Man Charged with Stealing Money while Servicing Red Hawk Casino ATMs

United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced today that Eduardo Ursua Fontillas, 51, of Sacramento, was charged yesterday by a federal complaint with felony theft and embezzlement crimes. The complaint was issued by U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Kimberly J. Mueller.

This case is the product of extensive combined investigation by a task force involving the California Department of Justice Bureau of Gambling Control and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.

According to the court documents, Fontillas is charged with stealing over $125,000 from ATMs at the Red Hawk Casino in Placerville. He is alleged to have stolen the cash in increments of $1,000 and $1,500 from November 2009 through June 2010, while servicing the ATMs. The loss was suffered by the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indian Tribe, the Indian Tribal Organization that owns and operates the Red Hawk Casino. Fontillas’s girlfriend, Rosalina Due Bona, 43, of Sacramento, is also charged with receipt of stolen and embezzled money. The investigation revealed that Bona possessed for her own personal use between $50,000 and $60,000 in ATM cash proceeds.

Each defendant is facing up to five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, restitution, and federal supervised release of up to three years. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force Announces Regional Results of "Operation Stolen Dreams” Targeting Mortgage Fraudsters

Fifty-six individuals in the Northern District of California are facing mortgage fraud related charges as a result of Operation Stolen Dreams, U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello; FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephanie Douglas; and Scott O’Briant, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, announced. The announcement follows U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s statements in Washington, D.C., earlier today concerning the national mortgage fraud takedown "Operation Stolen Dreams," that targeted mortgage fraudsters in the Northern District of California and throughout the country. Operation Stolen Dreams is the largest collective enforcement effort ever brought to bear in confronting mortgage fraud.

Nearly $44 million in losses were inflicted by the mortgage fraud schemes employed by the alleged fraudsters in the Northern District of California. Seven individuals in the District have pled guilty to mortgage fraud related crimes during the takedown that began on March 1. Two individuals have been sentenced.

Homicide At Howe Avenue And Whippoorwill Lane

On June 15, 2010, at 1:42 a.m., the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department’s Communications Center received a call regarding gunshots heard in the area of Howe Avenue and Whippoorwill Lane. A deputy performing a vehicle stop in the area heard the gunshots and drove to that location. The deputy discovered a 50-year-old male lying in the street and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The deputy performed cardio pulmonary resuscitation on the victim until paramedics arrived and transported him to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Sheriff’s Homicide detectives were told the victim was walking on Howe Avenue when a vehicle stopped and three men got out, approached the victim and started fighting with him. During the fight, one of the suspects produced an unknown type gun and shot the victim multiple times. The suspects then got back into the vehicle and fled from the scene. The witness was unable to provide a description of the suspects or the suspect vehicle. A motive for the murder has not been established.

Anyone with information regarding this murder is urged to call Sheriff’s Homicide detectives at (916) 874-5057, or Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP; or send a text message tip by texting to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter SACTIP followed by the tip information. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Republicans and Democrats agree on one thing - Lungren is Vulnerable

With the 2010 mid-term elections less than five months away, conservative political pundits have increasingly raised the possibility that Republican’s have inertia and could seize control of the House of Representatives.

Democrat pundits acknowledge they may lose some seats, but they are steadfast in their believe that the conservatives will not be able to pick up the 40 seats needed to wrest control.

While the two sides volley spin, there is one thing both parties agree on – California conservative Congressman Dan Lungren is vulnerable to defeat.

Lungren, a career politician who currently occupies the California’s 3rd Congressional District seat has been targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) following the 2008 election. In that election, Lungren won his seat without a majority of voters in a Republican-leaning district that President Obama won.

Bera benefits...

Jake Allen Rages Against EG City Council

Expresses 'Disgust' with city council

During the Wednesday, June 9 meeting of the Elk Grove City Council former Elk Grove City Charter Commissioner and Chair Jake Allen addressed the Elk Grove City Council and expressed his "disgust" with their recent actions.

Specifically Allen was disgusted that the council was considering  requesting a Sacramento County Grand Jury investigation into allegations Council Member Pat Hume threatened an Elk Grove citizen.

Aside from his obvious sarcasm particularly towards Council Member Jim Cooper, Allen, along with former planning commissioners Paul Lindsay and Tim Murphy's underlying message to the council was to quit playing politics and look out for the interests of the people of Elk Grove.

Seemingly a reasonable request  - except they too are doing the same exact thing they are condemning.

Tim Murphy was a planning commissioner until Mike Leary was defeated in a landslide by Steve Detrick in 2008. Furthermore, Murphy's name has been floating around the local rumor mill as being interested in running for Cooper's seat had Cooper won an outright victory in Tuesday's primary for Sacramento County Sheriff.

In a twist of irony, if Murphy is in fact posturing for Cooper's seat, not only did Cooper not win the election outright, he came in a disappointing second place to Scott Jones. If Murphy does have city council aspirations, they will have to wait.

Like Murphy, Paul Lindsay is a former planning commission who was appointed by former council member Rick Soares. Soares was defeated by Hume in 2006.

Lindsay was a well respected planning commissioner who perhaps is still upset by the unsuccessful effort to deny St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church a zoning change. One can only speculate what his motivation was.

Then there is Jake Allen...