Los Angeles Warrants

Published on: October 6, 2013

Lewd Conduct in Burbank Fiasco: Should Director Terry Richardson Be Punished for Creating Miley Cyrus’s Explicit New Video?

The crime of lewd conduct in Burbank is a serious offense. Your penalties can include jail time, probation and a lifetime “sex offender” label, which can make it difficult, if not impossible, for you to find good work, secure loans and lead a normal life. miley_cyrus_terry-richardson-los-angeles-lewd-conduct.jpg

In that context, consider the case of Director Terry Richardson, a 48-year-old fashion auteur — the creative visionary behind Miley Cyrus’s recent much-buzzed-about video, Wrecking Ball. The Hannah Montana icon is featured licking a hammer in a very sexually provocative way – and the video also shows the former child star weeping. It’s quite a disturbing juxtaposition.

But did Richardson cross the line? Should he have put images of Miley Cyrus wearing a sexy white tank top and appearing to lick his face (while in her underwear) on the web? While few people have suggested that Richardson did anything outright illegal in the making of the Wrecking Ball video, the director has come under fire, repeatedly, throughout his career for creating skeevy material and for acting badly behind the scenes.

Rie Rasmussen, a Danish filmmaker, told the New York Post that he warned Richardson “What you do is completely degrading to women.” A former 19-year-old model, Jamie Peck, disclosed some very disturbing allegations against Richardson: “I’m not sure how he maneuvered me over to the couch, but at some point, he strongly suggested I touch his terrifying penis.”

Richardson has defended himself in the press against such allegations – including one allegation that he once did a fashion shoot while totally naked and waving his penis around.

So what are the implications, if any, for your Southern California sex crime or Burbank lewd conduct defense?

First of all, appreciate the following. Richardson may stand accused of doing nasty things on his shoots. But no one has outright accused him of a crime, such as trying to sleep with an underage girl. That line may seem fine. But once you cross it, you can be subjected to serious criminal penalties.

Stuff that many people would consider “creepy” — such as, perhaps, a 48-year-old man dating a 19-year-old woman — may not be illegal. But the law is a law. The law sets boundaries. If you break those boundaries – or if you stand accused of breaking those boundaries – prosecutors will take your situation very seriously.

To that end, consider getting in touch with an experienced, accredited, very respected Burbank lewd conduct defense lawyer, like Michael Kraut of the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers. Mr. Kraut is a former city prosecutor (Senior Deputy District Attorney) with excellent contacts and a track record for getting great results in complex cases.

Published on: October 3, 2013

Glendale DUI News Alert: Echoes of Rodney King Beating in Videotaped Police Brutality against Woman Busted for DUI in Tallahassee

by Michael Kraut

Getting arrested for DUI in Glendale (or anywhere else) can be an emotionally and physically taxing process.

Sometimes, drivers become aggressive, defensive, petulant and even downright dangerous. We’ve covered more than one story on this blog, involving drivers who’ve committed hit and runs and police officer assaults during and after DUI stops.

But sometimes the police make mistakes, too – sometimes huge and awful ones.

Consider the story of 44-year-old Christina West, who was arrested in Tallahassee on August 10 for DUI. Allegedly, West drove her car off the road into a house in the town of Killearn. Six police officers showed up to deal with her – a 5”6’, 130-pound woman.

And then things really got out of control.

Graphic video footage of the arrest shows officers slamming the woman’s head into a police car and then smashing it into the pavement. Her screams of pain can be heard in the video. Pictures taken later show her with a broken face bone, a hugely swollen eye, cuts all over her arms and legs, and a bloody nose – injuries she sustained due to the police beating, not due to the car crash.

Officers at the scene contended that she had been resisting arrest, but the video footage seems to clearly show that the officers used excessive force in taking her down. State attorney Willie Meggs expressed his shock and disgust. He told the Tallahassee Democratic Court “I’m extremely upset … it is a very disturbing situation to me, and I am dealing with it.”

Scott Maddox, the City Commissioner, responded via email to Meggs, regarding the video, and wrote: “The video taken from the police car shows the roadside sobriety test as well as the arrest of the subject … it also shows DISTURBING use of force against a completely nonaggressive arrestee. It is my belief that the City of Tallahassee will soon face a liability lawsuit based on the content of the video.”

In the probable cause statement, the arresting officers did not mention smashing the woman’s face on the hood of the car or on the pavement, but the video clearly shows these aggressive and brutal tactics.

Prosecutors have already dropped battery charges against West, although the charge of DUI is still open. It’s not clear how or whether West will respond legally to the beating. The whole affair is certainly sordid and scary.

