2 Deputies Arrested in Theft Case : Police: Officers are among 7 charged in use of credit cards taken from motorists’ wallets.

Already tainted by the March sentencing of seven former deputies in a drug-money skimming scandal, more troubles surfaced for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday with the arrests of seven people, including two deputies, on suspicion of stealing credit cards from motorists and using them to buy merchandise.

The arrests were the result of an investigation by the department’s office of professional and ethical standards that began about three months ago when a motorist reported that his credit card was missing after he had been stopped by a deputy in the east San Gabriel Valley.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Robert Stoneman told a news conference that 30 deputies made the early morning arrests at homes in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties and recovered more than $18,000 worth of items believed to have been bought with stolen credit cards.

Deputies seized furniture, fishing equipment, jewelry, clothing, bicycles, cameras, scuba equipment, water skis, stuffed animals, telephones, guns, electronic equipment, personal hygiene items and snow ski equipment allegedly bought with stolen cards, Stoneman said.

The arrested deputies were identified as Brent D. Mosley, 27, a seven-year veteran, and Steven W. Switzer, 31, a four-year veteran. Both work out of the Temple City station.

Mosley faces allegations of conspiracy to commit grand theft, receiving known stolen property and burglary.

Allegations against Switzer include theft of a credit card, forgery of a credit card, conspiracy to commit grant theft and burglary. Both were booked at Los Angeles County Central Jail and released on $50,000 bail each.

Similar allegations were made against the five other suspects--including Switzer’s wife, Tracy Ann Switzer, 29; Stephanie Storvis, 27, Switzer’s sister-in-law; Michael Storvis, 28, Switzer’s brother-in-law; William K. Pratt, 54, Switzer’s father-in-law, and Judith Ann Pratt, 52, his mother-in-law.

The investigation began in April, shortly after a motorist told sheriff’s officials that after being stopped by a deputy, he was ordered to empty his pockets on the front seat of his car and walk away, Stoneman said.

The sergeant said the motorist complained that the deputy got into his car, then called him back and said that everything was OK and that he could leave. Stoneman said the motorist later discovered that one of his credit cards was missing.

Between April 9 and 15, Stoneman said, the motorist’s card was used at 17 different locations to buy $7,851 worth of goods. He said a second motorist reported two cards missing, and the next day items worth $2,578 were bought with them.

After investigators were alerted, Stoneman said, they followed Mosley and Switzer earlier this month and saw them enter a store together. On other occasions, he said, Switzer was seen going into stores with relatives.

So far, Stoneman said, investigators believe that they have at least five victims who had cards stolen by deputies.

In response to a question, the sergeant said the department has no reason to suspect that the ongoing investigation might lead to charges against other deputies.

In March, seven former deputies were sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to five years for their parts in a massive money-skimming scheme that a Los Angeles federal judge portrayed as “unprecedented corruption” in local law enforcement.

U.S. District Judge Edward Rafeedie noted in sentencing the officers that the deputies had stolen $893,000 during narcotics raids. He said the repercussions had brought the anti-drug efforts of the Sheriff’s Department to a virtual standstill for months.