Suspected fraud, 19 people arrested in retail theft blitz

Lina Portman2 weeks ago

0 2 minutes read

From staff reports
| Ventura County Star

Here is a summary of recent incidents and announcements from Ventura County agencies:

19 people arrested in retail thefts

Nineteen people were arrested recently during a “blitz” led by a local task force formed to combat organized retail thefts in Ventura County.

About $5,000 in stolen merchandise was found, along with a loaded firearm, a fake government ID, burglary tools, methamphetamine, fentanyl and prescription drugs, officials said.

Local police departments along with retailers and security personnel from Camarillo Premium Outlets came together to conduct the blitz from May 31 to June 2, officials said.

They described the blitz as a saturation of resources and law enforcement personnel focused on stores to combat retail theft.

All 17 adults and two juveniles arrested reside in the Los Angeles area, except for three who live in Oxnard, according to a mid-June news release from the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.

Called the Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force, the group seeks to identify, locate and arrest individuals who commit the crimes.

The task force involves all law enforcement agencies in the county, according to a news release issued by sheriff's officials. This was to prevent and combat an estimated $10 million in annual losses from organized retail theft as well as vehicle, vehicle and maritime cargo theft.

People with information about the thefts are encouraged to call a registered tip line at 805-383-8703 or the Crime Stoppers Tip Line 800-222-TIPS (8477). Individuals can remain anonymous when calling either number, authorities said.

Newbury Park family targeted in real estate fraud scheme

A Georgia man pleaded not guilty late last week to several crimes related to what prosecutors say was a scheme to defraud a Newbury Park family.

The 30-year-old metro Atlanta man was charged with one count of receiving stolen property and two counts of money laundering following an investigation by the U.S. Real Estate Fraud Unit. Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

The family was targeted while attempting to purchase a local home, the prosecutor's office said in a news release issued Thursday. The family mistakenly followed false instructions to wire more than $200,000 to an account allegedly under the defendant's control, officials said.

The defendant formed several fake limited liability companies to receive and then launder large sums of money stolen from the real estate transaction, the prosecutor's office said. He then divided the proceeds into small amounts and transferred the money to bank accounts under the control of a 39-year-old co-defendant, officials say.

The co-defendant is also accused of using fake companies to open multiple accounts at separate banks in Georgia to receive and launder money stolen from real estate transactions.

The defendant was arrested June 4 by federal customs authorities at an Atlanta airport and extradited to Ventura County two weeks later. He was booked into the Ventura County Jail and remained there Sunday with bail set at $300,000. A bail review hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

The co-defendant is wanted on a $200,000 warrant for her arrest, according to the prosecutor's office. She did not appear to be booked into the county jail Sunday.

These items can be updated.

19 people arrested in retail thefts

Newbury Park family targeted in real estate fraud scheme

Lina Portman

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