Gilroy PD Arrest Identity Fraud Suspects, Reportedly Identify Over 200 Victims
The Gilroy Police Department has announced the arrest of two fraud suspects, and are currently in the process of attempting to locate and reach out to victims.
According to a press release issued the morning of March 5, the Gilroy Police Department’s Investigations Bureau opened an investigation in early February into the passing of several fraudulent checks in the names of various business in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.
On February 24, officials from multiple law enforcement bodies — the Gilroy PD Investigations Bureau, the Santa Clara County Special Enforcement Team, and officers from Milpitas PD — served a search warrant on the 1300 block of Prada Court in Milpitas, police said.
There they detained 35-year-old Andrew Vasquez and 36-year-old Leticia Zabala — both of Gilroy — as the primary suspects in the investigation.
Investigators on scene also reportedly discovered a “laboratory-like” setup of various tools which they believe had been used to manufacture fraudulent documents, such as fraudulent checks, California driver’s licenses, vehicle license places, US passports, passport cards, and credit cards.
Police say they also found personal identifying information for over 200 individual victims.
Vasquez and Zavala were both ultimately arrested and booked at the Santa Clara County jail on suspicion of identity theft, identity theft with over ten victims, check fraud, grand theft motor vehicle, and possession of machinery for fraudulent purchases.
The investigation is ongoing, and police have since begun the process of reaching out to known victims, as well as following leads to identify any additional victims. Anyone with information relevant to the investigation is strongly encouraged to contact Gilroy PD Detective Jason Greathead at jason.greathead@cityofgilroy.org.
The Gilroy Police Department is also advising anyone who may have been affected by these crimes to keep an eye on their mail, as the Department has begun sending out letters to victims identified in the investigation.
