As Organized Retail Thieves Turn to New Tactics, Bay Area Prosecutors Form Alliance to Ensure Accountability

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that the District Attorney’s Office has filed felony charges against nine people for their participation in Friday evening organized crimes at Louis Vuitton in Union Square as well as other San Francisco businesses. The arraignments are scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.

Four suspects are charged as a result of a joint gun trafficking operation that netted 21 firearms, ammunition, narcotics and more.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that the District Attorney’s Office has filed 128 charges against Aziza Graves for 120 incidents involving the theft of items totaling more than $40,000 in value from the Stonestown Target store between October of 2020 to November of 2021.

District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced today that the District Attorney’s Office has charged Russell A. Robinson, a now-disbarred San Francisco-based attorney, with multiple felony counts for defrauding a client, two courts, and two insurance companies— all while illegally practicing law after he was suspended from doing so.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced the launch of two new dashboards on the San Francisco District Attorney’s website to allow the public to track detailed criminal justice information.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Boudin announced homicides charges against San Francisco Police Department Officer Kenneth Cha, who shot Sean Moore on January 6, 2017, causing his death three years later.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Boudin announced homicides charges against San Francisco Police Department Officer Kenneth Cha, who shot Sean Moore on January 6, 2017, causing his death three years later.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined by San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, and Keker, Van Nest & Peters, LLP, announced a joint effort today against ghost gun kit manufacturer and retailers Blackhawk Manufacturing Group, Inc. (Blackhawk); MDX Corporation (MDX), and GS Performance, LLC (Glockstore).

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined by San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, and Keker, Van Nest & Peters, LLP, announced a joint effort today against ghost gun kit manufacturer and retailers Blackhawk Manufacturing Group, Inc. (Blackhawk); MDX Corporation (MDX), and GS Performance, LLC (Glockstore).

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that yesterday a jury reached five guilty verdicts in a misdemeanor domestic violence trial.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced the filing of 4 felony charges and three misdemeanors, against Dominic Barsetti, a San Francisco Sheriff’s Deputy. Deputy Barsetti is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced the filing of seven felony charges, including hate crime allegations, against O’Sean Garcia for seven separate robberies against Asian women. The District Attorney’s Office alleges that the string of offenses were racially motivated. Mr. Garcia is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon and the District Attorney’s Office is seeking his detention.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announces that he is one of 80 current and former elected prosecutors and law enforcement leaders and former Department of Justice officials who filed an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in United States v. Safehouse, supporting efforts to open the nation’s first overdose prevention site.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that a San Francisco jury returned guilty verdicts for seven felony offenses in a rape and sexual assault case.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced a new partnership between the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office; the San Francisco Police Department, the San Francisco Department of Public Health; and the San Francisco State University Police Department to enhance the reporting and investigation of campus sexual assaults, violent crimes, and hate crimes, and improve support for survivors. The newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) establishes roles, procedures, and practices across these agencies for responding to reports of sexual violence crimes and hate crimes and ensuring that survivors’ needs are met.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and the Prosecutors Alliance of California announced the filing of an amicus brief in the California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, in support of the class action lawsuit brought by Kiara Ferrari Caldwell against Bad Boys Bail Bond Corporation.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announces that the District Attorney’s Office has submitted for filing a civil prosecution action against three corporations that manufacture and distribute ghost guns throughout California.  Keker, Van Nest & Peters, LLP and the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence are co-counsel in this groundbreaking case.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced the filing of 33 charges, including hate crime allegations, against Derik Barreto for 27 separate incidents against 20 primarily Chinese-owned businesses. The District Attorney’s Office alleges that the string of offenses that occurred between April and August 2021 were racially motivated. Mr. Barreto is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Boudin hosted a live summit, “Public Health is Public Safety: Behavioral Health Care in San Francisco.”

