Morgan Hill
– Three people were arrested – including two Hollister men –
last week when police uncovered what they described as an identity
theft and counterfeiting ring operating out of a room at a hotel
here.
Morgan Hill – Three people were arrested – including two Hollister men – last week when police uncovered what they described as an identity theft and counterfeiting ring operating out of a room at a hotel here.
Morgan Hill police went to the Executive Inn on Condit Road Thursday to serve an arrest warrant on Jose Solorio, 20, of Hollister, who had an outstanding $10,000 warrant for resisting arrest.
Officers found Solorio in the hotel room, and he was arrested without incident.
While officers were making the arrest, however, they discovered a check and identification counterfeiting operation in the room, according to Morgan Hill Police Cmdr. David Swing.
Swing said several computers were being used to create false IDs, checks and other documents. Officers recovered substantial amount of stolen mail, IDs and documents associated with identity theft from the room, Swing said, and also found evidence of methamphetamine use.
Other law enforcement agencies were contacted to assist with the investigation, Swing said. Investigators are looking for victims of mail theft and identity theft.
Solorio was booked into Santa Clara County Jail for the outstanding warrant.
Edward Cervantes, 46, of Hollister, was booked into Santa Clara County Jail on $98,000 bail for new charges of alleged forgery, suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of fictitious checks, possession of stolen property, identity theft, possession of false identification, giving false ID to a police officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Corrina Ojeda, 27, of Gilroy, is in Santa Clara County Jail on $67,000 bail for suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, alleged forgery, possession of fictitious checks, possession of stolen property, identity theft, possession of false identification and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Swing said Cervantes was recently released on bail for similar charges in San Benito County.
A fourth suspect, a woman who was found in the room with the others, was not arrested.
Five victims of identity theft and mail theft have been identified so far.
“We expect to find other victims as the investigation unfolds, and we ask local residents to contact the police department if they have recently had their mail or identity stolen,” Swing said.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for the Morgan Hill Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at mdubil
@morganhilltimes.com.
