Jan 18, 2024 | Alert, In the News, Misdemeanor Verdicts, Press Release, Uncategorized, Verdicts
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price Secures Guilty Verdict and 24 Year Prison Sentence for Man Found Guilty of Human Sex Trafficking a Minor
January 18, 2024
Oakland, CA – District Attorney Pamela Price announced that her office secured the conviction of Lawrence Johnson (47) on multiple felony charges, including human trafficking of a minor, pimping a minor, and pandering to a minor. Johnson was sentenced on January 5, 2024, to 24 years in state prison following a jury trial.
Prosecutors presented evidence that proved Johnson was involved in the sex trafficking of a 16- year-old girl in 2021. The defendant also had a prior “strike” conviction for sex trafficking and threatening a 13-year-old girl in 2006. Three additional Felony counts (human trafficking, pimping, and pandering) were dismissed due to the unavailability of a second 16-year-old victim.
“We hope this conviction sends a message to traffickers, both local, regional, and international exploiters of human beings, that we will vigorously prosecute you to protect the lives of our most vulnerable residents,” said District Attorney Pamela Price. “Human trafficking is a tremendous threat to public safety and undermines the quality of life in every community.”
Johnson has filed a notice to appeal his conviction.
Contact: damedia@acgov.org
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The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is one of California’s largest prosecutors’ offices and is led by Alameda County’s first Black woman District Attorney, Pamela Price. Price brings her vision to this office to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Alameda County, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, or zip code. Price has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and crime and bring change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow Madam DA on Twitter and Facebook @AlamedaCountyda.
Jan 17, 2024 | Alert, In the News, Misdemeanor Verdicts, Press Release, Uncategorized, Verdicts
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price’s Office Joins FDMD Settlement with Purity Nutra, a Vitamin Supplement Manufacturer Accused of False Advertising
January 17, 2024
OAKLAND, CA — Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price’s Consumer Justice Bureau joined the California Food, Drug & Medical Devices (FDMD) Task Force in a stipulated $20,000 judgment against vitamin supplement manufacturer Purity Nutra, LLC.
“The evidence gathered suggested that Purity Nutra was making false and deceptive claims about its products to consumers that targeted seniors,” said Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. “By joining forces with the California Food, Drug & Medical Devices Task Force in this settlement, my office ensures consumers in Alameda County are protected, and Purity Nutra is forced to follow the law moving forward. This settlement reinforces the principle that companies must be held accountable for any false advertisements to consumers.”
The People’s investigation, which is resolved by this stipulated judgment, focused on Purity Nutra‘s Flex Joint Plus products and Bladder Max supplements and whether the company’s advertisements for those vitamin supplements violated California’s Sherman Food & Drug Act and the California Business & Professions Code sections prohibiting false advertising and unfair business practices. California’s Sherman Food & Drug Act prohibits non-FDA-approved drugs (including vitamin supplements) from being advertised as curing or having any effect on any disease, medical condition, affliction, or ailment (either directly by the company or via purported “customer testimonials”).
While the settlement allows Purity Nutra to continue to sell its vitamin supplements, the stipulated judgment includes an injunction requiring it to correct its advertising language to avoid misleading consumers and to follow all applicable consumer protection laws. The FDMD Task Force, comprised of District Attorney Offices from Northern and Southern California counties, monitors the vitamin supplement and medical device market, which the U.S. Food & Drug Administration does not regulate.
Contact: damedia@acgov.org
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The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is one of California’s largest prosecutors’ offices and is led by Alameda County’s first Black woman District Attorney, Pamela Price. Price brings her vision to this office to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Alameda County, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, or zip code. Price has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and crime and bring change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow Madam DA on Twitter and Facebook @AlamedaCountyda.
Jan 16, 2024 | Alert, In the News, Misdemeanor Verdicts, Press Release, Uncategorized, Verdicts
Alameda District Attorney Pamela Price Launches Program to Combat Real Estate Fraud
January 16, 2024
OAKLAND – CA – Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price’s Consumer Justice Bureau launches the ‘Real Estate Fraud Notification Program.’ It is an innovative, proactive, free program to combat real estate fraud and is designed to protect homeowners from potential fraudulent activity affecting property ownership.