Most police officers who stop people at Glendale DUI checkpoints or arrest people on freeways like the 101 and 134 for DUI are respectful, law-abiding, well-intentioned people.

But not always!

And even the best-intentioned police officers can make mistakes, such as mis-calibrating breath tests or mis-interpreting Glendale field sobriety tests.

Fortunately, a Glendale DUI defense attorney with the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers can provide insight into your case and help you strategize effectively to shield your rights and obtain a fair outcome.

Published on: October 1, 2013

Southern California Healthcare Fraud Nets “Dr. J” Wijegunaratne 27 Months in Jail

by Michael Kraut

A Southern California healthcare scam involving wheelchair fraud has netted 58-year-old Dr. Sri J. Wijegunaratne 27 months behind bars. health-care-fraud-wheelchair-los-angeles.doc

“Dr. J” was found guilty of Medicare fraud back in April. Our blog reported on Dr. J’s co-defendant, Godwin Onyeabor, who recently got sentenced to 51 months behind bars for his role in billing Medicare fraudulently and giving kickbacks to physicians. The Anaheim doctors lured patients to a local clinic by them promising juice, vitamins, and other freebies. When they got to the clinics, the patients got more than they bargained for – motorized wheelchairs and other unneeded equipment. The department plans to bring charges against two other co-defendants, Victoria Onyeabor and Heidi Morishita, in late September and early October.

As far as Southern California healthcare fraud schemes go, the one allegedly perpetrated by Onyeabor, Dr. J, and the coconspirators was pretty small and controlled (“just” $1.5 million). The truly titanic Medicare fraud schemes often involve tens of millions or hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Obama Administration’s Department of Justice has been highly active in pursuing Los Angeles healthcare and insurance fraud charges. Why? Two main reasons:

1. By certain objective standards, health care fraud has reached epidemic levels.
2. Healthcare costs have grown so out of control that the government wants to do anything it can to rein in the burden.

How much jail time will you get for your Los Angeles Medicare fraud charge, if you’re convicted?

Sentencing for fraud charges in Southern California (and elsewhere) is a complicated business. Your punishments will depend on:

• The nature of the crime you allegedly committed;
• Whether you were charged with a federal crime or California crime;
• Whether you might be able to strike a plea deal with prosecutors;
• Whether you have a criminal history;
• Whether you conspired with other people to carry out the healthcare fraud
Given the complexity of your legal situation, it may behoove you to find an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer who has handled similarly sophisticated cases before. Mr. Michael Kraut of the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers has spent nearly decade-and-a-half as a prosecutor for Los Angeles, during which time he’s handled many very complex fraud cases from the prosecutorial side. The Harvard Law School educated Mr. Kraut can help you come to terms with the charges that you’re up against and build a stiff and vigorous defense.

Published on: September 18, 2013

Long Beach Drug Crime Arrest – Two Men Jailed for Heroin and Meth, Three Other Search Warrants Filed

by Michael Kraut

CBS Los Angeles is reporting that two men were recently jailed for Long Beach drug crimes, following an investigation by local police.

Law enforcement officers tracking heroin trafficking got intel that led them to Bell Gardens — specifically, to the 7500 block of Jaboneria Road. The tipoff ultimately led to them to confiscate nine firearms, 12 pounds of drugs, and nearly $120,000 in cash.

Police arrested a Bell Gardens resident, 21-year-old Oscar Salmoran, after they served a warrant. They also confiscated 2.5 pounds of crystal meth and 3.5 pounds of heroin. Salmoran was booked and held without bail at Long Beach City jail.

This Long Beach drug crime bust led police officers take on additional targets the next day. After filing search warrants, police found six more pounds of heroin and $46,000 in cash at the 5300 block of Aldama Street. They also arrested 56-year-old Domingo Payan, who was held on $100,000 bail and booked for possession of narcotics with the intent to sell. Long Beach police also visited two homes on Montecito Street (2700 block) and collected nine more guns and $72,000 in cash.

Whether these seizures – and the intel that investigators collected – will lead to further search warrants, arrests, and raids is unknown. However, this kind of police finesse is not uncommon.

Drug users, purchasers, sellers, and suppliers relate to one another in a complex network, not unlike a computer network or even a Facebook or Twitter network. Even if you never intended to get tangled up with other drug groups or criminal networks, social connections that bind you to other criminals (or alleged criminals) can get you into more trouble than you bargained for.

For instance, let’s say you did business with a drug supplier who, in his line of work, committed a violent crime, like robbery, assault, or homicide. Depending on your relationship with that person — and the nature of the wrongdoing — you could face criminal charges, even if you had no knowledge of the criminal acts and didn’t directly help.

