Felony charges were filed on April 25 against three individuals tied to an alleged identity theft mill, with stolen identities used in an organized retail crime scheme. The operation, executed in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties, saw suspects applying for store credit cards under false identities to purchase goods. The California Department of Justice led the investigation, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement providing assistance, following a tip from a fraud investigator at Signet Jewelers.
“These arrests are the result of excellent collaboration between HSI, private industry, state and local law enforcement partners,” said Christopher Bracken, ICE Homeland Security Investigations Orange County Assistant Special Agent in Charge. “HSI will work tirelessly with our partners in California to ensure that those who commit fraud will be held accountable.”
The investigation led to a 34-count felony complaint against the three defendants, with charges including organized retail theft, grand theft, and identity theft involving 13 victims.
“I am committed to using the full force of the California Department of Justice to fight organized retail crime both in the field and in the courtroom,” stated Attorney General Rob Bonta. “This was not a one-off shoplifting offense, it was a malicious, coordinated scheme. These crimes hurt our businesses and pose a serious threat to our communities.”
From March 2023 to July 2023, the defendants reportedly fraudulently acquired over $100,000 in goods from high-end retail stores and Harbor Freight locations.
“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is deeply committed to tackling organized retail crime through strategic multiagency collaboration, intelligence sharing, and targeted enforcement,” said Joe Mendoza, Detective Division Chief of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Information related to the criminal complaint and photos from the investigation are available online.