Here is how it works. When the title of a property is transferred to another person, from the filing of a Grant Deed or Quitclaim Deed at the Alameda County Clerk-Recorder Office, a letter from the District Attorney’s Office is automatically generated and mailed to notify the owner of the transfer. The letter also includes a copy of the first five pages of the document which triggered the notification. Homeowners who are not aware of the transfer are asked to contact the District Attorney Real Estate Fraud Unit to have the matter investigated, prosecuted, and ultimately voided by the Court.
“The goal of this program is to protect the most valuable asset a person in Alameda County can have, and that’s their home. All too often, white-collar thieves target the equity earned by seniors in our community who purchased their homes many years ago,” said District Attorney Pamela Price. “This free program is designed to proactively investigate, prosecute, and void any fraudulent transfer.”
Contact: damedia@acgov.org
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The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is one of California’s largest prosecutors’ offices and is led by Alameda County’s first Black woman District Attorney, Pamela Price. Price brings her vision to this office to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Alameda County, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, or zip code. Price has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and crime and bring change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow Madam DA on Twitter and Facebook @AlamedaCountyda.
Jan 4, 2024 | Alert, In the News, Misdemeanor Verdicts, Press Release, Uncategorized, Verdicts
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price Announces Charges Against Three Men Accused of the Murder of Oakland Police Officer Tuan Le
January 3, 2024
OAKLAND, CA — Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announces charges against three men accused of the December 29, 2023 shooting death of Oakland Police Officer Tuan Le.
The prosecution charged 27-year-old Mark Demetrious Sanders with murder, including special circumstances allegations that could result in a possible sentence of life without the possibility of parole if convicted of all charges and allegations. A second defendant, 28-year-old Allen Starr Brown was also charged with murder. The third defendant, 30-year-old Sebron Ray Russell was charged with burglary. All three defendants face multiple charges in addition to these serious allegations.
The DA’s office believes the evidence will show that Officer Tuan Le was shot to death while responding to a commercial burglary in the area of Embarcadero and 5th Avenue.
District Attorney Pamela Price released this statement, “today I spoke with the family of Tuan Le. I offered my sincere condolences as they continue to grieve the tragic loss of their loved one. I informed the family of the charges against the men accused of murdering Tuan Le, and I assured them that my office will do everything within the confines of our legal power to make sure the man accused of shooting Tuan Le will serve the rest of his life in prison. We join law enforcement and people across the region in expressing our heartbreak and outrage over this horrific crime. My office will continue to follow the evidence wherever it leads to hold these men accountable for their outrageous behavior. Speaking as the elected District Attorney of Alameda County, I will leverage the full weight of my office against these people who we believe ruthlessly and wantonly murdered an officer who gave his life to protect our community against those who would do harm to all of us.”
Alameda County District Attorney
Pamela Price
Contact: damedia@acgov.org
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is one of California’s largest prosecutors’ offices and is led by Alameda County’s first Black woman District Attorney Pamela Price. Price brings her vision to this office to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Alameda County, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, or zip code. Price has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and crime and bring change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow Madam DA on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and @AlamedaCountyda on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Dec 29, 2023 | Alert, In the News, Misdemeanor Verdicts, Press Release, Uncategorized, Verdicts
Official Statement from Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price on Deadly Shooting of Oakland Police Officer
December 29, 2023
OAKLAND, CA – Today, an Oakland Police Officer lost his life in a deadly shooting. This is a tremendous tragedy for our entire community and extremely traumatizing for our law enforcement partners across the County. The deadly violence that we have experienced in Oakland in recent years has no place in Alameda County. The murder of this young officer is inexcusable.
I spoke to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao this morning and offered my condolences. I also assured Mayor Thao that the Alameda County District Attorney’s office is standing by to assist in any way we can and to support the Town in this critical time.
I also called the President of the Oakland Police Officers’ Association, Barry Donelan, to offer condolences to the officer’s family and colleagues from myself and on behalf of the Alameda County District Attorney’s office. While the investigation is ongoing, I assured Mr. Donelan that my office stands ready to prosecute whoever is responsible and hold them accountable for killing this officer.
Alameda County District Attorney
Pamela Price
Contact: damedia@acgov.org
