Co-Conspirator in false check group Arrested
FORT BRAGG – A male subject was arrested who is believed to be connected to a fake check ring. At approximately 2 p.m., a Rite Aid customer who recognized the assailant from his mug shot, reported to police that 25-year-old Eric D. Sinh of Rowland Heights may be shopping at the store.
Eric Sinh, 25
At the Understuff clothing store in Fort Bragg, two women and a male were arrested for allegedly passing fake checks to pay for their clothing. The group tried using a fraudulent credit card, however, when that failed the group left with hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise by use of a phony check signed by Sinh.
A store associate suspected that the check was fraudulent and left the store to approach the group’s Ford Mustang and requested that the garments be returned. The accomplices gave the associate one bag and fled, however, the associate jotted down the license plate number.
The business owner in the 300 block of North Franklin St. reported the conniving co-conspirators to officers. The females verified for police that Sinh was, in fact, a fellow accomplice.
Tammy Aliff, 42, of Santa Rosa, Manuel Flores, 39, of Santa Rosa, Esmeralda Ponce, 31, of Los Angeles, and Nallely Nieblas, 27, of Mexico, were booked into the Mendocino County Jail on suspicion of possession and sales of methamphetamine and possession of property used to make fake checks
Police discovered the suspects at the Ocean View Lodge and made contact with four individuals, two of whom confessed they were the female subjects at the Fort Bragg clothing store. During an investigation of the motel room, officers allegedly confiscated methamphetamine and other items used to sell the drug, in addition to a computer, printer, paper and other property indicative of use for the creation of fake checks.
Police who were dispatched to the Rite Aid store, spotted Sinh fleeing out of the back door and into an alley. They were able to place him in custody and retrieved several items he had shoplifted from the store that he was attempting to conceal, as well as methamphetamine.
The Fort Bragg Police Dept. (FBPD) Chief thanked “the community member who took the time to call our department to report seeing Mr. Sinh. I believe at the end of this investigation, Mr. Sinh will be held responsible for several theft-related charges up and down our state.”
Sinh was transported to the Mendocino County Jail on suspicion of burglary, theft, resisting arrest and possession of methamphetamine.
Read more:
Advocate – News: Five nabbed for local forgeries and meth sales
The Press Democrat: Fort Bragg police arrest man accused of credit card fraud
The Mendocino Beacon: Suspect in fake check ring arrested
