San Diego Criminal Attorneys Blog

Another White Collar Crime and Corruption case in San Diego! This time involving Department of Defense employees and others steering $5 million dollars in contracts to a computer company. Gary Alexander and his wife, Kelly, allegedly took bribes for a period over eight years from Technical Logistic Corporation.

Obviously, Mr. Alexander and his wife were suspended form their jobs at the government research organization Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command after the bribery, fraud and corruption indictment.

Also indicted were Elizabeth Ramos, Jackie Godwin, Sinthia Nares, Louis Williams and Mr. Alexander's alleged mistress. Mr. Godwin was the working for Kratos Defense Security Solutions Inc. based in San Diego.

The charges stem from Ms. Ramos and Mr. Williams bribing the Alexanders with cash and material items like Rolex watches in return for Mr. Alexander's promise and or influence to insure the hiring of Technical Logistic Corp.'s as a subcontractor on several federal contracts.

This will be an interesting case to follow to see the extent Mr. Alexander's influence had on the subcontractors obtaining the contracts. It's not uncommon for those in the business world to receive gifts for referrals or leads . It's a fine line between committing a white collar crime and just saying "thank you" for your referral or business. Either way, one accused of such conduct will need an experienced criminal defense attorney in this area of law.

SAN DIEGO: 6 indicted on charges of corruption and fraud related to defense contracting, North County Times, July 8, 2009

It's no surprise, we all knew that Mr. Bernard Madoff would get the maximum sentence of 150 years behind bars, not the 12 years his lawyer was requesting, for bilking and defrauding thousands of investors to a tune of $13.2 billion dollars. Simply, the 71 year old Madoff will die in prison.

U.S. District Judge Denny Chin described the fraud scheme as an "extraordinary evil" and the lengthy prison term was meant to symbolically fit the multi-billion dollar fraud committed on his victims. Mr. Madoff did make a statement at his sentencing hearing apologizing calmly to those in attendance. "i will turn and face you, I'm sorry. I know that doesn't help you."

Mr. Madoff's wife, Ruth, also jumped in on the media frenzy and made a statement that she too was also misled by her husband. "I am embarrassed and ashamed...Like everyone else, I feel betrayed and confused."

Mr. Madoff claims he was acting alone in the ponzi fraud scheme but law enforcement's investigation continues and it is more likely than not that at least 10 more people are going to face federal criminal charges. These persons better hire competent counsel experienced in white collar crimes or their sentences may be as severe as Mr. Madoff's.

Judge Chin indicated he would recommend a prison faciity in the Northeast but explained that it was up to the Federal Prison Officials to determine the exact facility where Mr. Madoff will be housed.

This sentence hearing ends the Madoff saga for now but be rest assured appeals and other motions will be made!

Madoff gets maximum 150 years in prison, North County Times, June 29, 2009

San Diego executives Sterling Pirtle and Ronald Fisher plead guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and tax evasion. Both Fisher and Pirtle were principles in the business, Commercial Money Center, now bankrupt, which would sell lease pools to banks that contained $70 million in fraudulent leases.

Nationwide, the company received more than $300 million through its sale of fraudulent leases.The business' main location was in Escondido but also had offices in Las Vegas and Florida. Each admitted that they failed to pay personal income taxes of one million dollars on money they received through their company. Fisher's son, mark Fisher, and daughter, Kelly Fisher, previously plead guilty to conspiracy and or tax evasion charges for their involvement in the bank fraud.

$70-Million Bank Fraud Catches Up to Two Businessmen, The San Diego 6 CW, June 26, 2009

Both Pirtle and Fisher will be sentenced in November and face prison commitments. Fisher's daughter, Kelly, was sentenced to prison back in 2007. Again, bank fraud and white collar crimes are on the rise. A knowledgeable and competent criminal defense attorney can defend these type of charges and reduce the charges and or sentence.