Tag Archive for: San Diego County District Attorney

Photo of a consumer with a credit card and cell phone.

DA Announces $13.6 Million in Consumer Protection Judgments Against Three Companies

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan today announced key updates to the way her office is protecting consumers from fraud and abuse, including a modernized online reporting tool on its public website and increased access for the public to make complaints in person. The expanded consumer protections come amid news of stipulated judgements involving the San Diego District Attorney’s Office to settle civil law enforcement complaints against three companies: HelloFresh, Walmart Corporation, and Attractive Gems.

Over the past 10 years, the San Diego DA’s consumer protection filings have led to 87 civil judgments, resulting in court-ordered statewide penalties totaling more than $134 million.

“The civil actions we file protect the consumer and hold corporations accountable when they fail to follow the laws in place to ensure the public is getting accurate and fair pricing information on products they purchase, as well as making sure companies aren’t using fine print to trigger costly automatic renewals that take advantage of unsuspecting consumers,” said DA Stephan. “Our Economic Crimes and Consumer Protection Division is committed to holding retailers accountable for meeting their obligations under the law and we work with our colleagues across the state of California to accomplish that.”

In what is believed to be one of the largest such judgments ever ordered in California, it was announced today that HelloFresh, the world’s largest meal kit delivery company, will pay $7.5 million to settle a civil lawsuit alleging the company violated California’s Automatic Renewal Law by deceptively enrolling consumers into auto-renewing subscription plans without proper disclosure or consent. The lawsuit alleged that HelloFresh misled California consumers into ongoing subscription charges without adequate notice or authorization.

In a separate action, Walmart Corporation was ordered last week to pay a $5.6 million stipulated judgement to settle a civil law enforcement complaint that alleged that the retailer unlawfully charged customers prices higher than their lowest advertised or posted price.

And in a settlement announced last month, a $500,000 judgement was ordered against the San Diego-based jewelry store Attractive Gems Jewelers and its two owners, resolving allegations that the company engaged in deceptive lending practices. A joint investigation by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and California Department of Justice found that Attractive Gems misled consumers by falsely promoting a store credit line to build credit. The company also failed to provide required credit disclosures and used unlawful arbitration clauses in installment contracts with military service members in violation of the federal Military Lending Act.

The DA today also announced an updated online reporting tool on its public website, which allows the public to file a complaint if they are aware of a fraudulent or unlawful business practice taking place in the county. Consumer protection-related criminal or civil cases are developed in several ways, including information from law enforcement and regulatory agency investigations, referrals from consumer protection prosecutors in other areas of California, and complaints from the citizens of San Diego through the DA’s Consumer Complaint Form process.

“My office is committed to supporting the San Diego community and providing a means of reporting individuals and businesses engaged in unlawful business practices,” DA Stephan said. “We want to streamline the reporting process as much as possible and want consumers to know where they can go to more easily report suspected fraud or unlawful business practices.”

The DA is making consumer protection experts available at two locations in the county, allowing the public a more accessible way to report suspected consumer fraud, make consumer complaints, and receive consumer protection advice in person. These specialists will be on-site every week, part-time at the DA’s CARE Center located at 12 North Euclid Avenue in National City, as well as One Safe Place:  the North County Family Justice Center located at 1050 Los Vallecitos Boulevard in San Marcos.

The San Diego County District Attorney’s Economic Crimes and Consumer Protection Division, brings civil and criminal actions to protect San Diego County consumers. The division investigates and prosecutes fraud and unlawful business practices in the marketplace. The division includes a team of experienced attorneys, investigators, and other professional staff who investigate and evaluate reports of fraudulent and unfair business practices and determine appropriate action.

Last year alone, the DA’s Consumer Protection Unit filed several civil actions related to unfair or deceptive business practices that netted a total of $14,652,500 in civil judgments. The cases involved illegal automatic renewals, improper pricing policies and pricing inaccuracies. Companies that reached settlements with the DA’s Office include Thrive Market Technologies; Albertsons, Vons, and Safeway grocery stores; Travelers Insurance and Lamps Plus

Residents are encouraged to follow the DA’s Office on social media for information and updates on consumer protection efforts. For more information on consumer protection resources and how to report fraud, visit the DA’s website.

Deputy District Attorneys Kathryn Turner, Stephen Spinella, and Tom Papageorge are prosecutors who specialize in consumer protection and handle these complex cases.

