Watchdog Unit Gets New Leader

Jim Marion has been tapped to supervise the Orange County district attorney’s consumer and environmental enforcement unit.

Marion recently appeared on the CBS News program “48 Hours,” trying a case against Matt Mathews, who was accused of winning women’s hearts by lying about himself, then stealing their money. Mathews was convicted on all counts.

Marion takes over the nine-person unit at a time when complaints about telemarketing and Internet fraud are intensifying as online commerce becomes more prevalent, he said.

“We’re going to look closely at the cases that affect the largest number of consumers,” he said.