Lawyer Normal Bonta Announces Prices In opposition to 54 California Highway Patrol Officers in East Los Angeles | State of California – Department of Justice

Officers allegedly claimed above $200,000 in fraudulent overtime hrs 

OAKLAND – California Legal professional Common Rob Bonta right now introduced charges from 54 former and present-day California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers in connection with an alleged, multiyear extra time fraud scheme. The fees are the final result of an interior prison investigation by CHP into no matter if officers in the East Los Angeles station exaggerated the range of additional time hrs they worked. The officers facial area a whole of 302 counts, together with fees of grand theft and the presentation of a fraudulent claim. The whole amount of money of the fraudulent additional time hrs is $226,556.

“Trust is a essential section of successful regulation enforcement,” mentioned Lawyer Typical Bonta. “These defendants disregarded the law via their alleged steps and did so with no thought of how their conduct would impression the California Highway Patrol or the community that dependable them to guard and serve. I’m grateful to CHP for its thorough investigation, and for doing work with DOJ to keep these officers accountable.”

In Could 2018, CHP launched an investigation into time beyond regulation fraud that allegedly transpired among January 1, 2016, and March 31, 2018. All through that period, a number of officers in the East Los Angeles station have been suspected of recording more additional time hours when they ended up assigned to present safety depth for Caltrans workers by the Routine maintenance Zone Enhanced Enforcement System or the Development Zone Improved Enforcement Software. For occasion, relatively than recording the three to 4 hours essentially worked at a depth, an officer would allegedly file and get shell out for 8 several hours of extra time.

In addition to the most important plan, three of the previous officers allegedly recorded faux hours labored patrolling Higher Occupancy Targeted visitors Lanes. To help their fraudulent time beyond regulation promises, they manufactured faux warnings and guidance supplied to drivers.

Attorney Standard Bonta submitted the prices in the beginning of February 2022, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff booked the officers on February 15, 16, and 17. Lawyer Typical Bonta also refiled charges versus 9 defendants who ended up the issue of a former criticism submitted in July 2021. Arraignments for all 54 defendants are scheduled for March 17 and March 18 in Los Angeles County Exceptional Court.

Individual from this investigation, two of the 54 defendants were arraigned in May 2021 on expenses of conspiracy and 3 counts every single of accepting a bribe in connection with a bribery scheme. The duo allegedly accepted bribes in trade for falsifying files to register unique “gray market” cars and trucks.

It is essential to note that a legal criticism includes rates that are only allegations from a human being. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless or till verified guilty.

Copies of the issues are available here.