Historical Cases
1988 People v. Cockrell, Fleischer, Ross, and Bromberg
Frank Cockrell and Wayne Fleischer orchestrated a securities fraud scam based on Cockrell's claimed net worth of $225 million which was predicated on worthless oil and gas royalties.
1988 People v. Larry David Davis
In 1988, the defendant sexually assaulted a 27-year-old female at night in the Oxnard/Port Hueneme area. She escaped and called police, but the defendant got away before police arrived. A short time later, Davis saw Dawn Holman, 20, in front of a grocery store in Oxnard.
1985 People v. George Zack
In January of 1982, the badly beaten body of Theresa Felton was discovered in her car adjacent to her residence at the Dakota Apartments in Ventura. George Zack, a former boyfriend, became a prime suspect when investigators were able to match a bloody heel print from the scene of the crime with boots Zack had owned.
1958 People v. Elizabeth Duncan
On December 21, 1958, Elizabeth "Ma" Duncan hired Lewis Estrada Moya and Augustine Baldonado to murder her daughter-in-law, Olga Duncan. Moya and Baldonado kidnapped and buried her alive in a shallow grave along Highway 150 in Ventura County.
Environmental Crimes
Settlement Reached in Environmental Case
On February 9, 2021, routine maintenance activities on the commercial fishing boat "El Dorado," captained by Aliotti, caused a substantial amount of paint debris to float into the harbor and coat nearby aquatic life. Aliotti fully cooperated with the investigation and instituted remedial measures shortly thereafter to ensure a similar incident does not occur in the future.
Settlement Reached in Environmental Violations Case
On April 29, 2020, DFW was notified that maintenance was occurring at the Ventura Harbor on the vessel "Islander", operated by Island Packers. The maintenance involved sanding the deck of the boat without any containment measures in place. This resulted in substantial paint related debris floating into the harbor. Immediately after the incident, Island Packers fully cooperated with the investigation and instituted remedial measures to ensure a similar incident does not occur again in the future. This settlement is the result of a joint investigation conducted by the DFW and the District Attorney’s Office Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit.
Settlement Reached in Environmental Violations Case
The $100,000 settlement is comprised of civil penalties and cost recovery to the Ventura County Environmental Health Division (VCEHD) and the District Attorney's Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit (CEPU). This case was investigated by both agencies, which determined 4JR engaged in a pattern of significant violations under the law.
Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc., to Pay $1.49 Million in Settlement of Environmental Violations
Pipeline Company and Contractor Responsible for 2016 Ventura Oil Spill Reach $1.6 Million Civil Settlement with State and County Agencies
A June 2016 spill occurred from a crude oil pipeline owned by Crimson following a valve replacement operation and restart of the pipeline. New valve flanges were not properly tightened by Crimson’s contractor, CD Lyon, which caused the release of more than 44,000 gallons of crude oil, damaged local natural resources, and required a comprehensive cleanup and investigation effort.