Case # 15HF0671
Date: February 2, 2016
MAN SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR WRITING MULTIPLE BAD CHECKS TOTALING OVER $200,000
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was sentenced to seven years in state prison yesterday for writing multiple bad checks totaling over $200,000. Richard Scott Bloustine, 50, Newport Beach, pleaded guilty to the court yesterday to five felony counts of grand theft, 10 felony counts of writing a non-sufficient funds check, one felony count of unlawful taking of a vehicle, with sentencing enhancement allegations for aggravated white collar crime over $100,000 and property loss over $200,000. The sentencing enhancements for prior prison convictions for the fraudulent use of a credit card in 1996, conducting a fraudulent scheme and artifice in 1999, grand theft in 2004, and grand theft and credit card fraud in 2008 were found true. He was also ordered to pay restitution and pay a $444,000 fine.
Between Nov. 10, 2014, and Dec. 13, 2014, Bloustine received over $80,000 in dental services from the Center of Reconstructive Dentistry in Newport Beach. After receiving the services, Bloustine intentionally wrote a $72,000 check to cover the cost of the procedures when he did not have sufficient funds in his bank account. He also intentionally wrote a check for $6,350 for anesthesiology procedures without sufficient funds. Bloustine wrote another check to the dentist’s office for $82,000, after the first check that he wrote was returned for insufficient funds.
On Nov. 13, 2014, the defendant attempted to lease a home in Newport Beach and intentionally wrote a $32,000 check to the victim, John Doe, to secure the property without sufficient funds in his bank account. Shortly thereafter, Bloustine intentionally wrote a $13,000 check without the sufficient funds to a staging company to provide furnishing for the inside of the residence.
On or around Dec. 6, 2014, Bloustine intentionally wrote a $15,000 check without sufficient funds in his bank account as a down payment for a Mercedes Benz sedan at a dealership in Laguna Beach.
After failing to receive valid payments for services, each of the businesses reported the crimes to the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD), who conducted a joint investigation with the Laguna Beach Police Department. NBPD subsequently arrested the defendant.
A press release was previously released about this case on July 23, 2015, announcing the charges and seeking additional victims. An additional victim came forward in July 2015 with evidence that the defendant had written a check for $80,000 for dental services without sufficient funds in his bank account.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Marc Labreche of the Major Fraud Unit prosecuted this case.