Defendant in Port Fraud Misses Arraignment
An arrest warrant was issued Thursday for a San Ysidro man who failed to show up for his arraignment in a much-publicized fraud case involving the San Diego Unified Port District.
Arnoldo Olivarria-Castillo, 54, is in Mexico, and his attorney, Jan Ronis, said in court that he has not heard from him since the grand-theft charges were filed Jan. 12. Last week, Ronis said Castillo was on vacation in Mexico, but Thursday afternoon he said he still had not heard from him.
San Diego Municipal Judge Charles Patrick issued the warrant.
Castillo was a sales representative for the Genuine Auto Parts/Napa store downtown, which allegedly provided phony invoices to the Port District. The invoices sought payment for merchandise never delivered to the district. Instead, prosecutors claim, the invoices were used to mask the purchase of private items for Port employees and their friends, items such as car repairs and stereos.
Also charged are two former Port workers--Rudi Enriques, 37, and Richard Cersosimo, 48--and Paul Manes, 49. Manes worked for the auto parts store.
The other three men will be arraigned Feb. 2.
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