News

Gavel. Medical Office Manager in Massive Insurance Fraud Sentenced

Medical Office Manager in Massive Insurance Fraud Sentenced

The San Diego County District Attorney’s prosecution of Operation Backlash, a large scale, undercover, joint federal and state investigation into multi-million dollar fraud and illegal kickbacks in the California workers compensation has moved forward as another defendant in the state’s case was sentenced.  Operation Backlash is the largest healthcare insurance fraud scheme in the history […]

Photo of dentist chair and tools. Story: Dentist Charged for Fraudulently Billing Insurance Companies

Dentist Charged for Fraudulently Billing Insurance Companies

A Mira Mesa dentist, April Rose Ambrosio, 58, fraudulently billed multiple insurance companies $592,550 claiming she performed 623 root canals on 75 patients. Ambrosio, who was arraigned in San Diego Superior Court today on 75 counts of insurance fraud, billed eight insurance companies for nearly $600,000 and ultimately received more than $200,000. Ambrosio’s deception involved […]

Statewide Charter School Scheme Stole More Than $50 Million in Public Funds

Statewide Charter School Scheme Stole More Than $50 Million in Public Funds

An Australian national, who is a charter school operator in the U.S., and his Long Beach business partner, conspired to siphon more than $50 million from the State of California for years according to a grand jury indictment. As part of a wide-ranging scheme, the defendants sought out small school districts with limited experience in […]

DA Announces De-Escalation Training, Mental Health Reform Blueprint

DA Announces De-Escalation Training, Mental Health Reform Blueprint

Individuals with mental health issues frequently come into contact with the criminal justice system and too often, the outcomes fall short of helping people who face those challenges. Today, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced two initiatives designed to improve the way law enforcement interacts with people with mental health issues, including up […]

DAI Sandra Oplinger Named Peace Officer of the Year

DAI Named Peace Officer of the Year

In 1979, Craig Woolley was brutally stabbed to death in bed.  The case went cold when no suspect was identified, although evidence collected included the knife, fingerprints, and swabs of blood.  In 2006, the San Diego Police Department identified Jeffrey Cauble, a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton in 1979, from one fingerprint on a drinking […]

DA Announces Criminal Charges Against Poway Man Accused of Ponzi Scheme

He Stole Millions of Dollars from Dozens of People

A Poway man who stole nearly $8 million dollars from dozens of victims over a five-year period in San Diego County, most of them senior citizens, has been charged by the District Attorney’s Office with more 80 felony counts. Christopher Dougherty, 46, has been charged with grand theft, fraud and financial elder abuse, and other […]