Orange County Criminal Attorney Blog

An Orange County man faces multiple criminal charges, including money laundering and grand theft, for an alleged gold investment scam. In early 2011, William Scott Spalding allegedly set up several businesses to solicit cash from gold investors. According to prosecutors, Spalding would pose as a gold investor and promise a high rate of return if people purchased gold from him. One Huntington Beach woman reportedly entered into a contract with Spalding in March 2011. The contract stated that she would pay him $280,000 and he would provide her with a certain amount of gold "in the immediate future." She gave Spalding the money, but he allegedly never purchased any gold. After what she described as multiple unsuccessful attempts to contact Spalding to get her money back, she notified law enforcement.

The U.S. Marshals Service and Huntington Beach police arrested Spalding in August 2011 for suspicion of using business fronts to "extort" money from prospective investors for promises of gold. Investigators reported that, prior to his arrest, they found that Spalding's phone was disconnected and the address associated with his businesses was fake. Spalding had also legally changed his name to Jonathan Scott Morgan in April. After his arrest, police described Spalding "living the high life" at his home in Irvine, with several new cars and large amounts of cash. Investigators claim he put the money obtained from the Huntington Beach woman into personal accounts and used it to pay for expenses like the cars and the house.

Spalding had served forty months in federal prison for a scheme involving a movie deal that reportedly defrauded several people in Redondo Beach out of $300,000. He had only recently been released from prison when the alleged gold investment scam would have taken place. The requirements of his release from prison included payment of restitution to his victims and avoidance of criminal activity. He reportedly did not pay restitution as required and was already considered a fugitive at the time of his arrest.

Spalding's recent prison release and fugitive status, in combination with his reportedly lavish lifestyle, led investigators to speculate that he had more than one victim in the gold investment scheme. Huntington Beach police requested assistance from the public in identifying additional victims after Spalding's arrest.

Continue reading "Alleged Gold Investment Fraud Results in Multiple Criminal Charges for Orange County Man" »

The trial of a West Hollywood man accused of conspiring to murder two family members of a codefendant's ex-girlfriend in Anaheim Hills resulted in a hung jury. The jury deliberated for two days but was unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

The case involves three defendants who allegedly conspired to kill the family members of codefendant Iftekhar Murtaza's ex-girlfriend, Shayna Dhanak. Murtaza was apparently trying to win back Ms. Dhanak.

The victims of the attack, father Jayprakash and sister Karishma Dhanak, were abducted, stabbed to death and then set on fire. Mother Leela Dhanak was found unconscious with her throat cut on a neighbor's lawn.

Defendant Vitaliy Krasnoperov was charged with murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, plus a sentence enhancement for murder committed during the course of a burglary. If Krasnoperov had been convicted, he could have been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. The other defendants have not yet gone to trial.

Evidence at trial showed Krasnoperov was not present when the murders were committed. Rather, his attorney said he was at home recovering from injuries sustained in an accident. According to the prosecution, however, Krasnoperov helped his friend Murtaza plan the crime and there were internet conversations between Murtaza and Krasnoperov in which the murders were discussed. Krasnoperov's attorney argued his client did not conspire or assist Murtaza with the crimes; he only tried to calm his friend down.

A new trial date has been set for June 13, 2011 by Judge Thomas Goethals. The District Attorney has indicated they intend to retry the case.