Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has announced the sentencing of Ronnel Tiburcio, who was involved in the neglect and abuse of six severely disabled residents at an unlicensed care facility in Riverside. The victims, aged between 32 and 66, were found malnourished and living in unsanitary conditions without proper care. Tiburcio was convicted on July 31, 2023, of six counts of elder abuse likely to cause great bodily harm or death. On December 13, 2024, he received a sentence of seven years in state prison.

Attorney General Bonta stated, “Individuals entrusted with the care of elderly and dependent adults have the utmost responsibility for their well-being and safety. At the California Department of Justice, we will not tolerate any elder abuse or neglect and ensure that any exploitation or harm is met with swift accountability. I want to thank my team, along with the Riverside Police Department, for bringing justice to these victims.”

The owner of several hospice companies, including the unlicensed Secure Hands board and care facility where the victims resided, Joel Ombao was sentenced to five years in state prison on July 1, 2024. Nimfa Molina, a registered nurse involved in operating the facility alongside Ombao and Tiburcio, received a sentence of 122 days in Riverside County jail on October 13, 2023.

Investigators discovered residents living in squalor; many were emaciated and dehydrated without receiving necessary care. The Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (DMFEA) works to protect Californians by prosecuting those responsible for abuse against elderly adults.

DMFEA receives significant funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant totaling $69,244,976 for Federal fiscal year 2025. The remaining funding is provided by the State of California.