Police Arrest Identity Thief Targeting Elderly & Dependent Adults

In late November 2023, the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) received a report of financial elder abuse. A representative for the victim, an 82-year-old man living in a residential care facility located in Santa Rosa, had recently checked the victim’s bank accounts and noticed several unauthorized transactions to online retailers estimated to be over $15,000. Based on the victim’s physical state, it would have been impossible for him to conduct the transactions himself. Neither the victim nor the reporting party knew who conducted the transactions.

Detectives from the SRPD Property Crimes Investigations Team (PCI) took over the investigation in early 2024. They served a series of investigative search warrants to credit card companies, commercial businesses, online and electronic service providers, and online marketplaces.  Detectives spent several weeks reviewing the information obtained because of the search warrants and determined the suspect was responsible for over $19,000 in unauthorized credit card charges using the victim’s accounts. Using shipping and contact information linked to many of the transactions, detectives were able to identify the suspect as 32-year-old Santa Rosa resident Imelda Ruby Reyes-Medina. 

Following multiple weeks of surveillance, detectives identified two residences associated with Reyes-Medina. On March 28, 2024, PCI detectives executed search warrants at both locations.  The first search warrant occurred in the 2700 block of Mohawk Street at 10:00 a.m. and the second service was an apartment in the 1000 block of Bellevue Road at 11:45 a.m.  Reyes-Medina was located and arrested during the search warrant service on Mohawk Street.

At both residences, detectives located numerous items believed to have been purchased by Reyes-Medina using the victim’s credit cards. Some of those items included high-end electronics, baby accessories, jewelry, furniture, and other household items.

Reyes-Medina was arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail for the following charges:

Case # 23-15010

530.5(a) PC – Identity Theft
484g PC – Theft by Use of a Credit Card
484e(d) PC – Grand Theft by Access Cards
368(d)(1) PC – Financial Elder Abuse
12022.1(2)(b) PC – Commit a Felony While on Bail

Case #24-3689
               
530.5(c)(1) PC – ID Theft (2 Counts)
12022.1(2)(b) PC – Commit a Felony While on Bail
484e(d) PC – Grand Theft by Access Cards
368(d)(1) PC – Financial Elder Abuse

At the time of her arrest, Reyes-Medina was free on bail from a previous investigation involving charges of identity theft and theft from an elder/dependent adult by a caretaker.  (Sebastopol Police case #22-829).

During the March 24, 2024, search warrant services, detectives located personal identifying information (PII) and credit cards for two individuals not residing with Reyes-Medina. Investigators were able to locate and contact those individuals. Detectives learned they were residents of a residential care facility in Santa Rosa, that houses dependent and elderly adults. This facility is different than the care facility referenced above. Reyes-Medina was employed at this second care facility as a caretaker at the time of her arrest. Reyes-Medina was not an employee of the residential care facility where the original victim resides. Detectives are still investigating how Reyes-Medina accessed the original victim’s financial information. 

Both investigations are ongoing, and more information may be provided when it becomes available. Any criminal charges against Reyes-Medina resulting from the new investigation will be determined based on the outcome of the completed investigation.

Media inquiries can be made to Sgt. Patricia Seffens, Public Information Officer, at 707-543-3634 or pseffens@srcity.org.