Archived Press Releases 2011
Wednesday, December 28 2011
Judge Finds Sufficient Evidence to Order Printing Company, Owner and Foreman to Trial in 2008 Death of Pregnant Worker
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced that after three weeks of testimony at a preliminary hearing, Judge Newton Lam ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold the defendants to answer on criminal charges filed in connection with the death of a pregnant worker who was crushed by a machine at her job on January 29, 2008. Read More
Friday, December 23, 2011
Man Acting as Fake Doctor in the Mission Arrested and Facing Felony Charges
Defendant Charged with Performing Liposuction and Other Medical Procedures
San Francisco – District Attorney George Gascón announced today the arrest of Carlos Guzmangarza, age 49, of San Francisco for practicing medicine without a license. Guzmangarza, who has no medical license, faces felony charges for stealing the identity of a physician’s assistant and performing invasive medical procedures on two victims without a license. Read More
Friday, December 16, 2011
Unlicensed Contractor Sentenced to One Year in Jail for Wage Theft and Defrauding Homeowners
SAN FRANCISCO – District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Danny Ho, age 53 of San Francisco, was been sentenced to one year in county jail in connection with his theft of labor from workers and his misappropriation of money paid to him by San Francisco homeowners for remodel jobs. Ho was convicted of felony counts for grand theft of labor, fraudulently posing as a licensed contractor, and misappropriation of construction funds. Read More
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Former SF Department of Public Health Employees Charged with Felony Counts for Food Safety Bribery Scheme
San Francisco – District Attorney George Gascón announced today that two former Environmental Health Inspectors for San Francisco’s Department of Public Health Food Safety Program were arraigned on multiple felony charges for their alleged roles in a food safety bribery scheme involving local restaurants. Read More
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Jury Convicts Man of First Degree Murder and Sexual Assault on a Minor
San Francisco – District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Umar Hudson, age 35, was convicted of first degree murder and 4 counts of sexual assault on a minor. The conviction came after a month long jury trial in San Francisco Superior Court Department 21 before the Honorable Jerome Benson. Read More
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
DA George Gascón, Walk SF and SF Bicycle Coalition Call for Safer Streets this Holiday Season
San Francisco – District Attorney George Gascón, was joined by representatives from Walk San Francisco and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition to call for safer streets this holiday season. Over the last six months, the District Attorney’s Office has seen 4 cases involving pedestrian fatalities. In most of these cases, the accident could have been avoided with more vigilance. Read more
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Gary Scott Holland Pleads Guilty to First Degree Murder of Russian Hill Woman
San Francisco - District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Scott Holland “aka Gary Scott Holland” (DOB 6/29/67) pled guilty to the first degree murder of Kathleen “Kate” Horan, a 46-year-old resident of San Francisco’s Russian Hill neighborhood. Read More
Friday, October 28, 2011
Craigslist Apartment Scammer Rachael Marie Smith Sentenced to Two Years
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced that Rachael Marie Smith (DOB: 12/4/1980 CN 10021872), was sentenced today to two years for swindling 18 would be renters she found on Craigslist out of their first month’s rent and security deposits. Read more
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Picasso Thief Pleads Guilty to Felony Grand Theft
San Francisco – District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Mark Lugo, a 31-year-old Hoboken, New Jersey resident, pled guilty to one count of felony grand theft for stealing an original pencil drawing by Pablo Picasso called “Tête de Femme” from Weinstein Art Gallery in Union Square. Read more
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Plaid Bandit Bank Robber Arraigned on Robbery and Burglary Charges
San Francisco - District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Donald Gene Booth, 68 was arraigned on six counts of second degree robbery and four counts of burglary Read More
October 19, 2011
District Attorney Gascón Announces Victim Services Expansion in Chinatown
SAN FRANCISO – District Attorney George Gascón announced that the District Attorney’s Office is expanding the reach of its Victim Services Division by holding drop-in office hours in Chinatown at Cameron House Read More
October 17, 2011
District Attorney George Gascón and Superintendent Carlos Garcia
Announce Innovative Pilot Program to Combat Chronic Truancy
San Francisco – District Attorney George Gascón and Superintendent Carlos Garcia were joined by School Board member Rachel Norton, Principal Bill Kappenhagen, Chip Rich, Executive Director, Urban Services YMCA and Tacing Parker, Director of the Urban Services YMCA-run Truancy Assessment and Resource Center (TARC) to announce an innovative pilot program to reduce truancy at Burton High School located in the Silver Terrace neighborhood in San Francisco. Read More
October 13, 2011
