Convicted Fire Scammer Ordered to Pay Restitution to PG&E

The Los Altos man who was sentenced to two years in state prison for scamming relief aid intended for fire victims of the Sept. 9 pipeline explosion was ordered to pay $1,690 in restitution to PG&E.

Daniel Stansbury, 41, is currently serving his time in prison after pleading guilty in January to four felony counts for fraudulently applying for and receiving the fire relief aid. But a judge ordered a hearing on Friday after Stansbury's attorney, Tanya O'Malley, contested the amount of restitution the probation department was asking him to pay.

In addition to paying back court fees, probation had recommended that Stansbury pay $2,715 in restitution to PG&E for scamming the relief money in addition to paying back $60 to Lunardi's and $220 in other restitution fees.

Instead, Superior Court Judge Lisa Novak ordered Stansbury to pay only a portion of the amount requested for PG&E.

During the fire scammer proceedings, Stansbury—among seven people arrested on suspicion of fraud in the aftermath of the blast—was described as the worst offender of them all.

Prosecutors said he visited a local assistance center twice, using an alias once and his real name on another occasion, claiming to live in the affected area. He received $2,000 in gift cards and benefits, including 13 nights at the San Francisco Airport and San Jose Hiltons, plus a rental car for the entire period.

 arrested Stansbury on Sept. 23 at the San Jose Hilton, where they found him in possession of $5,900 in cash, computer printouts showing other San Bruno addresses in the affected area and forms for applying for additional disaster relief aid.