Community
Media Release - ORT Arrests
| Nature of Incident: | Baldwin Park Residents Arrested After Passing Multiple Counterfeit Bills | ||||||
| Report Number: | 25-2642 | ||||||
| Location: | Various retail establishments at the Camarillo Outlets | ||||||
| Date & Time: | 1/7/25 @ 6:00 p.m. | ||||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force | ||||||
| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
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| (S) Haro, Lucia (S) Rodriguez, Aimee |
Baldwin Park Baldwin Park |
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| Narrative: | |||||||
| A Baldwin Park duo was arrested this past Tuesday after they passed several counterfeit one-hundred-dollar bills at several retail establishments located at the Camarillo Outlets. Lucia Haro and Aimee Rodriguez were observed by detectives with the Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force passing the fictitious bills as they made purchases. Detectives were able to confirm the pair passed a counterfeit $100 dollar bill at seven different stores. The pair would make a purchase of low dollar items, pay with a counterfeit $100 bill then receive legitimate currency as change. Haro and Rodriguez were arrested by detectives while still at the Outlets. Haro was found to have two additional counterfeit $100 bills in her possession. Both had a combined total of $450 in legitimate U.S. currency believed to be proceeds from their fraudulent actions which was seized by detectives. They were also in possession of about $600 in merchandise from the various victim stores. All merchandise was seized and returned to the rightful retailers. The pair were booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility on numerous charges related to the passing of the fictitious bills. Lucia was also booked on a warrant for violation of her parole. At that time, detectives applied for and were granted bail increases for both Haro and Rodriguez due to their extensive criminal histories. On 1/9/25, Haro and Rodriguez were arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court on charges of forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, and passing a fictious bill. During that court appearance, their bail increases were rescinded. Haro was ordered released by the court on her own recognizance with pre-trial release supervision by the Ventura County Probation Agency. Haro was ordered by the court to stay away from the Camarillo Outlets. Rodriguez’s bail was reduced to $20,000 and she currently remains in custody due to her parole warrant. Both are due back in court on 1/21/25. The Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force was formed after the Sheriff’s Office was awarded grant funding under the California Retail Theft Prevention Grant Program. This program formalizes a coordinated effort, overseen by the Sheriff’s Office, involving all law enforcement agencies in Ventura County to prevent and combat the estimated $10 million yearly loss from organized retail theft, vehicle/vehicle parts theft and cargo theft. The task force is comprised of detectives from various agencies within Ventura County with the primary mission of combatting organized retail theft, vehicle/vehicle parts theft and cargo theft which impact our businesses, citizens, and communities here in Ventura County. The task force aims to provide a safe environment for everyone while working hand in hand with retailers, law enforcement agencies and the public to identify, locate and arrest the criminals involved in these types of crimes. Anyone with information regarding organized retail theft, vehicle/vehicle parts theft or cargo theft are encouraged to call the Ventura County Organized Retail Theft Task Force’s recorded line at (805) 383-8703 or by calling the Crime Stoppers Tip Line (800) 222-TIPS (8477). You can remain anonymous when calling either number. |
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| Prepared by: | Sergeant Todd Welty | ||||||
| News Release Date: | 1/11/25 | ||||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Sergeant Todd Welty (805) 947-8104 [email protected] |
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| Approved by: Booking Photo Release: |
Captain Ron Chips YES NO X |
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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