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announces that the District Attorney’s Office is launching an investigation into reports of possibly illegitimate lawsuits targeting Chinatown merchants. There have been reports that lawyers have sent out potentially fraudulent suits under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and have exploited the law to extort small business owners into paying them. This afternoon, members of the District Attorney’s Office staff attended a townhall in Chinatown, where these concerns were voiced by many Chinatown merchants, and the DA held a press conference at the Chinese Chamber of Commerce following the townhall.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced the settlement of the District Attorney’s Office’s civil false advertising case against Angie’s List, Inc., a home services website that provides a crowd-sourced online directory of local businesses and contractors.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced today that Gerald “Jerry” Sanguinetti, a former Bureau Manager for San Francisco Public Works, was arrested on five felony charges for Perjury in violation of Penal Code section 118(a), and two misdemeanor charges for Failure to File Financial Disclosure Statements in violation of San Francisco Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code section 3.1-102(a).

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced a bold new policy to promote respect for the gender identity of all people encountering the criminal legal system.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announces that longtime San Francisco public servant Francis Chan has started as the District Attorney’s Office’s new Director of Community Affairs.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin is delighted to announce that Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law AB 127, a key piece of legislation to remove barriers to police accountability.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced the filing of 15 charges against Jean Lugo Romero, who is alleged to be the individual depicted in a widely-circulated video of a shoplifting at a San Francisco Walgreens last week.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced the filing of charges against Daniel Cauich for the stabbing of a 94-year-old Chinese woman yesterday.

Today, District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that former San Francisco Department of Human Resources manager Rebecca Sherman is being charged with two felony counts of Forgery in violation of California Penal Code section 470(a).

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announces that the California State Senate has passed AB 127, sending the bill to the Governor’s desk. District Attorney Boudin cosponsored AB 127, which was authored by Senator Sydney Kamlager, and District Attorney Boudin testified on its behalf earlier this week. The bill would remove obstacles to prosecutors holding police accountable and is one of a slate of bills before the State Legislature that District Attorney Boudin has cosponsored this year.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that a jury reached guilty verdicts in a felony domestic violence trial. The case stemmed from a May 2018 incident in which Mr. Jovaughn Timms shot his girlfriend in the stomach during an argument. The jury convicted on five out of the six charges, including assault with a firearm with conduct enhancements; domestic violence causing injury with conduct enhancements; and firearm charges.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin heralds the California State Senate’s passage of Senate Bill 739, which supports universal basic income for youth aging out of the foster system. District Attorney Boudin cosponsored SB 739, which was authored by Senator Dave Cortese. District Attorney Boudin’s advocacy for SB 739 builds on the District Attorney’s Office’s development of new, innovative approaches to assist vulnerable young people.

Today, as part of National Gun Violence Awareness Day, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin launches a new initiative to assist members of the public in seeking gun violence restraining orders (“GVROs”).

Today, District Attorney Chesa Boudin applauded the California State Senate’s passage of two important bills yesterday: Senate Bills 299 and 710. District Attorney Boudin was a cosponsor of both bills, which expand victims’ rights, support police accountability, and promote fairness in the criminal justice system.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin hosted a virtual press conference to request public assistance in locating Jean Chang Kan Fung, an 84-year-old grandmother who has not been seen since May 28 at approximately 4 pm.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced the refiling of charges against two Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) deputies, Luis Santamaria and Paul Wieber, for the 2015 beating of Stanislov Petrov.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced the filing of a motion for preliminary injunction seeking to immediately stop Handy Technologies, Inc. from continuing to break the law by misclassifying its workers as independent contractors instead of employees.

Today, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office appeared at the parole hearing for Tare Beltranchuc and, in order to protect public safety, opposed his release.

Today, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office appeared at the parole hearing for Tare Beltranchuc and, in order to protect public safety, opposed his release.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced charges against Patrick Thompson for the stabbing of two elderly, AAPI women on Market Street earlier this week.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin issued the following statement regarding last night’s attack on two elderly AAPI women.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that on April 12, 2021, Dr. Gena Castro Rodriguez, the Chief of the Office’s Victim Services Division (“VSD”), announced she was stepping down after seven years in the office.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that he has filed murder charges against Joseph Williams for the killing of Baby S., a seven month-old boy (who was unrelated to Mr. Williams).

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that San Francisco is the recipient of a $6 million philanthropic investment to work with local community leaders to expand restorative justice approaches within San Francisco.