The interconnectivity among Long Beach drug crime defendants also makes it easier for police officers and investigators to “piece together” what you’ve done and whom you’ve done it with. It also increases the odds that you’ll be stuck with a very severe sentence, related to drug conspiracy charges and violent crimes, even if you never intended to “get in that deep.”

What to do regarding your Los Angeles crime charges?

Former prosecutor turned Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, Michael Kraut, can help you understand what potential punishments you might face and what you can do to defend yourself against the worst charges. Mr. Kraut built a reputation as a very aggressive prosecutor – racking up a 99%-plus success rate at jury trials. He now serves as a legal expert for KTLA News, ABC News, and other respected media organizations.

Published on: September 11, 2013

What Laws, Exactly, Did Your Los Angeles Health Care Fraud Violate?

by Michael Kraut

Whether you’re just being investigated for healthcare fraud in Los Angeles, or whether police already raided your facility and booked you under some very scary sounding charges, you’re feeling out of control and out of the loop.

What crimes, exactly, might prosecutors charge you with? And what can you do about your impending serious legal battle?

The vast majority of Southern California healthcare crimes are charged according to Insurance Code Section 1871.4. Many cases also include a charge per Penal Code Section 550. That section covers when people make false insurance claims to collect or deny insurance benefits. If you used a false statement to make an insurance claim, prosecutors might also slam you with a charge per Penal Code Section 118, which deals with perjury.

If you’re a doctor, chiropractor or dentist who committed Southern California healthcare fraud, you may also face charges per Labor Code Section 3700. This misdemeanor has to do with falsely representing an employee’s workers’ compensation coverage.

Doctor Fraud in Los Angeles

If you’re a caregiver who practices medicine (or any therapy) in Southern California, you’re well aware that insurance companies are paying less and less for services. So many doctors “push the envelope” with their billing – either by billing more than they should or by making up services never provided. You can read in the news about the million and one variations on this kind of scheme. But the law takes them all very seriously. Not only can you risk a major jail sentence, but the California Medical Board may also strip you of your license.

If federal or CA investigators have already collected patient records and other vital paperwork from your office – or you have other urgent questions concerning your rights, responsibilities, potential punishments, possible defenses, etc – please get in touch with an experienced Southern California Medicare fraud defense attorney at the Kraut Criminal & DUI Lawyers now for sound, effective guidance regarding your legal options.

Published on: September 4, 2013

Los Angeles Drug Crime Laws Come Under Fire: Attorney General Eric Holder Declares “Our System Is, In Too Many Ways, Broken”

by Michael Kraut

Getting arrested for a drug crime in Los Angeles is serious business.

Current mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes can compel nonviolent offenders to spend substantial time behind bars. The way our society punishes drug crimes is not without its critics, though. In fact, the Obama administration’s Attorney General, Eric Holder, recently lashed out at the “draconian mandatory minimum sentences” for nonviolent offenders.

Holder recently told the American Bar Association that prison system was intended to “punish, deter, and to rehabilitate, not to merely warehouse and forget.” He’s ordered the prosecutors in his department to “modify the Justice Department’s charging policies” to ensure that nonviolent offenders — who have committed relatively minor crimes, such as possession of marijuana — “will no longer be charged with offenses that impose draconian mandatory minimum sentences.”

He also decried the fact that black men who go to jail are given sentences “20% longer than those imposed on white males convicted of similar crimes.” He called this fact “shameful.”

Holder told NPR earlier in the year: “the war on drugs is now 30, 40 years old … there have been a lot of unintended consequences. There has been a decimation of certain communities, in particular, communities of color … we can certainly change our enforcement priorities.”

Holder wants U.S. attorneys to avoid prosecuting all cases that can be dealt with by California (or other state or local) authorities and to focus instead on violent and serious offenders. He said he aims to make the “federal government … both smarter and tougher on crime.”

Many in the Los Angeles criminal defense community are excited to hear that the U.S. Attorney General is promoting aggressive reforms.

But if you — or a close friend or family member — face urgent and practical problems about your defense, such proposed reforms might not matter much. Creating an effective defense to Southern California criminal drug charges is no small matter, even if you stand accused of a simple, nonviolent offense, such as a misdemeanor possession. And if you stand accused of more complex or serious offenses, such as possession with intent to sell, conspiracy, or drug charges coupled with violent criminal charges, such as assault, battery, sex crimes, etc, your situation can be quite serious.

