Full Notification

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/BROADCAST DATE: JULY 16, 2014 REPORT NUMBER: 14-3304 OCCURRED DATE AND TIME: JULY 15, 2014 @ 5:41 P.M. LOCATION: KOHL’S-PETALUMA INVOLVED: SUSPECT- JAMES COSTELLO, 64 YEARS, RICHMOND CA RESIDENT 459P.C.- BURGLARY (FELONY) 182P.C.-CONSPIRACY (FELONY) 470(A)P.C.-FRAUD (MISDEMEANOR) 530.5(A)- IDENTITY THEFT (MISDEMEANOR) SUSPECT-JERRAUD FORD, 38 YEARS, OAKLAND CA RESIDENT 459P.C.-BURGLARY (FELONY) 182P.C.-CONSPIRACY (FELONY) 470(A)P.C.-FRAUD (MISDEMEANOR) 530.5(A)P.C.-IDENTITY THEFT (MISDEMEANOR) SUSPECT-RAMELL DUDLEY, 42 YEARS, RICHMOND CA RESIDENT 459P.C.-BURGLARY (FELONY) 182P.C.-CONSPIRACY (FELONY) 470(A)P.C.-FRAUD (MISDEMEANOR) 530.5(A)P.C.-IDENTITY THEFT (MISDEMEANOR) SUSPECT-MARCELLA ROLES, 45 YEARS, SACRAMENTO CA RESIDENT 459P.C.-BURGLARY (FELONY) 182P.C.-CONSPIRACY (FELONY) 470(A)P.C.-FRAUD (MISDEMEANOR) 5305.5(A)P.C.-IDENTITY THEFT (MISDEMEANOR) SUMMARY: ON JULY 15TH, AT APPROXIMATELY 5P.M., ALL FOUR OF THE ABOVE SUSPECTS ENTERED KOHL’S DEPARTMENT STORE AND OBTAINED A CREDIT CARD WITH FRAUDULENT INFORMATION. AFTER RECEIVING THE CREDIT CARD, ALL FOUR SUSPECTS BEGAN TO SHOP WITHIN THE STORE, GATHERING A LARGE QUANTITY OF MERCHANDISE. THE SUSPECTS USED THE CREDIT CARD THEY HAD JUST RECEIVED FRAUDULENTLY TO PAY FOR THE ITEMS. ALL SUSPECTS THEN LEFT THE STORE. AFTER PUTTING THE ITEMS THEY HAD JUST PURCHASED INTO THEIR VEHICLE, THEY RETURNED INTO THE STORE TO PURCHASE MORE MERCHANDISE WITH THE FRAUDULENTLY OBTAINED CREDIT CARD. THIS TIME, THE CARD WAS DECLINED AT THE CHECK-OUT REGISTER. ALL FOUR FLED THE STORE. EMPLOYEES FROM KOHL’S DEPARTMENT STORE CALLED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND ALL FOUR SUSPECTS WERE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY ONE BLOCK AWAY ON N. MCDOWELL BLVD. IN THEIR VEHICLE. ALL FOUR WERE ARRESTED AND LATER TRANSPORTED TO THE SONOMA COUNTY JAIL. WHILE SEARCHING THEIR BELONGINGS, EVIDENCE WAS LOCATED THAT INDICATED THE GROUP WAS IN POSSESSION OF PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION OF SEVERAL VICTIMS THROUGHOUT THE NATION. DETECTIVES ARE ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT ALL VICTIMS TO NOTIFY THEM THAT THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. THIS INVESTIGATION IS EXTREMELY EXTENSIVE DUE TO THE LARGE AMOUNTS OF VICTIMS AND IS ON-GOING. BAIL WAS INCREASED TO $1,000,000.00 FOR EACH SUSPECT. IF ANYONE HAS FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT DETECTIVE LANCE NOVELLO ([email protected]) OR DETECTIVE BRIAN MILLER ([email protected]) PREPARED BY: SERGEANT TARA SALIZZONI CONTACT NUMBER: 707-778-4372