Wed. Jul 9th, 2025

Do you recognize this trio? Detectives are attempting to identify these three prolific fraudsters, according to the Tustin Police.

Their MO? Utilizing a ruse of dropped currency to get victims to open their wallets, ultimately leading to the theft of the victim’s debit card.

Shortly after their latest theft, the suspects made numerous withdrawals from various banks, resulting in significant financial loss to the victim.

Anyone with information regarding these three is asked to contact the Tustin Police Department Tip Line at 714-426-2427 or by email at tpdtipline@tustinca.org.

If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call Orange County Crime Stoppers by dialing 855-487-6227, using the Crime Stoppers app “P3 Tips” or by going to https://occrimestoppers.org/submit-a-tip/.

If arrested and charged, the suspects could face the following penalties under California law:

  • Debit Card Fraud: Using or possessing a stolen debit card can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony. Felony charges can lead to up to 3 years in county jail and significant fines.
  • Identity Theft: Using someone else’s personal or financial information without permission is a crime. As a felony, it carries up to 3 years in state prison and fines up to $10,000.
  • Theft Charges: If the suspects withdrew large amounts of money, they could also face grand theft charges, which carry up to 3 years in jail.
  • Restitution: Courts often require convicted individuals to repay the stolen money to the victim.

Penalties can be more severe if the suspects have prior convictions or if multiple victims were involved.

By Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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