OXNARD POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWS RELEASE

INCIDENT:	Elder Financial Abuse, Fraud and Theft
DATE/TIME:	March 2015 – October 2015
LOCATION:	Ventury County
VICTIM(S):	Deceased (Undisclosed)
SUSPECT(S):	Mangubat, Gerard Paul Cruz Romero, Ryan
LOSS:	In excess of $60,000
PREPARED BY:	Detective Erica Escalante, Oxnard Police Department
CONTACT PERSON & CONTACT INFO:	Detective Erica Escalante, Oxnard Police Department, Financial Crimes & ID Theft Unit (805) 385-7661 Detective Tim Lohman, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, Financial Crimes & ID Theft Unit (805) 947-8255

DETAILS:After a six-month long investigation, the Oxnard Police Department and Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Financial Crimes Units arrested Gerard Paul Cruz Mangubat, 32 years old, and Ryan Romero, 27 years old, both Oxnard residents, for elder financial abuse, check fraud, credit card fraud, and Identity Theft crimes. During 2015, Mangubat and Romero worked as in-home caregivers for terminally ill elders and used their positions to access the victims’ financial and identity information to commit thefts and fraud crimes, totaling over $60,000 in losses. The investigation was aided by the cooperation of several banks that absorbed the financial losses.

On October 14, 2015, detectives arrested Mangubat and Romero at their home and seized various items of Identity Theft from their home pursuant to a search warrant authorized by the Ventura County Superior Court. The investigation was supported by the Elder Abuse Unit of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. Criminal charges were filed against Mangubat and Romero as they were booked into the Ventura County Main Jail. Mangubat has a bail of $750,000 while Romero has his bail set at $50,000. Arraignments for Mangubat and Romero were scheduled for this afternoon, October 16, 2015.

Neither Mangubat nor Romero had any known criminal history and both worked during 2015 for various employers. Anybody with additional information regarding these crimes should contact Detective Erica Escalante of the Oxnard Police Department’s Financial Crimes and ID Theft Unit at (805) 385-7661 or Detective Tim Lohman of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department’s Financial Crimes and ID Theft Unit at (805) 947-8255.

It is important for everyone to protect their Personal Identifying Information by keeping it safe and secure. In addition, family members and caretakers should also protect the Personal Identifying Information of their incapacitated family members. All incidents of suspected Identity Theft may be reported to the local law enforcement agency where a victim lives or works, pursuant to California Penal Code Section 530.6. In addition, reports can be made to the FTC at www.ftc.gov and FBI at www.ic3.gov. Additional Identity Theft prevention strategies can be found with those Federal government agencies.

Anybody facing the difficult choices of care providers for their elderly relatives may inquire with the Oversight Office at the California Department of Public Health.

California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

CDPH – Licensing & Certification Division is responsible for licensing Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and providing inspections to ensure compliance with licensing standards. CDPH, Licensing and Certification Division has District Offices throughout the state.
Contact CDPH, Health Facilities Consumer Information System:
Phone: (916) 558-1784
https://hfcis.cdph.ca.gov/
CDPH – Aide and Technician Certification Section (ATCS) has primary responsibility in the certification of Nurse Assistants, Home Health Aides and/or Hemodialysis Technicians.

Contact ATCS:
Please note that the Interactive Voice Response Unit (IVRU) is an automated phone number (916) 327-2445, which accommodates a heavy volume of calls. You may leave a voicemail with the message center at (916) 552-8811. It is preferable to FAX information to the CNA/HHA/Certification Unit, FAX (916) 552-8785, or send an email to the CNA email address cna@cdph.ca.gov
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 997416, MS 3301
Sacramento, CA 95899-7377

DATE / TIME PREPARED: October 16, 2015/1430 hours