Today, a jury in Minneapolis, Minnesota convicted former Officer Derek Chauvin of three counts, including second and third degree murder. “I am relieved by the verdict today but also know that it does not heal the pain George Floyd’s family has suffered.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Boudin announces that SB 299, a first-in-the-nation bill he cosponsored, passed unanimously yesterday in the California Senate’s Committee on Public Safety on a vote of 5-0. Authored by Senator Connie Leyva (SD-20), the bill would extend services to victims of police violence.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced his co-sponsorship of SB 739, the Universal Basic Income for Transition Age Foster Youth Act, a bill introduced by Senator Dave Cortese.

District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced today that the District Attorney’s Office has charged Justin Volk, a former Forensic Laboratory Analyst in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) with two misdemeanor charges: Theft (Penal Code Section 484) and Receipt of Stolen Property (Penal Code Section 496).

Today, District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that a jury returned guilty verdicts in the case of People v. Antonio Montalvo.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón jointly filed a worker protection action against Handy, suing the company for unlawfully misclassifying its workers as independent contractors when, in fact, these workers are employees performing the very cleaning and handyman services that Handy sells its customers.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin held a rally outside of the courthouse at 850 Bryant Street alongside political and community leaders to condemn violence and show support for the AAPI community.

Today, District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced the filing of felony charges against Tommy Jue of San Francisco for grand theft; using a contractor’s license with intent to defraud; filing a false or forged instrument; forgery; and insurance fraud.

– San Francisco is the recipient of a $2 million grant by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to continue building on efforts in collaboration with local leaders and the community to rethink the local criminal justice system, safely reduce San Francisco’s jail population, and eliminate racial inequities.

– San Francisco is the recipient of a $2 million grant by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to continue building on efforts in collaboration with local leaders and the community to rethink the local criminal justice system, safely reduce San Francisco’s jail population, and eliminate racial inequities.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office is launching a new Community Liaisons program throughout the city of San Francisco.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office is launching a new Community Liaisons program throughout the city of San Francisco.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office is launching a new Community Liaisons program throughout the city of San Francisco.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that he will be appointing James Bell to replace the Honorable Judge Fern Smith (Ret.) on the San Francisco Ethics Commission.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced the filing of multiple felony charges against Troy McAlister, who was arrested by San Francisco Police on December 31, 2020 for driving under the influence, running a red light, and killing two female pedestrians while driving a stolen car.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Boudin announced that the District Attorney’s Office has filed felony charges against San Francisco Police Department Officer Terrance Stangel, who beat Dacari Spiers with his baton on October 7, 2019.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced the declination to file charges against officers in two officer-involved shooting (“OIS”) incidents from earlier this year.

Today, District Attorney Boudin announced that the District Attorney’s Office has filed homicide charges against former San Francisco Police Department Officer Chris Samayoa, who fatally shot Keita O’Neil in December of 2017.

Today, District Attorney Boudin announced that the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office’s website has posted a comprehensive list of prosecutions that may have been impacted by a recent Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) analyst misconduct.

Today, District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that Julius Berry, 29, of San Francisco, was found guilty by a jury of 8 felonies, including mayhem, 3 counts of domestic violence, 2 counts of assault with a deadly weapon and 2 counts of false imprisonment, for various incidents over multiple years where he burned his girlfriend’s face and neck with a lit cigarette, stabbed her in her thigh and abdomen with scissors, and bound and gagged her while holding an electric drill to her temple.

Today, in response to a rare request by the California Supreme Court for briefing about the constitutionality of California’s death penalty as it is applied, Governor Gavin Newsom filed an amicus brief stating that California’s death penalty has been applied in a manner that is unfair and racially biased.

Today, District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced his cosponsorship of California State Assemblymember Rob Bonta (AD-18)’s first-in-the-nation legislation to require elected prosecutors to recuse themselves from the investigation and prosecution of law enforcement misconduct if they accept financial contributions from law enforcement unions.

Today, District Attorney Chesa Boudin and San Francisco Department of Elections Director John Arntz announced that their offices will work together to combat election fraud in the upcoming general election.

Today, District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will begin a pilot program to expand testing of all toxicology samples from sexual assault survivors from two days to five days, allowing for samples from survivors to be tested for sedative agents in a much broader time frame following a sexual assault.

