Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

A jewelry store owner has pleaded guilty to felony insurance fraud in Los Angeles for filing a false claim involving a 4.21-carat diamond, the Beverly Hills Courier reported.

The economic downturn has given rise to all sorts of fraud allegations. Consulting an experienced Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer is the best bet when it comes to defending yourself against such allegations and fighting for your future freedom and financial well-being. Too often, those facing white-collar criminal charges in Los Angeles are unfamiliar with the legal system and decide cooperating with authorities is the best course of action. This is usually a mistake. It is the job of investigators to prove your guilt. They are not empowered to make a deal with you, even if they wanted to. Consulting an experienced defense lawyer at the earliest stage of such investigations is usually the best course of action.

The store owner pleaded guilty to filing a false claim, alleging the theft of a 4.21-carat diamond valued at $99,000 after one of his employees was robbed of 20 diamonds on Jan. 7, 2010. The 4.21-carat diamond was not among the gems stolen.

As part of a plea agreement he will spent five days in jail, 90-days of home confinement and three-years of probation. He avoided prison as part of a deal to repay the insurance company. He has thus far repaid about $65,000.

He could have faced five years in prison if convicted at trial. The scam came to light when he traveled to Israel and attempted to have the diamond recertified by the Gemological Institute of America.

Continue reading "Man pleads to Insurance Fraud in Los Angeles in case involving 4.21-Carat Diamond" »

Two doctors are facing criminal charges in Los Angeles after authorities accuse them of a $5 million fraud scam involving mentally ill homeless patients, the Washington Post reported.

The Medicare and Medi-Cal fraud case is the latest in a long string of cases against doctors, home-health care businesses, clinics and others in the medical profession. These cases are frequently complex and can be devastating to the reputation of legitimate doctors and health care workers. Consulting an attorney at the earliest stage of a case -- even before charges are filed, is frequently your best course of action. The fact that the charges were filed as misdemeanors by city prosecutors likely means that state and federal authorities decline to pursue more serious charges. Whether the charges lack merit, we cannot say. But they still carry the possibility of substantial jail time. And the loss of professional reputation is often irreplaceable.

The doctors, ages 58 and 72, were charged along with five others of misdemeanor conspiracy, fraud and taking illegal kickbacks. Each faces up to 7 years in prison if convicted.

City prosecutors allege homeless people were recruited from throughout Los Angeles County. Each patient was given $100 to permit ultrasounds to be conducted and to allow blood to be drawn. The clinic then allegedly charged medical programs up to $1,000 per doctor for between 30 and 50 patients a day from December 2009 until June.

It is the latest patient-recruiting scam to be alleged in Los Angeles. Earlier this month, federal prosecutors charged more than 70 defendants with a scam they say defrauded Medicare of $163 million.

Earlier this year, a doctor was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted of paying homeless people to fill prescriptions in exchange for cash.

Continue reading "Health care fraud allegations best handled by experienced White Collar criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles" »

For the second time in as many weeks a veteran Los Angeles police officer has been arrested on fraud charges in connection with workers' compensation payments, the L.A. Times reported.

Fraud charges in Los Angeles should always be handled by an experienced criminal defense attorney. Whether bank fraud, insurance fraud, wire or mail fraud, or other fraud allegations, the potential penalties can be very serious. The number of these cases has exploded since the collapse of the real estate market and the economic downturn. Unfortunately, the number of investigators or trained staff has not increased. The result is a potential increase in the number of defendants who are wrongly charged, or who are facing charges despite insufficient evidence in what are often highly technical and complicated cases. Anyone under investigation for fraud charges should immediately contact and experienced criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles.

In the most recent case, the 15-year veteran was charged with four counts of insurance fraud and one count each of perjury by declaration, attempted perjury under oath, and attempted grand theft. He was released after posting a $120,000 bond and will be arraigned Dec. 6 at the downtown Criminal Courts Building. Prosecutors allege he operated two businesses while out on a disability claim for job-related stress. They also say he sought a lifetime disability pension.

If convicted on all counts he faces a prison term of more than eight years and a fine of $240,000.

Last week, an 11-year department veteran was arrested on suspicion of 6 counts of workers' compensation fraud in connection with a 2008 disability claim. The LAPD said an internal affairs investigation found probable cause to believe that the officer had received benefits to which he was not entitled.

Continue reading "Insurance fraud charges in Los Angeles allege police officers cheated on workers' compensation claims" »