 

Babysitter Who Provided Special-Needs Children for her Boyfriend to Molest Sentenced to Life in Prison

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that Brittney Lyon, 31, has been sentenced to life in prison for her role in procuring at least four young girls for her boyfriend Samuel Cabrera to molest, and for participating in the disturbing abuse with him. Two girls were 7 and the others were just 3 years of age. Two had an autism diagnosis, one was non-verbal.

Lyon was sentenced today to 100 years-to-life in prison after pleading guilty in May to two felony counts of lewd act upon a child and two counts of forcible lewd act upon a child. She also admitted the allegations of kidnapping, residential burglary and to sexually assaulting multiple victims. Her co-defendant, Cabrera, was previously convicted by a jury in 2019 and sentenced to eight life terms without parole in 2021.

“Today’s just sentence ends a despicable chapter that has destroyed innocence and devastated families in San Diego County,” DA Stephan said. “This defendant was ruthless in posing as a trustworthy babysitter and recruiting autistic children, only to commit the most atrocious acts upon them.”

The abuse came to light when one of the 7-year-old girls told her mother in 2016 that she no longer wanted to go anywhere with Lyon, a family friend who sometimes babysat her. The girls told her mother about the abuse, which led police to Cabrera. After a brief chase, police found a double-locked box in his car containing six computer hard drives with hundreds of videos depicting Lyon and Cabrera sexually abusing the children, and at times, drugging or assaulting them, using extreme cruelty and brutality. In addition to the videos of the young victims, there were dozens of videos that Lyon had taken surreptitiously of women and girls in changing rooms at clothing stores, bathrooms and locker rooms at various North County businesses.

With other unknown victims on the tapes, police sought assistance from the public looking for parents who hired Lyon, a San Marcos resident who had advertised her services on a babysitting website. The three remaining victims had connected with Lyon from the website where she specifically touted her interest in working with special needs children.

Communications between Lyon and Cabrera showed they regularly coordinated access to the children for abuse by Lyon bringing the children to Cabrera’s home or by Lyon allowing Cabrera to access the children in their own homes or Lyon’s home. She also sexually assaulted the children with Cabrera and alone. Lyon would obtain drugs and other items used to abuse the children.

Although Lyon has been sentenced to more than 100 years-to-life in prison, she will be eligible under current elder parole laws to begin petitioning the court for parole at age 50 and if granted, will have only served approximately 28 years, a fraction of the life sentence handed down by the court.

To address situations like this, the District Attorney’s Office is a sponsor of Senate Bill 286, authored by State Senator Brian Jones, which would exclude convicted sex offenders from applying for elderly parole. The proposed legislation is currently sitting in the suspense file in the Senate Appropriations Committee and most likely will not make it to a floor vote this legislative session.

“After the horrific sexual crimes Brittney Lyon committed against children, District Attorney Summer Stephan did her job in securing a just sentence of 100 years-to-life,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones. “Now, it’s time for the state to do its job and honor that sentence for the sake of the victims. Shamefully, a loophole in California law could allow Lyon to walk free after serving less than a third of her sentence. Senate Bill 286 would close that loophole and ensure violent child rapists serve their full sentences. I’m calling on my Democrat colleagues to stop protecting predators, move this important bill forward, and deliver justice for victims.”

Assembly Bill 47, a similar bill that’s also supported by the District Attorney’s Office, authored by Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen, also seeks to prevent sex offenders from qualifying for early parole under the elder parole law. It too, is in limbo in the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file.

“Our goal in supporting these bills is to safeguard the just sentences that violent sex offenders and murderers are given by the courts after they committed some of the most heinous offenses and stop them from being released back into the community with plenty of opportunity to reoffend,” DA Stephan said. “The victims, their families and the safety of all children in California need to be the priority, not Ms. Lyon and other violent child molesters like her. The age of 50 is hardly ’elderly,’ particularly is the realm of child molesters, who need only be in a position of trust and power to access and sexually abuse children.”

San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond has will introduce a board letter in support of SB 286 and AB 47 on August 26, seeking wider support from his colleagues on the Board.

