Irvine News Blog | Category Archives: Tustin

Supervisor Spitzer speaks at UC Irvine Health Medical Group Tustin’s grand opening

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Editor Posted in Health Care, News, Todd Spitzer, Tustin, UCI Leave a comment

Photo: Assemblyman Don Wagner, UC Irvine Health Strategy Officer Teresa Conk, UC Irvine Medical Center CEO Terry A. Belmont, Emily Murray, Tustin Mayor Al Murray, MemorialCare Medical Foundation CEO Mark Schafer and Supervisor Todd Spitzer with physicians and staff

Supervisor Spitzer Speaks at UC Irvine Health Medical Group Tustin’s Grand Opening

By O.C. Supervisor Todd Spitzer

(Portions courtesy of UC Irvine Health)

Supervisor Todd Spitzer spoke at the Grand Opening of the UC Irvine Health Medical Group Tustin primary care offices. During his remarks, Supervisor Spitzer shared his experience as a patient of UC Irvine Health and UC Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center when he was treated for vocal cord cancer and commended UC Irvine Health for the excellent caliber of services that they provide. Continue reading→

Man to join three family members in prison over $16M in real estate fraud

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Editor Posted in Crime, Newport Beach, News, OCDA, Santa Ana, Tustin Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: October 20, 2014

Case # 10CF0477/11ZF0120

MAN SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT OVER $16 MILLION IN REAL ESTATE FRAUD

*Three additional co-defendants were previously convicted and sentenced

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced Friday to seven years in state prison for conspiring with three other family members to commit over $16 million in real estate fraud by forging documents and purchasing homes using “straw buyers.” A straw buyer is a person who knowingly and willingly allows their credit to be used for the purchase of a property they never intend to control.

Dinesh Valjeebhai Shah, 65, pleaded guilty to the court Friday, Oct. 17, 2014, to five felony counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, 13 felony counts of forgery, four felony counts of identity theft, four felony counts of recording false and forged instrument, five felony counts of grand theft, and sentencing enhancement allegations for loss over $100,000, property damage over $1.3 million, and aggravated white collar crime over $500,000. Dinesh Shah is also sentenced to pay $12,800 in restitution. Dinesh Shah was also sentenced to two years in state prison after being found guilty by a jury on June 25, 2014, of one felony count of filing a false tax return and two felony counts of failure to file any return or supply any information with intent to evade any tax (Case #11ZF0120). Continue reading→

Tustin man arrested for lewd acts with children including a boy in Irvine

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News, Tustin 1 Comment

Sherwin Ngo

City of Irvine Police Department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PRESS RELEASE #10/18/2014

Subject: Man Arrested for Lewd Acts on a Child

Contact : Julia Engen, Commander 949-724-7112, jengen@cityofirvine.org

IRVINE, CA (October 18, 2014): On October 17, Irvine Police Detectives arrested Sherwin Ngo (1-16-80) of Tustin for lewd acts on a child.
Ngo is believed to be responsible for luring or attempting to lure at least two under aged male victims by posting personal ads on Craig’s List. Ngo initially led those responding to the ad to believe he was a female offering sexual contact.

The first victim, a 15-year-old Irvine male, was identified after his mother found explicit emails on his tablet computer. A second victim, a 16-year-old male, from Mission Viejo has also been identified. Detectives believe there may be additional victims, based on a large number of emails discovered during the execution of a search warrant of Ngo’s email accounts. Detectives will be continuing the investigation in an attempt to identify and locate any additional victims. Continue reading→

Tustin lawyer/former cop convicted of embezzling over $469K due to gambling

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News, OCDA, Tustin Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: July 2, 2014

Case # 12CF3427

DISBARRED ATTORNEY/FORMER NYPD OFFICER CONVICTED OF EMBEZZLING OVER $469,000 FOR GAMBLING

SANTA ANA – A former vice president of a title insurance company pleaded guilty today to stealing over $469,000 from his company to spend on gambling. Wayne Martin Fong, 51, Tustin, pleaded guilty to a court offer, over the objection by the People who requested a state prison sentence, of seven felony counts of grand theft, five felony counts of money laundering, sentencing enhancements and allegations for causing over $100,000 in loss, aggravated white collar crime over $100,000, property loss over $200,000, and transactions exceeding $50,000. Fong was sentenced by the Honorable Robert R. Fitzgerald to six months in jail, five years formal probation, and must pay $309,000 in restitution.

Fong was hired in 1999 by Fidelity National Title Group (Fidelity) as the Associate Counsel and Vice President. He was responsible for working with and overseeing contracts with vendors who searched for and obtained missing assets for the company. Continue reading→

2014 Orange County Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony set for 5/28

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Editor Posted in Orange County, Orange County Sheriff, Tustin Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

2014 Orange County Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony

Law enforcement officers representing 40 Orange County agencies pay tribute to our fallen officers.

