Person of interest sought in Orange County sex scam robbery
SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- Santa Ana police are asking for the public's help in identifying a female person of interest in connection to a sex scam robbery.
Police say Christopher Herrera, 27, of Bell Gardens, Sandy Cacero, 24, of La Palma and a third unidentified female are linked to numerous assaults and robberies throughout Southern California.
Detectives say the trio set up meetings with several victims through the website Backpage.com, which advertises escort services.
On Feb. 11, Herrera and Cacero were arrested after allegedly assaulting and pepper spraying a victim at a Best Western Hotel in the 24200 block of Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point. Both suspects posted bail and were released.
"[The suspects] used pepper spray, used items to beat the victims," said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna. "They're losing more than just their money. They're losing property."
The pair were also linked to an attempted robbery at a DoubleTree Hotel in the 200 block of East MacArthur Boulevard in Santa Ana. Surveillance video shows the two suspects and the third female person of interest fleeing the scene. The Santa Ana Police Department is now focusing its attention on the third female.
"Our detectives only know her as Jamie and the information we're getting is that she is from the North Hollywood area," Bertagna said.
Santa Ana police say they've received calls from several other police agencies linking the three suspects and possibly others to the same sex scam.
"Not only here in Orange County but L.A. County where it appears that the suspects are committing these same crimes," Bertagna said.
The trio was also linked to a crime on the campus of UC Irvine. University officials say a student who requested an escort was robbed by five people at his graduate student apartment.
"They came in and kind of rifled through his belongings and took his wallet and some cash," said UCI spokeswoman Cathy Lawhon.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to call Santa Ana Police Department Det. Cpl. Adrian Silva at (714) 245-8545 or (714) 834-4211 or the Orange County Sheriff's Department at (714) 647-7000.