Today, on the third anniversary of the Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting in Las Vegas, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced the signing and expansion of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between nine Bay Area counties to streamline a coordinated response in the event of a mass casualty crime incident.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that longtime San Francisco public servant David Campos will serve as the District Attorney’s Office’s new Chief of Staff. Mr. Campos’s public service includes three years on the San Francisco Police Commission as well as eight years on the Board of Supervisors.

Amidst unprecedented financial hardship for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, Supervisor Preston and District Attorney Boudin announced today a partnership between their offices to spearhead a first-of-its-kind victim assistance program for small neighborhood businesses.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced the launch of a Post-Conviction Unit as part of the District Attorney’s Office, as well as the formation of an Innocence Commission.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin joins current and former District Attorneys from across the state to create the Prosecutors Alliance of California.

Today, District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that Heather Zalatimo, 45, the former acting Chief Information Security Officer of the San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH), was arrested for her role in DPH entering into an IT contract in which she had a financial interest.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin releases a statement emphasizing the importance of AB 767, a bill sponsored by Assemblymember Grayson, which would expand California’s Victim Compensation Board benefits to include victims of police violence.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced the filing of a motion for preliminary injunction seeking to immediately stop DoorDash from continuing to break the law by classifying its delivery workers as independent contractors instead of employees.

San Francisco District Attorney Boudin joins three other current and former District Attorneys to announce their co-sponsorship of A.B. 767, which would expand California Victim Compensation Board coverage to include victims of police violence.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that San Francisco Sheriff Deputy Jalen Rosales has been arrested and charged with possession of an assault weapon.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that Care.com will pay $1 million in civil penalties and restitution.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced that his office has agreed to reduce the sentence of Clifford Stanley Bolden, the last remaining person on California’s death row out of San Francisco county, to a 47 years-to-life sentence.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, the Grassroots Law Project, and District Attorneys from Boston and Philadelphia announce the formation of local “Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commissions” in each city.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin was joined by District Attorney of Contra Costa County Diana Becton; District Attorney of San Joaquin County Tori Verber Salazar; and Former District Attorney of San Francisco County George Gascon in signing a letter calling for the California Victims’ Compensation Board to change its regulations to allow for victims of police violence to qualify for victims’ compensation.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announced the filing of an employee protection action against DoorDash alleging the company has and continues to illegally misclassify its delivery workers as independent contractors when, in fact, they are employees.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announces a bold new policy directive to prevent the charging and prosecution of cases relying upon the word of officers who have previously been found to have committed serious misconduct.

Today, the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) voted to award Community Works (CW) just under $2 million from the Youth Reinvestment Grant (YRG) Program.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announces a bold new policy directive to allow victims and witnesses of police violence to receive victims’ compensation.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announces two new changes to the District Attorney’s Office designed to hold law enforcement accountable and protect the public…

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and Supervisor Shamann Walton announce a resolution motivated by the murder of George Floyd to protect the public and particularly people of color from police misconduct.

Today, in the wake of mass protests following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers, a coalition of current and former elected prosecutors representing millions of Californians in diverse counties banded together to call on the California State Bar to cure the conflict of interest created by police unions’ outsized influence in local elections.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, Governor Newsom’s Office, and Airbnb announce a joint collaboration with the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (“the Partnership”) to support residents fleeing domestic violence amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin announces the launch of a new Economic Crimes Against Workers Unit within the DA’s office to investigate and prosecute crimes committed by employers against workers.

As part of the City’s COVID-19 response, District Attorney Chesa Boudin, Mayor London Breed and the Human Services Agency have secured 20 furnished apartment units in partnership with Veritas for survivors of domestic violence in San Francisco

The office will end the practice of using status based sentencing enhancements except in extraordinary circumstances, will no longer charge contraband crimes stemming from pretextual searches.

his afternoon, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin hosted Marilyn Mosby, State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, and Rachael Rollins, Suffolk County (MA) District Attorney, for an office wide discussion about the challenges and future of progressive prosecution.

Attorneys at the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office received a formal policy today ending the practice of prosecutors asking for cash bail as a condition of pretrial detention.

CONTACTS:Alex Bastian / (415) 314-4848 / Alex.Bastian@sfgov.orgRachel Marshall / (415) 416-4468 / Rachel.Marshall@sfgov.org – Primary caregivers will be invited to participate in a diversion program