Trial set for alleged 'chutzpah' scammer

Prosecutors say a Los Altos man scammed a relief aid center twice. Stansbury pleads not guilty to six felony counts.

A superior court judge today set a trial date for a Los Altos man charged with six felony counts for allegedly defrauding relief agencies of funds intended for victims of the Sept. 9 gas pipeline explosion.

Appearing before Judge Lisa Novak in a Redwood City courtroom, 41-year-old Daniel Leon Stansbury-the most audacious of five alleged fire-related fraudsters who've so far been arrested, according to prosecutors-pleaded not guilty to two counts each for commercial burglary, grand theft, and identity theft and related special allegations.

Novak set his trial date for Jan. 18 and scheduled a pretrial conference for Jan. 3 to be held in the judge's chambers.

Stansbury is accused of visiting the recovery center for fire victims on two occasions-he allegedly used an alias on one occasion and his own name the next time-claiming he lived in the affected area for the purpose of obtaining emergency benefits.

Prosecutors say Stansbury's fake claims netted him two $1,000 gift cards, a combined 13-night stay at the San Jose and SFO Airport Hiltons, a rental car for the entire period and, eventually, a mountain of legal troubles.

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

During the alleged scam, Stansbury appeared in court for a misdemeanor petty theft case on Sept. 20.

"That's a fellow with a certain amount of chutzpah," Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said a few weeks after Stansbury's arrest.

Stansbury is being held on $100,000 bail.