Two locals forged a signature to get disabled parking placards. The District Attorney certainly went after those two criminals.  Read below to see how the law came down on them!

A press release from the DA’s Office:

September 11, 2014
Twitter: @GeorgeGascon

CONTACT:

Alex Bastian (415) 553-1931
Stephanie Ong Stillman (415) 553-1167
Maxwell Szabo (415) 553-9089

DISABLED PLACARD FRAUDSTERS PLEAD GUILTY

Sentences Require 2,000 Hours of Community Service Benefitting the Disabled

SAN FRANCISCO — District Attorney George Gascón announced today that two San Francisco residents have plead guilty to felony forgery in a fraudulent disabled parking placard scheme.  The defendants, Guobin Qin, age 29, and Qiaoyun Chen, age 50, fraudulently obtained Disabled Person Placards by filing false documents with the DMV.

“Disabled placards and blue zones are for people who need them – they’re for persons with a disability” said District Attorney George Gascón.  “Falsifying documents to get free parking simply isn’t worth it, and you’re breaking the law if you’re fraudulently using a disabled parking placard.”

Qin and Chen were each sentenced to three years felony probation and 1,000 hours of community service.  At the request of the District Attorney’s Office, the 1,000 hours will be served assisting the disability community.  Additionally, both defendants will have to pay a $4,100 fine and comply with all requirements set forth by the Adult Probation Department.

Following anonymous tips provided to the Investigations Division of the DMV, it was discovered that Qin and Chen had separately applied for and received placards using a false doctor’s signature and diagnosis on their applications. Defendants Qin and Chen (who are mother and son) led investigators to a doctor whom the defendants said was treating them for “lung disease.”  The doctor, however, had no record of either defendant being a patient.

Disabled Persons Placards are meant to assist those with physical disabilities. In addition to blue zone parking, the placards allow qualified individuals to park in any metered parking spot, without time limitations and without having to pay the meter.

This successful investigation and prosecution would not be possible without Department of Motor Vehicles Investigators Christian Hansen and Leon Jew, and Assistant District Attorney Phoebe Maffei

What might happen when three highly educated, licensed attorneys create a fraudulent document then file it in federal court using a forgery of the plaintiff’s signature?  Certainly, lawyers committing a crime in federal court is far more serious because lawyers are officers of the court who are actually undermining the entire judicial system.  Stay tuned.