NEWS RELEASE
Amy Cornell, Public Information Officer
(408) 792-2997
California Attorney General’s Press Office
(510) 622-4500
For release on Friday, November 19, 2010
IDENTITY THEFT INVESTIGATION AND ARREST BY MEMBERS OF THE RAPID ENFORCEMENT ALLIED COMPUTER TEAM AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BUREAU OF GAMBLING CONTROL On November 17, 2010, agents from the Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team (REACT) and the California Department of Justice, Sacramento Bureau of Gambling Control (BGC) arrested Darin VOLK, age 25, in Windsor California, culminating a nine month investigation. In February 2010, REACT Task Force Agent Timothy Crowley developed information that Darin VOLK of Turlock California was involved in a large scale credit card fraud scheme. On August 10, 2010 BGC received a complaint from the Black Oak Casino located in Tuolumne, CA. The Black Oak Casino reported two subjects approached a cashier and used fraudulent credit cards to withdraw over $3,000 cash in cash advances. BGC Special Agent Matt Medina identified Darin VOLK as one of the suspects. BGC consulted with VOLK’s parole agent and learned VOLK was also being investigated by the REACT Task Force out of the bay area. REACT Task Force Agents and BGC Special Agents decided to mutually investigate VOLK by combining resources. Through their mutual investigation it was determined VOLK was committing crimes in multiple jurisdictions throughout the Central Valley and Bay Area. On October 19, 2010, BGC received information that VOLK was at a San Francisco Hotel. A parole search of VOLK’s hotel room resulted in the seizure of numerous items associated with a large scale identity theft operation. Investigators were not successful in their effort to locate VOLK during this operation. On November 17, 2010, the San Francisco Police Department contacted REACT and BGC investigators and advised they had located a stolen vehicle associated to VOLK on Mint Street in San Francisco. Investigators observed a white male adult attempt to enter the stolen rental car. They arrested the male subject who was identified as Douglas REEVES. REEVES, who was on active CDC parole for Identity Theft, had a stolen CDL in his possession along with various fraudulent credit cards which matched the stolen identity. The investigators determined REEVES was an associate of VOLK. The continuing investigation led investigators to the City of Windsor where VOLK was located and arrested. Investigators again recovered a substantial amount of evidence related to identity theft and credit card fraud. At present investigators believe more than one thousand individuals have been the victims of Identity theft at the hands of VOLK and his accomplices. REEVES was booked into the San Francisco county jail for a parole violation. VOLK was booked into the Sonoma County jail for violation of parole and the outstanding felony arrest warrant. Multiple felony charges related to credit card fraud, identity theft, and possession of stolen vehicles will be sought against VOLK. A total of four stolen vehicles were recovered during the day long operation on Wednesday, November 17th. The California Attorney General’s Office has provided technical assistance to investigators and will be the prosecuting agency for any charges brought as a result of the investigation. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office oversees REACT, which is one of five High Technology and Identity Theft Task Forces in the State of California. The Task Forces are funded by a state grant administered by the California Emergency Management Agency. Continuing funding of REACT and other public safety task forces around the state will not continue unless the State Legislature approves additional funding. ###
FROM:
Michael Sterner, REACT Program Director
Amy Cornell, Public Information Officer
(408) 792-2997
California Attorney General’s Press Office
(510) 622-4500
For release on Friday, November 19, 2010
IDENTITY THEFT INVESTIGATION AND ARREST BY MEMBERS OF THE RAPID ENFORCEMENT ALLIED COMPUTER TEAM AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BUREAU OF GAMBLING CONTROL On November 17, 2010, agents from the Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team (REACT) and the California Department of Justice, Sacramento Bureau of Gambling Control (BGC) arrested Darin VOLK, age 25, in Windsor California, culminating a nine month investigation. In February 2010, REACT Task Force Agent Timothy Crowley developed information that Darin VOLK of Turlock California was involved in a large scale credit card fraud scheme. On August 10, 2010 BGC received a complaint from the Black Oak Casino located in Tuolumne, CA. The Black Oak Casino reported two subjects approached a cashier and used fraudulent credit cards to withdraw over $3,000 cash in cash advances. BGC Special Agent Matt Medina identified Darin VOLK as one of the suspects. BGC consulted with VOLK’s parole agent and learned VOLK was also being investigated by the REACT Task Force out of the bay area. REACT Task Force Agents and BGC Special Agents decided to mutually investigate VOLK by combining resources. Through their mutual investigation it was determined VOLK was committing crimes in multiple jurisdictions throughout the Central Valley and Bay Area. On October 19, 2010, BGC received information that VOLK was at a San Francisco Hotel. A parole search of VOLK’s hotel room resulted in the seizure of numerous items associated with a large scale identity theft operation. Investigators were not successful in their effort to locate VOLK during this operation. On November 17, 2010, the San Francisco Police Department contacted REACT and BGC investigators and advised they had located a stolen vehicle associated to VOLK on Mint Street in San Francisco. Investigators observed a white male adult attempt to enter the stolen rental car. They arrested the male subject who was identified as Douglas REEVES. REEVES, who was on active CDC parole for Identity Theft, had a stolen CDL in his possession along with various fraudulent credit cards which matched the stolen identity. The investigators determined REEVES was an associate of VOLK. The continuing investigation led investigators to the City of Windsor where VOLK was located and arrested. Investigators again recovered a substantial amount of evidence related to identity theft and credit card fraud. At present investigators believe more than one thousand individuals have been the victims of Identity theft at the hands of VOLK and his accomplices. REEVES was booked into the San Francisco county jail for a parole violation. VOLK was booked into the Sonoma County jail for violation of parole and the outstanding felony arrest warrant. Multiple felony charges related to credit card fraud, identity theft, and possession of stolen vehicles will be sought against VOLK. A total of four stolen vehicles were recovered during the day long operation on Wednesday, November 17th. The California Attorney General’s Office has provided technical assistance to investigators and will be the prosecuting agency for any charges brought as a result of the investigation. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office oversees REACT, which is one of five High Technology and Identity Theft Task Forces in the State of California. The Task Forces are funded by a state grant administered by the California Emergency Management Agency. Continuing funding of REACT and other public safety task forces around the state will not continue unless the State Legislature approves additional funding. ###