Alleged ID theft ring dismantled following routine traffic stop in Diamond Bar

DIAMOND BAR — Five people were charged with 19 felony counts of identity theft and counterfeiting Friday after a routine traffic stop in Diamond Bar earlier in the week led to their arrests, authorities said.
Brian Padilla, 40, of Pico Rivera, Danny Martinez, 33, of Whittier, Barbara Robles, 44, of Rosemead, Jennifer Kesloff, 24, of Whittier and Jacqueline Acosta, 26, whose city of residence was unknown, were arrested Wednesday after a deputy stopped a car for a traffic violation about 11:30 a.m. at Diamond Bar Boulevard and Sunset Crossing Road, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Chris Blasnek.
A deputy stopped a car being driven by Martinez and discovered he was on parole, officials said.
“Both he and his passenger (Padilla) were in possession of several counterfeit driver’s licenses, credit cards and social security numbers that didn’t belong to them,” Blasnek said. “Both were arrested at the scene.”
As deputies continued their investigation, a second car pulled up near the scene of the traffic stop, and deputies approached two women inside, officials said.
The women, later identified as Robles and Kesloff, “were also in possession of numerous counterfeit items,” Blasnek said.
Deputies continued to investigate, and found that all four suspects had been staying at a Diamond Bar motel, officials said.
A search of two rooms rented by the suspect yielded yet more evidence if identity theft and counterfeiting, the lieutenant said, including computers, a credit card reader and machine used to create credit cards. The final suspect, Acosta, was arrested at the motel.
All five suspects were booked on suspicion of identity theft, possession of counterfeit officials documents and possession of counterfeit card making materials.
“It was a little bit of persistence that paid off,” Blasnek said.
According to county booking records, Martinez, a parolee, was being held without bail pending his initial court appearance. Padilla was being held in lieu of $150,000 bail, Acosta was being held in lieu of $170,000 bail, and Robles and Kesloff were being held in lieu of $50,000 bail each.
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