California Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, at podium, and other officials announce indictments of 32 members of purported street gangs on charges of stealing more than $1 million using an unusually sophisticated credit card fraud, at a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Sept. 10, 2018. More than 30 East Bay street gang members were indicted Monday for allegedly running a $1 million fraud scheme by stealing and hacking credit card terminals and accounts of dozens of Northern California businesses.Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the charges against 32 members of the BullyBoy and CoCo Boys street gangs which operate in Antioch, Pittsburg, and Bay Point.The gangs reportedly worked together to steal credit card terminals from businesses and then used those terminals to process fake returns. Rather than having the returns go back to the business or the customer, the gang members would put money on a debit card and keep the card themselves.Investigators say the suspects hit dozens of businesses including many medical and dental offices in 11 Northern California counties over a period of two years. Today’s announcement serves as a reminder to all business owners to take all necessary precautions to avoid becoming the target of fraud.”

The investigation began as a February 2016 after investigators reportedly noticed similarities between incidents of burglaries and credit card schemes that happened in 13 Northern California counties. "This investigation remarkably demonstrates the increasing level of sophistication by which criminal gangs operate in California," said Kent A. Shaw, Executive Director of Western States Information network which was involved in the investigation.Investigators say they recovered 40 stolen credit card terminals and dozens of recipes depicting fraudulent returns.The suspects face 63 counts of conspiracy to commit grand theft; 54 counts of hacking, computer access and fraud; 56 counts of grand theft; 59 counts of burglary; and eight counts of identity theft. From left are Deputy Attorney General Tawnya Austin, who heads the attorney general's e-crimes unit; Walnut Creek Police Chief Tom Chaplin; Becerra; Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn; and Vacaville Police Chief John Carli. Multiple law enforcement agencies began looking into the burglaries in February 2016, seizing stolen terminals, laptops, and “personal files detailing Social Security numbers or bank information,” Becerra’s office said in a press release.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announces the arrest of 32 East Bay street gangsters linked to a million-dollar fraud conspiracy.