Almena, the manager of the so-called Ghost Ship, undertook a series of unregulated construction projects that turned the industrial space into illegal dwellings, charging residents $300 to $1,400. Authorities say the men filled the building from “floor to ceiling” with tapestries, pianos and furniture, turning the Ghost Ship into a tinderbox. The criminal charges come amid continued questions about why the city didn’t do more to close the Ghost Ship and what actually caused the fire. Almena’s attorneys — Jeffrey Krasnoff, Kyndra Miller and J. Tony Serra — have previously said they believe the fire started in an adjacent building and spread to the Ghost Ship. Derick Ion Almena, 47, the property manager at the Ghost Ship warehouse in Oakland, was charged with 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter on Monday.

Source: Los Angeles Times June 06, 2017 12:02 UTC