Agent in California Arrested for Falsifying Evidence And Perjury

Bail agent Fausto Atilano, 60, of Temecula, California, was arrested this week on multiple felony counts of falsifying judicial records, perjury, and preparing false evidence, after a California Department of Insurance investigation found he allegedly created fraudulent motions to deprive the courts from bail bond payments which resulted in a loss of over $528,000.

The CDI initiated an investigation after receiving information alleging Atilano, owner of Fausto’s Bail Bonds, submitted fraudulent bail bond exoneration motions to the Riverside County courts. The exoneration motions indicated Atilano located fugitives in Mexico. However, multiple county defendants were reportedly interviewed and claimed they were never located in Mexico.

The investigation determined Atilano used cooperating local officials in Mexico and look-alike subjects to pose for photographs and complete fraudulent documentation certifying a fugitive had been located in Mexico. As a result of Atilano’s scheme, the bonds were exonerated by the courts and Atilano was no longer responsible for paying the bonds. Each exoneration resulted in a loss of thousands or tens of thousands of dollars to Riverside County.

Atilano’s license was previously restricted from 2017 through 2021 for a prior department action and prohibited him from conducting any fugitive recovery actions during that period.

Atilano is being held on $529,000 bail.

The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.

Topics California Agencies