Local business alertly helps police nab suspects passing bad checks

On Thursday, July 27, at about 1:45 p.m., Lemoore police officers were called to a business on West Hanford-Armona Road regarding a pair of suspects attempting to pass a counterfeit check.

The reporting party stated that one of the suspects tried to cash a check at the store, but according to the prospective victim, it did not appear legitimate. Instead, he contacted the bank, and it advised the business that the check was fraudulent and to notify the police.

Officers contacted the two subjects and detained the subjects after examining the check. Both subjects initially provided false names to an officer but were later identified as Jose Aldana, 33, and Erick Vasquez, 43, both of whom were from the Los Angeles area.

Upon further investigation, officers discovered two more fraudulent checks and three fake identification cards, two of which were counterfeit California DMV drivers’ licenses.

Aldana and Vasquez were questioned and later booked into the Kings County Jail for false personation, identity theft, conspiracy to commit a crime, burglary, forgery, and possession of a falsified driver’s license. Aldana's bail was $130,000 and Vasquez's bail set at $250,000.

Police believe the suspects are part of a larger group cashing fraudulent checks in and around Kings County. If you have any information on these crimes, please contact the Lemoore Police Department at 559-924-9574