A 22-year-old man is facing fraud and identity theft charges in a skimming investigation that spans the state.
According to Watsonville police, the investigation started earlier this month when an employee found a skimming device during a routine ATM maintenance check at Bay Federal Credit Union in the 2000 block of Freedom Boulevard.
Criminals place skimming devices on ATMs and other card readers to steal customers’ financial information.
Surveillance footage helped WPD identify a car connected to the suspect and led officers to a second skimming device at the Bay Federal Credit Union in the 1400 block of Main Street. Police said at least 500 card transactions occurred at the two ATMs while the devices were in place, potentially compromising the financial information of hundreds of people.
As the investigation continued, officers identified additional vehicles connected to the suspect and used Flock Safety alerts to help establish their movements and connections to the case. Investigators also learned the suspect was connected to skimming devices at banks in Monterey County.
WPD obtained an arrest warrant for Mihia Ionita and shared the information with other law enforcement agencies. On Wednesday night, the Tustin Police Department received a Flock Safety alert for the suspect’s vehicle and located and arrested Ionita. He faces multiple fraud and identity theft charges.
“The use of Flock Safety cameras played a critical role in solving this case,” WPD said.
WPD asks anyone who used an ATM at either of the local Bay Federal Credit Union locations and believes their information was compromised to review their account activity and call Detective Edgar Rivera at 831.768.3354.