“This is a critical step in protecting the safety of our communities, particularly our most vulnerable populations,” Supervisor Desmond said. “By excluding violent sex offenders and murderers from the Elderly Parole Program, these bills ensures that those who have committed heinous crimes will not be prematurely released. Public safety must always be our top priority, and it’s vital that we safeguard victims, especially those who have already suffered immeasurable harm. Allowing individuals convicted of violent sex offenses to be considered for early release undermines the trust and security of the public, and we cannot allow that to happen.”

Deputy District Attorney Jodi Breton in the DA’s Family Protection Division prosecuted this case.

Public Encouraged to Follow the District Attorney’s Office on Social Media

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan is reminding the public they can follow the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office on multiple social media platforms, reinforcing the DA’s commitment to transparency, public safety, education, and to building strong partnerships with the communities it serves.

“Our partnership with the community is strengthened through direct and transparent communication using our social media. It is critical to our mission of pursuing justice and protecting victims,” said DA Stephan. “The DA’s social media shares groundbreaking crime stories and jury trial outcomes, new laws that impact public safety, the latest consumer fraud and scams, victim resources and latest tips to keep you and your family safe. We believe knowledge is power and we want our community to be informed and empowered to live with dignity and safety. Join us.”

The public can follow the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office on all its social media platforms for updates on criminal justice initiatives, victim services, high-profile prosecutions, public safety warnings, crime prevention campaigns, and community events. Users can scan a QR code or [click here] to get all the social media links directly.

The District Attorney’s Office uses social media to keep the public informed about:

  • Major criminal case announcements
  • Consumer alerts and warnings
  • Crime prevention tips
  • Resources for victims of crime
  • Community outreach events
  • Legislative efforts impacting criminal justice reform

The DA’s Office is active on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, BlueSky, and X (formerly Twitter), with tens of thousands of followers staying connected through updates and stories from our multiple office locations across San Diego County. The office also has a presence on LinkedIn, sharing professional milestones and job opportunities.

The public can follow the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office on:

For more information about the District Attorney’s Office and the resources it provides, visit: www.SanDiegoDA.com. News videos about the DA’s Office can be found on  DAnewsCenter.com and residents can get DA news updates directly via email by signing up to receive the DA’s weekly updates, here.

 

DA Weekly News Update with DA Summer Stephan 08-07-25

In this week’s DA News Update, District Attorney Summer Stephan talks about the importance of National Night Out to help keep communities safe.

Six Veterans Graduate from Specialized Court Program Aiding Recovery and Reintegration

For some veterans, the transition to civilian life brings challenges—mental health struggles, substance abuse, and sometimes, involvement with the justice system. Veterans Treatment Court is a specialized but rigorous court program designed to help people move toward recovery. And last week, six individuals graduated from the program.

DA Weekly News Update with DA Summer Stephan 07-03-25

In this week’s DA Weekly News Update, District Attorney Summer Stephan shares the latest on the sentencing of a teacher convicted of inappropriate relationships with students, plus details on an important public safety meeting with El Cajon’s Middle Eastern community. Stay informed and involved!

 

 

 

DA Weekly News Update with DA Summer Stephan 06-26-25

In this week’s episode of DA Weekly News, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan discusses the sentencing of violent bank robber Larry Lightning Jr., who was brought to justice for terrorizing our community. Learn how the DA’s Office is working to hold dangerous criminals accountable. Also featured this week: Elder Abuse Awareness Month. Discover important tips on how to protect seniors from financial scams, physical abuse, and neglect. Learn how you can recognize the signs of elder abuse and take action to help keep your loved ones safe.

Photo of a gavel over law books and scales of justice.

Teacher Who Committed Sex Crimes against two Underage Students Sentenced to Prison

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that a teacher who inappropriately engaged in sexual relationships with two underage students has been sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to seven felony counts of related to various sex crimes.

Kyiri Tisdale, 32, a former teacher at Escondido High School, was arrested in August 2024 following an investigation by the Escondido Police Department’s Family Protection Unit. He was arrested at school while preparing for the upcoming school year.

“This defendant used his position of trust as a teacher to commit sex crimes against teenage students whom he’s supposed to nurture and protect,” DA Stephan said. “He not only physically violated his students but also violated the trust that the overwhelming number of teachers in our county work so hard to build with their students. There is no room in our schools for corrupt teachers who abuse their positions of trust to gain the confidence of students, only to take advantage of them sexually. I hope today’s sentence serves as a warning to anyone in a position of power that the truth eventually comes out, and you will be held accountable. I am proud of the victims for coming forward and I hope the end of this case provides the closure they need to move on and live healthy lives.”

