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Ventura County Sheriff's Office
Friday October 25th, 2019 :: 02:00 p.m. PDT

Community

Fillmore Lotto Scam suspect arrested

Nature of Incident: Second Suspect Apprehended in Lottery Scam
Report Number: 19-159713
Location: 500 Block of Sespe Ave Fillmore
Date & Time: 10/23/19 @ 8:00 am
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Investigations Bureau
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent

City of Residence

 Age
S- Geiman Romero Los Angeles 48
Narrative:
 
A second suspect has been arrested in connection with a lottery scam where an elderly woman was coerced into withdrawing a large sum of money from her bank.
 
On 10/10/19, three suspects were involved in a lottery scam in the City of Fillmore.  They targeted an elderly resident by claiming they possessed a winning lottery ticket.  The suspects provided the victim with a ride to her bank.  The driver of the vehicle was later identified as Geiman Romero.  Romero and his co-conspirators requested that the victim withdraw a majority of her balance.  They convinced her that the money will be repaid when the lottery ticket was cashed.   When the victim entered her bank, an alert teller felt the transaction was out of the norm.  The bank employees notified the Fillmore Police Department.  Upon arrival, deputies interrupted the scheme and arrested one of the suspects.  However, Romero and a female suspect fled the scene.  
 
Investigators obtained information on the whereabouts of Romero.  On 10/23/19, investigators located Romero near his residence in the 500 block of Park View Street in Los Angeles.  He was arrested and booked in jail for  PC 664 / PC 532(a) / Attempting to Obtain Money, Labor or Property by False Pretenses, PC 182(a)(1) / Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, and PC 368(b)(1) / Elder/Dependent Adult Abuse, with bail set at $500,000.
 
The common methods for carrying out these crimes include targeting the elderly, suspects alleging he/she cannot cash the winning lottery ticket due to their nationality, suspects working in teams of two or three, and the request to wire, transfer, or obtain money or goods in exchange for winnings from a fictitious lottery ticket.  The Fillmore Police Department encourages anyone who believes they are possibly being scammed in a similar matter to contact local law enforcement.       
 
 
  
Prepared by: Sergeant Vince Alvarez  
News Release Date:       
 		 10/25/19  
Media Follow-Up Contact: Detective Shawn Pewsey
805-947-9128		  
Approved by:
 
Booking Photo Release: 		Captain Garo Kuredjian
 
 YES     NO  		  
           
 
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime.  The caller may remain anonymous.  The call is not recorded.  Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
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Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003

Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511

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