A Dana Point resident who allegedly made millions of dollars in purchases through fraudulent means at several businesses in San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties is facing 89 charges for the schemes.
Over a nine-month period last year, businesses in three Southern California counties were the victims of a forced-sale scheme consisting of the perpetrator purchasing expensive merchandise with credit cards; some of which were fake and others were inactive. The standard authorization process that the credit card machines typically issue was surpassed by the customer requesting that the sales associate enter the transaction by hand or telling them to force the sale through.
When the transactions were processed by the credit card companies the merchants received notification that the payment was not approved.
According to Orange County agency spokeswoman Carrie Braun, the suspect “fraudulently purchased vehicles, jewelry, high-end watches, computers, cellular phones, tablets, TVs, expensive dinners and motorcycles,” which may add up to $3 million or more in fraudulent purchases.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Economic Crimes Unit and agents from the United States Secret Service began working together, and their investigation led them to 49-year-old Daniel Lee Case of Dana Point.
On the evening of Tuesday, January 23, authorities found Case in a Dana Point storage facility and took him into custody as the suspect of the fraudulent purchases. He was booked into the Orange County Jail.
Two days after his arrest Case was charged with various felony counts relating to the allegations.
On Tuesday the Orange County District Attorney’s Office added additional charges such as grand theft, vehicle theft, forgery, and identity theft, and Case is now facing a total of 87 felony charges and two misdemeanors.
If you or someone you love is suspected of fraud, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.