Chino Hills Detectives Uncover an Identity Theft Ring Led by a Mother and Daughter
Date/Time Occurred: Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Crime or Incident: PC 530.5 (a) Identity theft, PC484e(b), Possession of four or more credit card numbers, PC 530.5(c) Possession of personal information of more than 10 victims, PC 484(f)(2), Forging access cards, PC484(a)(3), Unlawful Acquisition of access cards, PC484g, Use of a stolen access card, PC484i, Possession of equipment to forge access cards, PC 502.6(b) Possession of card encoder, HS11378 Possession of controlled substance for sale
Location: 12100 block of College Ave., Garden Grove, Ca
Victim(s): Confidential
Suspect(s): Giusti, Kristina Anh, 44-years-old, Garden Grove
Nguyen, Terry Tan Mihn, 30-years-old, Garden Grove
Tang, Kelcie Anh Thy Giusti, 23, Santa Ana
SUMMARY
A mother-daughter duo were arrested by Chino Hills detectives Tuesday, February 24, 2015, after a simple case of stolen identity lead to the discovery and take down of a sophisticated identity theft ring out of Orange County.
A Chino Hills resident reported fraudulent charges on their credit card totaling nearly $800. During the course of the investigation, it was discovered the victim’s card was used at several retail and restaurant establishments in and around Garden Grove. The evidence gathered clearly depicted the mother, Kristina Giusti, using the fraudulent credit card account at various places.
On Tuesday, February 24, 2015, two search warrants were executed by the Chino Hills Detective Bureau and Multiple Enforcement Team at the suspect’s residences. Investigators recovered more than a thousand forged or altered credit cards issued in the suspect’s name, as well as other names; 6 laptops; 2 tablets; an embossing machine; a tip card machine (used for forging credit cards); a card encoder; several boxes of white stock credit cards; a money counter; $11,000 US currency; and several documents outlining the “how-to’s” of fraud.
Suspect Terry Nguyen was at Giusti’s house during the service of the search warrant and was found to be involved in the identity theft ring. Daughter Kelcie Tang, used fraudulent cards given to her by her mother. Nguyen, Giusti and Tang were arrested for the above mentioned charges and booked at the West Valley Detention Center. The investigation is ongoing.
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
Chino Hills Police/Sheriff's Station
909-364-2000
DR #221500525
Detetive W. Reece
Address/Location
SBSD - Chino Hills Police Department
14077 Peyton Dr
Chino Hills, CA 91709
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1