On Thursday, Jan. 24, in a joint investigative operation, detectives from the Los Alamitos and Buena Park police departments arrested two men who authorities believe were involved in a fraudulent check schemes.
Detectives served simultaneous search and arrest warrants in Anaheim and Santa Ana in connection with a fraudulent check-writing scheme that targeted several large retail home improvement and office supply stores.
The suspects, 45-year-old David Arthur Larousse of Anaheim and 39-year-old Earl Leroy Gorman of Santa Ana, were arrested near their residences early Thursday morning and were booked into Orange County Jail on several counts of burglary, forgery, and narcotics charges.
According to a statement issued by the Los Alamitos Police Department, Larousse and Gorman are suspected of creating fraudulent business bank accounts, using the names of existing businesses, to print and pass checks allowing them to unlawfully procure goods and services totaling thousands of dollars.
The suspects reportedly targeted major retail stores such as Home Depot, Ganahl Lumber, and Office Depot, using their counterfeit checks to purchase major appliances and construction materials used in the home remodeling industry. Police suspect they subsequently pawned or sold the stolen items for cash. They are also suspected of conducting close to 100 fraudulent transactions over a time period of several months dating back to 2012.
During the service of the warrants, detectives seized approximately 15 grams of methamphetamine, evidence of discarded paperwork used to steal personal identities, and computer equipment allegedly used to create the fraudulent checks. In addition, stolen property from Home Depot valued at about $3,500 was recovered and returned to corporate loss prevention representatives.
