By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

Three defendants were arrested the week of March 12 after being charged with defrauding the Federal Emergency Management Agency, seeking federal disaster relief funds by falsely claiming their properties were damaged by the Eaton and Palisades fires, the United States Department of Justice announced.

“Three defendants have been charged in recent days with fraudulently seeking federal disaster relief funds by falsely claiming their properties were damaged by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires when in fact they did not have an interest in the affected property or the property was not affected by either fire,” according to the Justice Department.

The cases announced on March 12 were investigated by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and HSI’s El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, the statement read.

In the wake of the Los Angeles fires that started on January 7, the President approved a Major Disaster Declaration, which prompted FEMA to develop a program to provide financial assistance to fire victims, including a one-time payment of $750, up to $43,600 for “other needs” assistance and housing assistance for up to 18 months. Additionally, homeowners became potentially eligible for additional relief up to $43,600 for home repair.

“The fraud alleged in the three cases include payment of ‘other needs assistance’ based on false claims of damage to personal property, lost vehicles, and medical and relocation expenses,” according to the Justice Department.

Two of the defendants were in Southern California and one in Texas, according to the Justice Department, who were all arrested the week of March 12 following the charges.

“These defendants allegedly made false and fraudulent claims to FEMA for emergency benefits related to wildfires that devastated Los Angeles County two months ago,” Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally said. “These false claims resulted in badly needed disaster-relief money being denied to actual wildfire victims while these defendants allegedly used property information to illegally line their own pockets.”

After being charged in a criminal complaint filed Monday, March 10, Hedeshia Robertson of Lakewood was arrested on Tuesday, March 11.

“Robertson allegedly filed a fraudulent application for FEMA benefits on January 28, seeking benefits related to a damaged residence in the Pacific Palisades that she did not own, did not rent, and in which she did not reside or work,” according to the Justice Department. “As a result of her fraudulent application, Robertson obtained approximately $24,899 in FEMA benefits to which she was not entitled. At the time of her arrest, Robertson also allegedly attempted to obtain additional FEMA benefits for a purported property lease in San Francisco.”

Tyrone D. Barnes of Paramount was also arrested on Tuesday after being named in an indictment that charged him with making false claims that was returned by a federal grand jury in February, read the statement.

“The indictment alleges that Barnes submitted a disaster relief claim to FEMA for an Altadena property owned by other individuals who did not know Barnes,” the statement continued. “The true owners of the property contacted FEMA about potential assistance, which is when they learned another person had already submitted an application in relation to their property.”

Joyce Turner of Rosharon, Texas, was arrested on Tuesday after being charged Friday, March 7, in a criminal complaint with fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits, according to the Justice Department.

“Turner allegedly submitted an application claiming her home had been destroyed in the Eaton fire, but she appears never to have lived in California and in fact had no connection to the address she claimed was destroyed in the fire,” read the statement. “Instead, she allegedly forged a lease making it look like she lived there, and she received more than $25,000 from FEMA because of the fraudulent submissions.”

Turner has submitted at least 10 other applications to FEMA for disaster relief related to seven federally declared disasters, the affidavit read, including Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Isaac. She “otherwise has a criminal history showing previous arrests and convictions for fraud offenses,” the affidavit continued.

“Complaints and indictments contain allegations of criminal conduct,” read the statement. “All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

“The charge of fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency benefits carries a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. The charge of false, fictitious or fraudulent claim against the United States carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.”

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

After closing on Wednesday, March 11, due to safety concerns around predicted heavy storms, Pacific Coast Highway reopened to residents and businesses in the Palisades fire burn scar area “earlier than anticipated” on Thursday, March 13.

“Following better than anticipated weather conditions, Caltrans, in coordination with local partners, announced that PCH is now open through the cities of Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Malibu to residents who live in the Palisades Fire burn area, essential businesses and school bus traffic earlier than anticipated,” read a statement from Caltrans. “Metro is also allowed to resume bus service to Line 134. Traffic is restricted for safety reasons and to protect residents and workers.”

The highway was closed between Carbon Beach Terrace in Malibu and Chautauqua Boulevard in the Palisades.

