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Ojai Police News Story - Identity Theft Arrests
Ojai Police News Story - Identity Theft Arrests 
| Nature of Incident: | Suspects arrested for Identity Theft, Forgery, Possession of Stolen Property, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, and Destruction of Evidence | ||||
| Report Number: |
17-76141 / VPD# 17-10195 |
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| Location: |
Ojai / Ventura City |
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| Date: |
Beginning March of 2017, ending August 3rd, 2017 |
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| Unit(s) Responsible: |
Ojai Police Department |
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
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| (S) Darian Loehner (S) Cesar Herrera |
Ventura Ventura |
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| Narrative: A lengthy investigation by Ojai detectives led to the recent recovery of a $90,000 vehicle and the arrest of two suspects for identity theft, forgery and several other crimes. On May 25, 2017, Ojai Police Department detectives began investigating an area business whose checks were being replicated and cashed without the business owner’s knowledge or consent. The identity theft and forgery began in March 2017, but continued for several months before being discovered. Detectives identified the suspects responsible for the crimes as Darian Loehner and Cesar Herrera, a couple from Ventura. While recently watching the suspects’ residence in the city of Ventura, detectives saw Herrera drive to the home in a brand new 2017 Dodge Challenger Hellcat, valued at $90,963. Detectives learned the Challenger was purchased earlier that week in Ventura using a fraudulently-made Bank of America cashier’s check for $62,000. The West County Investigations Unit served a search warrant at the suspects’ home, and recovered identification cards, Social Security cards, passports, checks, credit cards, and property belonging to 117 separate victims. In addition, detectives recovered numerous electronic devices, printers and paper used to manufacture checks. Loehner and Herrera were both booked into the Ventura County Main Jail for identity theft, forgery, and possession of stolen property. In addition, Herrera was booked for possession of a stolen vehicle and Loehner was booked for destruction of evidence. They are both still in custody with bail set at $250,000. Investigators believe most of the identity theft documents were taken from Ventura County residents’ mailboxes. Residents are urged to get locking mailboxes and put all outgoing mail in blue US Post Office bins, or bring it into a local US Post Office. It is also recommended that residents consider protecting their property by installing surveillance cameras around their property, and to include their vehicles and mailboxes. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to report all suspicious activity by calling 9-1-1. |
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| Prepared by: | Detective Regan | ||||
| News Release Date: | 08/07/2017 | ||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Detective Regan (805) 620-8174 | ||||
| Approved by: | Captain J. Fryhoff | ||||
Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511
