2 arrested in alleged fraudulent e-bike purchase scheme, Huntington Beach police say
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Two people were arrested after Huntington Beach police said a local bike shop helped uncover an alleged fraud scheme involving the purchase of five e-bikes valued at more than $8,000.
According to police, the suspects placed a large order for five e-bikes from a local bike shop in Huntington Beach. Eyewitness News has learned the shop is Jax Bicycle Center. The size of the purchase prompted employees to take a closer look at the transaction before the order was picked up.
Police said employees conducted additional verification of the credit card used to make the purchase and determined it was fraudulent. The business then contacted law enforcement.
The suspects were scheduled to pick up the bikes in person Monday. Instead, police said officers were waiting when they arrived and took them into custody.
The suspects were identified as Vesna Chan and John Nguyen. Police said both were booked on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges. Chan faces charges of burglary, conspiracy to commit crime, and possession of burglary tools. Nguyen faces a longer list, including forgery, obtaining money by false pretenses, possession of bad checks, burglary, fraud, conspiracy, possession of burglary tools and mail theft.
Investigators also reported finding additional evidence of identity theft and burglary tools inside the suspects' vehicle.
In a social media post, Huntington Beach police highlighted the case as an example of businesses and community members working with law enforcement. The department credited employees at the bike shop for conducting additional verification and alerting authorities after identifying the alleged fraud.
