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Former LAPD Jailer, Bail Bond Company Owners Face Bribery, Solicitation Charges

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A former Los Angeles Police Department civilian employee who worked in the Valley Jail Division and the owners of a Sherman Oaks bail bond company were charged Friday in an alleged scheme to illegally solicit bail bond contracts.

Leonard Jimmy Ramirez, 44, allegedly provided contact information for arrestees to BBB Bail Bonds Co. owners William Aroutounian, 34, and Iryna McCormick, 33, in exchange for kickbacks, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

The LAPD's Professional Standards Bureau launched an investigation after getting a tip that Ramirez was providing contact information to the married couple, who would then approach family members of people who had been arrested, District Attorney's officials said. The criminal complaint alleges the scheme happened between September 2013 and November 2014.

The three are charged with one felony count each of conspiracy to commit bail solicitation, along with bail solicitation. Ramirez also is charged with a felony count of accepting a bribe from Aroutounian and McCormick.

The couple, who faces up to three years in state prison each if convicted, are set to be arraigned May 23 at the downtown Los Angeles courthouse. Ramirez is scheduled to be arraigned June 3 and faces up to four years and eight months behind bars if he is found guilty.

(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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