Corporate fraud is a serious problem for businesses looking to make sure that they are not being taken advantage of by their employees. However, cases do occur involving the reverse situation: unethical managers and business owners that take advantage of honest employees just trying to make a decent living.

This is exactly what allegedly happened recently at the Irvine-based construction company Malcon Civils, Inc. Antonio Naranjo Jr., a project administrator at the company, was charged with 11 felony counts of withholding employee wages. According to prosecutors, Naranjo Jr. withheld over $300,000 in employee wages in 2011 by forging payroll records. He and the company’s owner, a man named Mustafa Mohamed Bdaiwi, allegedly required employees to return a portion of their wages or risk being disciplined or terminated by the company. Naranjo Jr. has since plead guilty to 13 different felony counts.

But Wait… There’s More!

Employee fraud, however, was not Naranjo Jr.’s only crime. In 2012, he was convicted of burglary related to the theft of an iPad and some jewelry at a neighbor’s residence in Newport Beach. Since he was already incarcerated for this burglary case, Naranjo Jr.’s sentence for his corporate fraud conviction will be added on to the time that he was already sentenced to. According to the Orange County Register, altogether Naranjo Jr. now faces over 7 years in prison.

This type of corporate fraud can be a serious issue for companies as well as employees. Whether you are a business owner looking to protect your interests or an individual in need of investigative services, hiring a private investigator to look into corporate fraud in Newport Beach is an excellent decision.

Why Hire a Newport Beach Private Corporate Fraud Investigator?

Corporate fraud, such as the type the justice system found Naranjo Jr. guilty of, can be a serious issue that puts a damper on a person’s livelihood. Employees at Malcon Civils, Inc. were robbed of wages that they should have rightfully taken home.

A private investigator can help you stop business fraud in several ways:

• Surveillance Services: Whether it’s employees who may be doing wrong or business executives who are hiding things from their staff, surveillance services can help identify someone who is acting unethically.
• Background Checks: An employee with a questionable criminal record could be someone who is doing wrong by the organization. A dependable private investigator in Newport Beach can help you determine whether or not your employees or managers have a record of crimes relating to fraud.
• Witness Interviews: Do you have a feeling that one of your employees or managers has done wrong and that someone might have been around to witness this wrongdoing? It can be difficult for an employer to get employees to speak up about situations like these, which is why the services of a capable private investigator will help uncover the truth from your witnesses.

Corporate fraud can happen to both employers and employees. The one thing that all types of corporate fraud have in common is that when successful, it can be devastating for a business of any size or an employee who is trying to support themselves. Calling on a private investigator is an excellent way to ensure that you are protected from corporate fraud in Newport Beach, whether you are a small business owner or an employee working for a huge enterprise.

 

Like any other affluent, moderately-sized city in the world, people often go missing in Newport Beach. From kidnappings to deadbeat spouses skipping town to avoid their alimony commitments, there are lots of reasons to explain why people disappear.

Another one of these reasons is tension with a spouse or romantic partner. While the details are still scarce, this might be why Erica Alonso, a 27-year-old Aliso Viejo woman, has not been seen since leaving a club near Newport Beach early in the morning on February 15, 2015.

A Valentine’s Day Reconnection Gone Wrong?

According to Alonso’s sister, the two had planned on spending Valentine’s Day together watching movies. However, earlier that day Erica Alonso went on a date with her on-again, off-again boyfriend. Alonso and her boyfriend decided to go clubbing that night at Sutra, a nightclub just north of Newport Beach.

While this might sound like the beginning of a Hollywood-worthy romantic reconciliation, the night quickly took a dark turn. KTLA reported that Alonso and her boyfriend met another couple while at Sutra and all four of them went back to Alonso’s boyfriend’s apartment to continue the party. Shortly thereafter, Alonso and her boyfriend got into an argument, which led to the other couple’s departure. About ten or fifteen minutes later, Alonso reportedly left the apartment as well, shortly before 4:00 AM on the morning of February 15. She has not been seen since.

The Newport Beach Investigation into Erica Alonso’s Whereabouts

The Orange County Sheriff’s department announced Alonso’s disappearance a few days later, on February 19. Her family has asked for anyone with information to come forward. On March 25, Alonso’s car was found in Aliso Viejo, which is about 15 miles southeast of the Sutra nightclub.

Of course, the obvious suspect seems to be Alonso’s boyfriend. However, authorities have questioned him and report that his story checks out. It is unclear why they were arguing in his apartment that night. Interestingly enough, the couple has a history of domestic disputes: court records show that back in November, Alonso was taken into custody and charged with misdemeanor domestic violence. A restraining order was also filed against Alonso to prevent her from contacting her ex-boyfriend. The case was later dropped, and the restraining order was lifted about a week before Alonso disappeared.

How a Newport Beach Private Investigator Helps Find Missing People

It’s always difficult for friends and family members when a loved one goes missing in Newport Beach. A private investigator uses several techniques to help bring them back, including:

• Surveillance Services: If there is someone suspicious involved with a disappearance in Newport Beach, a knowledgeable private investigator can keep an eye on them to find out if they might be a suspect or know more than they are letting on.
• Criminal Background Checks: Someone involved in a missing person case that has a criminal history of similar offenses might be a suspect that authorities want to speak with.
• Interviewing the Pertinent Parties: From witnesses who saw the person before they disappeared, to loved ones and family members who know a person intimately, a private investigator can tactfully interview people to gain information that may provide clues to their whereabouts.

If you or someone you care about is involved with a missing person case like Erica Alonso’s, it’s important that you get help as soon as possible. Work with a dependable Newport Beach private investigator and you will get closer to solving the mystery of a missing person and how you might be able to find them.

Call us and ask for Mike Garroutte, a long-time professional private investigator in Southern California. He”ll help you get the answers you need. You can also contact us online if you’d prefer.