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

Los Angeles County Recovers provided updates regarding Phase 2 Debris Removal on Wednesday, March 5—a “key step” on the road to recovery and rebuilding.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced completion of Phase 1 of wildfire hazardous debris cleanup for the Eaton and Palisades fires. Phase 1—Household Hazardous Waste Removal—was managed by EPA under executive orders and needed to be complete before beginning Phase 2 clearing of structural debris.

The first phase involved “assessing and safely removing hazardous materials,” including paints, cleaners, pesticides, fuel, propane tanks, batteries and more from impacted residential and commercial parcels.

During a town hall hosted by Mayor Karen Bass on Tuesday, March 4, EPA representative Rusty Harris-Bishop explained that there were 6,981 residential parcels and 129 commercial parcels that needed to be inspected in the Palisades fire area. Of those, EPA was able to clear 4,349 residential parcels and 77 commercial parcels.

In the Palisades area, 2,632 residential parcels and 52 commercial parcels were deferred, which means that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be responsible for the removal and safe disposal of the waste.

“USACE can remove hazardous materials without a signed right of entry, as the EPA did,” according to a statement. “If a right of entry is already in place for Phase 2 debris removal, both phases may be conducted back-to-back for efficiency.”

By March 8, the Army Corps confirmed that it had cleared 50% of the Phase 1 deferred properties between the Palisades and Eaton fires.

Phase 2 is the Comprehensive Debris Removal Program. Residents have two options for Phase 2: opting in to the county’s debris removal program, which is being led by the Army Corps and Colonel Eric Swenson, or opting out of the county-run program and hiring a private contractor. The deadline to opt in or out of the program is March 31.

Property owners affected by the fire can opt in by submitting a right of entry form. Los Angeles County Public Works reported that over 2,000 ROEs have been submitted in the last three weeks and made it a goal to speed up approvals, as reported during the March 4 town hall.

Public Works reviews ROEs by verifying property ownership through assessor records, and confirms all required documentation and signatures. After submission, residents should receive a confirmation email—if additional information is needed, residents will receive a follow-up email from roe@dpw.lacounty.gov.

Property owners choosing to manage debris removal through a private contractor must submit an opt-out form, show proof of EPA Phase 1 clearance and obtain approval before removing fire debris. Owners must apply for a permit through the EPIC-LA system.

Under Phase 2, LA County Recovers said residents can expect a number of things—from the removal of hazardous trees to noise. In a recent informational video, Swenson presented the criteria for identifying hazardous trees and explained the process for removing them.

“We only remove trees that 1. pose an immediate safety risk to the public or work crews 2. are within the ash footprint and must be removed to safely clear debris, or 3. have been evaluated by a certified arborist and have been determined to be dead or expected to die within five years,” Swenson explained.

Property owners who wish to preserve specific trees deemed hazardous must complete a waiver. The Waiver of Hazardous Tree Removal form can be accessed online at recovery.lacounty.gov, and must be submitted in person to an Army Corps contractor during a site visit, complete with a site sketch and list of trees to preserve.

After being assessed, trees will be seen with different markings.

“We understand how important trees are to this community,” Swenson said in the video. “Not every tree that has been marked will be removed.”

Trees with blue dots and a barcode tag placed near its base have been determined to be hazardous and are scheduled for removal. Trees where a property owner has submitted a hazardous tree removal waiver will be marked with a yellow dot at the base and a yellow ribbon wrapped around the tree. If a tree has been reassessed and determined to be non-hazardous, it will be marked with a brown dot over the existing blue dot.

During Phase 2, Palisadians can also expect noise from construction crews, as well as more trucks on the road.

“Our crews start early and work long hours to get this work done as quickly as possible,” Swenson said. “Every sound of progress means another home, another school, another piece of our community is getting closer to being restored.”

For more information and updates, visit recovery.lacounty.gov.

U.S. Bank Offers ATM, Safe Deposit Box Access; Other Area Branches Provide Updates

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

The Wells Fargo branch in Pacific Palisades reopened on Wednesday, March 5, marking the first financial institution in the area to do so since closing on January 8 in response to the fire.