Guilty Verdicts on Assault of Two Mexican Nationals by Individuals Linked to Organized Racist Skinhead Group
San Francisco - District Attorney George Gascón announced today that a San Francisco jury convicted Robert Allen, age 39, and Justin Meskan, age 29, individuals with links to a racist skinhead group, of assaulting two Mexican Nationals, Alex Cauich and Jose Omar Cauich. This case has helped uncover an underground network of racist skinhead groups operating in San Francisco. Read More
October 11, 2011
District Attorney George Gascón Expands Neighborhood Prosecution and Neighborhood Courts Program
SAN FRANCISCO – District Attorney George Gascón announced today the launch of the Neighborhood Prosecution and Neighborhood Courts Program at Northern and Park Police Stations, expanding into the Western Addition, Haight, Civic Center, Hayes Valley, Pacific Heights, Marina and Inner Sunset areas. Read More
October 5, 2011
DA George Gascón Employs Key Strategies to Aid Domestic Violence Victims from Immigrant Communities
SAN FRANCISCO – District Attorney George Gascón, in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness month, announced today two important strategies the District Attorney’s Office is employing to protect domestic violence victims and all victims of crime, regardless of their immigration status. Read more
September 30, 2011
Grand Jury Indicts Suspects on German Tourist Murder Case
SAN FRANCISCO – District Attorney George Gascón was joined by representatives from the German Consulate today as he announced the Grand Jury indictments of seven suspects for the August 2010 shooting death of 50-year-old Mechthild Schroer, a tourist visiting from Germany, and the wounding of two other victims. Read More
September 27, 2011
San Francisco to Create Sentencing Commission and Recidivism Ordinance to Address Realignment State Legislation Due to Take Effect October 1
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - District Attorney George Gascón, Supervisor Scott Wiener, and Supervisor Malia Cohen held a press conference today with law enforcement officials to announce the introduction of the Sentencing Commission and Recidivism Reduction Ordinance which is being introduced at the Board of Supervisors meeting today. Read More
September 19, 2011
Former SF Public Utilities Commission Supervisor Pleads Guilty to Felony Charges in a Procurement Scam to Embezzle City Funds for Personal Gain
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Donnie Alan Thomas, a former Supervisor at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), pled guilty to felony charges in a procurement scam to defraud the PUC for personal benefit. Read more
September 14, 2011
DA Gascón Announces Charges in Mortgage Fraud Elder Abuse Case
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced today the charging of Carlos and Karla Parada, a father and daughter, who allegedly defrauded a 71-year-old woman and her son in a mortgage fraud scheme. A third defendant, Geovanny Avendano was also charged as part of the alleged fraud. Read More
August 29, 2011
Rachael Marie Smith Pleads Guilty
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Rachael Marie Smith (DOB: 12/4/1980 CN 10021872) pled guilty to three counts of grand theft.
Read More
August 24, 2011
DA Gascón Hosts Regional Realignment Summit
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced today the successful completion of the Regional Realignment Summit where ten Bay Area counties joined together to discuss and prepare for Realignment. Read More
August 24, 2011
Karl Nicholas Sentenced for Ballot Theft
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Karl Bradfield Nicholas, (CN 10032811), was sentenced to a year in county jail for stealing ballots from a polling place on November 2, 2010.
Read More
August 14, 2011
DA and Superintendent Announce 4th Consecutive Year of Truancy Reduction in SF
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – City and state leaders kicked off the 2011-2012 school year, which begins Monday, August 15, by announcing that for the fourth year in a row, San Francisco has reduced the number of habitually and chronically absent children enrolled in its public schools. Read More
August 9, 2011
District Attorney Gascón Charges Defendant in Hit-and-Run Involving 9-year-old Boy and Adult Female
SAN FRANCISCO – District Attorney George Gascón announced on August 8, 2011 that Andrew Alan Vargas (DOB: 11/7/1989) has been charged with two counts of felony drunk driving with injury and one felony count of hit-and-run with injury which also carries an allegation of causing great bodily injury. Read More
August 3, 2011
Man Ordered to Stand Trial for Attempted Murders
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón announced today that David M. Clark (DOB 11/28/1970, CN 10017007) was held to answer on four attempted murder charges. Read More
July 28, 2011
Man Convicted of Attempted Manslaughter
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Julius Joel Lee, (DOB: 5-5-81, CN 10024501), was convicted of attempted manslaughter. The conviction came after a three week trial in San Francisco Superior Court Department 25 before the Honorable Anne-Christine Massullo. Read More
July 28, 2011
Lucinda Moyers Scheduled for Arraignment on Monday, August 1, 2011
SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón announced today that the arraignment of Lucinda Moyers (CTN: 11019878) was put over until Monday, August 1, 2011 at 9 am PDT in Department 12 of San Francisco Superior Court. Read More
July 27, 2011
DA Gascón Announces Expansion in Availability of Victim Services
