Felony charges were filed against three individuals on April 25, accused of participating in an identity theft mill that fueled an organized retail crime plot. The alleged operation involved using stolen identities to apply for store credit cards and subsequently purchasing various merchandise across several California counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) joined the California Department of Justice's lead investigation, which was sparked by a referral from a Signet Jewelers Corporate Fraud Investigator. The operation also received support from the Santa Maria Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, and Westminster Police Department.
"These arrests are the result of excellent collaboration between HSI, private industry, state, and local law enforcement partners," stated Christopher Bracken, Assistant Special Agent in Charge at ICE Homeland Security Investigations, Orange County. "HSI will work tirelessly to ensure that those who commit fraud will be held accountable."
A 34-count felony complaint was lodged against the defendants by the Department of Justice, citing charges such as organized retail theft, grand theft, and victimizing 13 individuals through identity theft.
Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the severity of the alleged crimes, stating, "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. I am thankful to Signet Jewelers as well as our local and state law enforcement partners for their collaboration in the battle against organized retail crime."
The defendants reportedly used fraudulent means from March 2023 to July 2023 to acquire over $100,000 worth of goods from high-end retail and Harbor Freight stores.
Joe Mendoza, Chief of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Detective Division, remarked, "The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is deeply committed to tackling organized retail crime through strategic multiagency collaboration, intelligence sharing, and targeted enforcement."
Copies of the criminal complaint and photos related to the investigation are available to the public.
