3 Accused of Trying to Cash Stolen Checks

Three Moorpark men have been arrested on suspicion of trying to forge and cash checks stolen from a local horse ranch, authorities said.

Authorities said Fidel Troncoso Gonzalez, 32, Isabel Soto-Zapien, 29, and Manuel Soto-Gonzalez, 31, were arrested Tuesday at G & A Video on High Street in Moorpark after they allegedly attempted to cash three forged checks from a closed Elvenstar Ranch bank account.

The checks were stolen from the Elvenstar Ranch business office in January. On Monday, the owner of G & A Video told Ventura County sheriff’s deputies the store had recently received Elvenstar payroll checks from people claiming to be employees of the ranch. The checks had been returned from the bank because the account was closed, authorities said.

The next day, G & A Video employees told police that three people were in the store trying to pass three more checks from the Elvenstar account.

Authorities said when deputies arrived at the video store, three men were found with forged checks from the ranch in their possession. The three were arrested by deputies on suspicion of forgery and possession of stolen property.

All were booked into the East County Jail with bail set at $10,000.