A married couple who owned two separate Maki Maki Japanese Cuisine restaurants in Orange County appeared in court recently to be sentenced in a case involving over $2 million in insurance fraud and sales tax evasion, according to a news item posted by CBS News affiliate KPSP. The couple must now serve a combined six years in prison after pleading guilty to 14 fraud-related counts.
According to prosecutors, the couple allegedly began underpaying their workers’ compensation insurance premiums and unemployment insurance when they opened their first restaurant in 2001. They also purportedly underreported the amount of sales their restaurants made and wages they paid their employees. Prosecutors also argued that the couple failed to pay approximately $1.1 million in sales taxes, instead keeping the money for themselves. In 2009, the couple closed their restaurants without notifying their employees or paying the employees’ final paychecks.
The state of California expects business owners to comply with the law when it comes to insurance, taxes, and other business expenses. When business owners don’t keep accurate and complete records, or when they fail to pay their debts on time, serious consequences can result.
If you have been charged with fraud, tax evasion, or a similar financial crime in California, you need to be represented by an experienced Orange County fraud defense lawyer. Attorney Maltaise Cini has successfully handled many cases involving charges of financial wrongdoing, and she has the resources and experience necessary to fight for the best possible outcome in your case. To schedule a free and confidential case evaluation, call Maltaise Cini today at 949-660-1389.
An Orange County oncologist who pleaded guilty to Medicare fraud in May 2010 may lose his license due to the conviction, according to a recent article in The Orange County Register.
Last spring, the oncologist admitted in court that he had been involved in five counts of Medicare fraud, taking nearly $1 million from various medical insurance companies and the federal government as compensation for expensive cancer medications. According to prosecutors, the doctor billed for the expensive medications, but his patients actually received less expensive treatments. His sentencing is scheduled for the end of February 2011.
In addition to facing penalties from the court, the oncologist also faces the potential loss of his medical license. The California Medical Board has filed legal documents seeking to revoke the physician’s medical license on the basis of his fraud conviction. In addition to the chance of losing his license, the oncologist also faces up to 50 years in prison and as much as $1.25 million in fines.
The penalties for all types of criminal fraud are severe, and they reach beyond the fines and jail time imposed by the court. A fraud conviction can cause the loss of a professional license and the end of a career.
If you are facing fraud charges in California, please contact experienced Orange County fraud defense attorney Maltaise Cini. Ms. Cini has the experience that is needed to fight for the best possible outcome on your behalf. To learn more, call 949-660-1389 today to schedule a free and confidential consultation.
Companies worldwide lost millions last year to electronic fraud, including embezzlement and identity theft, according to a recent study by Kroll, Inc., a risk consultancy firm and published by Reuters. For the first time, companies lost more money via electronic data than they did in physical inventory.
According to the study, most of the loss was internal, with company employees stealing money, assets and data from their employer. Younger and less experienced employees in the companies Kroll surveyed were more likely to commit fraud than the older employees. Foreign companies also had higher rates of fraud than ones in the U.S., with China, Colombia and Brazil experiencing the heaviest losses.
Although record losses to electronic fraud were reported this year, the increase may not mean that fraud has actually increased. Rather, companies may be reporting more fraud because they are becoming better at detecting it. Nearly half the companies surveyed planned to increase their spending on Internet security next year to help prevent electronic fraud losses.
Losing electronic data may greatly harm not only a company’s business, but also its reputation. As a result, many companies are watching their employees closely in order to ensure embezzlement, identity theft, and the loss of intellectual property does not occur. An accusation of committing electronic fraud can be devastating to an employee’s career.
If you or a loved one has been accused of fraud, please seek the help of an experienced Orange County fraud defense lawyer. Maltaise Cini has handled hundreds of criminal cases, including various kinds of fraud and theft cases. For a free and confidential case evaluation, call Maltaise Cini today at 949-660-1389.
