Join District Attorney Tony Rackauckas and Supervisor Andrew Do for a Westminster Community Event
You are invited to join Supervisor Andrew Do and District Attorney Tony Rackauckas for a Scam Prevention Seminar.
Orange County is helping residents stay one step ahead of the scammers. Join this free public event to learn how to spot a scam, protect your credit and fight back against identity thieves. Continue reading
Two men, from Santa Ana and Garden Grove, and a 17-year-old boy from Westminster were arrested on Sunday on suspicion of committing two robberies minutes apart in Westminster, according to the O.C. Register.
The Westminster police responded at 6:30 p.m. to a report about a robbery in the 9800 block of Bolsa Avenue. A woman was allegedly robbed by three suspects, one of whom was armed with a gun. They took her purse.
Even as the police were investigating that robbery, the brazen trio committed another robbery, at the 14700 block of Bowling Green Street, where they reportedly hit a man on the head and took his property. Continue reading
PRESS RELEASE, COUNTY OF ORANGE – HEALTH CARE AGENCY
For Immediate Release: 1/27/15
Contact: (714) 834-2178
COUNTY OF ORANGE REPORTS FIRST INFLUENZA-RELATED DEATH
(Santa Ana) – The County of Orange Health Care Agency has confirmed Orange County’s first influenza-related death in a person under 65 this season. The Public Health laboratory confirmed that the 50 year-old male, who was a resident of Westminster, was infected with influenza B virus.
“This is a sad and somber reminder of the serious threat posed by influenza,” County Health Officer Dr. Eric Handler said. “It is important for everyone to continue practicing good respiratory and hand hygiene to limit the transmission of influenza germs from person to person, and to get vaccinated.” Continue reading
Abdul Rashad Bynum, a resident of Westminster, is believed to have shot his girlfriend during an argument on Monday, at around 5:30 p.m., at a home located at the 15100 block of Vermont St., southwest of Bolsa and Goldenwest, according to the O.C. Register.
Bynum, 31-years-old, fled from the scene after allegedly shooting his girlfriend. She was taken to a local hospital with injuries described as non-life threatening. Continue reading
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE
Case # 15NF3329
December 16, 2015
*Incident captured on GoPro camera
FULLERTON, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) and the Anaheim Police Department (APD) are seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a security guard charged with posing as a police officer and forcibly raping a human trafficking victim. Raul Antonio Ramos, 27, Westminster, is charged with one felony count each of forcible rape, rape by threat to arrest, forcible oral copulation, oral copulation under the color of authority, and impersonating an officer, with a sentencing enhancement allegation for committing the sexual assault during the commission of a burglary. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 50 years to life in state prison. Ramos is in custody on $1 million bail. He was charged and arraigned yesterday, Dec. 15, 2015, and is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on Jan. 13, 2016, at 8:3 0 a.m. in Department N-3, North Justice Center, Fullerton.
Ramos is employed as a security guard in Santa Ana. Continue reading
Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2015
Two Other Money Laundering Indictments Unsealed as Part of Operation “Phantom Bank”
Federal authorities today arrested 11 defendants named in a sweeping racketeering indictment alleging a series of money laundering schemes that revolved around the former head of Saigon National Bank, based in Westminster, California, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker of the Central District of California. Four other defendants, who are named in separate indictments, were also arrested today.
The majority of the defendants arrested today are named in a racketeering indictment that was returned on Dec. 1 by a federal grand jury and unsealed today along with two other indictments returned by the grand jury over the past year. The three indictments charge a total of 20 defendants. Continue reading
Barry Moore
Santa Ana Police Department
Advisory: SAPD Detectives Arrest Suspect For Multiple Counts Of Sexual Assault
At approximately 4:30 pm on November 10, 2015, Santa Ana Police Special Crimes Section detectives arrested 33-year-old Barry Moore for multiple counts of sexual assault. Moore’s victims included two minors and one adult. Moore was arrested in Westminster, California without incident.
The case involved Moore and three (3) females between the ages of 14 and 22. Two of the sexual assaults occurred in 2010 and one in 2013. The crimes occurred in Santa Ana and Garden Grove. Continue reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 30, 2015
CONTACT: Brian Probolsky, brian.probolsky@ocgov.com, (714) 834-3110
Get Your Flu Shot! Supervisor Andrew Do hosts Free Flu Shots Events in Westminster and Santa Ana
(Santa Ana, CA)— It’s time to get your free flu shot. This November, Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do will be hosting two free flu shot events in Westminster and Santa Ana. Both events are co-sponsored by the Orange County Health Care Agency and run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Continue reading
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE
Case # 15CF2249
Date: October 2, 2015
SANTA ANA, Calif. – Six family members are scheduled to be arraigned today for defrauding over $100,000 in government subsidies by falsifying information to receive housing assistance. The defendants are each being held on $175,000 bail and must prove the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned today, Oct. 2, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.
