Published: June 3, 2011
Updated: 4:57 p.m.

Man accused of using fraudulent IDs, Visa cards

BY CLAIRE WEBB
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LAGUNA HILLS – A man arrested on suspicion of using false identification cards and corresponding Visa debit cards has pleaded not guilty to nine felony charges, according to court records.

A patrol deputy saw a man acting suspiciously while attempting to make transactions at an ATM near Alicia Parkway and Hon Avenue on Tuesday at 12:16 p.m.

The deputy approached the man and asked him about the transactions he was making. After conducting a search, the deputy found several false drivers' licenses from California and Texas, fraudulent identification cards from Mexico, and Visa debit cards with the same false names as the identifications, Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Steve Doan said.

Doan said the identifications had false names but a picture of the man on the cards.

The deputy arrested Juan Ponce Garcia, 20, and charged him with eight felony counts of forgery of public or corporate seals and one felony count of unauthorized use of personal identifying information. Garcia pleaded not guilty to all charges Thursday.

Doan said police are conducting an investigation into the documents found on Garcia, and it appeared the debit cards may have been fraudulently manufactured.

Garcia is being held at Men's Central Jail without bail and is due back in court for a pre-trial hearing on June 10.

Contact the writer: 949-454-7363 or cwebb@ocregister.com

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