D.A. seeks additional victims of check bouncer
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is seeking additional victims of a Newport Beach man who allegedly wrote more than $100,000 in bad checks for dental work, a luxury car and a home lease in 2014.
Richard Scott Bloustine, 49, has been charged with three felony counts of grand theft, six felony counts of writing checks with insufficient funds and one felony count of vehicle theft.
He faces sentencing enhancements for allegations of aggravated white collar crime over $100,000 and property damage or loss over $65,000.
Adding to a potential sentence are prior convictions for credit card fraud in 1996, conducting a fraudulent scheme in 1999, grand theft in 2004, and grand theft and credit card fraud in 2008, according to prosecutors.
Bloustine is being held on $350,000 bail and must prove that the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. He pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment Wednesday morning in Santa Ana.
Bloustine allegedly received more than $80,0000 in dental services from the Center of Reconstructive Dentistry in Newport Beach from November through December in 2014.
After the dental work, he allegedly bounced a $72,000 check to cover the cost. He also is accused of intentionally writing a $6,350 check he couldn’t cover for anesthesiology procedures.
After the first check was returned, Bloustine allegedly wrote another to the dentist’s office for $82,000, authorities allege.
In November 2014, Bloustine is accused intentionally writing a $32,000 check in an attempt to lease a Newport Beach home without having enough money in his bank account.
Shortly after, he allegedly wrote a $13,000 check, which was later returned for insufficient funds, to a staging company to provide furnishings.
He also allegedly bounced a $15,000 check as a down payment on a Mercedes in Laguna Beach in December 2014.
Each of the businesses reported the crimes to the Newport Beach Police Department, which conducted a joint investigation with the Laguna Beach Police Department.
If convicted, Bloustine faces a maximum of 14 years in state prison.