SAN BERNARDINO – More victims are being sought in an identity theft ring that was busted on July 7. Four people were arrested after San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies uncovered the identity theft operation, in which more than 100 victims are feared to have been hacked.
Deputies searched a San Bernardino hotel room on Tuesday, July 7, where they discovered stolen property, along with check-washing equipment and drugs.
Daniel Leivas, 50, of Blythe, California, Robbie Steven Lee Gurule, 26, a San Bernardino area transient, Angela Gutierrez, 24, of Highland, and Alexandria Starr Leon, 23, of Yucaipa were taken into custody on various charges.
All were charged with identity theft, possession of fraudulent checks and possession of drugs, according to authorities. Originally, deputies were investigating a burglary that took place at Quaid Harley-Davidson in Loma Linda. Gurule was identified as a suspect, questioned by deputies and was caught in several misstatements, said authorities.
SB police released this photo of Gurule earlier this year
Deputies said Gurule had lied about his identity and was later found to be in possession of burglary tools. Eventually Gurule led deputies to an undisclosed San Bernardino hotel room on East Hospitality Lane where he was staying with Gutierrez, his girlfriend. When deputies searched the hotel room, they discovered several stolen checks, stolen mail items and the identity theft materials.
Since July 7, according to sheriff’s spokeswoman Cindy Bachman, deputies have been contacting victims by using contact information from the stolen mail and checks. Police (909-387-3545) are still seeking victims.
Alexandria Leon is in custody on drug charges and is scheduled to appear in Rancho Cucamonga Superior Court on Aug. 12. Gurule, who is due for an August 26 court appearance in San Bernardino Superior Court, faces embezzlement charges along with extortion and identity theft allegations. He’s being held on a combined $375,000 bail for all charges, according to court records. He had been released on warrant for similar charges in Riverside County. No additional information was available for either Gutierrez or Leivas.
