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VIEWPOINT - We are regularly swamped with news accounts about criminal activities and their proximity to our communities. It has become a steady stream of crime reports that has shaped how we perceive safety and trust in our surroundings.
White-collar crime has alarmingly become epidemic, in a number of cases perpetrated by recent immigrants in the San Fernando Valley, one reason we may need to revisit the Three- Strike law.
Recently we read that five San Fernando Valley residents were sent to prison for their roles in defrauding Medicare of nearly $16 million through sham hospice companies and laundering proceeds, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, and court papers.
We also read that an Orange County company’s owner and three others were arrested on a federal indictment alleging they cheated the Internal Revenue Service out of more than $90 million, money that prosecutors say was used to purchase homes, rental properties, and luxury vacations.
And the DA is investigating claims of fraud in LA County`s $4 billion sex abuse settlement.
For Los Angeles, crime trends tell an odd story, one that does not necessarily alleviate the anxiety people have, nor does it reduce its negative impacts on us.
Surprisingly, crime is down: Violent crime fell by about 9% in early 2025 compared to 2024. Also, homicides were down by 20%, and robberies decreased by 3.4% and burglaries by 7/3%.
So, why then do we express nervous suspicions about crime, and seek better public awareness, more transparency from law enforcement agencies, and insightful information that can empower our community to take preventive measures?
It is a matter of perception versus data. It can be argued that perception is reality. Perception is the process of interpreting the world around us. We process our information through perception and, consequently, make our decisions.
We worry that the laws on crime may require augmentation. We ask ourselves: do the law enforcement authorities at every level apply strict and fair execution of the laws, establish strong internal controls, abide by an ethical culture, and educate the public about reporting mechanisms?
In many instances white-collar criminals receive only a fine and a very light sentence, whereas a hungry kid who steals a bar of chocolate is sent to the juvenile hall, thus ruined for life. We just have to look back to the Great Recession in the mid- 2000s, when thousands of our fellow citizens lost their houses, but the criminals of Wall Street paid fines and NONE was incarcerated.
The Three-Strike law attempted to provide an answer, but its relevance is under challenge. In 1994, California enacted the Three Strikes law (AB 971, Jones; Proposition 184), mandating a minimum sentence of 25 years to life for a new felony for offenders with two prior serious or violent felonies. The law was passed in response to public concern after ex-felons committed high-profile murders.
Closer to home is the concern voiced over the decline of political integrity of the Los Angeles City Council. A string of criminal cases and scandals has sparked serious doubts about the integrity at City Hall. The 15-member body has shown bad behavior over the past few years, raising numerous questions. Can the city council address major issues like inequality, environmental protection, and homelessness? Hopefully, the city council may have learned that the increasing trend of political arrogance and wrongdoing will be found and punished, as the law requires.
We increasingly recognize that white-collar crime is highly detrimental to society. Trust is undermined, economies are destabilized, and significant financial and social harm are the result. Although it lacks physical violence, it often exceeds the damage of street crime in both scale and impact.
Surprisingly, undocumented immigrants have been found to be involved in wire fraud schemes, according to law enforcement reports. So, maybe the president’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement forces, when visiting car washes to check on laborers, might also investigate some newer owners of Bentleys, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Maseratis which have sprouted up recently in the San Fernando Valley.
Reading about these crimes, both locally and nationally, a cynicism towards corporations, banks and government regulators is created. Investments are discouraged and economic growth is weakened.
That is why we look to oversight agencies to prevent or detect fraud. Regulatory failures undermine confidence in governance. Even worse is when we see that embezzlers of millions receive sentenced comparable to minor street theft.
It really is up to us to know what is happening in our community, to stand together and be the first line of defense. Injustice flourishes when we become isolated. We must also become informed, equipped with knowledge of the law and the processes of government. And we must voice our concerns to our elected officials and evaluate their response. Marcus Aurelius said it best: “You can also commit injustice by doing nothing.”
(Nick Patsaouras is an electrical engineer and civic leader whose firm has shaped projects across residential, commercial, medical, educational, institutional, and entertainment sectors. A longtime public advocate, he ran for Mayor in 1993 with a focus on rebuilding L.A. through transportation. He has served on major public boards, including the Department of Water and Power, Metro, and the Board of Zoning Appeals, helping guide infrastructure and planning policy in Los Angeles. He is the author of the book "The Making of Modern Los Angeles.")
