Friday, May 3, 2013

Private Investigator Impersonator Sentenced!

Cop-Turned-Illegal P.I. Gets Sentenced

Former police officer Kevin Michael Sianez pleaded guilty Thursday to 17 felony counts of grand theft by false pretense, 11 felony counts of fraudulently using an access card, two felony counts of identity theft, four felony counts of possession of a firearm by a felon stemming from a 1998 conviction for stalking, six felony counts of obtaining services through false representation, one felony count each of perjury by declaration, computer access and fraud, and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, one misdemeanor count each of unlawful representation as a private investigator, engaging in the business of private investigation, and doing business without a valid license with sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime over $100,000 and property damage over $65,000. 
Kevin Sianez

But we don't care about all that; we want to know what happened to the dog-fucking counts.

When the Fountain Valley 56-year-old was originally charged in June 2010 with defrauding clients and intimidating detractors of his unlicensed private investigations business, he was also accused of posting Craigslist ads seeking women to screw his labrador retriever. For this he faced three counts of conspiracy to commit sexual assault upon an animal.

Those counts, according to a district attorney's office spokesperson, have been dismissed "in the interest of justice."

Sianez worked as a police officer between 1979 and 1986 with the Santa Ana and Stanton police departments (before the latter was absorbed by the Orange County Sheriff's Department). Between November 2005 and June 2010, Sianez owned and illegally operated private investigation services without a license under the names KMS Investigations, Fore-Front Investigations and 4Front Investigations.

He falsely identified himself as a licensed private investigator, and he posted false reviews of his various businesses on Internet investigator and referral websites. "He used these fabricated reviews to mislead potential clients into believing his businesses had nationwide offices and investigators, when in fact he operated out of a small suite in Fountain Valley with less than five employees, who were primarily family members," reads the Orange County District Attorney's office (OCDA) conviction statement.

Sianez defrauded clients by performing little or no work on their cases after receiving payment, and he defrauded properly licensed private investigation firms by subcontracting investigative work to them and failing to pay for their services. This led to complaints to the California Department of Consumer Affairs, an OCDA investigation and Sianez's arrest on June 24, 2010.

Under his plea deal, he was sentenced to four years in state prison that were stayed pending the completion of a year in jail and monthly $5,000 restitution payments until he fulfills total losses exceeding $187,000.
Source: OC Weekly

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Detectives in the South Valley are investigating a large copper theft scheme after an employee was found stealing from his own company.                                             January 17, 2013

Jaime Gutierrez
The suspect, Jaime Gutierrez, worked at A-1 Electric in Visalia. Surveillance video from Bruno's Iron and Metal Recycling Center in Fresno show Jaime Gutierrez recycling thousands of dollars' worth of copper wire while using his former company's account information. Gutierrez went unnoticed at the recycling center, so much that he offered to help out some other copper wire thi eves and recycle their metal, too, taking a cut of the profits.  

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Private Investigator Accused of Witness Intimidation

Private eye lands in public trouble

State officials say Rombom intimidated witnesses in NXIVM case.

ALBANY — A private investigator has been charged by state officials with professional misconduct for allegedly threatening and intimidating witnesses in violation of the law in a NXIVM-related legal proceeding, according to a complaint from the Department of State.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Private Investigator Busted for Impersonation

Galt Private Investigator Arrested For Impersonating Peace Officer

WOODLAND (CBS13) – A retired parole officer was arrested on Tuesday afternoon in front of Yolo County jail for impersonating a peace officer in order to obtain information on a case he’s working.

Anthony Vegas, 52, of Galt owns a private investigation company and had on several occasions in the last week presented himself as an active state parole agent in order to get information for a child custody case he is working on, according to Woodland police.

Anthony Pellicano Denied Bail

Judge in LA denies bond for Hollywood private eye

A federal judge in Los Angeles has denied bond for private investigator Anthony Pellicano who is serving a 15-year prison term for bugging celebrities' phones to get information for his clients.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Private Investigator Proposal to Issue Citations

County may expand welfare fraud search Private investigators could issue citations

Private investigators authorized by Shawano County could soon have the same authority as law enforcement in citing welfare cheats.

The Public Safety Committee unanimously endorsed a measure Wednesday that would allow the investigators, at the County Board's discretion, to issue citations and refer cases of welfare fraud to the corporation counsel.

Tax Cheating Private Investigator Avoids Jail Time

James Simon is a former private investigator sentenced for tax evasion. (WKRC-TV)
James Simon

A local private investigator avoids prison time for conspiracy and tax evasion charges. Today a federal judge sentenced 66 year old James Simon to two years of home confinement and five years of probation.