Wayne Michael Rozenberg Exonerated of Bail Bond Scam

I recall hearing about this case several years ago. Where criminal defense attorneys and bail agents from San Bernardino were indicted because of a San Bernardino County investigation of illegal practices among the bail bond companies in the area.

Wayne Michael Rozenberg was among nearly 30 attorneys and bail bond employees facing the conspiracy charge. He was exonerated of the charge yesterday morning in court. Rozenberg's attorney, Richard Pintal, said his client was "factually innocent."

Floyd Tidwell, the former San Bernardino County Sheriff was also a party to this investigation and was sentenced early on in November of 2004. Danial Blayne Tidwell, owner of Boone's Bail Bonds and son of the former sheriff is due in court on February 22, 2008, for his arraignment. He is one of approximately 15 people who originally fought the allegations and did not take a plea agreement.

Three Bail Agents Arrested in Collier County Investigation

A year long investigation by the Collier County Sheriff's office into the business practices of a local bail bond company resulted in the arrest of three bail agents.

Joseph Houston, the bail bond company's owner, had been arrested on similar charges in the past. He and the other two agents are being accused of soliciting business from inside the jail.

Investigators found that at least four inmates who are unlicensed were referring business to Houston's bail bond companies. In return, Houston would allow long-distance telephone calls, three-way telephone calls, and placed money in the commissary account for the inmates.

Joseph Houston's family is claiming that he is a target of racial discrimination because the businesses our owned by a black man.Emma Houston, the defendant's mother, said that she can't believe we are living in a society today with so much prejudice in Collier County.