Sep 18, 2024 | Press Release
Hate Crime Charged Against Driver for Allegedly Committing Criminal Threats on Freeway
September 18, 2024
OAKLAND, CA—Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announces that Jesus Hernandez Hernandez (40) has been charged with one count of a misdemeanor hate crime, a second count of felony criminal threats, and a third misdemeanor count of brandishing a replica firearm.
The criminal complaint alleges that on or about September 12, 2024, the defendant, Hernandez, was traveling on a freeway when he allegedly veered toward the victim’s vehicle, which was adorned by an Israeli flag. It is alleged that Mr. Hernandez threatened to kill, yelled racial slurs, and pointed a replica firearm at the victim. It is further alleged that the defendant used the replica firearm to assault the victim after exiting the freeway in the City of Fremont.
Mr. Hernandez has been arraigned on the above charges and is scheduled to return to court for a plea hearing on October 31, 2024, in Department 702, at the East County Hall of Justice in Dublin.
###
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 Y. 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.
Sep 17, 2024 | Press Release
Pleasanton Woman Charged with Murder of Boyfriend
September 17, 2024
OAKLAND, CA — Today, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced that Kennedy Lenai Stith (27) has been charged with one count of murder for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend.
The criminal complaint alleges that on or about May 1, 2023, the victim was stabbed to death inside a residential apartment in Pleasanton.
Ms. Stith is scheduled to appear for a plea hearing on September 24, 2024, in Department 702, at the East County Hall of Justice in Dublin.
###
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 Y. 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.
Sep 12, 2024 | Press Release
Home Depot to Pay Nearly $2 Million to Resolve Civil Complaint Alleging Overcharging and False Advertising
September 12, 2024
OAKLAND, CA — Today, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced that Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. entered into a stipulated judgment to pay $1,977,251 to settle a civil law enforcement complaint that alleged false advertising and unfair competition arising from overcharging customers.
The civil action and stipulated judgment were filed in San Diego Superior Court. The Alameda County DA’s Office’s Consumer Justice Bureau joined the suit with the District Attorneys of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Sonoma counties.
The civil complaint filed by prosecutors alleged that Home Depot routinely charged customers prices higher than its lowest advertised or posted price. This problem, often called a “scanner violation,” occurs when the price on the item itself or on the shelf tag is not the same price charged when the UPC code is scanned at the register.
“We take allegations of false advertising and overcharging customers very seriously,” said DA Pamela Price. “My office is pleased to have joined with district attorney’s offices across the state in this civil action, resulting in this significant settlement against Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. I commend our office’s Consumer Justice Bureau and their role as part of the joint litigation team that successfully achieved this settlement on behalf of Alameda County consumers.”
The stipulated judgment includes an injunction prohibiting Home Depot from engaging in false or misleading advertising and charging an amount greater than the lowest price posted for an item. The injunction requires Home Depot to implement and maintain a Price Accuracy Program, which includes additional price and employee training and prohibits price increases on weekends (when employees responsible for changing shelf price tags are usually not working). The new price accuracy procedures will assist Home Depot with compliance with California’s pricing accuracy requirements. The injunction requirements will remain in effect for three years.
The stipulated judgment also requires Home Depot to pay $1,700,000 in civil penalties, $177,251 in costs to cover investigation costs, and $100,000 to support future consumer protection law enforcement. Home Depot cooperated throughout the investigation, originally initiated by the various counties’ respective departments of Weights and Measures, but does not admit any wrongdoing in the judgment. The Alameda County Department of Agriculture / Weights & Measures inspected Home Depot stores in Alameda County and is instrumental in monitoring the retailer to ensure that consumers are being charged the correct price.
Alameda County will receive $283,333.33 of the civil penalties and $14,240.94 to reimburse the Alameda County Department of Agriculture / Weights & Measures for its investigative costs.
###
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 Y. 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.
Sep 9, 2024 | Press Release
Organized Retail Crime Alameda Unit Files Felony Charges Against Two Men for Stealing Over $100,000 in Merchandise from Home Depot
September 9, 2024
OAKLAND, CA — Today, District Attorney Pamela Price announced her office charged Juan Manuel Diaz Ramirez (23) and Juan Manuel Diaz Tejeda (50) in connection with multiple organized retail theft-related crimes from Home Depot Stores in the cities of Hayward and Newark between December 14, 2022, and March 21, 2023. The losses incurred are worth over $100,000.
The charges against Mr. Ramirez and Mr. Tejeda include multiple felony counts of embezzlement, commercial burglary, grand theft, and organized retail theft in concert. If convicted and sentenced on all charges, Mr. Ramirez faces a maximum of 7 years and Mr. Tejeda faces a maximum of 3 years and 8 months.
“I am excited to see results from our Organized Retail Crime Alameda (ORCA) Vertical Prosecution Unit, which was initially funded by a two-million-dollar grant from the State of California, which I matched in November 2023,” said DA Price. “Our ORCA team worked diligently with the California Highway Patrol and the CHP Golden Gate Division Organized Retail Crime Task Force team, including Investigator Eduardo Garcia and Sergeant Manny Nevarez, who conducted extensive surveillance outside of Alameda County as part of their wide-ranging investigation. Alameda County is one of 13 district attorneys’ offices across California that received funding to establish new vertical prosecution units.”
The defendants are scheduled to appear for arraignment on September 19, 2024, in Department 112 at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland.
###
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 Y. 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.
Sep 6, 2024 | Press Release
Jury Delivers Guilty Verdict in Violent Road Rage Hate Crime Assault on I-880 Freeway in Oakland
September 5, 2024
OAKLAND, CA — Today, District Attorney Pamela Price announced that a jury found Tracy Robert Blackwell (62) guilty of one count of felony assault with a deadly weapon and a hate crime enhancement. Mr. Blackwell faces 7 years in prison.
The testimony and facts presented at trial showed that on the afternoon of May 16, 2023, a mother with three children was driving on Hegenberger Road towards the southbound I-880 freeway onramp in Oakland. As the mother neared the onramp, Mr. Blackwell cut across all lanes traffic and pulled in front of her, nearly hitting her vehicle. The mother honked her horn at Mr. Blackwell. As the two cars proceeded to take the on-ramp onto the freeway, Mr. Blackwell began yelling the N-word and other obscenities at the mother and her three children. Once on the freeway, Mr. Blackwell drove parallel to the mother’s vehicle and continued yelling racial slurs at her and her children, while throwing unknown items at her car. The mother instructed her 14-year-old daughter to film this terrifying encounter on her cell phone. The video evidence captured Mr. Blackwell yelling the “N” word multiple times. The video showed that he quickly jerked his steering wheel to the left, nearly causing his car to collide with the family’s vehicle.
“I first want to thank the jury for their diligent work in delivering this guilty verdict and holding Mr. Blackwell accountable for a hate crime,” said DA Pamela Price. “I also want to thank Deputy DA Laura Anderson for effectively prosecuting this case involving a Black family. Not only was this incident dangerous, it was traumatizing because of the racial abuse that was part of the crime. My office will not countenance any acts of racial hate in our community, especially when there are children involved.”
###
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 Y. 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.
