ALAMEDA COUNTY DA UNVEILS HUMAN TRAFFICKING BILLBOARD AND COURTHOUSE LIGHTING AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Dec 27, 2022 | Alert, In the News, Misdemeanor Verdicts, Press Release, Uncategorized, Verdicts

OAKLAND, CA —Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley and Robert Schmitt, Regional President of Northern California at Clear Channel Outdoor, today unveiled the 2022 billboard campaign to combat human trafficking and help victims of this horrific crime get help.

The campaign features Clear Channel billboards and bus shelters throughout Alameda County, bringing awareness to the insidious crimes of human trafficking. The bus shelter posters feature messages of hope from actual human trafficking victim- survivors, showing other potential victims that seeking help is available.

“Our campaign conveys the message of hope to victims: they received help and so can you,” said District Attorney O’Malley. “Human sex trafficking occurs right here in our own Bay Area, and in our own county. Teens, children, and residents of Alameda County are trafficked every day. Our office continues to shed light on this topic to combat these horrific crimes in the hopes that one day, we will end human trafficking.”

For the first time ever, Alameda County is also taking the awareness campaign one step further. For the rest of the month of January, the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland will be lit at night in blue, the color representing human trafficking awareness. The lighting of the courthouse is a reminder to all that human trafficking is a problem that exists in our county, but is being combated every single day by our office.

The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and Clear Channel Outdoor have collaborated for nearly 10 years to deliver education and awareness to communities throughout Alameda County and the greater Bay Area. The offices collaborate every January to create billboards targeting human trafficking in recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

“Our message in this campaign is as clear as the print on our billboards: for victims of human trafficking, there is help, there is a safe way out, and, there is a path forward,” said Bob Schmitt, regional president, Clear Channel Outdoor-Northern Calif. “Coming together with our law enforcement, community and elected leaders I know this campaign will make a difference in someone’s life.”

The Alameda County DA’s Office is a leader in the state and the nation in addressing and prosecuting human trafficking cases and in enabling victims to escape exploitation.

2022 Human Trafficking Statistics

Important phone numbers:

TO REPORT IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL 911.

FOR ALL NON-EMERGENCY REPORTS, CALL THE HEAT WATCH TIP LINE:

(510) 208-4959

FOR 24 HOUR HELP, CALL THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE:

(888) 373-7888 OR TEXT BEFREE (233-733)

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Contact: Public Information Officer Angela Ruggiero // Angela.Ruggiero@acgov.org // (510) 272-6245

Alameda County District Attorney’s Office Announces Charges in Wage Theft Case Involving Over $800K in lost wages

Jan 20, 2023 | Alert, In the News, Misdemeanor Verdicts, Press Release, Uncategorized, Verdicts

OAKLAND, CA — The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office along with the State Labor Commissioner’s Office, the California Department of Insurance, and the Department of Labor, announces the owners of Alfa Private Security were charged in an egregious case of wage theft impacting 87 employees that were owed over $800,000 in unpaid wages.

The investigation, which began in December 2021, revealed that Alfa Security owners Ferooz Nangeyali and Alejandra Nangeyali, of Union City, did not properly pay their workers for both regular and overtime hours worked.

In addition, the investigation revealed defendant Ferooz Nangeyali possessed unregistered “ghost guns” and supplied firearms to his employees, some of whom did not have a license to carry guns. Employees reported that some were given handguns to work at different sites, including a cannabis dispensary, despite not having a license to carry or proper training.

“The behavior of these owners who cheated workers out of their fair and proper wages is completely unacceptable,” said District Attorney Pamela Price. “These workers are owed their rightful wages. My office will keep a watchful eye on this type of wage theft and insurance fraud to ensure businesses are not taking unfair advantage over workers. I appreciate the collaboration of the State Labor Commissioner, the California Department of Insurance and the Department of Labor for their efforts in bringing these defendants to justice.”

DA Price adds that this case is particularly troublesome given the proliferation of ghost guns and she expresses her strong commitment to help take these illegal guns off the streets. “Ghost guns” is the term referring to privately-made or homemade guns, sometimes using 3D printers. In California, a third of firearms recovered are homemade guns, without serial numbers and therefore largely untraceable.

“When workers are not properly paid and cheated out of their hard-earned wages, it causes a damaging domino effect that impacts workers and all levels of our economy. In this case, workers were systematically denied overtime when their employer failed to pay them for the premium pay for the overtime hours they worked,” said Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower. “We appreciate the Alameda District Attorney’s Office and the United States Department of Labor’s collaborative efforts in bringing justice to these wage theft victims. Unscrupulous employers who fail to pay workers properly do so not only to dodge obligations but to gain an unfair business advantage over law abiding employers.”

“Employees paid the price of these business owners’ failure to pay fair wages while misclassifying its employees and committing insurance fraud,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “Partnership with other enforcement agencies is key to putting a stop to dangerous and illegal business practices. Our joint efforts protect employees, and help ensure a level playing field for businesses.”

Alfa’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier conducted a forensic audit of Alfa’s insurance policy based on information discovered in the investigation. The audit found that Alfa made material misrepresentation on their policy, starting from 2017 to 2021. The financial loss totaled more than $88,000.

Defendant Ferooz Nangeyali was charged with nine felonies including theft of wages from employees, conspiracy to commit a crime, insurance fraud, possession of an assault weapon, possession of a short barrel rifle, and possession of an expandable baton.

Co-defendant Alejandra Nangeyali was charged with five felonies, including: theft of wages from employees, conspiracy to commit a crime and insurance fraud.

Both defendants have been arraigned and their next court date is Feb. 14 for entry of plea.

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Contact: Public Information Officer Angela Ruggiero angela.ruggiero@acgov.org // (510) 919-0081