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Earlier this week, U.S. Border Patrol Agents stopped a suspicious car that was driving in San Clemente. Agents suspected that the driver was carrying drugs, so after the driver allowed agents to look inside, a K-9 team alerted them to something inside the car. Agents found a black duffel bag containing 12 bundles of crystal methamphetamine weighing over 15 pounds. This amount of meth could have been sold on the street for $356,000. The drugs were seized and the man was arrested.

Border officials claim that crystal meth and other drug seizures have increased this year. Besides the tough economy that is driving people to get money any way they can, border patrol has also stepped up its patrol and caught more people carrying drugs. It is likely that the driver will be charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell. This charge comes with serious prison time. A good attorney may argue that the driver was not intending to sell the drugs. Often times, a driver is hired just to transport drugs from one location to another. These drivers will face less prison time than the person who is selling the drugs.

Whether you live in Westminster, Lake Forest or Villa Park, if you are charged with drug crimes, call an experienced criminal defense attorney right away to assist you.

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On November 18, 2000, Edward Ayache and five other gang members went to a house party in Garden Grove. While there, they saw rival gang members and a physical altercation ensued. Members of Ayache’s gang shot at the other gang, killing one and injuring two or three people. The men were all charged with murder for the benefit of a criminal street gang and two attempted murders as well as many gang charges. Ayache was convicted of all counts and faces sentencing next year. It is likely that he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Any crime committed for the gang or in furtherance of the gang will receive additional charges and steeper sentences. In certain cases, a defense attorney can argue that the crime was not for the benefit of the street gang. Here, since there was a fight between two gangs, it is likely that one gang was trying to assert their dominance over a certain territory and the fight erupted to benefit the gang. An additional defense is self defense. If the other gang threatened Ayache’s gang or had weapons, Ayache and his gang may argue that they were just defending themselves. Gang charges are serious, especially when paired with murder charges.

Whether you live in Irvine, Fullerton or Santa Ana, if you are charged with gang crimes or murder, call an experienced criminal defense attorney to assist you.

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In the last few months, many of the surfers in Huntington Beach had been complaining that their cars were being broken into and things were being stolen as they surfed. These burglars were apparently stealing cash, IPODs and other valuables and using the stolen credit cards,. Police decided to stakeout the beach and see who was burglarizing the cars. Police observed Nathan Pater taking the surfer’s keys from either on the sand or underneath the tires of the cars. Pater would then unlock the car, take valuable items and then put the keys back where he found them. Police also observed Amber Marie Hitz drive by and pick Pater up. They were both arrested for suspicion of burglary, fraudulent use of credit cards and conspiracy.

Surfers often have to hide their keys because they cannot take them into the water with them which makes them easy targets. These burglars took advantage of the surfers and now will have to suffer the consequences. Burglary is serious but fraudulently using credit cards makes it an even more serious crime. They will likely get jail time and probation for their crimes. Whether you live in Tustin, Aliso Viejo or Brea, if you are charged with burglary, call an experienced criminal defense attorney right away to assist you.

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In September of this year, Dustin and Austen Sprague were at a house party in Cypress playing beer pong. Guests thought that the brothers were being too loud and obnoxious, so they were asked to leave. Half an hour later, the brothers and a few friends came back to the party holding miniature baseball bats, metal pipes, golf clubs and tire arms. The men then started to attack a few of the party guests. They also vandalized a car and stole a wallet from one of the guests. Troy Lacayo, a guest who was attacked, was injured so badly that he had to be taken to the hospital to get his head stapled.

After the assault, the suspects fled in a car and were caught by police. The Spragues, along with three other co-conspirators have all been charged with three felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, as well as felony vandalism, robbery, and burglary charges.

Often when people drink alcohol, they do not think rationally and they do something stupid. Unfortunately for these guys, because of their stupid actions, they all will likely face some jail time as well as have to take anger management classes. Whether you live in Garden Grove, Orange or San Clemente, if you are charged with assault or battery, call an experienced criminal defense attorney to assist you.

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Chidi Benjamin Uzomah, Jr. was charged today with stalking radio personality, Ryan Seacrest. Last month, Uzomah attacked Seacrest’s bodyguard in an attempt to get inside the car with Seacrest. Uzomah had a knife at the time of the assault. After that incident, Seacrest obtained a temporary restraining order against Uzomah. Last week, Uzomah tried to find Seacrest at his workplace in the E! building on Wilshire. Doing this was a violation of the restraining order. A few weeks prior to that, he tried to find Seacrest at the radio station where Seacrest also works. Since Uzomah had violated his court order twice, he was arrested and has been charged with one felony count of stalking and two misdemeanor counts of violating a court order.

Often celebrity’s are stalked by obsessed fans that want to meet these stars.Stalking is the act of following someone repeatedly and making threats to that person’s safety. Punishments range from probation to prison time. Stalking is a serious crime because it often leads to physical violence or even death. Whether you live in Westminster, Lake Forest or Brea, if you are charged with stalking, call an experienced criminal defense attorney right away.

