Bail Bond Agents Accused of Pretending to be Cops Arraigned

By City News Service:

A bail bondsman and his sidekick, who are accused of posing as law enforcement officers while breaking into the home of a Temecula woman and brandishing handguns, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to felony and misdemeanor charges.

Fausto Atilano Jr., 52, the owner of Fausto’s Bail Bonds Inc. in Murrieta, and 23-year-old Vincent Edward Cusumano of Hemet are each charged with two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, as well as misdemeanor charges of forcible entry, impersonating a law enforcement officer and failing to notify authorities of intent to apprehend a bail fugitive.

The men appeared before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Judith Clark, who scheduled a Jan.30 felony settlement conference. Each defendant is free on $100,000 bail.

They are accused of kicking in the door of a woman’s apartment in Temecula on Oct. 23, 2013, and entering with guns drawn to search the residence. Earlier that day, the defendants had forced their way into the home of the woman’s sister, also in Temecula, with guns drawn, prosecutors allege.

The men allegedly stated they had a search warrant, leading the occupants to believe they were being detained by sheriff’s deputies.

Atilano and Cusumano said they were looking for a client who had skipped bail.

“This is very much overreaching,” Atilano’s attorney, Virginia Blumenthal, told City News Service in October. “The facts are being misstated. These two individuals were apprehending a fugitive. In order to apprehend a fugitive, bail recovery agents are given more power than even law enforcement. Most individuals are not aware of that.”

The California Department of Justice is handling the case, after it was referred to the state by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, which cited a conflict of interest.

Cusumano is the stepson of former county supervisor -- now state senator -- Jeff Stone, whose son, Jason Stone, is a deputy district attorney.

Atilano’s behavior has been the subject of public scrutiny on previous occasions. In October 2009, he was videotaped arresting one of his clients, Francois Choquette, outside the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta after Choquette confronted the elder Stone.

Stone, then preparing for a state Senate race that he ultimately lost, was taking publicity photographs with Atilano outside the courthouse just as Choquette approached and attempted to ask the supervisor about campaign support from the Church of Scientology -- against which Choquette had been demonstrating when was arrested on misdemeanor charges a year earlier.

When Choquette tried to follow Stone into the courthouse, Atilano convinced him to step outside, then arrested Choquette, telling him he had not abided by the terms of his bond. The episode was posted on YouTube.

Choquette filed a complaint against Atilano, alleging false arrest, but later withdrew the claim.

According to court records, Atilano was charged in 1995 with alleged involvement in a Ponzi scheme, but the charges were eventually dropped. Cusumano has a prior misdemeanor conviction for driving under the influence.

(Image via Shutterstock)