Several area bank branches have been reported to have not sustained damage in the Palisades fire, according to the CAL FIRE Damage Inspection database, including Wells Fargo, Citibank, City National Bank and U.S. Bank.

“Wells Fargo is the first major financial institution to reopen in the area and is ready to serve customers,” read a statement.

Wells Fargo reported that it is removing surcharge fees for non-Wells Fargo customers at 15 ATMs in the affected area (this does not include surcharge fees that may be incurred from issuer banks, the statement noted). They also have added “in-house experts” at the Palisades branch, who will “enable multiple customer support services,” including FEMA applications, destroyed document recovery, insurance claims and more.

“Since the fires, we have deepened our Community Support and Partnerships: Wells Fargo made a $500,000 contribution to the LA Region Small Business and Worker Relief Funds as part of the broader Wells Fargo $1.35 million donation,” the statement continued, “[and] partnered with Together for LA to provide resources and information to impacted small business owners and workers.”

Alice Juarez, regional branch network executive, Los Angeles Region, confirmed the branch’s current hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“We are pleased that we are able to fully reopen our Pacific Palisades branch,” Juarez said. “We have served the local community since 2008 when we first opened our doors … Our hope is that with the reopening, we can provide some normalcy to our customers and be a resource to them.”

Juarez reported there was no safe deposit box damage sustained at the branch, with “no soot, no odor [and] no customer reports of damage.”

Speaking on behalf of U.S. Bank, Ben Gallagher, vice president of Public Affairs & Corporate Communications for CA Region Media Relations, confirmed that while the branch did not sustain damage in the fire, disruptions to power and water, as well as smoke and residue from the fire, “necessitated a full closure and interior remediation, which is still ongoing.”

As of Friday, March 7, the branch has reopened with limited hours on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for access to safe deposit boxes by appointment. ATM service at the location was also restored; clients have been notified of the current availability, according to Gallagher, who said that ATM and safe deposit boxes were “the most pressing need” the bank had heard from its clients, making that its “most pressing priority to restore access to at the location.”

“We are working closely with local authorities and others to prepare the branch to be safely reopened for full access but do not yet have a confirmed date,” Gallagher said. “We look forward to fully reopening the branch to serve our clients and the local community, and will provide more details on timing as soon as possible.”

Colin Wright with Global Communications for Citibank confirmed that an environmental and structural assessment of the building was recently completed, which found that the branch “did not sustain any damage in the fires.”

“We haven’t yet determined when we will reopen,” Wright wrote. “Our thoughts are with our neighbors and clients as they recover from the wildfires.”

Bank branches that were destroyed in the fire include Bank of America, Chase and First Citizens Bank.

“JPMorganChase is inspired by the resilience and resolve of the entire Palisades community,” said Peter Kelley with California Media Relations for Chase. “We are committed to rebuilding and supporting the long-term growth of this great community. The safety of our employees and clients continues to be our first priority as we help the community recover from the wildfires.”

Kelley explained that Chase has secured its branch site for construction teams to clear debris, while maintaining “enhanced security measures on site,” which includes “24/7 armed guards, fencing and lighting for protection.”

“Once safe, we’ll relocate safe deposit boxes to a nearby secure site to allow for customer access,” Kelley said. “For questions, customers can contact our special care line at 800-254-7713.”

Liz Shapiro with First Citizens Bank Corporate Communications reported on March 14 that the safe deposit boxes from the bank’s Palisades branch have been transported to a “secure off-site location.”

“On March 10, following approval from local authorities to access our branch site, we were able to remove the safe deposit boxes from our Pacific Palisades branch and transport them to a secure location offsite, the fastest and safest way to facilitate our clients’ retrieval of safe deposit box contents,” Shapiro explained. “We are working with our clients to schedule appointments for retrieval and encourage them to reach out to our team at the Santa Monica Wilshire branch at 310-319-2160 with any questions.”

Carla Molina, SVP of external communications for Bank of America, told the Palisadian-Post on March 10 that the branch, following a permitting process and work from structural engineers and beyond, was able to move the safe deposit boxes at the branch to another location for customers to make appointments to go through the contents.

