What started as an investigation into check fraud led Fontana officers to arrest three suspects Thursday for a slew of crimes including stolen vehicles, hard drugs and mail theft.
Two of the three suspects were already in jail for separate crimes, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office said in a release.
Deputies launched the investigation on Jan. 14 after a victim reported writing a check, placing it in a Rosena Ranch community mailbox and then, days later, found the check altered and cashed for a different amount and payee.
The sheriff’s office said the first two suspects identified in the theft were 32-year-old David Herrera of Rialto and 29-year-old Charles Alexander Ramsey of San Bernardino.
Herrera and Ramsey are currently in jail at the West Valley Detention Center on separate, unrelated charges, according to officials.
While serving a search warrant on Feb. 6 in the 19000 block of W. Cajon Boulevard, detectives recovered hundreds of pieces of mail and personal identifying information.
Also during the search, the third suspect – 37-year-old Daniel Joseph Westbrook of San Bernardino – attempted to flee but to no avail.
“Investigators learned the vehicle Westbrook arrived at the incident location in was stolen out of Las Vegas, Nevada, along with the trailer it was parked behind,” said SBSO. “The blue Tahoe matched the description of a vehicle seen in neighborhoods suspected of stealing mail and other personal property.”
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This undated photo shows a stolen truck that was found after a Fontana check fraud investigation led to a larger crime bust. (San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office) -
This undated photo shows one of 3 suspects arrested after a Fontana check fraud investigation led to a larger crime bust. (San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office) -
This undated photo shows one of 3 suspects arrested after a Fontana check fraud investigation led to a larger crime bust. (San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office) -
This undated photo shows one of 3 suspects arrested after a Fontana check fraud investigation led to a larger crime bust. (San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office)
In addition to the stolen vehicles, detectives found Westbrook had methamphetamine.
“Fontana Sheriff’s Detectives believe Herrera and Westbrook may be responsible for other crimes in Rosena Ranch and surrounding areas,” added the sheriff’s office.
SBSO provided the above photos of the suspects and the stolen Tahoe, saying there may be additional victims and asking anyone with information to contact the Fontana Sheriff’s Station at 909-356-6767.
