Full Notification

Fraud & Cyber Crimes Bureau Identity Theft detail detectives investigated an Employment Development Department (EDD) fraud case identifying Jessica Sanchez as a primary suspect in the investigation.  
 
Detectives identified 42 separate victim Personal Identifying Information (PII) profiles that were linked to Jessica Sanchez.  At the last count, in December 2020, Jessica Sanchez was responsible for over $675,000 in EDD benefits by way of ATM cash withdrawals, purchases transfers and teller cash withdrawals.

Investigators also discovered that Sanchez used a stolen identity.  Following up on that information, investigators determined Sanchez updated her personal information and was now residing in the Knoxville, Tennessee area.  
 
FCCB investigators worked closely with authorities in Tennessee to determine Sanchez’ exact whereabouts utilizing information provided by the FCCB Identity Theft investigators.
 
On April 22, 2021, Knoxville investigators located Jessica Sanchez and served a search warrant at her residence.  Numerous pieces of evidence consistent with identity theft material, fraudulent debit, credit and gift cards, along with counterfeit credit cards, numerous ledgers containing personal information from additional victims were located in the home. A large bag of methamphetamine was also recovered.
 
While searching the home, Knoxville investigators detained Charles Hutchinson, 29, who is also an identified suspect in the FCCB investigation.  Hutchinson was captured on numerous ATM photos making unauthorized withdrawals from the fraudulently opened EDD accounts.
 
Upon the conclusion of the Knoxville investigation, the suspects will be extradited to California to stand trial for the Los Angeles county FCCB investigation. 
 
FCCB Investigators believe there are other victims and are asking anyone with questions or information to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Fraud & Cyber Crimes Bureau, Detective Trent Thurber at (818) 576-8862.
 
Photos of the defendants are being released to the media in an attempt to identify other possible victims.

There is no additional information available at this time.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Fraud & Cyber Crimes Bureau Detective Thurber (818) 576-8862. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

 
Forwarded by:
Deputy Eric Ortiz
Sheriff's Information Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
211 West Temple Street
Los Angeles California 90012 
http://www.lasd.org   
213-229-1700 
  
 
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Alex Villanueva, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department