DATE/TIME: Wednesday, October 2, 2024 / 06:00 am
INCIDENT: PC 186.10(a) – Money Laundering
PC 484e(d) – Unauthorized Access of Card Information
PC 487(a) – Grand Theft
LOCATION: Apple Valley Road and Bear Valley Road, Apple Valley
SUSPECT(S): Sorin Costache, 24-year-old male of West Covina
Adinis Mackis, 32-year-old male of West Covina
VICTIM(S): San Bernardino County and State of California
SUMMARY:
On Wednesday, October 2, 2024, fraud investigators from San Bernardino County Human Services and detectives from Apple Valley Police Department conducted a joint operation in the Town of Apple Valley.
Fraud investigators identified three banks in the area where EBT (electronic benefit transfer) thefts had occurred. Investigators monitored the banks in the early hours of the morning and identified subjects withdrawing EBT funds from compromised accounts. Traffic stops were conducted, and two suspects were identified.
Sorin Costache and Adinis Mackis, both of West Covina, were found in possession of numerous fraudulent EBT cards. Both subjects were arrested and transported to High Desert Detention Center for booking. Sorin Costache, who is a Romanian National, was deemed a flight risk and is being held in lieu of $350,000 bail. Adinis Mackis is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail.
The operation resulted in the arrest of these two individuals and the recovery of fraudulent EBT cards, along with approximately $17,000 in cash.
Anyone with any information about this investigation is asked to contact Investigator Flores with San Bernardino County Investigations at (909) 252-4365, Detective Gates with Apple Valley Sheriff’s Station at (760) 240-7400 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463) or leave the information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.
Refer: Pamela Hoffman
Station: Apple Valley
Phone No: (760) 240-7428
Case No. Welfare Fraud 2800425686
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff-Coroner