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Bethany Jane Brady worked as a bookkeeper for the Hampton Salon in Newport Beach for 15 years. During that time, she allegedly embezzled over $245,000 from the company. Police think that initially, she took money from the salon’s checking account and paid off her bills. Eventually, she started taking money and putting it into her personal bank account to use. The loss was discovered when the salon was audited. Hampton Salon immediately fired her and police arrested her.

Embezzlement is a type of fraud that involves taking something from someone that has been entrusted to you. Possible defenses include false accusations, lack of intent, or claim of right. Whether you live in Irvine, Anaheim or Laguna Beach, if you are charged with fraud, call an experienced criminal defense attorney to assist you.

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Martin Quoc Pham, of Garden Grove, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for running two fraud schemes in which he used people’s personal identification to obtain home equity lines of credit and credit card accounts. For the home equity line of credit scheme, Pham would use personal ID information to take over home equity lines at JP Morgan. He then transferred the money into his own bank account. The credit card scheme involved taking the personal identification of others and signing them up for credit cards and then running up the credit card bills. Pham had three other co-conspirators who all plead guilty. Investigators estimate Pham made about $1.5 million conducting these fraudulent operations. Besides the 11 years he will have to spend in prison, Pham will also have to pay $537,973 in restitution.

Identity theft can lead to empty bank accounts, poor credit and severe debt. It is a federal offense since, often, victims are not from California or the fraudulent credit cards are used to buy things from outside of California. It is one of the most serious crimes in California and will always lead to prison time. Whether you live in Westminster, Orange or Laguna Hills, if you are charged with fraud, call an experienced criminal defense attorney right away to assist you.

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Hilbert Pinnel Thomas was arrested this week for the alleged murder of Matthew Scott and Elizabeth Palmer in February. Scott was the co-owner of a mobile home business and Palmer was his secretary. They were shot to death in the front office of the business on Beach Boulevard in early February. Soon after the incident, Scott’s father walked in and found the dead bodies. When investigators arrived, they noticed Palmer’s Lexus had been stolen , so police searched for the car to get clues about the murder. After finding the car, they found the driver and arrested him on suspicion of double homicide.

Now that police have caught the alleged suspect, they will question him regarding motive and how he did the crime. Even though he stole the car, police do not believe that robbery was the primary motive. Investigation could take years, but if Thomas is convicted, he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. Whether you live in Aliso Viejo, Orange or Irvine, if you are charged with murder, call an experienced criminal defense attorney to assist you.

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Joshua David Threlkeld has been charged with around 127 counts of sex crimes against minors. Threlkeld would pose as a 14 year-old-girl, “Sara Miller”, on Myspace and ask other minors for nude pictures. “Sara Miller” would claim that he wanted the pictures to recruit models for her friend Josh who was a photographer in Orange County. Over 80 victims from ages 11-17 sent in their nude pictures and some actually came to Orange County to be photographed. One of the girls who came to Orange County said she was paid to have sex with Threlkeld.

Threlkeld was arrested in May after a parent complained to police about the Myspace incident. After obtaining Threlkeld’s computer, police founds files of photographs and discovered other victims. Some of the victims contacted were from as far away as the U.K. Police also obtained the Myspace records and plan to prosecute Threlkeld for every attempt at getting nude photographs.

With over 127 charges, Threlkeld faces multiple life sentences for his actions. Even though most of these girls were not physically assaulted, creating or owning child pornography is against the law. Whether you live in Santa Ana, Fullerton or Villa Park, if you have been charged with sex crimes, call an experienced criminal defense attorney right away.

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Around 6 people have been arrested for a string of burglaries that they allegedly committed in ritzy Hollywood neighborhoods over the past year. The masterminds behind the operation were apparently four girls who wanted the clothing and jewelry that celebrities had. Apparently, Rachel Lee, Diana Tamayo, Courtney Ames and Alexis Neiers, all friends from Indian Hills High School, studied celebrities and their belongings that appeared on award shows, magazines and TV shows and then would case the celebrities home to learn who lived there and when the celebrity would be gone. They then broke into the home of Paris Hilton, Audrina Patridge, Lindsay Lohan and many other celebrities to steal their name brand clothing and high-priced jewelry. These girls were caught because surveillance videos caught a glimpse Nick Purgo, a friend of theirs, robbing a home. He was immediately caught and his computer turned up pictures of stolen merchandise and the girls who assisted in these burglaries.

These days, the media has been focusing heavily on the lavish life of celebrities and all of their amazing clothing, shoes, jewelry etc. Young impressionable teenagers see all of these items and know they cannot afford them. Most teenagers would get over the fact that they could not afford these luxury items, but these teenagers thought it would be better to break into celebrity homes, steal valuables and then wear them and show them off to their classmates. All of these suspects will likely be charged with many counts of felony burglary and are looking at serious prison time. Whether you live in Ladera Ranch, Tustin or Anaheim Hills, if you are charged with burglary, call an experienced criminal defense attorney right away to assist you.

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