancho Board, Amezcua received annually:

  • $9,000 Trustee salary
  • $9,500 insurance coverage (PPO)
  • $18.5k x 5 years = $92,500.

Amezcua has never admitted why he quit the Rancho Board.  Now he is screaming every day about transparency.  Al, why did you quit the Rancho Board?

The City of Santa Ana strikes back at Glen Stroud and his fraudulent Grand Jury report

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Development, Lawyers, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Ousted Santa Ana City Commissioners Glen Stroud and Tish Leon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David N. Ream
May 24, 2010 City of Santa Ana
(714) 647-5200

Santa Ana, CA – The City of Santa Ana has received the Grand Jury report and is currently preparing a response. Although we respect the work and the role of the Grand Jury, we have tremendous concerns with the findings and believe their process was filled with inaccuracies and only serves to confuse the public. The reality is that this transit project is on schedule, under budget and successfully moving forward.

“The facts are that this is one of the biggest infrastructure projects our city has ever undertaken and it is currently on schedule and under budget. The public process we went through to select a team of consultants was transparent and without any wrongdoing, which is what the Grand Jury report ultimately notes. The contract with the hybrid team that the City Council selected is $2,195,470 below the original bid recommended by staff,” stated Mayor Miguel A. Pulido.

Additionally, the project is on schedule and continues to be administered effectively by the Orange County Transportation Authority. “As part of the Go Local process, OCTA has been working extremely closely with the City of Santa Ana including its staff, consultants, and elected officials. OCTA has provided oversight of the project, and we are pleased with the progress and work done to date,” stated CEO of OCTA Will Kempton.

The City is excited about this project and is confident that it will continue to move forward smoothly and without deficiencies. “The contract was not flawed and we recognize that the Grand Jury found no illegal actions by the City. There was no factual violation of the Brown Act and no secret meetings. It is the responsibility of councilmembers to meet with their constituents, including business owners who are seeking to do work in the community. All meetings regarding the merits of the project were properly noticed. The recommendations in the report are general and benign. We have reinforced our existing City policies by adopting improved RFP/RFQ guidelines to ensure the decision making process continues to be transparent in the view of our residents,” stated City Manager David N. Ream.

Based on the above mentioned facts, the Grand Jury findings are inconsistent and are in direct conflict with reality. City Attorney Joe Fletcher stated: “The mission of the Grand Jury in this setting is to conduct investigations regarding the administration and affairs of cities in Orange County and to make recommendations as it may deem proper and fit. This report has gone beyond that mission to infer inappropriate or unethical conduct on the part of city officials without any factual basis for such conclusions. Despite innuendo to the contrary, the report contains no evidence of illegal or unethical conduct and often relies upon misstatements of legal standards and misinterpretation of applicable statutes.”

Furthermore, Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez stated “I am deeply concerned with the fact that a disgruntled, fired city commissioner with an obvious bias was allowed to thereafter serve as a member of the Grand Jury in this investigation. An objective fair and impartial jury goes to the heart of the American justice system. By his participation in deliberations, investigations and votes, Mr. Glenn Stroud has compromised the integrity of the Orange County Grand Jury and tainted this entire investigation. The residents of this county deserve better.”

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Click here to read the City of Santa Ana’s response to the Judge.  Be sure to read it.  Councilman David Benavides took money from both George Pla and Glen and Julie Stroud.