Suspect Steals $1.4M Tax Refund Check From O.C.'s Richest Man
The suspect got away with most of the cash before anyone noticed.
Suspect accused of stealing $1.4 million refund check (Photos Courtesy U.S. Secret Service / August 3, 2010)
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IRVINE -- The U.S. Secret Service is searching for a man who stole a $1.4 million tax refund check from Orange County's wealthiest businessman and got away with most of the cash.
Investigators say the man stole the check from Donald Bren, the chairman of the Irvine Company and the 45th richest man in the world according to Forbes magazine. Bren is worth an estimated $12 billion.
It's unclear how the unidentified suspect actually got ahold of the check.
According to a criminal complaint, the suspect set up four bank accounts in Bren's name on February 16th at East West Bank's Cerritos branch. He then deposited the U.S. Treasury refund check worth $1,389,524.61 into one of the accounts.
The man then made a series of transfers from the accounts totaling more than $1.1 million, according to the complaint.
The man gave a mailing address in South Los Angeles and listed his occupation as "smoke shop."
By the time authorities discovered the fraud most of the money was gone. Only $200,000 in certificates of deposit and $64,049.58 in cash remained in the accounts.
Bren, however, is not on the hook for the loss, according to the Orange County Business Journal, which first reported the story. The bank or its insurance company is liable for the money.
Investigators say the man stole the check from Donald Bren, the chairman of the Irvine Company and the 45th richest man in the world according to Forbes magazine. Bren is worth an estimated $12 billion.
It's unclear how the unidentified suspect actually got ahold of the check.
According to a criminal complaint, the suspect set up four bank accounts in Bren's name on February 16th at East West Bank's Cerritos branch. He then deposited the U.S. Treasury refund check worth $1,389,524.61 into one of the accounts.
The man then made a series of transfers from the accounts totaling more than $1.1 million, according to the complaint.
The man gave a mailing address in South Los Angeles and listed his occupation as "smoke shop."
By the time authorities discovered the fraud most of the money was gone. Only $200,000 in certificates of deposit and $64,049.58 in cash remained in the accounts.
Bren, however, is not on the hook for the loss, according to the Orange County Business Journal, which first reported the story. The bank or its insurance company is liable for the money.
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