BRIGHTON, Colo. (CBS4) – A veteran Adams County sheriff’s deputy has been charged with two felony forgery counts in connection with a recent DUI stop. The Adams County District Attorney on Monday charged Deputy Catalin Pavel with forgery of a public record, forgery of a government document and official misconduct.

According to court documents, Pavel falsely completed a Breath Alcohol checklist related to a DUI stop of a Thornton man. All charges in that case were dismissed.

“Deputy Pavel denies any wrongdoing and he looks forward to mounting a vigorous defense and he believes he is going to be cleared of any wrongdoing,” said Donald Sisson, Pavel’s lawyer.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Department has placed the deputy on paid administrative leave.

Sisson contends the criminal charge is retaliation for an EEOC discrimination complaint the Deputy filed against the department.

Adams County District Attorney Don Quick declined to discuss the case or answer questions about the potential impact on any other DUI cases handled by the deputy.

The 36-year-old deputy is originally from Romania according to his attorney and has been with the sheriff’s department about 10 years.

Pavel is due in court in August for an advisement on the charges.

- Written by Brian Maass for CBSDenver.com

DENVER (CBS4)- A man accused of stealing homes for profit will face a judge. Alfonso Carrillo is in police custody.

He’s believed to be at the center of a large organized crime scheme where people find homes under foreclosure, break in and then file paperwork to take over the property, claiming the home belongs to them.

Carrillo was arrested early Thursday morning in Thornton. He had an outstanding warrant filed a week ago from a grand jury in Denver.

Prosecutors claim Carrillo has a long history of stealing homes. Now that they have him in custody, they said they will try to keep him there. He’s being held on $750,000 bond in Adams County.

“Having Mr. Carrillo in custody helps us know at least for the moment, we won’t have new victims,” said Denver District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Lynn Kimbrough.

Prosecutors worry if Carrillo is released he may try to flee or continue to allegedly sell homes he doesn’t own.

Last week a grand jury in Denver indicted Carrillo on 18 counts of theft and forgery. He is also charged with felony racketeering.

Carrillo is accused of falsely selling more than a dozen homes along the Front Range. Prosecutors said he targeted Spanish-speaking victims, many of whom may not be in the U.S. legally.

“There are victims who may not have felt comfortable coming forward for help. People who are vulnerable in other ways,” said Kimbrough.

Prosecutors in Denver believe there may be more victims. Three other suspects are still being sought in connection with the case.

Rudy Breda (credit: Denver DA)

The grand jury also indicted Rudy Breda, 64, on 10 separate counts. Police also have warrants for the arrest of Jose Caraveo, 40, and Veronic Fernandez-Beleta, 41, who were allegedly squatting in one of the stolen homes.

“The charges are very serious and are really kind of disturbing,” said Kimbrough.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Colorado Springs police have arrested a sergeant on suspicion of theft and forgery.

Police say 53-year-old Sgt. James Butierres has been placed on paid leave. If prosecutors file formal charges, he would be placed on unpaid leave. A message left at a phone number listed for him Thursday wasn’t immediately returned.

Butierres is responsible for overseeing the Colorado Springs Police Department’s motor vehicle theft unit. Police say Butierres was arrested after internal checks identified a possible employee theft. Investigators say there was probable cause to arrest him “relating to time and labor issues and funds associated with a motor vehicle theft grant.”

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

DENVER (CBS4) – A former Douglas County assistant coroner was sentenced Monday afternoon to three years probation for stealing guns from the coroner’s office.

A Douglas County judge gave Carter Lord three years probation on each of three felony counts, two counts of forging government issued documents and one count of embezzlement. But the judge ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

A CBS4 investigation in 2012 revealed that Lord was initially charged with seven felonies for selling handguns that the coroner’s office had taken into evidence as part of death investigations.

Lord told CBS4 he “accidentally” sold one of the handguns for $500. According to Lord, the guns were part of various coroner investigations and families of deceased victims had indicated they wanted the weapons destroyed. Lord said he intended to destroy them after removing them from the coroner’s office, but that never happened.

He had planned, he said, to destroy them at his shop, but said he “sold one by accident.”

At trial, Lord was found guilty on three felony counts, but was found not guilty of four other charges.

Laurie McKager, District Administrator for the 18th Judicial District, confirmed the probation sentence.

More Carter Lord  Stories

• Former Deputy Coroner Sentenced To Probation For Forgery, Embezzlement
• Former Dougco Deputy Coroner Charged With 7 Felonies
• CBI, AG Investigate Former Assistant Coroner Over Guns

ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) – A Colorado National Guardsman accused of stealing recruiting money now faces more charges.

