Police Get $54,000 From ’97 Fraud Raid

The Police Department on Wednesday claimed $54,402 as its share of loot seized in a spectacular 1997 arrest for credit card fraud.

“This was a very large and significant case,” said Robert Brenner, resident agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service office in Santa Ana, whose agents assisted local officers in making the original arrest. “It’s important to take assets away from criminals.”

The case began when a Garden Grove store complained to police about being defrauded out of two computers purchased with bogus credit cards. Working undercover with federal agents, local police made another delivery to the same address and, on Dec. 17, 1997, seized a garage full of stolen goods. Among the items seized were 186 fraudulent credit cards, 150 credit card applications, records of 54 bank accounts, about $100,000 worth of electronic gear including computers, printers and digital cameras, and $78,390 in cash.

Federal agents also took possession of a Fountain Valley home determined to have been bought with proceeds from the crimes.

After efforts to locate owners of the seized property, Secret Service officials divided the assets with local police. About $300,000 in proceeds from the sale of the Fountain Valley house will remain in federal hands, according to Brenner. Tuesday’s check represents the Police Department’s share--70%--of the cash seized in the 1997 raid.

“It’s a way that local communities can benefit from fighting crime,” Brenner said.

Police arrested Joannie Dang, 32, who eventually served 100 days of house arrest and is still on probation for possession of stolen property. An alleged accomplice--Danny Tran, 34--was later arrested on similar charges in Houston where he faces extradition to California.