Jacob’s Journal – Weekly News Rewind (03/07-03/13)

California Man Pleads Guilty to Misappropriating COVID-19 Funds

Thursday, March 10 (Justice.gov) – Grigor Garibyan, 36, of North Hollywood pleaded guilty on Thursday to stealing government funds intended to aid medical providers treating COVID-19 patients. Court documents in the Central District of California show he admitted to owning GMA Home Health Inc. in Van Nuys, which closed around June 2019 and didn’t operate during the pandemic. Yet, it received about $57,591 for medical treatment and care of COVID-19 patients; Garibyan admitted to stealing the funds by transferring and spending them for his personal use.

Garibyan pleaded guilty on two counts of theft of government property and is scheduled for sentencing on June 16. He faces up to 10 years in prison for each count, which resulted from intentional misuse of funds from the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund. The announcement was made by representatives of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, the Central District of California, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s Los Angeles Regional Office. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Chris Wenger and Senior Litigation Counsel Jim Hayes of the National Rapid Response Strike Force.

The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force was established by the Attorney General on May 17, 2021. It’s designed to investigate and prosecute domestic and international criminal actors and assist agencies that administer relief programs to prevent fraud. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report them online to the Department of Justice at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

14 Children Hospitalized After Car Crashes into Northern California Daycare

Friday, March 4 (People.com) – Fourteen children were hospitalized after a Suzuki SUV crashed into a daycare center in Anderson, CA, on Thursday. The Anderson Police Department reported the incident occurred just before 2:30 p.m. at the Great Adventures Preschool and Daycare at Balls Ferry Road and Martha Street. There were 19 children and two adults inside at the time. Police said most of the 14 children were hospitalized as a precautionary measure; according to KRCR-TV, five other children were taken to local hospitals by their parents.

Police also said a Mass Casualty incident was declared due to the number of people involved. Authorities also said the driver of the SUV, an Anderson woman, was not impaired at the time of the crash and was fully cooperate with police. She was released after speaking to them. Multiple agencies provided assistance at the scene and an investigation is ongoing.

CHP Cruiser Used to Intentionally Collide with Wrong-Way Driver on 10 Freeway

Thursday, March 10 (KTLA 5) – On Thursday morning, a California Highway Patrol officer used an SUV to stop a wrong-way driver on the 10 Freeway in the Mid-City area. According to a CHP spokesperson, the incident occurred at about 2:15 a.m. between Crenshaw Boulevard and Arlington Avenue. A blue BMW was traveling east in westbound lanes, said investigators. CHP officers then ran a traffic break and the intentional collision resulted in minor injuries to two officers and major front-end damage to both vehicles. Emergency responders freed the driver of the BMW, who was taken to a local hospital in stable condition, the CHP said.