Special agents actively in the field investigating leads in the impacted areas

“We appreciate the DOJ special agents who are in the Los Angeles area to investigate those who might be taking financial advantage of fire victims during this time of death and devastation.  Many members of our CSLEA Bargaining Unit 7 are currently working to support emergency response and recovery in LA.  We thank these State law enforcement, public safety and consumer protection professionals for their service.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

LOS ANGELES — On January 16, 2025, California Attorney General Bonta announced that the California Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened active investigations into price gouging as it continues to ramp up the deployment of resources to Los Angeles County to investigate and prosecute price gouging, fraud, scams, and unsolicited low-ball offers on property during the state of emergency. DOJ has been working diligently to tackle this unlawful and unscrupulous conduct since the state of emergency was declared on January 7, 2025, and to further those efforts, Attorney General Bonta announced the creation of DOJ’s Disaster Relief Task Force.

The Disaster Relief Task Force is made up of a cross-functional team of professionals from DOJ’s law enforcement and legal divisions including the Division of Law Enforcement, Special Prosecutions Section, Cybercrime Section, and the Consumer Protection Section. The task force is working closely in partnership with local officials, local law enforcement and local prosecutors. DOJ has special agents actively in the field investigating leads that came directly from complaints sent to DOJ from victims and witnesses in the impacted areas.

Violators of the price gouging are subject to criminal prosecution that can result in a one-year imprisonment in county jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000. Violators are also subject to civil enforcement actions including civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation, injunctive relief, and mandatory restitution.