Sgt. Luke Peelgrane now faces a dozen charges including theft, forgery and computer crime.

He and two others are accused in Adams County of taking thousands of dollars in bonuses that they didn’t deserve.

One former guardsman has already been sentenced in federal court in a similar case.

Related Stories

• Colorado National Guardsman Now Facing More Charges
• Discharged Colorado National Guardsman Sentenced For Fraudulent Recruiting Bonuses
• Soldier In Court On Theft Charges Greets CBS4 Reporter With Profanity
• Colorado National Guardsmen Targets Of Nationwide Fraud Investigation
• 3 Accused Of Stealing Colorado National Guard Recruiting Bonuses

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) – A woman jailed for 49 days before forgery charges against her were dismissed is suing the city of Greeley, its police department and a police officer for false arrest and imprisonment, The Tribune reported Thursday.

The Tribune cited the suit filed last month by 39-year-old Alma Rubi Chavez-Torres. Chavez-Torres, who had given birth to a daughter three months before, was arrested at home in front of her five children in February, 2012, and taken to the county jail.

She was charged with forgery in connection with an attempt to cash a check on a Greeley man’s account. The charges were dismissed when a bank videotape furnished by Greeley police showed it was not Chavez-Torres who committed the crime.

Greeley Police Chief Jerry Garner said he could not comment on the suit. City attorney Douglas Marek says the city denies the allegations.

The arrest came after bank employees told police that a woman had tried to cash a check for $857.38 on a man’s account, using a driver’s license identifying her as Chavez-Torres. The woman became nervous and fled the bank, leaving the check and license behind.

Chavez-Torres, who says her license had been stolen, strongly denied the charges when police arrived at her home the day following the incident at the bank. Her suit notes the woman at the bank was described as very skinny with tattoos on her neck or hands, and that none of the bank employees indicated she spoke with an accent. According to the suit, Chavez-Torres weighed in excess of 140 pounds on the day of the incident, had no tattoos on her neck or hands, and is a native Spanish-speaker who speaks with a heavy accent and has difficulty communicating in English.

According to the lawsuit, a meeting between the bank employees and Chavez-Torres was not arranged, nor was she put into a line-up for identification.

The lawsuit alleges Greeley police prolonged the release of the bank’s videotape to both the district attorney and Chavez-Torres’ lawyer, which extended her stay in jail.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

STERLING, Colo. (CBS4) – Police have arrested a 19-year-old accused of killing his grandparents in the town of Sterling in eastern Colorado.

(credit: CBS)

Brendan Lee Johnson and his girlfriend Cassandra Ann Rieb, 18, face charges of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, forgery and theft.

Brendan Johnson and Cassandra Rieb (credit: CBS)

Investigators say part of Shirley Anne Severance’s remains were found near Sterling and near Lorenzo, Neb. Her husband, Charles Severance, was found dead in their home last weekend.

“Investigator teams are processing both crime scene locations where the remains were found. One of the locations is at the Prewitt Reservoir, which is located approximately 18 miles southwest of Sterling along Highway 6,” Sterling police said in a statement. “The second location is several miles west of Lorenzo, Neb.”

Lorenzo is located just across the state border.

Police said no other individuals were involved and there is no threat to the public.

Neighbors said both Johnson and his grandparents were quiet and private.

“It wasn’t a big surprise when I found out that he was involved, but I sure didn’t, I didn’t think it would be that gruesome, I guess,” said neighbor Ron McBride.

STERLING, Colo. (CBS4/AP)- Two teens accused of murdering both of one of the suspect’s grandparents appeared in court Wednesday morning.

Brendan Lee Johnson, 19, and his girlfriend Cassandra Ann Rieb, 18, face charges of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, forgery and theft.

Brendan Johnson, Cassandra Rieb (credit: CBS)

They appeared in court where Logan County District Court Judge Michael Singer told them the charges carry a possible sentence of death or life without parole.

Investigators say part of Shirley Anne Severance’s remains were found near Sterling and near Lorenzo, Neb. Her husband, Charles Severance, was found dead in their home last weekend.

Shirley Severance (credit: CBS)

Johnson is also facing two counts of felony forgery which can carry a sentence of one to three years. Formal charges have not yet been filed with the court. A hearing was set for June 18 to review any changes to the charges.

Arrest affidavits show both teens told police they planned to kill Johnson’s grandparents by smothering them with pillows as they slept. Police say Rieb told them Johnson wanted to inherit their house and $20,000 from their checking account.

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.) 

DENVER (CBS4) – Police in Denver would like the public’s help identifying a woman suspected of theft from a vehicle, forgery, fraud and identity theft.

