Man Accused Of Posing As Bail Bondsman And Threatening To Re-Arrest Suspects

By Koula Gianulias

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – A Sacramento man is in jail without bail for allegedly impersonating a bail bondsman and threatening re-arrest suspects all over the country unless they paid him bail more money, according to the Placer County Sheriff's department.

The suspect, 24-year-old Michael Stephen Moynihan of Sacramento, was taken down by a K-9 officer during a short chase in Sacramento on Thursday night.

Placer County detectives say Moynihan called jails and bail bond agents pretending to be a police officer to get information on people who had recently been arrested and released.

"When it shows up on your caller ID, it could say Raleigh Police Department, so you think you're getting a call from Raleigh PD," said Topo Padilla of Greg Padilla Bail Bonds.

Moynihan would then call those people claiming their bond agent and would demand more bail money. If they didn't pay, he threatened to re-arrest them.

"He would then become -- impersonate a bail agent, and say your bail went up, pay or I'll take you to jail," said Det. Jim Hudson of the Placer County Sheriff's Dept.

Hudson believes there may be as many as 1,000 victims in the case from all over the country.

Moynihan was booked into the Sacramento County Jail after being treated for injuries sustained during his arrest. He is being held on a no-bail parole hold charge until are added next week.