Today the Seal Beach Police Department and United States Secret Service announced the arrests of eight individuals on suspicion of crimes related to counterfieting. Special Agent Rob Savage of the Secret Service singled out the Seal Beach agency as a major partner in “Operation Money Wash,” a nearly eight-month long investigation into a group accused of being responsible for more than 140 separate crimes in more than 50 cities.
None of the suspects were local. All eight were identified as Los Angeles residents. Representatives of several news agencies attended today’s press conference at Seal Beach Police Headuarters.
According to Seal Beach Police Joe Stilinovich, they are suspected of passing counterfeit bills across the United States and as far away as Jamaica. Law enforcement officials seized more than $100,000 in counterfeit bills. SWAT units from 10 agencies, including the Los Angeles County Gang Team, carried out the arrests of the suspects.
Stillinovich said the counterfeiting activities were a money-making operation for the gangs, which have been linked to drugs and homicide.
According to Stillinovich, the suspects were purchase items in using counterfeit bills and later return those items, thus “washing” the money.
According to Stillinovich, more than 200 officers and federal agents participated in the operation. Chief Joe said police are looking for more victims and witnesses in the case.
The eight suspects have been identified by law enforcement as being affiliated with the “51 Nothing But Trouble Gangster Crips” and the “52nd Hoover Gangster Crips.”
Special Agent Savage said that when the suspects returned products they had purchased, they stole money a second time.
The case apparently began in Seal Beach in December 2014. Seal Beach Police later linked the suspects to 15 separate indicents in Seal Beach. On April 25, 2015, members of the group purchased items from a Toys “R” Us store in Cypress and returned them for a refund in Seal Beach.
Agencies participating in “Operation Money Wash” included Cal State Fullerton, Toys “R” Us Loss Prevention, the Los Alamitos, Cypress, Huntington Beach, Long Beach and Westminster Police Departments.