According to police, on May 14 a car was broken into in the area of Park Avenue West and Champa Street and a wallet was taken.

“On the same day a piece of luggage that contained checks was stolen from Denver International Airport,” police said in a statement.

Then, on May 27 the suspect cashed one of the stolen checks, using the stolen driver’s license taken from the car at a credit union in Lafayette.

Additional Information From The Denver Police Department

Anyone with information is asked to call Denver police at (720) 913-2000. Remain anonymous and call Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-STOP (7867). Text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter the message or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (CBS4)- State Senator Steve King is facing several criminal charges that include embezzlement, forgery and theft.

King, a Republican representing Mesa County, has been charged with three felonies and two misdemeanors.

The charges come after a long investigation. The Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler handled the investigation and believes King took public property.

Brauchler took over the investigation earlier this month to avoid a conflict of interest with agencies in Mesa County or with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, which is now headed by King’s former boss.

The charges also allege King committed several “financial irregularities” in his other jobs while serving in Colorado’s State Senate.

The legal problems have forced King to drop out of the race for Mesa County Sheriff.

King told CBS4, “It would be inappropriate to comment at this time.”

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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (CBS4) – A Mesa County judge has recused himself from a criminal case against a Republican state senator.

Sen. Steven King, a Republican representing Mesa County, is facing embezzlement, forgery and theft charges. He is accused of falsifying time cards while working at the Mesa County Sheriff’s Department and Colorado Mesa University.

Mesa County District Judge Thomas Deister says he can’t be involved in the case because of a conflict of interest. He did not explain the conflict.

RELATED: State Senator Steve King Facing Felony Charges

DENVER (CBS4) - A grand jury has indicted three people in a racketeering scheme that involved identity and car theft, burglary and other felony charges.

The Denver District Attorney’s Office said Zachary Sebastian “Skip” Bowman, Scott Edward Diehl and Jessica Fox busted into gym lockers, lifted keys, wallets and IDs, and then stole cars and personal information to break into and burglarize homes.

Bowman, 41, and Diehl, 44, are each charged with violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, and committing aggravated motor vehicle theft, theft and identity theft, in addition to other felony charges.

Fox, 27, is charged with conspiracy to commit burglary, identity theft and forgery, and conspiracy to commit numerous other felonies. The trio faces 53 counts.

Diehl is in custody on another charge. Police are still trying to locate Bowman and Fox.

More than 30 people were victimized, the DA said.

The DA’s office said Bowman and Diehl also possessed metal plates for making counterfeit $100 bills, and the group created false documents and used money they gained to finance the use and sale of drugs, including meth.

Bowman, the DA said, is also accused of falsely posing as a U.S. Navy veteran. In a photo obtained by police, Bowman appears to be shaking hands with President Bill Clinton, but authorities say Bowman Photoshopped his head onto a sailor’s body.

Zachary Sebastian (Skip) Bowman allegedly Photoshopped this photo to put his head on a sailor’s body as he shakes hands with President Bill Clinton (credit: CBS)

One of the victims said his neighbor’s home was robbed when Diehl, the DA alleges, mistook that home for the initial victim’s.

The family’s storage unit was also plundered.

“I used to have a studio and they stole all of my artwork,” the victim, who didn’t want to be identified, said. Other invaluable items were taken. “The most precious thing they stole was pictures and in those pictures were pictures of my deceased daughter. She died when she was 14, and I’ll never have those back,” she said.

“I just think they have no soul,” the victim said.

(credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

DENVER (AP/CBS4) – Six members of a Denver family are accused of conspiring to run a mortgage-fraud scheme that cost lenders up to $4.6 million.

A 37-page indictment announced Wednesday accuses Jose Ricardo Sarabia-Martinez and Lauren Maes Sarabia of crimes spanning two decades. The other four charged in the indictment are Sarabia-Martinez’s twin brothers and parents.

The Denver Post reports that the family is accused of seeking gullible would-be homeowners, then falsifying documents to artificially inflate their worth and acquire multiple mortgages. Properties were then illegally acquired, with the homeowners’ credit ruined.

“Through an elaborate scheme of falsifying documents and identities then propping up straw buyers, this family played on gullible people wanting to live the dream of homeownership,” Attorney General John Suthers said in a statement. “Properties were illegally acquired, money was stolen, credit histories ruined, and houses ended up in foreclosure. My office will aggressively pursue those who willingly cause foreclosures and I thank our partner agencies for their painstaking efforts.”

Criminal charges include violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, forgery, theft, attempt to influence a public servant, criminal impersonation.

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

BENNETT, Colo. (CBS4) – Charges have been filed against a woman accused of stealing $15,000 from a parent-teacher student association.