Charges
Thang Chinh Ly, 66, and Thu Ha Le, 53, both of Westminster, are each charged with one felony count of aid by misrepresentation, one felony count of grand theft by public housing fraud, and sentencing enhancement allegations for over $100,000 loss, aggravated white collar crime over $100,000, property damage or loss over $65,000. Thang Ly is additionally charged with seven felony counts of perjury by declaration and Le is additionally charged with six felony counts of perjury by declaration. If convicted, Thang Ly faces a maximum sentence of 13 years and four months in state prison and Le faces a maximum sentence of 12 years and eight months in state prison. Continue reading
NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org
Murder Suspect Arrested
WESTMINSTER, Calif. (September 11, 2015) – On Friday, September 11, 2015, Orange County Sheriff’s Department Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) deputies arrested Craig Tanber, 37, Dana Point, wanted in connection with the stabbing homicide that occurred last Monday, September 7, 2015 in front of the Patsy’s Irish Pub in the City of Laguna Niguel. Tanber was taken into custody without incident or injuries.
Tanber was arrested at approximately 6:15 a.m. this morning after investigators obtained information he was staying at the Motel 6 at 13100 Goldenwest Street., Westminster. SWAT operators made entry into the motel room and safely took Tanber into custody. Continue reading
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE
Case # 14WF4259
Date: August 28, 2015
*Items included Apple iPhones, iPads, smartphones, and cameras. Third co-defendant in this case is a fugitive
WESTMINSTER, Calif. – Two men were sentenced today formoney laundering and conspiring to sell counterfeit electronic goods valued at nearly $3 million, including counterfeit iPhones and iPads, following an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) and the Fountain Valley Police Department (FVPD).
RatebSaid Najjar, 60, and his son, Eyad Rateb Najjar, 36, both of Westminster, pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to commit trademark counterfeiting, one felony count of trademark counterfeiting, one felony count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one felony count of money laundering, and sentencing enhancements for the value of the counterfeit merchandise seized over $1.3 million and money laundering over $2.5 million. Both defendants were each sentenced to eight years and four months in jail stayed pending the completion of three years formal probation, ordered to serve one year in jail and ordered to forfeit over $500,000 in cash assets to the County of Orange General Fund. Continue reading
Lam Thanh Nguyen
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE
Case # 95WF0682
MEDIA ADVISORY: August 13, 2015
WHO: Supreme Court of California
WHAT: Affirmed the death penalty sentence of Lam Thanh Nguyen who was found guilty by a jury on July 6, 1998, of two felony counts of murder with special circumstances for committing multiple murders, two felony counts of attempted murder, three felony counts of street terrorism, with sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury, using a firearm in the commission of murder and attempted murder, and vicariously armed with a firearm in committing an attempted murder.
In 1994 and 1995, Nguyen was a member of a Vietnamese criminal street gang and was involved in several shootings and violent crimes against a rival Vietnamese criminal street gang. On July 21, 1994, Nguyen was involved in a drive-by shooting where a rival gang member was shot, paralyzing him from the neck down. Continue reading
Westminster DMV, Picture Courtesy of Yelp
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE
Case # 15WF0525
Date: July 17, 2015
WESTMINSTER, Calif. – A Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) employee was convicted and sentenced today for accepting bribes from customers in exchange for providing California driver’s licenses (CDL). Jose Alberto Carrillo, 47, Fresno, pleaded guilty to the court to two felony counts of altering public documents and two felony counts of computer access and fraud. He was sentenced to one year in jail stayed pending completion of 40 hours of community service and three years formal probation, over the objection of the People.
At the time of the crimes, Carrillo worked as a Motor Vehicle Representative at the Westminster DMV Office. Continue reading
Reps. Loretta Sanchez and Alan Lowenthal
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 46th Congressional District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 10, 2015
MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Morris, Emily.Morris@mail.house.gov, 202-225-2965
REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ TO CO-HOST COMMUNITY TOWN HALL IN WESTMINSTER WITH U.S. AMBASSADOR TO VIETNAM
WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam, will co-host a community town hall, featuring United States Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius, this Sunday, July 12, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. PST. The town hall will focus on Vietnam’s deteriorating human rights record and development of democracy as well as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations. Continue reading
A Santa Ana man identified as 48-year-old Tuan Anh Truong of Santa Ana was arrested Wednesday afternoon after police said he crashed a stolen vehicle into three Santa Ana businesses and a home before leading police on a 20-minute chase that ended in Westminster, according to the O.C. Register.
The SAPD started getting calls at around 1:30 pm in the afternoon that a man behind the wheel of a white GMC Sierra truck was driving unsafely and crashing into several businesses. Continue reading