Three men have been arrested in Simi Valley on suspicion of a host of offenses including identity theft, authorities said Wednesday.
Hein Dinh, 38, Chris Pahm, 37, and David Harrington, 39, were booked at the Ventura County Main Jail, according to a news release from the Simi Valley Police Department.
Dinh was arrested for drug-related offenses on March 19. During that investigation, evidence of identity theft and credit-card fraud were found at his home, the department said.
A separate investigation was launched, in which it was discovered that Dinh “was operating a criminal enterprise including identity theft, and had co-conspirators who aided in the process of ordering and receiving merchandise over the Internet using stolen credit-card information from hundreds of victims around the country,” the release said.
Some of the card information had been “hacked” from various websites, while others had been stolen from a business in Moorpark and a hotel in Tarzana, according to authorities.
Police on Tuesday served search warrants and recovered stolen property at three locations in Simi Valley, officials said. Pham was taken into custody at his residence in the 1200 block of Tivoli Lane.
Harrington was arrested at a home in the 800 block of Pacific Avenue, along with three others, the news release said: Deborah Harrington, 63, for possession and being under the influence of a controlled substance; Ana Perez, 29, for being under the influence of a controlled substance; and Matthew Kowalski, 26, for an outstanding DUI warrant.
The third warrant was executed at Dinh’s residence in the 2500 block of Justin Avenue. He has remained in custody since March 19.
Dinh, Pham and David Harrington were charged with conspiracy, identity theft, forgery, grand theft, burglary, and receiving/possessing stolen property, the Police Department said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Josh Lorencz of the Simi Valley Police Department at 805-583-6958.
