The victim found out that someone had earned $30,000 using his Social Security number. He alerted authorities, who launched an investigation.
Officials with the Thousand Oaks Forgery/Fraud Unit and the Monterey County Sheriff's Department followed the evidence, which led to two local restaurants in Thousand Oaks, where the suspect worked.
Elier Aldana-Romero, 26, was arrested for identity theft and possession of a counterfeit Social Security card. He was booked into the East Valley Jail with bail set at $50,000.
