May 2017
Volume 2, Issue 5
Dear Friends:

My office has made significant strides over the past two years. They are chronicled in the Report to the People 2015-2016.

Read the full remarks here.


Click here to read  the report.
Spotlight: Healthcare Fraud Division

There was the actor who received state disability payments and claimed he couldn’t work – but he was performing as a dancing hamster in a nationally televised commercial.

And there were the clothing company owners who underreported millions of dollars in payroll to avoid paying unemployment and disability insurance. Then, there was the doctor who sent the same prescription medications to his patients, regardless of their injuries. He also owned the pharmacy.

These are some of the crimes tackled by the Healthcare Fraud Division.

Prosecutors in this division target criminals who cheat and damage the safety net designed to help workers who are injured and at their most vulnerable. The District Attorney’s Office also prosecutes physicians, lawyers and others who seek to profit from fraudulent schemes.

“Cheating hurts everyone,” said Jennifer Lentz Snyder, head deputy of the Healthcare Fraud Division. “Fraudulent workers’ compensation claims, phony billing by medical providers and unscrupulous employers who underreport their payroll to save a few dollars undermine the system. They cheat people who comply with the law and threaten the well-being of a system that helps injured workers get better so they can rejoin the workforce.”

“These schemes really hurt workers and their families who deserve assistance when they are injured on the job,” Snyder said.

This year, the Healthcare Fraud Division filed 84 felonies against claimants, employers and providers who made material misrepresentations and committed fraud. The total losses being pursued by the District Attorney’s Office and other investigative agencies are nearly $100 million.

“Anyone who thinks fraud is a victimless crime is wrong,” Snyder said.

If you have information about suspected fraud, report it by calling or emailing one of the following agencies:
To report fraud by city employees call the  City of Los Angeles Fraud Hotline: (877) 742-5352.

Fraud Alert
    Significant Cases
As the future of health care continues to be the topic of conversation, scammers are paying close attention to the news and may latch on to concerns about changes to health care laws.


  • A driver who killed a 15-year-old pedestrian in West Los Angeles while attempting to escape from police was sentenced.  Read about his prison term.

  • A Hollywood man who allegedly pointed a pellet rifle at pedestrians walking by his apartment was charged with making criminal threats. Find out more about the allegations.

  • A man was sentenced to six years in state prison in connection with the robberies of Long Beach fruit vendors over a span of five months. Learn about the case.

Victims’ Rights Walk & Jubilee
District Attorney Jackie Lacey led a Recognition Walk from the Hall of Justice to Grand Park on April 8 as part of the 40th anniversary celebration of the office’s Bureau of Victim Services. The walk ended with a Jubilee attended by more than 100 victim services representatives, advocates and service providers.

Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work
More than 60 daughters, sons, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends took over the District Attorney’s Office at the Hall of Justice on April 26 as part of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.

It was a day filled with highlights as the children watched a video featuring lawyers, investigators and support staff members. They later asked District Attorney Jackie Lacey questions that included: “What’s the hardest part of your job?” and “What’s your favorite movie?” (“The Color Purple,” if you must know.)

The children learned about the bronze sculpture “Embodied” that graces the exterior of the Hall of Justice and met with artist Alison Saar, who created the 12-foot-tall artwork. The kids got creative as they took rubbings of the words related to justice that are imprinted on the sculpture.

The children visited the office’s facility dogs, Bert and Skippy, who provide comfort and assistance to crime victims. They also checked out the Bureau of Investigation’s Command Center.

There were word games, including a challenging language match contest. You may try your hand at these worksheets by clicking here.

The reviews by the participants were glowing.

Nathan Bookstaver, son of Deputy District Attorney Tal Kahana, didn’t hesitate when asked what his favorite part of the day was.

“The dogs!” the 9-year-old enthused. “I like how they were trained to open doors and really can help people when they need it.”

Six-year-old Zhara Maw, daughter of David Maw from the Bureau of Investigation, enjoyed listening to Saar and capturing words on the “Embodied” sculpture through the rubbings.

“I love art projects,” the aspiring teacher said. “My favorite word was `Liberty.'”

The children also participated in a photo booth, where they could pose as lawyers, police officers and judges. Each child received a photo and other favors before they left for the day.
Did You Know...?

The sculpture titled “Embodied” outside the Hall of Justice has more than 200 words related to justice imprinted on it in several languages. The words include “Idajo,” which translates to “justice” from Yoruba, a West Africa language; “makatao,” which is “equity” in Tagalog; “jinsil,” which is “truth” in Korean; and “nhan pham,” which is “dignity” in Vietnamese.
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office | (213) 974-3512  | info@da.lacounty.gov

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