Los Angeles Legal Blog

Little League treasurer facing embezzlement charge

On behalf of The Kaufman Law Group posted in White Collar Crimes on Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

When individuals begin to have concerns about where money for an organization or company is going, suspicions could quickly come against those in charge of handling funds. In some cases, those suspicions may become so great that an investigation begins to determine whether funds have been inappropriately used. Unfortunately, some parties could end up accused of embezzlement if evidence stacks up against them.

It was recently reported that one woman was taken into custody due to allegedly embezzling funds from a California Little League organization. The woman reportedly acted as treasurer for the organization and came under suspicion when thousands of dollars allegedly went missing. The league's president and other officials asked the woman about the funds, but they apparently did not receive adequate answers. As a result, they contacted the authorities, and an investigation began.

Former Internal Services official accused of public corruption

On behalf of The Kaufman Law Group posted in Public Corruption on Wednesday, May 8, 2019.

Public officials are often placed under a great deal of scrutiny. When a public figure is accused of using his or her position for personal benefit, the outcome can be catastrophic. Besides the possibility of a criminal conviction, the official's career and reputation are also on the line. Charges of public corruption require a thorough defense. This is likely the case for one former county official here in California, who recently pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to public corruption.

The former official, who worked in Los Angeles County's Internal Services Department, was charged with accepting bribes and subscribing to a false 2016 tax return where he did not report his full income. Authorities claim that the official accepted bribes from an electrical contractor to approve change orders for work that did not take place. The official admits that the contractor did not do work that followed safety standards and that he looked the other way because of the financial incentive.

When do client dinners and personal gifts cross the line?

On behalf of The Kaufman Law Group on Monday, May 6, 2019.

Marketers have long made good use of business lunches and gifts to prospective clients. As the pharmaceutical industry has shown, these strategies can bring powerful results. However, the recent conviction of a pharma boss reminds us there’s also a point at which these strategies can cross the line and become illegal.

Boston jurors recently declared the founder and CEO of Insys Therapeutics guilty of racketeering. According to NPR, Insys had been bribing doctors and lying to insurance companies to boost the sales of its painkillers.

2 California women charged with white collar crimes

On behalf of The Kaufman Law Group posted in White Collar Crimes on Tuesday, April 23, 2019.

When authorities suspect that crimes have been committed, it is possible for charges to come at the state and federal level. White collar crimes are often federal crimes, and as a result, anyone charged with such a crime could face a serious legal predicament. Federal charges commonly come with more severe consequences in the event of a conviction, so accused parties will certainly want to exercise their various legal rights as their cases proceed.

Two women in California will undoubtedly be handling their cases carefully after recently being accused of insurance fraud. According to reports, one woman operated an insurance agency out of her home and, along with the second woman, convinced an 89-year-old woman to make various financial transactions. The two apparently worked to have the elderly woman liquidate a multi-million dollar investment portfolio, fire her professional estate manager and hire the second woman to manage her affairs, though the woman had no experience doing so.

Public corruption charges for college parents include tax fraud

On behalf of The Kaufman Law Group posted in Public Corruption on Sunday, April 7, 2019.

The national scandal involving admissions into Ivy League universities and other elite institutions, including the University of Southern California and UCLA, has many parents concerned about how far the investigations will go. Some parents allegedly involved in bribery and fraud to obtain admissions for their children into top-notch schools have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Others know it may only be a matter of time before investigators link them to the claims of public corruption.

Some parents charged with involvement in the nationwide scheme are accused of paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to ensure their children got into prestigious schools. In some cases, the evidence suggests parents committed fraud by paying to have someone else take the SATs for their children. Investigators say the parents made their payments in the guise of donations to a fake charity.

Shareholder issues can lead to complex civil litigation

On behalf of The Kaufman Law Group posted in Civil Litigation on Wednesday, March 27, 2019.

Because of the many different people and pieces involved in running businesses, it is common for disputes to come about. Owners, partners, shareholders, employees and numerous other individuals associated with a company could have reason to voice concerns over certain aspects of a company or its actions. However, in some cases, those concerns could lead to complex civil litigation if resolutions to conflicts are not easily found.

California readers may be interested in a shareholder dispute that recently reached a ruling in another state. According to reports, four shareholders of a gas and electric company took issue with the fact that the company had not drafted a clean energy plan that would result in the utilization of 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. They claim that the company used new federal guidelines to get out of creating this plan.

Car insurance claim leads to charges for white collar crimes

On behalf of The Kaufman Law Group posted in White Collar Crimes on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.

Many people struggle with financial-related issues. As a result, they often explore many ways in which they could potentially obtain money quickly. Unfortunately, some parties may wind up accused of white collar crimes if the options they utilize involve some type of fraudulent actions.

One woman in California has recently found herself facing such an ordeal. According to reports, the woman had allegedly filed an insurance claim after having a car accident. However, she reportedly did not obtain the insurance coverage until after the accident had already happened. Due to filing the claim for a prior accident, the woman was accused of automobile insurance fraud. Authorities issued a felony warrant for her arrest.

Embezzlement and white collar crimes lead to serious consequences

On behalf of The Kaufman Law Group posted in White Collar Crimes on Monday, February 25, 2019.

Not all crime involves violence or the attempt of causing physical harm to another person. White collar crimes are serious criminal accusations that lead to detrimental, life-altering consequences, and this includes the crime of embezzlement. Recently in California, a treasurer for a business organization was charged with various financial crimes, including embezzling funds.

The accused served as the treasurer for the International Association of Machinists Local Lodge 2947. He handled all of the funds for the group, and he is accused of taking funds from the group amounting to almost $51,000. He is also facing charges of identity theft. These charges stem from the allegation that he forged the name of the group's president to take money.

White collar crimes: California woman accused of embezzlement

On behalf of The Kaufman Law Group posted in White Collar Crimes on Wednesday, February 13, 2019.

Any type of criminal accusation can leave a person reeling. Individuals may believe that life is going well and that they are on the right track only to be blindsided by accusations of white collar crimes. From fraud to embezzlement and many other actions in between, charges for such crimes can come with steep penalties if convictions occur.

It was recently reported that one woman in California turned herself in to authorities in relation to an embezzlement investigation. Apparently, the management team at the bank where the woman worked found unspecified evidence that pointed to internal embezzlement. The management team gave that information to the police, and authorities began to conduct an investigation. The fraudulent transactions had purportedly been taking place since 2017.

January arrest prompted by suspicion of white collar crimes

On behalf of The Kaufman Law Group posted in White Collar Crimes on Tuesday, January 29, 2019.

In California and across the country, many people consider themselves beer connoisseurs. In fact, an organization in another state was formed so that members could promote local beers and exchange knowledge and opinions with one another. A former director of that organization was arrested in January and is being charged with white collar crimes regarding alleged illicit use of the organization's funds.

The woman is accused of using a credit card in the organization's name without permission. Prosecutors claim she illegally made $500 worth of purchases with the card. The 42-year-old is charged with embezzlement and credit card fraud.