In early August, the Lakeport Police Department developed information that Richard James Mcaulay, 56, and Michelle Darlene Curtis, 50, both of Lakeport CA were defrauding the People of California in a significant unemployment insurance fraud scheme. It was also believed that Mcaulay was involved with opiates including fentanyl.
Because of the complexities and additional resources needed to property and safely investigate this case, LPD Chief Brad Rasmussen asked the Criminal Investigations Division of the Lake County District Attorney’s Office (LCDA) to take the lead. Over the course of the next several weeks a detailed investigation was conducted and probable cause was developed to seek charges and a search warrant for a residence on Konocti Avenue in the City of Lakeport.
On Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at about 7:45 AM, three LCDA investigators, a Lake County Welfare Fraud Investigator, five LPD officers and LPD K9 Olin served the search warrant. No one was home at the time of the warrant service, however, Mcaulay drove by the location during the search and was immediately stopped and arrested.
During the search of the residence, vehicles and Mcaulay himself, numerous items of evidence related to the unemployment insurance fraud were located and seized. Additionally, we recovered a Smith & Wesson Governor handgun which fires a 45 caliber round or a 410 shotgun round, loaded with the latter and making it a felony to possess in California because it falls within the meaning of a short barreled shotgun. During checks of vehicles, Olin alerted on suspected narcotics which were seized and are pending analysis.
As of today, Mcaulay and Curtis have been charged with multiple counts of felony unemployment insurance fraud, felony grand theft and felony perjury for the theft of in excess of what is currently known to be $40,000.00 of funds belonging to the People of California. Additionally, Mcaulay is charged with felony possession of an illegal firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm due to the fact that he has suffered previous felony convictions in the state of California.
At the time of this investigation, Curtis was in custody at the Sonoma County Jail on other charges. She will later be returned to Lake County to face her charges here.
This investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the LCDA Investigations Division or the Lakeport Police Department.
