Chilean nationals reportedly caught with fraudulent government documents in Ventura County
July 20, 2022 – Ventura County, Ca.
A group of theft and fraud suspects from South America were recently arrested in Ventura County, according to reports.
Evidence of that came once again in the middle of the afternoon on July 15th , when Christian Andes Gonzalez, Matias Ignacio Duarte Hernandez—both Chilean nationals who, according to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Greg Gibson, reside in the U.S. pursuant to “the Visa Waiver Program” were arrested pursuant to a “traffic stop on the Pacific Coast Highway” overlooking the picturesque Leo Carrillo Beach.
When a brief search of their vehicle turned up evidence of stolen credit cards and “fraudulent government documents,” deputies attached to the thousand Oaks Special Enforcement Unit were summoned to the oceanfront location.
Upon arrival, the Special Enforcement Unit deputies determined that Gonzalez, Hernandez, and their female companion Magdalena Aguirre Del Prado had in their possession “over $2000 in merchandise” obtained with the fraudulent use of the stolen credit card. Further investigation determined that Hernandez had multiple prior burglary and stolen vehicle arrests and was on current felony probation. Del Prado was identified as a Columbian national with “an extensive criminal history across the United States dating back to the 1980’s.”
All three suspects were transported to Ventura County Jail, where they were booked for conspiracy to commit identity theft, possession of fraudulent government documents, and possession of burglary tools, with their bail set at $50,000 each.
