Consumer Referral Line 619-531-3507 (for recorded information)

The Consumer Protection Unit is a sub-unit of the Economic Crimes Division and was first organized in 1971. The unit is composed of deputy district attorneys, criminal investigators, and paralegals dedicated to protecting consumers and law-abiding businesses from fraudulent and unfair business practices within San Diego County.
Services provided by this unit include:

• Investigation of complaints from individuals and businesses
• Prosecution of civil and criminal consumer fraud violations
• Educating the public by providing a monthly Consumer Newsletter, pamphlets, and via public speaking engagements
• Referral to agencies with appropriate jurisdiction to assist complainants

CONSUMER NEWSLETTER

The Consumer Protection Unit publishes a newsletter to update the public about current scams and what an individual can do to avoid being a victim of fraud.

Nov 2008: Consumer News
Nov 2008: Directorio Para El Consumidor
Oct 2008: Consumer Referral List
Summer 2007: Consumer News Quarterly
Jan 2006: Legislative Update

PROSECUTION OF FRAUD VIOLATIONS

The San Diego District Attorney's Office has prosecuted many civil and criminal consumer lawsuits in years past. Some examples of lawsuits and judgments obtained by this office include:

In 2007

• Bemilda Ruiz was sentenced to 4 years in prison for immigration fraud and real estate fraud. She convinced undocumented individuals to give her money to help them with their immigration paperwork and then used their personal identifying information to purchase property and take out loans.
• AutoZone was ordered to pay $1.8 million in penalties and costs for overcharging customers at the checkout and hazardous waste violations.
• Olga Gonzalez de Herrera and Eduardo Herrera doing business as Acapulco Market II were ordered to sell their market, pay $1350 in fines and to serve 30 days of Public Work Service for selling prescription penicillin to an undercover police officer without a prescription.
• Baskin Robbins USA was ordered to pay $491,164 costs and penalties for selling hand packed pints of ice cream that were not full pints.
• Internet Marketing Specialists, Inc. doing business as Drugstoresonline.com was ordered to pay $22,109 in costs and penalties for falsely advertising prescription drugs on its website. The company also paid $2,890 restitution to customers.
• Sergio Castaneda was sentenced to serve 180 days custody and to pay $1,134 in fines for taking vehicles without the permission of their owners while doing business as San Diego Towing Patrol. He also paid $12,152 restitution to victims.
• RadioShack Corp. paid $569,763 penalties and costs for charging more at checkout than the currently advertised prices.

In 2006

• Mohamad Alsayad was sentenced to serve 7 years and 4 months in prison, to pay $10,000 in fines, and to pay $366,528 restitution for selling vehicles with rolled back odometers and for real estate loan fraud.
• Reginaldo Gaeta doing business as La Perla Tapatia market was sentenced to pay $6,207 in fines and costs for selling cheese obtained from an unapproved source and for sanitary violations.
• Bayside Ventures, Inc. doing business as two The UPS Stores paid $61,363 in penalties for falsely representing a higher cost for shipping to customers, than the currently advertised UPS prices.
• Duckett-Wilson Development Company doing business as The Fish Market paid $12,500 costs and penalties for falsely advertising prices of some of its alcoholic beverages.
• Edward Davis doing business as ARM Financial Services was sentenced to 270 days custody and paid restitution totaling $42,164 to victims of his debt collection practice. He and his employees posed as law enforcement officers with arrest warrants to coerce individuals to pay them debts that often were not owed by the victims.
• The owners of Stereo Warehouse stores in San Diego County were ordered to pay $75,000 penalties and costs for falsely advertising their car stereo products. They advertised products with low prices and "free installation" but charged customers for additional unnecessary parts for the installation and would not allow cash and carry.
• Mylana Daskal doing business as Fendicci paid $12,300 penalties and costs for selling counterfeit designer goods like purses and representing them to be genuine.
• Guillermo Zavala doing business as Valley Fuels paid $10,500 in fines for selling gasoline that was lower in octane than advertised. He sold his business.

In 2005

• RLLW Inc. doing business as Pizza Hut paid $420,000 penalties and costs and $151,140 restitution for falsely advertising pizza prices and adding an "energy surcharge" and failing to maintain worker's compensation insurance coverage for its employees.
• Victor Chang served 1 day in custody, 30 days Public Work Service, $600 fines, and $535,000 restitution, for engaging in contracting without a license.
• Shariar Delalat doing business as California Motor Works was sentenced to serve 20 days Public Work Service and ordered to pay $19,001 restitution for representing that salvaged vehicles were "safe" when they were in fact poorly welded and dangerous.
• TSA Stores, Inc. doing business as The Sports Authority and SportMart paid $540,688 penalties and costs for charging more at the time of checkout than the currently advertised price.
• Robert Sluis Holdings, Inc. doing business as PPI Co., Inc. paid $11,995 penalties and costs for importing fruit in violation of state and federal embargo laws.
• Rodeo's Markets owners paid $178,320 penalties and costs for selling cheese from unapproved sources.