Five persons were indicted in May 2015 on grand theft and recycling fraud. The trial date for two of them, Belen Gonzales and Gonzalo Rodriguez, both of Piru, has been continued to November 23, 2015.

This week, James Gonzales pleaded no contest to the charges and was sentenced to 14 months in jail, 22 months of supervised release, and $1.3 million restitution. Mendoza pleaded no contest to the felony charges and was sentenced to 10 months in jail, three years probation, and $250,000 restitution to the state.

Suspect Adriana Rodriguez, 26 of Sylmar, remains at large.

In May the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) announced the indictments of the five Californians on grand theft and recycling fraud charges in Kern County. CalRecycle and the California Department of Justice’s Recycling Fraud Team conducted an investigation spanning nearly two years that revealed a complex scheme involving out-of-state used beverage containers, 24 Southern California recycling centers, and $14 million worth of fraudulent California Redemption Value claims.

In September 2013, after a referral from CalRecycle, DOJ Recycling Fraud Team investigators observed Rodriguez Recycling of Los Angeles County importing used beverage containers from Arizona. On April 16, 2014, DOJ Recycling Fraud Team agents traveled to Phoenix and witnessed a semi-truck being loaded with used beverage containers. The semi was followed to a dirt lot in Bakersfield, where the containers were off-loaded into a U-Haul truck and onto a 53-foot trailer. A man later identified as Mario Mendoza of Bakersfield then delivered two loads of containers to Sequoia Resources in Bakersfield. Mendoza was arrested. With assistance from CalRecycle, agents later learned the loads were claimed in the names of S&S Recycling, Ignacio Recycling, and Gonzalez Recycling, operated by James Gonzales of Bakersfield. CalRecycle held and denied payment for approximately $100,000 related to these claims.

Evidence obtained through search warrants showed Sequoia Resources loaned more than $20,000 a week to Gonzalez Recycling with the expectation that Gonzales would bring back enough material to cover the cost within three days. Agents also determined that between November 2013 and April 2014, the center fronted roughly $1 million to Gonzales for the redemption of CRV containers. The investigation ultimately determined that Gonzalo Rodriguez of Piru (Ventura County) organized the fraud scheme and relied on his family to either directly operate or form associations with approximately 18 recycling centers in Southern California. Those centers redeemed an estimated $14 million in fraudulent material from the summer of 2012 to the summer of 2014.

While the DOJ Recycling Fraud Team was investigating Rodriguez, CalRecycle conducted parallel administrative investigations and took actions on multiple recycling centers related to the criminal referral. As a result, CalRecycle terminated the program certifications of 20 recycling centers, four others voluntarily decertified from the program, and CalRecycle denied payment of $245,495 in handling fees.

On March 31, 2015, a Kern County Grand Jury indicted Gonzalo Rodriguez, James Gonzales, Mario Mendoza and family members Belen Gonzales of Piru and Adriana Rodriguez of Sylmar.

Source: calrecycle.ca.gov

COMMENDING AND CONGRADULATING
ONE STEP A LA VEZ
FOR THE 2015 LATINO LEADERSHIP AWARD PRENSENTED JUNE 6, 2015 BY ELCONCILIO FAMILY SERVICES

WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Fillmore wishes to recognize One Step a la Vez who was presented the 2015 Latino Leadership Award at the 26th Annual Latino Leadership Awards Banquet on June 6, 2015; and

WHEREAS, One Step a la Vez was formed in 2004 by 12 Latino youths who also chose the name, blending both languages to respect the dual heritage of the community; and

WHEREAS, initially they provided after school mentorship through its relationship with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County; and

WHEREAS, the center is a welcoming environment where youth can come after school and meet with friends, play video games, read, complete homework, use the computer lab, make a snack, or just chat; and

WHEREAS, participants have the opportunity to participate in educational excursions such as college tours, visit museums and stay busy with the different activities; and

WHEREAS, One Step a la Vez also provides activities to youths in juvenile hall and offering classes and support groups for parents, including domestic violence, parenting, mental health, college and career counseling; and

WHEREAS, individuals can get help with drug counseling, work experience and training in English-language, cooking and independent living skills; and

WHEREAS, for their accomplishment and many other reasons, the City Council of the City of Fillmore, proudly recognizes One Step a la Vez.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Douglas Tucker, Mayor of the City of Fillmore, and on behalf of the Fillmore City Council, do hereby commend ONE STEP A LA VEZ and do hereby ask all those present to recognize their continued contributions to the community, and wish them continued success in future efforts.

AUGUST 11, 2015.
DOUGLAS TUCKER, Mayor

The proposed establishment of a Residential Property Presale Inspection Program brought a number of real estate agents including, Cindy Diaz-Telly with Troop Realty, to the Fillmore Council Chamber. The general concern expressed by several in attendance was that point-of-sale regulations would adversely affect the real estate market.

The proposed Establishment of a Residential Property Pre-sale Inspection Program (RPPIP) brought a number of real estate agents and loan official to the Fillmore Council Chamber on August 25, 2015. The Council Meeting began with a presentation by Fillmore Police Chief Dave Wareham on crime data for first six months of this year, but it was the Inspection Program that created the greatest discussion.

The goal of the RPPIP is to insure that houses, duplexes, apartments or condominiums sold in Fillmore meet building codes and are properly permitted. The Inspection would require the property owner or an authorized representative to obtain a residential building report from the City to identify observable items that fail to comply with the City's codes, rules and ordinances. This would be done prior to the sale of any residential real estate within the City. To sell the property the owner or their agent would be required to submit an application for the pre-sale inspection, pay a fee and then schedule an inspection to obtain a pre-sale occupancy inspection. No one would be allowed to sell or transfer any residential real property in the City without a valid Residential Property Report Certificate of Occupancy.

