Three Plead Innocent in Port District Fraud Case
Three men charged with grand theft in connection with a purchasing-fraud case involving the San Diego Unified Port District pleaded innocent Thursday in Municipal Court.
A fourth man, Arnold Olivarria Castillo, did not appear in court and a warrant with bail set at $100,000 was issued for his arrest.
The men who did show up--Paul Manes, Richard Cersosimo and Rudi Enriques--were ordered to appear at a preliminary hearing April 12. Cersosimo and Enriques are former port employees, and Manes worked for an auto parts store implicated in the fraud scheme.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Anthony Samson said the preliminary hearing will likely last three weeks because of the vast number of documents and phony invoices prosecutors expect to admit as evidence.
San Diego Municipal Judge Raymond Edwards Jr. allowed the three men to remain free on their own recognizance.
Samson said Castillo, who is from Mexico, is reportedly living in Tijuana.
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