2 Women, 1 Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Check Fraud In El Monte
EL MONTE (CBS) — Two women and a man were arrested on suspicion of check fraud Thursday, according to El Monte police.
Melissa Santone, 30, and Yvette Campbell, 41, both of El Monte, and Josue Neptali Flores, 33, of Chino were arrested after El Monte Police Department detectives conducted a follow-up investigation on a number of counterfeit El Monte city government checks that were stolen from home and business mailboxes, according to El Monte police Detective George Fierro.
An investigation reportedly led to the trio who were then put under surveillance. Officials said the surveillance led to a traffic stop of Santone's car where they allegedly found several phony or altered city checks.
A search of Santone's Motel 6 hotel room turned up more evidence including stolen personal and business checks, devices to create and alter checks and stolen U.S. mail.
The case is being handled by the El Monte Police Department but will be taken over by the U.S. Postal Inspector's Office because the trio stands accused of committing federal crimes.
The El Monte Police Department is advising city residents to lock their mail boxes and review their bank statements for suspicious activity.
(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
