Tulare County DA investigator honored for exposing fraud scheme

Dwayne Johnson, the Tulare County district attorney investigator who uncovered a fraud scheme that scammed dozens into foreclosing their homes, was honored as 2014’s top investigator in the region, U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

Johnson was given the U.S. Attorney’s Eastern District Office’s “Outstanding Law Enforcement Investigator Award” for his work with the San Joaquin Valley Mortgage Task Force. A long-term investigation led by Johnson — which included several undercover operations — ended with the imprisonment of Juan Ramon Curiel and Santiago Palacios-Hernandez after it was found the two stole more than $2.5 million from more than 50 homeowners.

Johnson has served in the DA’s Bureau of Investigations for nine years. He’s previously worked in the Fresno Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigations and as an Army correctional officer.

This story was originally published May 19, 2015 at 6:07 AM with the headline "Tulare County DA investigator honored for exposing fraud scheme."