LJCPA elections today; early arrival urged
The La Jolla Community Planning Association will hold its annual election from 3 to 7 p.m. today, March 1, at the La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St.
Voting will be held in conjunction with the LJCPA’s monthly meeting, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. Members should arrive early to vote to avoid any congestion or backup, according to LJCPA President Tim Golba.
A list of eligible voters is posted at www.lajollacpa.org. For more information, send e-mail to [email protected].

Attorney pleads guilty to scam, faces 10 years
La Jolla native and real estate and contract attorney Cameron Campbell, 48, pleaded guilty Tuesday, Feb. 13 in U.S. District Court to federal conspiracy and wire fraud charges for soliciting between $2.5 and $7.5 million from people under a false investment program.
If convicted, the La Jolla attorney could face up to 10 years in prison and up to $500,000 in fines, according to a statement released by U.S. Attorney Carol Lam’s office. He will be sentenced July 10 in federal court.
Campbell was indicted in May 2006 for operating The Brixon Group Ltd., a company that encouraged about 50 individuals throughout the country to invest their retirement accounts and other funds by alleging that they would receive a 10 percent per month return and that the State Bar of California insured their principal, according to assistant U.S. Attorney John Owens.
Business partners Joseph Wayne McCool and Donald John Manning, both of whom police are still trying to locate, assisted Campbell with the scam and face similar charges, Owens said. He declined to reveal whether police had any possible leads on the men and did not provide a description of the two.
As part of his plea, Campbell admitted to persuading one investor to wire him money and to concealing that Brixon was using the money to pay off earlier investors and kept hundreds of thousands of dollars for personal use, the assistant U.S. Attorney said.
Campbell also admitted to portraying McCool as a banking expert to clients and concealing that the business partner had served two years in federal prison prior to forming the company for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to traffic counterfeit goods.
Officials are unsure when Brixon originated, but according to a case indictment document, the company continued operating until February of 2004, Owens said.
Anyone with information on McCool’s or Manning’s location is asked to contact police, Owens said, adding that the U.S. Attorney’s office is aggressively pursuing and prosecuting white-collar crimes.

Police arrest woman for on-campus thefts
San Diego police arrested a women suspected of stealing wallets and purses in unoccupied classrooms at local schools, including La Jolla Elementary and Kate Sessions Elementary.
A total of nine cases were reported between January and the second week of February. Thefts also occurred at Spreckels Elementary in University City, Bayview Terrace Elementary, Lindbergh Schweitzer Elementary in Clairemont and Mason Elementary in Mira Mesa.
The suspect was filmed trying to open classroom doors at Kate Sessions. She is seen entering a classroom and leaving within a minute. A wallet was reported stolen from the same classroom.
The same suspect was caught on film using stolen credit cards from the various campus thefts.
The suspect, Jessica Wagner, 31, was arrested Feb. 16 when she was caught allegedly shoplifting from a J.C. Penny store in Mission Valley.
Kate Sessions Elementary Principal Sue Devicariis said a woman filmed entering an unlocked classroom came onto the campus on a Wednesday during lunch when the school gates are open so parents can picnic with their children.
“People did question the woman when she came on campus,” she said. “They thought she was lost, but she always had a good reason as to what she was doing.”
Police are continuing their investigation. Anyone who believes he or she may have been a victim in one of these thefts is asked to call Det. Gregg Goodman, (858) 552-1718.

Gillispie School will probe roots of Darfur genocide
Darfur, a region of Sudan in Africa, is beset with genocide, the worst crime people can commit. Civil war broke out in 2003 when government-sponsored militias, murders, village burnings and gang violence began rampaging through the streets. However, human rights advocacy groups, grassroots organizations and other people are uniting in efforts to increase awareness and to voice the need for action.
The Gillispie School is raising awareness and educating the public on the genocide in Darfur and what community members can do by featuring guest speaker Dan Connell on Monday, March 5, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Connell has acted as a consultant to the United Nations and is founder and former director of Grassroots International. He has been involved in the publishing industry, authoring and editing several books, including “Against All Odds: A Chronicle of the Eritrean Revolution,” “Rethinking Revolution” and “Women to Women: Young Americans in South Africa.”
The event will be held at the Gillispie School, 7380 Girard Ave. Wine and cheese will be served, and childcare will be provided. An RSVP is needed and can be made by calling (858) 459-3773.