A traffic stop in Modesto ended-up leading police to a check forgery and identity theft operation.
Police say after stopping 45-year-old Ronald Philpot of Modesto and 37-year-old passenger Wendy Keys of Ceres, officers found drugs and several stolen payroll checks. Keys was arrested on outstanding warrants for stolen property, forgery and drugs. Philpot was also taken into custody.
Detective Doug Ridenour says further investigation lead officers to a local motel room. There detectives found evidence Philpot was making counterfeit checks and using a computer to make the checks and DMV identification cards. Authorities also found stolen credit cards, social security numbers, business checks, and bank envelopes among other items.
A 17-year-old boy in the motel room was booked into Juvenile Hall for an outstanding warrant. A 13-year-old girl was taken to a local hospital for treatment of an unknown medical condition.
This post was last modified on 01/31/2009 4:47 pm