Press Release Index
Parole Board denies 14th bid for parole to man who beat his wife to death
California Board of Prison Terms has again denied parole to Larry Richard Bunke, who was convicted of Second Degree Murder in the brutal beating death of his wife, Linda, in 1982. This was his 14th parole opportunity. Read full story
Lowes Settles Consumer Protection Case for Scanner Price Overcharges and False Advertising
Sonoma County District Attorney, Carla Rodriguez, along with the District Attorneys of San Diego, Alameda, Orange, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties, announced today the settlement of a consumer protection lawsuit against Lowes. The defendant will pay $1,089,999.90 to settle a civil law enforcement complaint alleging that Lowes engaged in false advertising and unfair competition in California. Lowe’s operates 110 stores in California. Read full story
Woman Sentenced to 5 Years and 4 Months State Prison for Embezzlement from Prior Employer, Amaturo Media Group
The Sonoma County District Attorneys’ Office announced the sentencing of Tina Cabudoy for embezzlement from her former employee, Amaturo Media Group, following her plea in late July of this year. The Honorable Troye Schaffer sentenced Cabudoy to 5 years and 4 months in state prison. Cabudoy was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $179,306.98. Read full story
Settlement of Consumer Protection Lawsuit Against Tax Network USA & Partners, Inc. for Deceptive Mailers
Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez, along with the District Attorneys of Napa, San Diego, and San Francisco Counties, announced today the settlement of a consumer protection action against Tax Network USA & Partners, Inc. (“Tax Network”), a California-based tax relief company. During the time period at issue in this case, Tax Network marketed its services by sending unsolicited mailers to taxpayers who had at one time been subject to outstanding tax liens. As alleged in the complaint, the mailers were deceptive because they implied a connection with or approval or endorsement of government agencies, including the local county recorders offices and taxing authorities, which Tax Network did not have. Read full story
Walmart Settles Consumer Protection Case for Scanner Price Overcharges and False Advertising
Sonoma County District Attorney, Carla Rodriguez, along with the District Attorneys of San Diego, San Bernardino, and Santa Clara Counties, announced today the settlement of a consumer protection lawsuit against Walmart. The defendant will pay $5,639,801.92 to settle a civil law enforcement complaint alleging that Walmart engaged in false advertising and unfair competition in California. Read full story
Settlement of Consumer Protection Lawsuit Against Shein for Unlawful Shipping Delays
Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez, along with the District Attorneys of Napa, Los Angeles, and San Francisco Counties, announced today the settlement of a consumer protection lawsuit against Shein, a global ecommerce company specializing in “fast fashion.” Defendants will pay a total of $700,000 in civil penalties and investigative costs to settle the civil law enforcement complaint, which alleged the defendants engaged in unlawful business practices by failing to properly notify consumers or offer them refunds when their orders failed to ship on time. Read full story
Settlement With Pacific Magazine Billing for Misleading California Consumers
Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez, along with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Alameda District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman, Marin District Attorney Lori E. Frugoli, San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan, and San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, announced today a settlement with Pacific Magazine Billing, along with its general partner, limited partners and an individual director. Defendants will pay $275,000 to settle the civil law enforcement complaint that alleged the defendants sent deceptively disguised solicitation mailers for magazine subscriptions and renewals that appeared to be bills or invoices for payment. Read full story
South Carolina Man Sentenced to 34 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking
Jordan Evans-Ramirez, 20 years old of Boiling Springs, South Carolina, was sentenced by the Honorable Ken Gnoss on Tuesday, June 3rd in Sonoma County Superior Court to serve a sentence of 34 years in state prison after having pled guilty in May of this year to a series of sexual offenses against two minor victims. Read full story
Sonoma County District Attorney Announces Results of Third Annual Compliance Report from PG&E Independent Monitor
Sonoma County District Attorney Carla Rodriguez announced today that the Independent Monitor held its third annual meeting this Wednesday, and released its Third Annual Compliance Report, related to its oversight of the Pacific Gas & Electric Company (“PG&E”). The Independent Monitor, Filsinger Energy Partners, was appointed in April 2022 to monitor PG&E’s compliance with various safety measures imposed upon the company by a Stipulated Judgment between the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office and PG&E and ordered by Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Patrick Broderick on April 8, 2022, related to the 2019 Kincade Fire. Read full story
Elijah Justin Beck sentenced to 10 years state prison for attempted carjacking of elderly victims' vehicles and stabbing
Defendant Elijah Justin Beck was sentenced to 10 years in state prison last week after a Sonoma County jury found him guilty of attempting to carjack two elderly victims’ cars and stabbing another victim at the Fourth Street Safeway parking lot in Santa Rosa. Read full story
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