Multiple Crime Suspect Slated to be Arraigned

A 27-year-old man is expected to be arraigned today on forgery, illegal weapon and drug charges after police found checks, credit cards and driver’s licenses stolen from more than 100 Valley residents in his apartment, police said.

Jay Ybarra was arrested Monday and is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Van Nuys jail, said Det. Carl Whiting, head of the career criminals unit at the Van Nuys LAPD station.

During a follow-up to an unrelated drug arrest on Thursday, officers searched Ybarra’s Independence Street apartment and found about 100 personal checks, 50 credit cards, 50 driver’s licenses, 50 identification cards, all in other people’s names, police said.

Ybarra may have learned of the search, because he did not return to his apartment and turned himself in to police Monday, Whiting said.

Police are still seeking other suspects, Whiting said.

During Thursday’s search, police also seized four guns, methamphetamines, marijuana, two computers, a high-resolution scanner and printer, three boxes of receipts and about $30,000 of goods that were purchased with the stolen credit cards and checks.

The total amount of illegal purchases may be far higher, because police believe the suspect sold items directly to buyers or at swap meets, police said.