California Highway Patrol West Valley Investigators arrest and discover an identity theft ring. Michael Patrick Wolfe and his associates had constructed an elaborate fraudulent credit and debit card manufacturing operation with multiple victims. Investigators determined there were 12 victim’s throughout California and the United States. This identity theft ring, used victim's information to rent cars, set up fictitious businesses and steal property and money totaling 650k dollars.
On December 9th, 2013 at 4 a.m., West Valley CHP Officer R. Leffler was dispatched to a traffic collision westbound US-101 at Balboa Boulevard in Encino, California.
Upon arrival, Officer Leffler observed three men acting suspiciously, walking briskly down the on-ramp, one of which was pulling a rolling suitcase and holding several bags.
Officer Leffler questioned the man pulling the rolling suitcase and determined that they were walking away from a minor traffic collision. The man appeared nervous and possibly under the influence of drugs. He did not have identification on him, but he identified himself as Michael Patrick Wolf with a date of birth of 01/29/1974. A DMV and wanted person records check revealed Mr. Wolf’s license was suspended and that he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Officer Leffler placed Mr. Wolf under arrest after confirming the warrant.
During a search incidental to arrest of his person and his belongings, a printer, ink ribbon rollers and two small plastic containers with what appeared to be assorted credit and debit cards were found. Additionally, the credit and debit cards had different names, markings and numbers. Also found were several identification cards and driver licenses with Mr. Wolf’s picture on it under different names.
Found in this bag were the following:
-Credit Cards
-Credit Card Holographic Stickers
-Debit Cards
-DMV Watermarks
-Identification Cards
-List of Person’s Names and Social Security Numbers
-Driver Licenses (out of state and California)
-Crystal Methamphetamine
Mr. Wolfe is in custody in an unrelated LAPD case and is waiting to be tried for several counts of identity theft.
The California Highway Patrol understands the seriousness of this crime. Every CHP officer is trained to observe suspicious behavior on every traffic stop and collision scene. If you feel you’ve been a victim of identity theft, contact the nearest Law Enforcement Agency to you. The CHP is your partner in keeping your identify safe and we will continue do our part in arresting the perpetrators of these crimes.
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