Three Central Californians who normally earn an honest wage assisting individuals in getting out of jail now find themselves behind bars, with little hope of making bail anytime soon. Yesterday authorities arrested Aleo J. (A.J.) Pontillo, 40, of Modesto, Calif, owner of AJ's Bail Bonds, and bail agent and office manager Janelle M. Llorens, 27, also of Modesto, for an elaborate—and very illegal—scheme in which they kidnapped clients for the purpose of extortion and insurance fraud.

The unscrupulous licensed bail agents had no intention of serving anyone but themselves, and their swift arrests should serve as a forewarning to any would-be scammers.

“The arrests should send a very clear message,” said California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. “The severity of their alleged crimes will simply not be tolerated.”

Because of the nature of the crimes committed, the court set bail for Pontillo and Llorens at $2,000,000 and $1,000,000, respectively. In addition, it issued a hold requiring that each defendant demonstrate to a judge that “no portion of the bail consideration, pledge, security, deposit, or indemnification paid, given, made, or promised was feloniously obtained.”

According to officials, from 2006 through 2010, an investigation revealed that Pontillo, Llorens, and Davis conspired to defraud the County of Stanislaus (which is located in the Central Valley of Calif.) of “monies rightfully owed, or soon to be owed, under the bail forfeiture process and committed perjury to further the scheme.”

But the scheming didn't stop there. Investigators also determined that the three committed insurance fraud by submitting bonds to the County of Stanislaus to falsely represent a fugitive of the court had been apprehended; and that Pontillo and Llorens conspired to kidnap no less than six of AJ Bail Bond clients, all of whom were former arrestees bonded out of jail by the business—all for the sole purpose of extorting a bail bond premium debt.

With a healthy dose of fraud under their belts, the trio turned to violence, apprehending and transporting clients to AJ's Bail Bonds. Once at the store, clients were detained and threatened with return to jail if they could not generate or obtain a premium payment from family or friends. If money was obtained, then some of the arrestees were released from the office. Those unable of producing a premium payment were surrendered back to jail without cause.

“This criminal conspiracy abused those who had already paid a premium bond for their release from jail,” said Commissioner Jones. “To have them snatched from the street and extorted for additional funds or face the threat of return to jail is abhorrent.”

Pontillo and Llorens are charged with Penal Code Sections 182 and 209, Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping for the Purpose of Extortion, and Penal Code Section 550 (b) (1), Insurance Fraud. Also taken into custody yesterday was bail agent Mark D. Davis, 49, of Modesto, whose bail is set at $500,000. Davis has been charged along with Pontillo and Llorens. with Penal Code Sections 182 and 487, Conspiracy to Commit Grand Theft, and for violating California Insurance Code Section 1814/Pursuant to CA Code of Regulations Section 2091, Willfully Making an Untrue Representation to a Court to Avoid Bail Bond Forfeiture. Llorens and Davis have also been charged with violating Penal Code Section 118, Perjury.

The investigation leading to yesterday's arrests was a joint cooperative effort between CDI's Investigations Division–COPS Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation–Modesto Office, and, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department. The Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office is prosecuting the case.

Commissioner Jones reports that a total of $500,000 in bond forfeitures have been recovered by Stanislaus County since 2009.

Source: www.insurance.ca.gov.

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