by Michael Webster: Investigative Reporter
The third suspect in a bail-bonds scam involving jail inmates has been captured in Miami, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Alejandro de Jesus Cruz, 33, was living in the city and was arrested Tuesday on an Orange County warrant, Deputy District Attorney Susan Kang Schroeder said.
He is expected to be in court today in Dade County, and his bail is set for $25,000. Orange County prosecutors will seek extradition to Orange County.
Cruz, a former operator at Xtreme Bail Bonds in Santa Ana, was indicted in October along with Jorge Andres Castro, 28, and lawyer Joseph Cavallo.
The three are accused of involvement in an illegal bail-bonds referral scheme. Cruz and Castro are accused of keeping a stack of Cavallo's business cards at their business, Xtreme Bail Bonds, and referring Orange County Jail clients to Cavallo, prosecutors said. Bail-bonds workers may not recommend any attorney to any bail-bond client, even if no money changes hands, prosecutors said.
Cavallo has pleaded not guilty and will next appear in court Aug. 18. Castro may go to trial Sept. 25.
Cavallo is known for his representation of sexual-assault defendant Gregory Haidl.
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