2 arrested in Gustine in major ID theft and counterfeiting case

Two Gustine residents have been arrested in connection with a large identity theft and counterfeiting ring involving at least 50 victims and more than $5,000 in forged money, police Chief Doug Dunford announced Monday.

Joseph A. Reis, 29, and Victoria Mejia, 41, were arrested late last week on a string of felony allegations including conspiracy, check fraud, identity theft and forgery, according to Merced County jail records.

Reis and Mejia are suspected of stealing the identities of at least 50 people and counterfeiting more than $5,000, Dunford said.

“The number of victims started with one and just keeps growing and growing,” Dunford said Monday.

Gustine police have been investigating the case since January and said they expect to find additional victims and make additional arrests. Police believe Reis was responsible for cashing and attempting to cash bogus checks, using fake identities, at various locations in Stanislaus County.

“Many of the identity-theft victims were previously victimized during residential burglaries, both in the city limits of Gustine, and in other counties,” Dunford said in a news release.

Gustine police on Thursday searched an apartment in the 300 block of Meredith Avenue and seized a “significant amount of evidence” involving identity theft, and discovered other evidence they believe connects the suspects to the counterfeiting operation, Dunford said.

Police, after seizing the suspected counterfeiting materials, contacted the U.S. Secret Service, which will investigate the money-printing operation, Dunford said.

Dunford praised the investigation conducted by his department, which was led by Officer Eric Warner.

According to Merced Superior Court records, Reis pleaded no contest in December 2010 to five counts of burglary. A year later, records show, Reis again pleaded no contest to a burglary charge.

Mejia pleaded no contest in July 2013 to possession of metal knuckles. She also pleaded no contest in 2012 to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to court records.

Mejia was still in custody Monday at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility on nearly $100,000 bail. Reis posted bail and was released early Friday, a few hours after his arrest, according to booking records.

This story was originally published March 16, 2015 at 9:20 AM with the headline "2 arrested in Gustine in major ID theft and counterfeiting case."