“My understanding is it’s gone very, very smoothly,” Molina said, adding that many “things were intact.”

Molina reported that a mobile ATM has been set up in the Palisades, but “given the amount of devastation,” Bank of America has “not been able to stand up a mobile financial center in the Palisades just yet.”

Bank of America has appointed Raul Anaya to oversee its “comprehensive response and rebuilding efforts.”

“As impacted areas become more accessible for residents and experts to enter, the full extent of damage is becoming clear,” Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said. “The recovery process for Angelenos and for Southern California will be very extensive in need, complexity and time. Public and private leaders will need to partner very closely. Financial institutions will play a critical role.”

City National Bank, which is located within Palisades Village, confirmed the branch sustained “smoke and water damage, which will need to be addressed before it can reopen,” on a timeline that will be worked out with Caruso.

On March 11, Caruso said there was no update available for when the branch would be reopening.

Editor’s note: This story was updated Friday, March 14, with information from First Citizens Banks.

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

All standing structures in Pacific Palisades have been cleared and water is now safe for drinking after the Palisades fire, effective Friday, March 7, announced Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

A Do Not Drink, Do Not Boil notice was issued on January 10 due to the potential of wildfire contaminants. Mayor Karen Bass announced the lift on the order at a news conference on Thursday, March 6.

“This is great news,” CD 11 Councilmember Traci Park said in response. “Given the extent of destruction and damage to our utilities, the fact that we have been able to almost fully restore power and safe water in the burn area in less than 60 days is pretty remarkable. The restoration of utilities also means that we can also anticipate repopulation in parts of the Palisades where there are still homes standing.”

Based on water quality testing, LADWP concluded—with the concurrence of the California State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water—that tap water in all areas impacted by these previous alerts is now safe for all uses.

“The cancellation of the Do Not Drink notice first issued on January 10 is the end result of a comprehensive plan to screen and flush nearly 100 miles of the water distribution system within all nine LADWP service zones that comprise the area affected,” according to LADWP. “This was followed by thorough and accurate water quality testing of 469 samples taken in the area.”

LADWP declared it is no longer necessary to continue drinking bottled water or using bottled water, and the tap water is now safe to use for essential activities—such as drinking, food preparation, bathing, dish washing and laundry.

LADWP recommended residents flush plumbing prior to using water to ensure it is “safe and clear.” This process includes opening and flushing any external fixtures—like hose bibs and faucets—for about 10 minutes, or until the water is visibly clear and the temperature is constant; flushing all toilets until the refilled water runs clear; draining the hot water tank to discharge of any accumulated sediment and waiting for the water to refill to check that it is clear; and running an empty dishwasher and washing machine once on a rinse cycle.

LADWP stated it will continue to regularly conduct comprehensive tests on the water in order to ensure it meets state and federal water quality standards.

“We want to thank our customers for their cooperation and great patience during this complex operation to restore water quality in the Pacific Palisades,” LADWP Director of Water Quality Jonathan Leung said in a statement. “Our aim was to be meticulous and detailed in our testing to provide our customers with the most reliable and best water quality possible. Our staff worked with care, focus and dedication knowing how much the restoration of water quality would mean to local residents as they continue to rebuild their community.”

LADWP also announced the establishment of a Unified Utilities Rebuild Operations Center at Palisades Recreation Center, which opened on Saturday, March 1.

At the operations center, customers impacted by the Palisades fire have access to LADWP services to help them rebuild, turn on and off water and power services, and receive answers to questions. Other utility services provided by corporate and government partners are also slated to offer services at the center.

“LADWP crews have worked around the clock since the Palisades fire to restore power to the Palisades area,” LADWP Chief Executive Officer and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones said in a statement. “The opening of UUROC is the next phase in LADWP’s commitment to serve our customers in the rebuilding of the community. We want to be easily accessible to our customers who are already dealing with so much as they begin to rebuild their homes and businesses.”

The operations center is in the small gym at 851 Alma Real Drive. It is currently open Monday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information about water quality, call the LADWP Water Quality Hotline at 213-367-3182 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. or 1-800-DIAL-DWP for 24-hour assistance.