FRESNO, Calif. – A women who tried to pass a counterfeit check at a local retailer was charged this week with heading a local identity theft ring that victimized as many as 1,000 consumers, including 319 members at Educational Employees CU.
The ring has been stealing account information, making false checks with the information, then using the checks to buy goods at stores across the region, according to police. The fake checks were used at retail stores like Kohls, Mervyns, JC Penny, Home Depot, Target, Save-Mart and Walgreens.
The amount of money stolen by the ring is estimated by police to be at least $125,000 and could be as much as $250,000.
Aida Hernandez, 34, the alleged ringleader, was arrested March 29 at Gottschalk’s at the Fashion Fair Mall and has been charged with 151 felony counts in connection with the case. When she was arrested she had 88 blank counterfeit checks and four fake IDs with her photo on them, according to police.
The personal identification appears to have been stolen in a variety of ways, including from mailboxes, garbage cans and vehicles, according to police.
One other suspect in the ring, Erika Castillo, 33, has been charged, and at least two other suspects are being sought in the case.
