In recent Third District Court decisions, four Utah women were found guilty of fraudulently obtaining public assistance benefits from Utah’s Department of Workforce Services (DWS).

 

On October 27, 2003, Judge Robin W. Reese, in a case involving the fraudulent receipt of Daycare Assistance, found Laura Morrell guilty of two Third Degree Felonies, Forgery and Theft by Deception. Judge Reese sentenced her to an indeterminate term, not to exceed five years, in the Utah State Prison and later suspended the jail sentence, placing the defendant on a three-year term of probation. Judge Reese also ordered the defendant to complete 100 hours of community service and pay $22,663.00 in restitution.

 

On May 17, 2004, Judge Michael Burton, in a case involving the fraudulent receipt of Food Stamps and Financial Assistance, found Leianna Palmer guilty of a Third Degree Felony, Theft by Deception. Judge Burton sentenced her to an indeterminate term, not to exceed five years, in the Utah State Prison and later suspended the jail sentence, placing the defendant on a three-year term of probation. Judge Burton also ordered the defendant to pay $9,425.00 in restitution.

 

On May 18, 2004, before Judge J. Robert Hilder, in a case involving the fraudulent receipt of Food Stamps and Medical assistance, Audrey Baron pled in abeyance to a Second Degree Felony, Theft by Deception. Judge Hilder accepted the plea for a period of 12 months, during which time the defendant is not to apply for any form of public assistance and commit no additional violations of the law. Failure to comply will result in a felony conviction being entered into the record. Prior to her plea the defendant paid full restitution in the amount of $29,855.98.

 

On May 24, 2004, before Judge Michael Burton, in a case involving the fraudulent receipt of Food Stamps and Medical assistance, Paula Birk pled in abeyance to a Second Degree Felony, Theft by Deception. Judge Burton accepted the plea for a period of 12 months. If full restitution of $14,253.00 is not made by the end of this period a felony conviction will be entered into the record.

 

Individuals are encouraged to report public assistance fraud to Department of Workforce Services at (800) 955-2210.

10:48:44 AM    

A Salt Lake City man has admitted to defrauding 16 victims who were hoping to buy laptop computers on the Internet auction eBay. Sei Rong Or pleaded guilty to three counts of third degree theft on May 17 for taking the victims' money but failing to deliver a single computer. The bids came from victims from all over the world: Provo, Ogden, New York and even Georgetown, Guyana.

The 31-year-old Chinese immigrant also goes by the names Shi Young Ke, Shang Lin and Stanley. He was arrested while returning to the United States after fleeing Utah to China. Or confessed to using eBay to take $25,500 from people hoping to buy Fujitsu, Toshiba, Lifebook and Sony laptops between July and November 2002. The victims said they were promised refunds when they didn't get their computers---but they never got their money back.

"What happened here should serve as a warning to anyone who buys and sells on the Internet. Make sure you know who you are dealing with and use a credit card or another payment system to protect yourself against fraud," says Assistant Attorney General Polly Samuels.

This is the second conviction for the newly formed Utah Cybercrime Task Force, a partnership between the Utah Attorney General's Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Defense, Salt Lake Police Department and other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. This investigation was handled by Task Force Member and West Valley City Detective Jamie Wright. The Task Force handles crimes involving Internet fraud, identity theft, cyber stalking and other crimes involving computers.

"The Utah Cybercrime Task Force is an outstanding example of how law enforcement agencies can work together to stop crimes that have no borders," says Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.

As part of the plea bargain, prosecutors will recommend that Or serve one year in jail and pay full restitution when he is sentenced on July 12. However, Third District Judge Paul Maughn could order the defendant to serve up to five years for each felony count.

The public can report a crime to the Utah Cybercrimes Task Force by sending an e-mail to cybercrime@utah.gov.

6:55:38 AM    

SALT LAKE CITY-The Utah Department of Transportation today presented its recommended preferred alternative for the 11400 South Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the Utah Transportation Commission at a meeting held in Orem, Utah.

Specific improvements in the alternative include:

• Widening 11400 South to four lanes and adding a river crossing;
• Adding an interchange at 11400 South and Interstate 15;
• Widening 10600 South to six lanes from Redwood Road to Jordan Gateway; and
• Minor intersection improvements along the corridor.

Joe Kammerer, UDOT's project manager for the EIS said UDOT prefers this alternative because it:

• Best meets mobility needs for the area;
• Improves I-15 transportation issues;
• Provides the infrastructure to support economic development;
• Is cost effective; and
• Promotes improved quality of life for communities in all four cities in the study area.

The alternative was unanimously preferred by the cities of Draper, Riverton, Sandy and South Jordan, according to resolutions submitted to the project team, and was preferred by residents in the study area that submitted comments on the advanced alternatives. Kammerer said involving local communities was vital in helping to make the recommendation.

"We held numerous small group and neighborhood meetings," he said. "We also gathered input from online comment forms, the project information and comment line, and public scoping meetings."

A community input group facilitated the exchange of ideas between representative members of the community and the project team. The Transportation Ideas Exchange (TIE) included a mix of residents, business owners, school district representatives, public works representatives, and city economic directors in the study area.

The Public is encouraged to review the document prior to its submission to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). A public hearing will be held in August. The schedule for this meeting will be posted on the project Web site udot.utah.gov/11400south.

6:52:53 AM