SAN FRANCISO – District Attorney George Gascón announced today that the District Attorney’s Office is expanding the reach of its Victim Services Division by holding office hours in the community. Read More
March 7, 2011
San Francisco State Cheerleading Club Coach Pleads Guilty
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Ashlee Nicole Haley (CN 10027928) pled guilty to embezzlement of cheerleader funds. Read More
March 7, 2011
San Francisco Woman Charged with Assault on a Parking Control Officer
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced today the arraignment of Amanda Rojas (DOB 3/26/83, CN 11006221) for assault and battery on a parking control officer. Read More
February 28, 2011
Craig Carlos Valentino Pleads Guilty
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Craig Carlos-Valentino (DOB: 11/28/58 CN 10033609) pled guilty to felony child endangerment and making a false bomb threat. Read More
February 23, 2011
District Attorney George Gascón Announces Office-Wide Restructuring
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón announced today a streamlining of operations in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office with an office-wide restructuring. The effort includes a reduction in the Office’s executive staff and realignment of key prosecution teams. Read More
February 22, 2011
District Attorney George Gascón Appoints Senior Mayoral Aide Cristine DeBerry, New Chief of Staff
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced that he has appointed Cristine Soto DeBerry as his chief of staff. DeBerry currently serves as deputy chief of staff to Mayor Ed Lee, a role she also served for Mayor Gavin Newsom. She is also a former deputy public defender. Read More
February 15, 2011
Man Convicted of First Degree Murder in 2003 Tenderloin Shooting
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Joevan Bowen, (CN 2435626), was convicted by a jury for the murder of Armando Arce. Read More
February 15, 2011
Former Funeral Home Operators Charged with Misappropriating Funds
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced today the charging of Derek Washington, age 38 of Oakland, and Donald Rollins, age 56 of Fairfield, the operators of a now-defunct funeral home for misappropriating customer funds intended to pay for funeral services. Read More
February 8, 2011
Former PUC Engineer Charged with Insurance Fraud
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Louis Felix Dobert, age 68, (CTN 2457683), of Martinez, CA, was charged with insurance fraud. Read More
February 4, 2011
Defendants Pled Guilty to Manslaughter in the Death of San Francisco Police Officer Nick Tomasito Birco
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Carl Lather, and Nicholas Smith, pled guilty to manslaughter and robbery in connection with the death of San Francisco Police Officer Nick Tomasito Birco (CNS 2362612, 2362613). Read More
February 2, 2011
San Francisco Police Officer Charged with Embezzlement and Vehicle Registration Fraud
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón announced today that San Francisco Police Officer Gregory Hui, age 45, has been charged with two felony counts of violating the California Vehicle Code and one misdemeanor count of embezzlement. Read More
February 2, 2011
Almon Johnson Arraigned for Lower Haight Murder
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced today the arraignment of Almon Johnson (DOB 11-20-81 CN 11002520) for the murder of Vanessa Herrera. Read More
February 2, 2011
Murder Charges Filed in Potrero Hill Shooting
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón announced today the charging of Antoine Grays (DOB 5/17/81) for the murder of Sylvestri Brown (DOB 3/27/77). Toyia Taylor (DOB 10/4/91) is charged with being an accessory to the murder. Read More
February 1, 2011
Murder Charges Filed in Fisherman’s Wharf Shootings
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón announced today the charging of Hong Ri Wu (DOB: 9/14/1954) with two counts murder for the shooting deaths of Feng Ping Ou (DOB: 6/18/1980) and Qiong Han Chu (DOB: 12/26/1980). Read More
January 26, 2011
Former San Francisco City Employee Charged with Insurance Fraud
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Gonzalo Fierro, age 44, and Andrew Giovannini, M.D., age 75, have been charged with insurance fraud. Read More
January 25, 2011
Daniel Goodwin Convicted
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Daniel Dale Goodwin, (CN 2455415), was convicted by a jury of public nuisance and obstructing arrest. Read More
January 25, 2011
Defendant Sentenced to Life Without the Possibility of Parole for the Murder of San Francisco Police Officer Nick Tomasito Birco
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Steven Petrilli, (CN 2362614), was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the murder of Nick Tomasito Birco. The defendant was sentenced in San Francisco Superior Court by the Honorable Newton Lam. Read More
January 24, 2011
Man Convicted of Attempted Murder in Tenderloin Shooting
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced today that Faustino Perez, age 49, of San Francisco was convicted of attempted murder and other charges following a six-week jury trial. Read More
January 21, 2011
San Francisco Man Arraigned in Polk Street Murder
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney George Gascón announced today the arraignment of Jodie Daniels (DOB 2/19/81). Defendant Daniels is charged with the murder and robbery of Terry Turner. Read More