Four arrested in connection with check fraud

Stacy Brown

COSTA MESA--Three men and a juvenlie were arrested Thursday in what

police say is a connection to a check-cashing fraud ring that may be

responsible for the theft of $32,000.

During the past couple of weeks, three different groups have passed

stolen checks at a local Wells Fargo Bank, Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Tom

Boylan said.

“The investigation is continuing in an attempt to identify other suspects

and possibly tie these suspects to other counterfeit cases,” Boylan said.

Police identified the suspects in Thursday’s arrests as Santa Ana

residents Nghia Nguyen, 18, who is believed to be the ring leader; Cuong

Khang Nguyen, 19; Hien Thai Nguyen, 18; and a juvenile.

The group arrived at the Harbor Boulevard bank in two cars: a late-model

Lexus and a late-model BMW, police said. A surveillance team watched as

they walked into the bank and cashed counterfeit checks totaling $11,000,

police said.

Investigators arranged the surveillance after receiving an anonymous tip,

Boylan said.

Detectives then tailed the crew before making the arrest and recovering

the $11,000.

The men are being held in lieu of $50,000 bail, and the juvenile was

booked into Juvenile Hall, Boylan said.