Retail stores taken for bogus checks ride

Seal Beach police and federal Secret Service agents have arrested four people for allegedly stealing over $650,000 from retail stores using forged American Express travelers checks.

Arrest warrants also have been issued for two other suspects in the alleged ring -- all living in Los Angeles, police spokesman Sgt. Steve Bowles said.

The 99-count criminal complaint includes charges of felony second-degree commercial burglary, felony forgery, felony street terrorism, misdemeanor receiving stolen property, sentencing enhancements for loss over $100,000, aggravated white collar crime over $500,000, property damage over $65,000, criminal street gang activity and crime-bail-crime, Bowles added.

The crimes initially began in Seal Beach, but they also were committed throughout several Southland counties including Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino and Riverside.

The six suspects are accused of using the counterfeit travelers' checks to defraud retail stores including T.J. Maxx, T.J. Maxx HomeGoods, and Marshalls. Each counterfeit check was in the amount of $100, Bowles said.

The defendants allegedly used the checks to purchase store items usually valued over $100. They are accused of using travelers' checks to fraudulently purchase the items and taking cash back for the difference, or getting refunds for the items -- at times, at different stores, according to Bowles.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Seal Beach Detective David Barr at (562) 799-4100 ext. 1110, USSS Los Angeles Field Office Bank Fraud Squad at (213) 894-4830, and Supervising District Attorney Investigator Ron Frazier at (714) 347-8691. Deputy District Attorney Yvette Patko of the Major Fraud Unit is prosecuting this case.