Crime & Safety
San Rafael Man Accused of Stealing Thousands of Dollars From Elderly Woman Via Forged Checks
The woman has since passed away, but police continued their investigation into the check forgery.
By Bay City News Service:
An extensive investigation by a Sausalito police officer led to the arrest of a San Rafael man on check forgery charges, a police lieutenant said.
San Rafael police arrested Luis Alberto Trujillo, 42, on Feb. 3 at his residence in the 100 block of Merrydale Road in San Rafael, Sausalito police Lt. Kurtis Skoog said.
Trujillo is scheduled to appear in Marin County Superior Court Feb. 20 for setting of a preliminary hearing date on check forgery and other charges.
Sausalito police began the forgery investigation in August 2012 when the nephew of an 87-year-old Sausalito woman reported 11 of his aunt's personal checks had been forged in the amount of $6,480. The nephew told police he believed a man hired to move his aunt's property was the suspect.
Sausalito police Officer Nick White positively identified Trujillo as the suspect when he traveled to several Marin County banks to view the forged checks and deposit slips, Skoog said.
The elderly victim died in 2013, but White continued investigating the case and advocating charges be filed against Trujillo, Skoog said.
The Marin County District Attorney's Office filed nine counts of fraud and forgery, five counts of burglary, one count of theft/embezzlement from an elder, and one count each of grand theft and petty theft against Trujillo, Skoog said.
Skoog said White's efforts, even after the victim died, led to the arrest of a suspect who took advantage of an elderly victim.
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