“Oh my word, oh yes, that’s not good, that’s a lot of money,” said Bennett Elementary School grandparent Florence Halstead.

Prosecutors charged Angelita Sue Ramos, 39, with theft and forgery. They say she stole cash from fundraising events held at Bennett Elementary School and forged checks.

(credit: CBS)

At the time, Ramos was the treasurer for the organization. PTSA members began to notice money missing and checks forged with their names.

“The charges allege that she forged signatures on checks and stole cash from fundraising events held at the school, including book fairs,” the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

According to court documents, the PTSA confronted Ramos about the missing funds and she said, “She doesn’t remember what happened to the money and that she had been overwhelmed by medical problems and on medication and that it was all a blur.”

Angelita Sue Ramos (credit: Adams County Sheriff’s Office)

Ramos asked the PTSA president “to work it out without pressing any charges.”

She also said, “It is what it is.”

Bennett Schools Superintendent Dennis Veal said that is disappointing.

“It’s money that goes back to the students to support them in a lot of different ways and it really is troublesome when something like this happens,” said Veal.

Why Ramos allegedly took the money isn’t clear yet.

“Hopefully they think they have a good reason but they usually don’t and it’s an all about me kind of thing,” said Halstead.

A new treasurer is in place and the fundraisers will continue.

“The fundraisers are really good but when they embezzle, that’s not a good thing,” said Halstead.

Ramos’ bond is set at $5,000.

DENVER (CBS4)- A woman has been formally charged for allegedly forging marijuana business licenses.

Anna Cozy has been charged with two counts of attempt to influence a public servant and three counts of forgery.

The charges allege that Cozy, 36, was running a marijuana business in Denver and provided phony business licenses to inspectors.

Cozy has been released from custody on $3,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in Denver County Court on Dec. 23 at 1:30 p.m. to be formally advised of the charges.

DENVER (CBS4)- A Denver Grand Jury has indicted a man accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from at least two victims who thought they were just loaning money.

Jon Urbana has been charged by indictment with seven counts of forgery, two counts of theft and one count of fraud by check.

The charges allege that Urbana convinced at least two victims to loan money to Urbana’s laser hair removal company, Light Away, under the guise of a short-term business loan. Urbana gave the lenders phony documents in which Urbana claimed he held a substantial ownership interest in Van Schaack Holdings and VS Investors and could use that ownership interest as collateral to secure repayment of the loans.

Urbana is the grandson of Henry Van Schaack and it is alleged that he forged Van Schaack’s and Van Schaack’s daughter, Leonora “Lea” Van Schaack’s names to legal documents in order to perpetrate the fraud.

Urbana has been released from custody on a $20,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Denver District Court on Jan. 23 at 8:30 a.m. for his first appearance.

It is possible that there are additional victims so the investigation into the extent of Urbana’s activity is still ongoing.

Michael Urbana (credit: Denver DA)

Urbana’s father, Michael Urbana, was indicted by a Denver Grand Jury in June 2014 on nine counts of felony theft from an at-risk adult.

The charges in that indictment allege that Michael Urbana convinced his elderly victim to give him large sums of money to invest on the victim’s behalf. Michael Urbana gave the victim forged documents showing bogus investments made by Urbana on the victim’s behalf. Instead, Michael Urbana used the money for his own personal and business purposes.

Michael Urbana has been released from custody on $100,000 bond and scheduled to appear in Denver District Court on January 22 for a motions hearing.

DENVER (CBS4) - A Denver grand jury has indicted a former NFL player and two others for allegedly stealing cars by posing as a towing company.

Ostell Shawn Miles has been charged with violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act and 38 other counts, including aggravated motor vehicle theft, theft, forgery and conspiracy to commit identity theft.

Alyssa Lamb and John Ecoffey have also been charged by indictment with numerous felony counts, including aggravated motor vehicle theft.

The charges allege that Miles, 44, used numerous business names to pose as a towing company, including 24 Hour Towing, ASAP Towing, Poundstone Towing, Denver Towing, Pro-Tech Automotive and Lamb Enterprises.

At least 10 people who lost money or vehicles are listed in the indictment. Denver’s district attorney’s office said there may be more victims.

Ostell Miles, Lamb Alyssa and Ecoffey John (credit: Denver DA)

He and his co-defendants responded to calls for towing services, hooked up the vehicles and stole them. The indictment identifies 10 victims and losses of almost $169,000 but it is possible there are additional victims. Anyone who has had their car towed by one of the above companies and cannot locate their vehicle should contact the Denver DA’s Office at 720-913-9000.

