A former Los Angeles Police Department civilian employee who worked in the Valley Jail Division and a married couple who owned a Sherman Oaks bail bond company have been charged with conspiracy in
connection with an alleged scheme to illegally solicit bail bond contracts involving jail inmates, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced today. Leonard Jimmy Ramirez, 44, allegedly provided contact information for arrestees to BBB Bail Bonds Co. owners William Aroutounian, 34, and Iryna McCormick, 33, in exchange for kickbacks, according to the District Attorney’s Office. The LAPD’s Professional Standards Bureau launched an investigation after getting a tip that Ramirez was illegally providing contact information to the couple, who would then approach family members of people who had been arrested, according to the District Attorney’s Office. The three are charged with one felony count each of conspiracy to commit bail solicitation, along with bail solicitation. Ramirez also is charged with
a felony count of accepting a bribe from Aroutounian and McCormick. The criminal complaint alleges that the crimes occurred between September 2013 and November 2014. Aroutounian and McCormick — who could face up to three years in state prison if convicted — are set to be arraigned May 23 at the downtown Los Angeles courthouse. Ramirez is scheduled to be arraigned June 3 and faces up to four years and eight months behind bars if he is found guilty.
