Two arrested in multi-million dollar scheme

RIVERSIDE – On Wednesday, two men, including a physician operating in Southwest Riverside County, were arrested and charged in connection with a multi-million dollar scheme involving fraudulent commercial loans.

Dr. Donald Woo Lee, of Newport Beach, was arrested in Mira Loma on Wednesdaymorning, and Sammy Ciling, of Temecula, was arrested in Fallbrook on Tuesdayafternoon.

The men were each being held in lieu of $3.5 million bail.

Both men have been charged with 55 counts including money laundering and grand theft. If convicted as currently charged, each of them faces up to 61 years in state prison.

Lee is a physician operating a medical practice with the name Prime Partners Medical Group in theTemecula and Murrieta areas of Riverside County. Ciling owns and operates several MRI and othermedical imaging-related businesses in both Riverside and Los Angeles counties.

Based on the evidence in this case, Lee and Ciling are accused of fraudulently obtaining severalcommercial loans from various financial institutions. These fraudulently obtained loans totaled more than$3 million.

Two other men have been charged in connection with the case. Both have warrants issued for theirarrests but were not in custody at the time of this news release.