2 Women Arrested In Large-Scale Credit Card, Identity Theft Ring In Chino
CHINO HILLS (CBSLA.com) — Police Wednesday announced the arrest of two Chino women who were allegedly involved in a large-scale identity theft scheme.
According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, a report of a credit card being stolen off the front porch of a Chino Hills resident prompted an investigation.
A preliminary investigation revealed the stolen card was used at local retail establishments and the San Manuel Casino.
Deputies explained a group of associates -- including Josephine Chai, 30, and Jessica Duong, 25, -- were connected to a larger identity theft ring led by Chai and Steven Phong.
A search warrant was served on Saturday at Chai's home, located in the 14000 block of Ironbark Avenue.
The warrant subsequently located a 3D printer that was in the process of creating a lower receiver for an AR-15 assault rifle.
Dozens of forged or altered credit cards issued in the suspects' names, several computers, an embossing machine, a credit card manufacturing machine, several card encoders, foil used to emboss fraudulent credit cards, a card encoder, white stock credit cards and a money counter were recovered.
Deputies said hundreds of documents that contained personal information of victims -- including bank statements, bills, and other mail -- were also discovered at the scene.
Officials also recovered a manufactured lower receiver that was loaded with live ammunition, and a manufactured gun that was loaded with air soft ammunition.
According to authorities, Chai and Duong were also found in possession of mailbox keys throughout various cities.
On Tuesday, Chai and Duong were taken into custody. Phong, 32, was arrested in March on suspicion of identity theft alongside his associate Wesley Isaacs, 50.
Chai and Duong are being held at the West Valley Detention Center on a slew of charges including possession of a controlled substance for sale, manufacturing a firearm using a 3D printer, and the theft of identities of dozens of Southern California victims.
The investigation is ongoing.