The 31 items on the inspection list included legible address numbers, peeling paint, missing shingles, masonry free of cracks, weeds, lawn not to exceed 8", antenna/Dish/TV Tower, broken windows and a number of other items.

About 15-20 real estate agents and brokers with the Ventura County Coastal Association of Realtors (VCCAR) along with lenders, came to the meeting to express their concerns with the proposal. Loan Broker Trinka Reynolds was first to address the Council. She informed them that 15-18 years ago the same item had been brought to the Council and was voted down. Reynolds continued by saying Fillmore already has laws on the books to protect the buyers and she did not agree with having greater oversight.

Dennis Goldstein, 2014 VCCAR President spoke of the good practices and ethics within the real estate business adding, "Our goal is to have good quality housing" and informed the Council that a similar program had been tried in Thousand Oaks for a few years, but was abandoned because of problems it created.

The present VCCAR CONTINUED »

A new state fish advisory issued today for Ventura County’s Lake Piru, in Los Padres National Forest, offers safe eating advice for three species of fish.

“Fish provide important health benefits and can help reduce the risk of heart disease,” said Dr. Lauren Zeise, acting director of the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). “They are also an excellent source of protein. These guidelines balance these health benefits against the risks from exposure to mercury in fish.”

The recommendations developed by OEHHA for each fish species are based on levels of mercury measured in fish from Lake Piru. Mercury gets into fish through the food they eat. Depending on the exposure level, methylmercury can harm the brain and nervous system of people, especially in fetuses and children as they grow. Mercury is a natural element found in rocks, coal, and soil. Mercury can be released into the environment by mining, volcanic eruptions, and coal-burning activities.

Women aged 18 to 45 and children ages 1 to 17 can safely eat up to two servings per week of sunfish or brown bullhead. They should avoid eating black bass. Women age 46 and older and men age 18 and older can safely eat up to seven servings per week of sunfish or brown bullhead, or one serving per week of black bass.

Eating fish in amounts slightly greater than the advisory’s recommendations is not likely to cause a health problem if it is done only occasionally, such as eating fish caught during an annual vacation.

The health advisory and eating advice for Lake Piru – as well as eating guidelines for other fish species and California bodies of water – is available at http://www.oehha.ca.gov/fish/so_cal/index.html. Pictorial fish consumption advice is also available on that page in both English and Spanish.

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the indictment of Santa Clara Waste Water Company, Green Compass Environmental Solutions LLC, Douglas Brian Edwards of Oxnard (DOB 09/10/1956), William James Mitzel of La Verne (DOB 03/15/1957), Charles Ray Mundy of Ventura (DOB 12/27/1963), Dean Michael Poe of Ventura (DOB 04/28/1965), Brock Gustin William Baker of Carpinteria (DOB 02/08/1974), Mark Stephen Avila of Fillmore (DOB 02/19/1966), Marlene Joan Faltemier of Ventura (DOB 01/13/1965), David Joseph Wirsing of (DOB 10/15/1971), and Kenneth Douglas Griffin Jr. of Ventura (DOB 07/04/1995) for crimes related to the operations of Santa Clara Waste Water Company’s Santa Paula facility. This case was investigated by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Transportation, the Ventura County Environmental Health Department, and the Ventura County Fire Department.

This case arises from a nine-month investigation into the November 18, 2014, explosion which occurred at the Santa Clara Waste Water Company facility located at 815 Mission Rock Road in Santa Paula. The explosion and its chemical residue caused injury to numerous individuals, including employees of the company and first responders. Sixty-seven individual witnesses testified before the Grand Jury during the eleven days of proceedings leading to the indictment of nine individuals and two corporate entities. The charges include conspiracy to dispose of hazardous waste, failure to warn of a serious concealed danger, handling a hazardous waste with a reckless disregard for human life, withholding information regarding a substantial danger to public safety, filing a false or forged instrument, and dissuading a witness. For information on the specific charges alleged against each defendant, see the attached Indictment and Summary of Charges.

Santa Clara Waste Water Company and Green Compass Environmental Solutions LLC were arraigned today. The remaining nine defendants are expected to be arraigned within the next week.

California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith today warned parents about the continued dangers of pertussis (whooping cough). The disease has already caused one infant death and at least 126 infant hospitalizations in California this year.

“Vaccinated mothers pass protective antibodies to their infants during pregnancy,” said Dr. Smith. “Right now, it’s estimated that fewer than half of all pregnant women in California are vaccinated against whooping cough. We need to increase that number to help improve the health of our children and of our communities.”

CDPH urges expecting mothers to receive a pertussis vaccine (called Tdap because it covers tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis). Prenatal vaccination will help protect newborn children until they are old enough to receive their own vaccination against pertussis. Because immunity decreases over time, women should receive the pertussis vaccine in the last trimester of each pregnancy.

Pertussis continues to spread at above-normal levels in California following a major epidemic in 2014, when reported disease rates were the highest seen since the 1950’s. Disease rates and risks of hospitalization and death are highest for infants under the age of one.

Pertussis can cause a severe, persistent cough. Historically, unvaccinated children with pertussis would cough hard enough to cause vomiting or a “whooping” breath after a coughing spell.

Symptoms of pertussis vary widely by age and vaccination history. Young infants may not have typical pertussis symptoms and may not appear to cough. Instead, they may have difficulty breathing, episodes in which they stop breathing, or their faces turn purple.

CDPH is working closely with local health departments, schools, media outlets and other partners to inform providers and the public about the importance of vaccination against pertussis, especially for pregnant women during the third trimester of every pregnancy. CDPH also reminds parents that Tdap vaccination is a requirement for advancement into the 7th grade.

Pertussis data, including the number of cases in each county, can be found on the CDPH website. www.cdph.ca.gov