Identity Theft, Forgery Case In Murrieta Leads To 65-Year-Old OC Woman

MURRIETA, CA — A 65-year-old Orange County woman suspected in a series of fraudulent transactions in Murrieta and across California was behind bars Thursday in Riverside County.

Mindy Lee Stovall of Santa Ana was taken into custody Wednesday by Murrieta Police Department officers following an investigation by the agency that began in early January.

According to the Murrieta Police Department, detectives learned that a woman visited a local retail store on multiple occasions in December and January. She allegedly purchased thousands of dollars of merchandise using stolen identities and forged checks.

Surveillance footage captured the incidents and detectives were able to identify Stovall as the suspect, police said.

"Further investigation revealed Stovall was suspected of committing similar crimes throughout the state of California and was a suspect in a similar series in Orange County, CA," according to Murrieta police. "In all, Stovall is suspected of making fraudulent purchases in excess of $70,000."

Stovall was staying in Menifee when police caught up to her Wednesday at a home in the 3300 block of Breighton Wood Street. The street is within a residential tract off Whitewood Road.

A search warrant was served at the home and Stovall was arrested around 10 a.m. During the warrant service, detectives found "thousands of fraudulent documents" believed to have been used by Stovall, and personal information belonging to over 600 people, according to Murrieta PD.

In addition to Murrieta police, the warrant service was carried out by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and investigators from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Jail records show Stovall was booked into Banning's Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility. Murrieta PD listed the booking charges as forgery, identity theft, possession of identity theft material, and possession of identity theft material of 10 or more people.

Formal charges were pending against Stovall. She remains in custody in lieu of $30,000 bail.

Stovall has no criminal convictions in Riverside County, according to court records.

The investigation into Stovall is ongoing, police said. Anyone with information is asked to contact Cpl. Kris Spencer at 951-461-6404 or Kspencer@murrietaca.gov or Detective Sergeant Miguel Garcia at 951-461-6362 or Mgarcia@murrietaca.gov.