The Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District has agreed to pay over $726,000 to the state as part of a settlement in a charter school fraud scheme. Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District agreed to pay $726,606 to the state, as part of a settlement, in one of the largest fraud schemes targeting educational dollars for kindergarten through 12th grade students in ...

A Santa Clarita Valley man pleaded guilty Monday to perpetrating a scheme to fraudulently obtain approximately $1.8 million in COVID-19 relief after he transferred the money to a bank account in Uganda. The money was obtained through the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Hassan Kanyike, 29, of Santa ...

With the season of giving here, so too is the “season of scams,” as officials with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s (LADA) Office warn that con artists can establish charity scams that give the illusion of donating to a charitable cause. The LADA’s office warned L.A. County residents, including those in Santa Clarita, against these types of scams, providing ...

A Santa Clarita man faces federal charges alleging that he and his business partner fraudulently obtained nearly $2 million in COVID-19 loans, officials said. Raymond Magana, 39, of Santa Clarita, and his business partner, Steven R. Goldstein, 36, of Northridge, were named in a federal criminal complaint charging them with making false statements to the government, fraud in connection with ...

The office of the L.A. District Attorney, Jackie Lacey, warned local veterans about targeted scams as they approach Veterans Day. As Veterans Day nears on November 11, the office of District Attorney Jackie Lacey issued a warning that scammers may be targeting veterans this year. “Thieves have their sights on military veterans by trying to dupe them on the day ...

A “We Buy Ugly Houses” franchisee from Santa Clarita has pled guilty to multiple counts of grand theft after allegedly swindling money out of two elderly victims, officials said. Corey Evans, 41, pled guilty Wednesday for two felony counts of attempted grand theft by false pretenses, according to Ventura County District Attorney Gregory D. Totten. The charges are the result ...

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an urgency ordinance to strengthen protections for consumers and small businesses and to crack down on price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergencies, in response to a motion by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas. Effective immediately, the ordinance authorizes the filing of civil actions against price gougers at the discretion of County Counsel and ...

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office is encouraging Santa Clarita residents to watch out for email phishing scams capitalizing on the coronavirus crisis in an effort to protect personal information. Be alert for scammers trying to cash in during the coronavirus pandemic by sending phishing emails to steal personal and financial information. In the Email Phishing Scam, fraudsters pose as ...

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office is encouraging Santa Clarita residents to hang up on social security scammers in an effort to protect personal information.   “Social security is on the minds of seniors, especially those who are retired or close to retirement. It’s also on the minds of fraudsters,” said Deputy District Attorney Elena Abramson in a video. “Which ...

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged a Santa Clarita investment firm for allegedly defrauding their clients, officials said Tuesday. Criterion Wealth Management Insurance Services, Inc., an investment advisory firm, and co-owners Robert Gravette and Mark MacArthur, are accused of breaching their fiduciary duty and defrauding their advisory clients by failing to disclose significant financial conflicts of interest when recommending ...