News Releases & Advisories

LANCASTER, Calif. — The executive director of a defunct Antelope Valley charter school has been charged in a whirlwind scheme to embezzle more than $150,000 in public funds within six months of successfully petitioning the Antelope Valley Unified High School District to establish the school and name him executive director.

AVALON, Calif. — Catalina Island business owner Yueh Mei Tucey, aka Nora Tucey, was ordered by a Los Angeles County criminal court judge to pay $1.5 million in unpaid wages to dozens of employees who worked at her hotels and restaurants between 2008 and 2022, as well as $96,000 to the California Employment Development Department for underreporting worker wages. Tucey delivered the check to the Court at a restitution and sentencing hearing on Sept. 28.

LANCASTER, Calif. — A 57-year-old Lake Hughes woman who operated animal rescue Rock ‘N’ Pawz was charged today with 35 felonies and misdemeanors after allegedly keeping more than 300 animals in inhumane and unsanitary conditions, including animals suffering from dehydration, severe injuries and starvation. She is also accused of violating multiple county codes, including operating an animal kennel without required land-use approval, maintaining unsanitary conditions and having structures with unpermitted construction, plumbing, electrical and grading work.

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced today that his office will not seek the death penalty against Nick Reiner, who is accused of murdering his parents last December in their Brentwood home.