Don’t let a lack of sound insight imperil your future and lead you to a far more punitive punishment than you deserve. A former senior prosecutor for the City of Los Angeles, Michael Kraut, can consult with you about your Southern California drug charges. Mr. Kraut is a Harvard Law School educated ex-prosecutor with lots of experience on both sides of complex drug cases.

Published on: September 2, 2013

Icky Case of Los Angeles Lewd Conduct at a Ventura Shopping Mall

by Michael Kraut

23 year-old Nicholas Russell was arrested for Los Angeles lewd conduct, after multiple witnesses said he exposed himself in public and masturbated in his vehicle, earlier this month.

Ventura police got a call at around 10 AM, alleging that a male in his 20s had been roaming around a shopping mall on the 1700 block of Victoria Avenue, exposing himself to passersby. Per a witness’s report, the man had been wearing army pants and a blue sweatshirt. Half an hour later, police received a separate report that the same man had been spotted at Portola Road and Shenandoah Street, exposing himself. He was seen driving a grey sedan.

The suspect managed to get away from officers, but he didn’t lay low for long. Police found him at around 4:30 p.m. on the 6600 block of Telephone Road, masturbating in his vehicle. Officers arrested the suspect and charged him with Southern California lewd conduct. A witness helped identify Russell to the police.

Southern California law takes sex crime charges very seriously.

If convicted of the charges against him, Russell could face jail time, fees and fines, and other unpleasant punishments, including having to live with the “sex offender” label for the rest of his life. This label could make it hard for him to find employment, secure housing, and live a normal life. In fact, in many ways, the sex offender label is harder to deal with than a short stint behind bars. It permanently alters how you get around the world and also skews how society (and even people in your own family) can treat you.

Does this to mean that you’re doomed to a conviction and a lifetime problem? Not necessarily.

An assertive Los Angeles lewd conduct defense can influence not only your potential sentence but also on the “after effects” of the arrest on your life, career, and your relationships.

Consider talking to a former Los Angeles city prosecutor, Michael Kraut, about your situation.

Mr. Kraut served over 14 years as senior level prosecutor for the city (Senior Deputy District Attorney), and he maintains excellent relationships with judges, attorneys, police officers, and others in the Los Angeles defense community.

Published on: July 31, 2013

Los Angeles Healthcare Fraud Scheme Was Big, But Strike Force Took Him Down

by Michael Kraut

The annals of Los Angeles healthcare fraud are filled with astonishing tales. As an expose in Los Angeles Weekly recently described in vivid detail, con artists, tricksters and “good doctors turned to bad” have engaged in diverse shenanigans to pilfer funds from the federal government’s coffers.

But few schemes hold a candle to an operation developed by Dr. Jacques Roy, a physician who operated a “boiler room” in Dallas, Texas that prosecutors say amounted to a $375 million scam.

According to Assistant Attorney General, Lanny Breuer, the 54-year-old Dr. Roy and his coconspirators, for years, ran a well oiled fraudulent enterprise in the Dallas area. They made their millions by recruiting thousands of patients for unnecessary services and then billing Medicare for those services.

Published on: July 22, 2013

Big Break in Los Angeles Lewd Conduct Case as LAPD Nabs “Red Car Flasher”

by Michael Kraut

After two years “on the lam” — and dozens of Los Angeles lewd conduct complaints — the Los Angeles Police Department has finally apprehended the notorious “Red Car Flasher.”

24-year-old Luis Bucio-Cedeno faces 19 criminal counts, including child annoying, sexual battery, lewd conduct in Los Angeles, and indecent exposure. Bucio-Cedeno allegedly victimized 11 people, and he is on a no-bail hold.

According to a lieutenant for the LAPD, Paul Vernon, “after two years, dozens of sightings, several composite sketches, we got our break in February … Putting the case together was truly a team effort among detectives and police officers across three San Fernando Valley police divisions.”

Published on: July 5, 2013

Los Angeles Lewd Conduct Irony Alert! Sex Assault Chief for Air Force Busted on Charges of Sexual Battery

by Michael Kraut

After being arrested on sex crime charges in Southern California, you’re probably not that interested in ironic new stories.

But one whopper in the news — that just went viral — should get your attention. It concerns 41-year-old Lieutenant Colonel, Jeffrey Krusinski, the head of the Air Force’s Sexual Assault Prevention Response Program. Authorities just arrested him on… wait for it… charges of sexual battery!

Krusinski’s (now famous) mug shot — picturing him with cuts on his face — almost instantly circulated around the internet. Officials say that Krusinski allegedly drunkenly groped a woman in a parking lot in Arlington, Virginia. Ann Stefanek, a spokeswoman for the Air Force, detailed the events to the Los Angeles Times: