CA Attorney General Press Releases

Albertsons to Pay $773.8M for Role in Opioid Epidemic

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced an agreement in principle requiring grocery chain Albertsons to pay up to $773,787,782.93 to address its role in the opioid epidemic. Albertsons operates California stores under Safeway and Vons. The agreement was reached through multistate negotiations led by California, Colorado, Illinois, and Oregon. Negotiations regarding injunctive relief remain ongoing.

California AG Dismantles $267M Hospice Fraud, Charges 21 Suspects

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the Department of Health Care Services announced criminal charges against 21 suspects and the dismantling of a major hospice fraud scheme that defrauded California of $267 million through the Medi-Cal program. Operation Skip Trace resulted in five arrests after searches at ten Southern California locations, with $757,000 in cash and two handguns seized.

California AG $1.64M Settlement Over False Claims for Truck Reimbursements

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a $1.64 million settlement with commercial fleet lender Crossroads Equipment Lease and Finance over alleged false claims for reimbursements under the California Capital Access Program (CalCAP). A DOJ investigation validated whistleblower claims that Crossroads made minimal efforts to sell repossessed trucks knowing the program would reimburse losses. The settlement resolves claims raised under the California False Claims Act by a former Chief Risk Officer.

AG Bonta Secures 8-Year Sentence for Human Trafficker

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the sentencing of Kai Jones to eight years in prison for the human trafficking and sexual exploitation of two minors. Jones operated in multiple California counties in 2022 and pleaded guilty to seven felonies, including human trafficking of a minor.

AG Bonta Asks Court to Enforce Order Blocking Medicaid Data Sharing with ICE

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, leading a multistate coalition, has asked a federal court to enforce a prior order blocking the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from obtaining and using Medicaid recipient data. The coalition alleges the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shared a large data set with ICE, despite a court ruling that much of this data is off-limits.

AG Sues Over $3.8M Fraudulent Charity Scheme

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a lawsuit against six individuals and three sham charities for allegedly defrauding the public and stealing at least $3.8 million in charitable funds. The scheme exploited fundraising opportunities at San Diego sports venues between 2014 and 2023.

AG Bonta Opposes ExxonMobil Hazardous Materials Preemption Request

California Attorney General Rob Bonta joined 17 other attorneys general in opposing ExxonMobil's request to the PHMSA for a determination that federal law preempts state common law claims related to hazardous materials transportation. The coalition argues this would undermine state authority and residents' rights to seek compensation for injuries.

AG Bonta Urges Congress to Halt Government Mass Surveillance

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined by 17 other state AGs, urged Congress to stop federal agencies' mass surveillance of Americans using commercially purchased data and AI tools. The letter calls for closing the data-broker loophole, requiring warrants for data access, and establishing transparency standards.

California AG Sues Trump Administration Over Oil Pipeline Order

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration challenging the Department of Energy's order that purports to authorize the restart of two onshore oil pipelines. The lawsuit argues the order unlawfully supersedes state law and court orders, infringing on California's sovereign power.

AG Bonta Sues Trump Administration Over Discriminatory USDA Grant Conditions

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, leading a coalition of 21 attorneys general, filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration's attempt to impose discriminatory conditions on USDA grants. The lawsuit argues that these new conditions, related to immigration, gender ideology, transgender athletes, and DEI, exceed USDA's statutory authority and violate the U.S. Constitution and APA.