Citizen Tip Finally Nabs Con Man

June 25 – Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Public Information Officer Drew Sugars praised an anonymous citizen who provided the tip to Los Angeles authorities providing the whereabouts of Jerrell Yearego, 63, wanted on $300,000 arrest warrants issued by the Santa Barbara Superior Court.

Jerrell Yearego

Yearego had been sought on felony fraud and false impersonation charges since March of 2012 emanating from both the Santa Barbara and Santa Clara County courts, and was recently featured on law enforcement “active warrant” websites, which led to the anonymous report to Santa Barbara authorities.  With a checkered past of nationwide “cons”, Yeargo had been sought in South Caroline, Utah, and Hawaii on suspicion of perpetrating various forgeries, scams, and financial frauds.

“Our Felony Fugitive Unit then made contact with the L.A.Sheriff substation at Universal City,” Sugars reported.  Shortly thereafter, Los Angeles Sheriff’s detectives were directed to a hotel room at the Universal City Hilton Hotel where Yearego was a frequent guest and bar patron.  Yearego was contacted at that point and taken into custody without incident.  He was subsequently booked into L.A. County Jail and then transported back to Santa Barbara County Jail where he remains on a no bail hold.

According to Sugars, “This arrest was only possible with the public’s help.”

Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking, Universal City Hilton

Read more:

Santa Maria Times: Citizen tip leads to arrest of fugitive Jerrell Yearego

KVEC: Con Artist Arrested After Anonymous Tip