In one case cited in the indictment, the victim called police to report the stolen vehicle two days after Miles towed it. Police found it two days later in an abandoned lot. Other victims are still searching for their cars.

Miles pleaded guilty to theft in 2013 in a similar case and was charged in a second new case before the grand jury began its investigation.

In that first case, Miles claimed to manage a Denver auto repair shop, took in vehicles and then, according to victims, didn’t do repairs they paid for or refused to return their cars.

He is scheduled to appear in Denver District Court on Jan. 26 at 8:30 a.m. for his first appearance on the indictment. He has been released from custody on $150,000 bond.

Miles played for the Cincinnati Bengals for two seasons in the early 1990s.

DENVER (CBS4)– A judge set bond for the Denver man who drove into four police officers, severely injuring one of them, while the officers were escorting hundreds of East High School students who were marching down East Colfax Avenue for a protest.

Officer John Adsit’s bicycle (credit: CBS)

Christopher Booker, 42, appeared in court on Thursday where his bond was set at $50,000.

Booker remains in custody for investigation for assault in the first degree, vehicular assault, attempt to influence a public servant and forgery — all felonies. He is facing a total of 20 counts in relation to the injury crash.

Christopher Booker (credit: Denver Police)

Police officer John Adsit is recovering at home after multiple surgeries. (READ MORE: Officer Adsit Returns Home From Hospital)

John Adsit leaves the hospital (credit: CBS)

After the accident Booker told CBS4 that he didn’t remember the accident because he suffered from a seizure.

According to the arrest affidavit Booker lied on multiple accounts about his medical condition in order to get his driver’s license and shouldn’t have been driving. Officers said the investigation took a long time because they had to search through many medical and DMV records.

VIDEO: News Conference: Driver Who Critically Injured Officer Adsit Arrested

Booker said he had a seizure and said the first time he learned about his accident at East Colfax Avenue and High Street was when a police officer gave him the “evil eye” in the hospital. He said he asked a nurse why that officer was looking at him, and the nurse, he said, told him, “You hurt one of his buddies.”

The black Mercedes driven by Christopher Booker that struck four Denver Police officers (credit: CBS)

RELATED STORIES: Officer John Adsit Story Archive

Booker said his seizure was the fourth he’s suffered in recent years — but he’s never had one behind the wheel of a car before. He also explained that with seizures a body will go limp or stiff, which could explain — he said — why his Mercedes plowed into the police after his leg slammed on the gas pedal.

An image of Officer John Adsit’s bicycle after the crash (credit: Jennifer Brice)

DENVER (CBS4)– The Denver man who drove into four police officers, severely injuring one of them, while the officers were escorting hundreds of East High School students who were marching down East Colfax Avenue for a protest, was formally charged on Friday.

Officer John Adsit’s bicycle (credit: CBS)

Christopher Booker, 42, was formally charged with first-degree assault, vehicular assault, seven counts of attempt to influence a public servant and seven counts of forgery.

Booker remains in custody on $50,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 1.

Police officer John Adsit is recovering at home after multiple surgeries. (READ MORE: Officer Adsit Returns Home From Hospital)

John Adsit leaves the hospital (credit: CBS)

After the accident Booker told CBS4 that he didn’t remember the accident because he suffered from a seizure.

According to the arrest affidavit Booker lied on multiple accounts about his medical condition in order to get his driver’s license and shouldn’t have been driving.

Officers said the investigation took a long time because they had to search through many medical and DMV records.

DENVER (CBS4) – The Denver man who drove into four police officers, severely injuring one of them, while the officers were escorting hundreds of high school students who were marching for a protest, appeared before a judge on Wednesday.

Christopher Booker in court (credit: CBS)

Christopher Booker, 42, remains in custody for investigation for assault in the first degree, vehicular assault, attempt to influence a public servant and forgery — all felonies. He is facing a total of 20 counts in relation to the injury crash. He bond has been set at $50,000.

Officer John Adsit spent months in the hospital after being hit by a car as he accompanied students from East High School back to school after a protest. (READ MORE: Officer Adsit Returns Home From Hospital)

(credit: CBS)

Denver police initially said Booker suffered some sort of medical condition before the December crash. More recently the district attorney’s office said Booker may have either lied or given incorrect information to the Division of Motor Vehicles about his medical condition. And also that he knew he probably shouldn’t have been driving that day.

RELATED STORIES: Officer John Adsit Story Archive

After the accident Booker told CBS4 that he didn’t remember the accident because he suffered from a seizure. Booker said his seizure was the fourth he’s suffered in recent years — but he’s never had one behind the wheel of a car before.

His next court appearance is set for April 8.