Tisdale was 29 when he began the first sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student. While that conduct was ongoing, Tisdale committed several illegal sexual acts with a separate, 16-year-old victim.

Detectives with Escondido Police worked quickly to investigate when the report from the first victim came to light just days before the start of a new school year. They developed enough information to make the arrest even as Tisdale was in his classroom, prepping for classes to start and to meet a new group of students. After the arrest, the District Attorney’s Office worked with detectives to locate and speak to the second victim, developing further evidence for additional criminal charges.

Every student in San Diego County deserves to have a safe and nurturing educational environment, free of sexual and physical abuse. But if that kind of abuse does happen, students, parents and teachers should report to their local police department or Sheriff’s Office. If anyone suspects any misdeeds related to schools but is uncertain about what to do, they can report to the District Attorney’s Office at https://www.sdcda.org/helping/studentsafety/.

Once suspected abuse is reported, the task force members will evaluate and investigate the claim, law enforcement will be notified to investigate allegations when appropriate, and families will be connected with trauma-informed resources and support.

Another important public safety reminder is that mandated reporters have a duty under the law to report suspected child abuse, which includes sexual abuse.

Deputy District Attorney Peter Estes from the DA’s Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Unit prosecuted this case.

Photo of Gavel and prison cell.

Violent Bank Robber Sentenced to Prison for Four Armed Heists Committed in Three Years

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that a violent and armed bank robber, who terrorized bank employees, made off with hundreds of thousands of dollars, and was eventually convicted by a jury of 30 felony counts in connection with four bank robberies across multiple jurisdictions, has been sentenced to life in prison.

Larry Lightning Jr., 45, was sentenced to 488 years and eight months in prison following a four-week trial that included 76 witnesses and extensive evidence entered into the record. The felony convictions included:

  • 10 counts of kidnapping
  • 12 counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm
  • 4 counts of robbery
  • 3 counts of auto theft
  • 1 count of kidnapping for robbery

“This defendant orchestrated a terrifying crime spree that put the lives of bank workers and community members in danger,” said DA Summer Stephan. “Thanks to the dedicated work of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, he has been held accountable for his crimes and the fear and harm he caused. While the defendant proved elusive for years, law enforcement never gave up its work to solve this string of crimes.”

Beginning in 2019 and over the span of four years, Lightning was the leader in four violent armed take-over robberies across San Diego County. In each of the robberies, he stole a vehicle close in time to the robbery that he used as a getaway car and staged a second vehicle he transferred to less than a mile from the bank, leaving the stolen car behind. Lightning covered himself from head to toe with gloves, a hoodie and a mask before he stormed each bank with his gun drawn, jumping over the teller counter.

The defendant grabbed bank employees by their hair and pulled, pushed, and shoved them into the vault at gunpoint. He yelled at them to go faster, and even counted down, threatening to kill them if they did not get the safes open fast enough. The victims testified about the fear they felt, with some saying they believed they were going to die, and that they said goodbye to their children. Lightning emptied the vaults of all cash and escaped with almost $400,000 in total from the robberies.

The case went unsolved with no leads until June 2022, when a DNA hit from the driver’s seat of a stolen vehicle came back to the defendant. The FBI performed an extensive follow-up investigation using warrants, surveillance video collection and physical surveillance with the evidence pointing to this defendant. His cell phone records and DNA in each of the stolen cars used in the robberies also contributed to his conviction. After hearing all the evidence and arguments, the jury found defendant Lightning guilty of all counts and allegations, including all the aggravating factors charged in the criminal complaint.

“I want to especially thank Deputy District Attorneys Kristie Nikoletich and Savanah Howe for their outstanding work in presenting a thorough and compelling case to the jury,” Stephan said. “Their commitment to justice and protecting our communities along with the support of the DA and law enforcement teams helped ensure this dangerous individual will no longer be a threat.”

DA Weekly News Update with DA Summer Stephan 06-19-25

In this week’s DA News Update, DA Summer Stephan highlights the powerful work of our Animal Cruelty Prosecution Unit, fighting for justice for abused and neglected animals. DA Stephan also shares a powerful Juneteenth message, honoring the significance of this day in American history.