Landlords Accused of Violations

Denouncing them as outlaws, Los Angeles City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo has announced the filing of criminal charges against the landlords of five apartment buildings for a slew of alleged health and safety code violations.

A total of 72 counts were filed against the owners of the buildings in the Pico-Union and Mid-Wilshire areas, Delgadillo said. The case involves 188 rental units.

The city attorney said the violations included cockroach infestation, defective plumbing and trash accumulation. He made the announcement Thursday outside a targeted building at 1812 W. 5th St.

Margie Yet Kue Wong and Henry Wong Jr., owners of the four-story structure, face eight counts and are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.

Griselda Marquez, a tenant at their building, said her apartment had needed repairs since she moved in more than two years ago but that the landlords decided only recently to act.

If convicted, the landlords of the buildings could each face a $1,000 fine and six months in jail.

“These slumlords are outlaws,” Delgadillo said. “They are breaking the law, and we are pursuing them.”

According to his office, the others charged are Henry and William Boorstin, 32 counts involving the Regis Hotel on West 23rd Street; Mayurkumar, Rajanikant and Pritty Patel, 12 counts involving 301 S. Witmer St.; Jacob Libman, 12 counts involving 833 S. Fedora St.; and Larry and Mindy Litwin, eight counts involving 701 S. Mariposa Ave.