Central - deputies from the Central Station arrest 3 for Identity Theft, Forgery, Possession of Forged Checks
DATE/TIME: October 2, 2015 / 9:48 a.m.
INCIDENT: Check Forgery/Identity Theft/False Impersonation
LOCATION: Highland Ave / Pepper Drive, Highland
SUSPECT(S): James Lyon, 44 year old, Highland
Brian Kelly, 36 year old, San Bernardino
Angelina Ronquillo, 32 year old, San Bernardino
VICTIM(S): Numerous Local Residents
SUMMARY: On Friday, October 2, 2015, at approximately 9:48 a.m., deputies from the Sheriff’s Central Station conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Brian Kelly, for multiple violations of the California Vehicle Code. Kelly was alone in the vehicle and found to be a parolee at large, considered armed and dangerous.
Inside the vehicle were hundreds of pieces of stolen mail, stolen credit cards and hundreds of checks in various stages of being altered and forged. Also in the vehicle was a large stack of blank check stock paper, laptops, a high quality printer, 3 lock mechanisms from US Postal Service drop boxes and a handmade key for the locks.
Among the hundreds of stolen checks, deputies located numerous checks that had been altered, designating the payee as James Lyon. Lyon was found to have a warrant for his arrest and is currently on felony probation.
Lyon was contacted at a nearby hotel along with Angelina Ronquillo. Ronquillo provided deputies with the name and identifying information belonging to another person. Through investigation, Ronquillo's true identity was discovered. Ronquillo was found to have an active half million dollar warrant for her arrest. Lyon was found to be in possession of personal identifying and banking information belonging to numerous additional people. Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia was also found.
All three suspects were booked into the Central Detention Center on multiple felony charges including: PC 530.5(a) - Identity Theft, PC 476 - Forgery, PC 475( c) - Possession Forged Checks, PC 529 - False Impersonation and PC 484(e) - Stolen Credit Card Possession. The US Postal Inspector's Office was notified of the potential federal violations.
All residents are reminded to be vigilant in guarding your mail. Always report suspicious behavior. Be sure to verify checks you submit are processed as you intended.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Deputy Alfredo Lopez at the Sheriff's Central Station (909) 387-3545. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.
Refer: Deputy A. Lopez
Station: Central
Phone No. (909) 387-3545
Case No. 011504423
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
Address/Location
SBSD - Central
655 E 3rd St
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 909-387-3700