Local News in Brief : * Lawman Accused of SBA Loan Scheme
A Los Angeles police sergeant, his brother and another man were indicted Friday for an alleged scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration.
Sgt. Frank Lucero, 36; his brother, Daniel T. Lucero, 37, of Baldwin Park, and Peter H. T. Lin, 30, of Alhambra, are accused of making false statements on an application for an SBA loan to open a Chinese vegetarian restaurant.
The defunct eatery, called the Beverly Hills Fung Wong restaurant, was on Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles.
Each man is charged with conspiracy. Frank Lucero is additionally charged with 11 counts of false statements. His brother is charged with four counts of aiding and abetting, and Lin is charged with one false statement count.
Assistant U.S. Atty. Gary Lincenberg said the men took out a $165,000 loan, paying back most of the money. But, the indictment alleges, they gave the SBA numerous false statements to obtain the loan.
But defense attorney Howard Price said there was no criminal intent in the transactions.
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