Authorities in the San Francisco Bay Area have arrested three East Coast residents — including a woman previously reported missing — in connection with an alleged identity theft and bank fraud scheme.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said the arrests followed a months-long investigation into fraudulent withdrawals targeting multiple financial institutions. Detectives believe at least five individuals traveled nearly 3,000 miles from New York to Sonoma County to carry out the scheme.
On Thursday, investigators conducted surveillance as the suspects allegedly made fraudulent withdrawals at several banks across the Bay Area. Three individuals were taken into custody without incident.
Authorities identified the suspects as Carleen McGeachie, Richard Logan and Heaven Richards. All three were booked into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of bank fraud and identity theft.
McGeachie had previously been reported missing by police in New Haven on Nov. 11, more than two months after she was last seen by family members. Authorities confirmed that the woman arrested in California is the same person listed in the missing persons case.
Following the arrests, deputies executed a search warrant at a hotel in Vacaville where the suspects were staying. Investigators said they recovered more than $15,000 in cash, along with fraudulent identification and credit cards. Additional evidence was also seized from a vehicle linked to the suspects.
The sheriff’s office said all three were booked with no bail. Jail records indicate they were scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
