State Corrections Technician Charged with Fraud

United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced today that on December 15, 2011, a federal grand jury in San Diego handed up an indictment against David Santos Zamudio, II, a medical office technician for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (“CDCR”). Mr. Zamudio worked primarily at Calipatria State Prison in Imperial County, California. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Zamudio earlier today.

The indictment charges Zamudio with honest services wire fraud. According to the indictment, Zamudio devised a scheme to defraud and deprive the citizens of the State of California and the CDCR of their right to his honest services by soliciting and accepting payments from prisoners, and others acting on prisoners’ behalf, to smuggle contraband into the prison. Using his official position at Calipatria State Prison, Zamudio concealed cellular telephones and tobacco products on his person or in his property, smuggled them onto the prison grounds and provided them to the inmates, contrary to CDCR regulations. The indictment alleges that Zamudio received $33,600.00 between February 2009 and October 2010, via payment through MoneyGram or Western Union.

United States Attorney Duffy praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Internal Affairs which investigated this case.

The defendant is scheduled to appear in federal court in El Centro, California, before Magistrate Judge Peter C. Lewis this afternoon.

Defendant

• Case Number: 11cr5738JLS
• David Santos Zamudio, II

Summary of Charges

• 13 Counts
• Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 1346 —Wire fraud
• Title 18, United States Code, Sections 981(a)(1)(C), 982(b)(1)
• Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c)
• Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p)—Criminal Forfeiture

Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

Agencies

• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
• Office of Internal Affairs.

An indictment itself is not evidence that the defendant committed the crimes charged. The defendant is presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.