Orange County Bondsman To Do Time For Referrals

Orange County bail bondsman Ronald Lee Brockway owner of Respect Bail Bonds was convicted for soliciting attorney referrals and drumming up bail business from inmates inside jails. He was sentenced last week to one year in jail and three years of formal probation for the illegal bail bond scheme.

Brockway plead guilty to two counts in violation of bail license regulations. According to California bail law, bail bondsmen may not solicit any business directly from someone in jail. They also cannot recommend attorneys to bail bond clients, whether or not there is any money involved.

Brockway delivered several emails to Orange County attorneys asking them to participate in the scheme with his company. He suggested they refer business to his agency in exchange for referring clientele to them.  It is illegal for a bondsman to refer clients to an attorney.

He was so egregious as to solicit business from inmates inside of OC jails by sending out mass flyers with his contact information and company name printed on it. The flyers read, “Get out of jail today by calling now!”

Brockway’s emails and mailings found their way to a private attorney’s desk who turned him into the District Attorney’s office. That’s what lead to the investigation of Brockway’s bail referral scheme.

Interestingly, back in 2007 the scheme worked for a bit with attorney Joseph Cavallo who exchanged arrestee information for cash payments with Brockway. Cavallo was indicted based partially on Brockway’s testimony. Cavallo plead guilty in Oct. of 2007 for conspiring to engage in attorney “capping,” or paying for clients. Cavallo was sentenced to 6 months in jail.

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