LOS ANGELES : Bank Officer Convicted of Lying to Grand Jury
A former assistant operations officer at Southern California Bank was convicted in federal district court in Los Angeles Wednesday of lying to a federal grand jury investigating corruption among Los Angeles County sheriff’s narcotics investigators. She faces a sentence of up to 15 years in jail and a fine of up to $750,000.
Melba Espinoza, 40, of Whittier was found guilty of lying when she denied using her position at the bank to open accounts in false names to assist in laundering money. She will be sentenced Jan. 11 by U.S. District Judge Harry L. Hupp.
In another development, a former sheriff’s narcotics deputy, Julian Castorena, 36, of Fontana pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal government funds and agreed to cooperate with investigators. His sentencing was set for Feb. 22.
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