Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman today credited the combined efforts of law enforcement, public health leaders, educators and community advocates, along with his office’s sustained campaign to expose the dangers of fentanyl, for driving a historic 22 percent decline in overdose and poisoning deaths across Los Angeles County.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has charged 13 Los Angeles County employees from seven different agencies with felony grand theft for stealing a combined $437,383 in state unemployment benefits between 2020 and 2023.
“As government employees, we have an obligation to uphold the public’s trust,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “When a civil servant steals from the government, that trust is broken. The scale of fraud in these cases is shocking, spanning seven different County agencies, including employees whose very job was to help the public determine whether they were eligible for public benefits. Most egregiously, these individuals allegedly claimed to be unemployed during the COVID pandemic when millions of Californians were legitimately in need of unemployment benefits. I thank Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller Oscar Valdez for his partnership and commitment to holding government employees accountable. Today, we are putting all government employees on notice: If you steal from taxpayers, you will be prosecuted.”Read more...
I commend Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge William C. Ryan for his thoughtful and decisive ruling rejecting a new trial for Erik and Lyle Menendez, who remain in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez. This ruling closes yet another door in the brothers’ long campaign to escape accountability for their actions.Read more...
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman was joined today by law enforcement officials to address illegal street takeovers that have become dangerous and sometimes deadly spectacles, warning those who participate can be arrested and face criminal charges.
“Street takeovers often lure young people looking for a thrill or to be entertained,” District Attorney Hochman said. “But these reckless stunts are terrorizing our local communities, sometimes leading to death and often leading to looting, vandalism and other crimes. It doesn’t matter whether you are an organizer, a driver or a spectator – you all share a responsibility in this illegal activity and we are committed to stopping street takeovers to restore public safety.”Read more...
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced that six people were charged today as part of a multi-agency investigation dubbed “Operation Sugar Diamond” that targeted an illegal cannabis extraction business where four people were killed in a fiery explosion at a warehouse in Irwindale in 2023 and another man died at a South El Monte facility last year.
“This case shows the deadly and disastrous results when illegal cannabis operations recklessly put greed over the safety of their employees and neighbors,” District Attorney Hochman said. “Cannabis may be legal in California, but this kind of high-risk, illegal activity is not. These drug trafficking organizations have no place in our communities and my office will continue to work with law enforcement at the local, state and federal levels to hold those accountable who engage in this illicit trade.”Read more...
