* FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * 

WARRANTS REAP REWARDS
for Berkeley Police & U.S. Secret Service

Berkeley, CA. – On Thursday June 5, 2003 at approximately 7:00am, 65 officers simultaneously served twelve (12) search warrants at locations throughout the Bay Area, from Antioch to Berkeley, from Oakland to Stockton. The subjects of the warrants are believed to be responsible for nearly 6 million dollars ($6,000,000) worth of counterfeiting and identity theft nationwide.

The execution of these warrants is the culmination of an extensive joint investigation between the City Of Berkeley Police Department and the Homeland Security U.S. Secret Service that spanned a period of two (2) years.  Investigators seized thousands of pieces of evidence, including pistols, assault rifles, narcotics, and a very large quantity of counterfeit travelers checks, personal checks, counterfeit identification and personal profiles. Profiles are information such as names, birthdates, social security numbers or credit card numbers of victims that are used by criminals to commit identity theft. Identity theft is the fastest growing crime internationally.

After the warrants, BPD Detective Todd Sabins, the lead investigator in the case said, “This was a well executed multi-jurisdictional plan between local and federal authorities. We believe that these suspects used proceeds from this fraudulent activity to support their lifestyles and purchase large luxury items, including cars. They victimized a lot of people in the process. “