TUSTIN, CA – (May 22, 2014) – Charged with protecting those they serve, police officers put themselves in harm’s way to enforce the law. Unfortunately, some officers pay the ultimate price, laying down their own life in valiant service of others. In honor of these fallen heroes, the Orange County Sheriff’s Advisory Council and the Orange County Chiefs’ of Police and Sheriff’s Association (OCCPSA) each year sponsor the Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony. This year the name of Laguna Beach Officer Jon Coutchie, who died in the line-of-duty in September of 2013, will be added to the wall.

WHAT: Memorial Ceremony at the new Orange County Peace Officers’ Memorial Monument

To include: Continue reading→

OC Public Libraries hosting the Young Authors’ Faire on Saturday, May 10

Posted on May 10, 2014 by Editor Posted in Irvine, Literature, Orange County, Todd Spitzer, Tustin Leave a comment

OC Public Libraries Hosting Young Authors’ Faire Tomorrow

By: Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer

From 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM on Saturday, May 10, 2014, OC Public Libraries and the Orange County Department of Education will be hosting the 13th Annual Young Authors’ Faire. This event will showcase original works by Orange County students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

“I was an English major, and I’m still a voracious reader, which makes me so proud that there are so many Orange County students who are creating their own literary works,” Supervisor Todd Spitzer said. “As a former English teacher and school board member, I’m always excited when young people put their creativity to work at school.” Continue reading→

Driver who was on meth to face trial for killing a cyclist in a hit and run

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Editor Posted in Accidents, Crime, Drugs, News, OCDA, Orange, Orange County, Tustin Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 14CF1047: March 31, 2014

DRIVER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF METHAMPHETAMINE TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR KILLING CYCLIST IN HIT-AND-RUN CRASH

SANTA ANA – Driver under the influence of methamphetamine is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for killing a cyclist in a hit-and-run crash. Sommer Nicole Gonzales, 18, Tustin, is charged with one felony count each of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, driving under the influence of drugs causing bodily injury, hit and run with death, possession of a controlled substance, one misdemeanor count of use and under the influence of a controlled substance, one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia, and sentencing enhancement allegations for inflicting great bodily injury, and fleeing the scene of a crime. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 15 years and eight months in state prison for the felonies and one year and six months in Orange County jail for the misdemeanors. The defendant is being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Tuesday, April 1, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-57, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Tustin man faces trial for attempted murder and for assaulting a cop

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Editor Posted in Crime, News, OCDA, Tustin Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney

Press Release, For Immediate Release: January 9, 2014

Case # 12CF1106: MAN FACES TRIAL FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ASSAULTING POLICE OFFICER WITH A KNIFE

FULLERTON – A man who was resisting arrest faces trial today for the attempted murder of a police officer by assaulting him with a knife. Carlos Alberto Leon, 30, Tustin, is charged with one felony count of attempted murder of a peace officer, one felony count of mayhem, one felony count of aggravated assault on a peace officer, and two felony counts of deterring an executive officer, with sentencing enhancements for causing great bodily injury and the personal use of a deadly weapon. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life with the possibility of parole in state prison. Opening statements are expected to begin this morning, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, in Department N-13, North Justice Center, Fullerton.

On the night of April 12, 2012, Leon’s brother arrived at their Tustin residence and Leon is accused of becoming confrontational and threatening to kill his brother. Leon’s brother called the Tustin Police Department (TPD) to report the threat. Continue reading→

Families and experts to discuss bullying at Safe Communities Meeting

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Editor Posted in Orange County, Todd Spitzer, Tustin Leave a comment

Supervisor Todd Spitzer and the Orange County Health Care Agency Present:

FAMILIES & EXPERTS TO DISCUSS BULLYING AT SAFE COMMUNITIES MEETING

What:

Parents, children and experts will share their moving experience with bullying – the warning signs, how to help, and available resources. Community organizations will host information booths and provide additional resources.

The Safe Communities event flyer is available at www.ochealthinfo.com. Continue reading→

Former TUSD employee and mom convicted of sexually assaulting two teens

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, OCDA, Tustin Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 12HF0546: October 16, 2013

43-YEAR-OLD MOTHER CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO UNDERAGE TEENAGE BOYS WHO CAME OVER TO HER HO– USE

FULLERTON – A 43-year-old mother was convicted today of sexually assaulting a 14 and 16-year-old boy who came over to her house. Nicole Ethel McMillen, 43, Irvine, was found guilty by a jury today of four felony counts of lewd acts upon a child and three felony counts of oral copulation of a minor under 16 years old. She faces a maximum sentence of six years and three months in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration at her sentencing Jan. 10, 2014, at 8:00 a.m. in Department N-13, North Justice Center, Fullerton. The Court allowed McMillen to remain out of custody on $100,000 bail despite the People’s objection. Continue reading→