A Thermal man who allegedly stole mail and used victims’ identities to make fraudulent purchases was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on fraud and identity theft charges.
Detectives have been investigating the case since February, according to Riverside County sheriff’s Sgt. David Aldrich, who said Marcos Salinas Hurtado used stolen identities to buy items at stores in Indio and La Quinta.
He said Hurtado, 28, was arrested Monday evening when investigators served a search warrant at a home in the 76400 block of Fillmore Street in Thermal.
Aldrich said deputies found evidence of additional identity theft victims in the Thermal area at the residence, but he did not say how many.
Hurtado remains jailed at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning in lieu of $10,000 bail. He’s set to appear Thursday afternoon at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
Hurtado’s brother — Efrain Salinas Hurtado, 30 — was also arrested during the warrant search on an outstanding drunken driving warrant and was released Thursday morning on $5,000 bail, sheriff’s officials said. His arraignment is set for Oct. 16.
Efrain Hurtado’s arrest was unrelated to Marcos Hurtado’s alleged crimes, deputies said.
>> Want to read more stories like this? Get our Free Daily Newsletters Here!