Central County Fire Chief Charged With Grand Theft, Fraud

By Bay City News Service:

The suspended chief of San Mateo’s Central County Fire Department pleaded not guilty Thursday afternoon to charges that he and his wife committed a complicated fraud scheme that allegedly netted him nearly $35,000, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

Fire Chief Mark Ladas pleaded not guilty to six counts of grand theft, two counts of filing false tax returns and two counts of tax evasion, Deputy District Attorney Karnen Guidotti said.

He was arrested Wednesday and spent the night in jail. His sister assisted him in posting $80,000 in bail Thursday afternoon and he was released after he surrendered his passport and was ordered not to leave California.

The fire department on Wednesday placed Ladas on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, appointing Deputy Chief John Kammeyer as acting chief, fire officials said.

Prosecutors allege Ladas’ wife, Peta Ladas, devised a complicated scheme where she would take out credit cards using false names, set up fictitious businesses and charge the credit cards to those businesses, moving the money to bank accounts with fake names.

Peta Ladas was previously arrested in connection with the alleged scheme on Dec. 18, 2012, but posted $10,000 bail and fled the country. She remains a fugitive, Guidotti said.

But before fleeing the country, she stayed in a Burlingame hotel and left a wallet behind containing her husband’s ID and fake credit cards.

A maid found the wallet and turned it over to Burlingame police, leading the district attorney’s office to begin investigating Mark Ladas.

Investigators found nearly $35,000 from the fraud scheme was deposited in Mark Ladas’ bank account.

He and his wife filed tax returns in 2011 and 2012 without claiming that income, according to prosecutors.

If located, Peta Ladas will face similar and additional charges, Guidotti said.

Mark Ladas is next scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 22 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 26.

(Image via Shutterstock)