BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Newport Coast man pleads guilty to fraudA Newport Coast man and his brother have pleaded guilty to five counts each of healthcare fraud in which they swindled more than a half a million dollars from federal insurance programs, according to the U.S. Attorneys office.

Matthew Parsons, 37, and his brother, Robert Parsons, 40, of Laguna Niguel, allegedly used their family cardiac laboratory business to fraudulently bill Medicare and other government health insurance programs.

Matthew Parsons operated Cardiac Monitoring Services and Cardiac Research Inc. in Tustin and Irvine.

Matthew Parsons pleaded guilty Sept. 7 to five counts of healthcare fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 19. He could receive a maximum of 50 years in prison — 10 years for each count.

Animal shelter offers $4 rabies vaccinesNewport Beach Animal Control will hold a rabies vaccination clinic for dogs and cats Oct. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Newport Beach Animal Shelter, 2075 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa. The annual clinic will offer rabies shots for $4 a pet.

Pet owners should keep dogs on a leash and cats in carriers at the clinic.

For more information, call the Newport Beach Animal Shelter, (949) 722-7387.