UCLA graduate student suspected of financial fraud, theft
By Daily Bruin Staff
March 13, 1996 9:00 p.m.
UCLA graduate student suspected of financial fraud, theft
By Marie Blanchard
Daily Bruin Contributor
When university police officers arrested a UCLA graduate student
for stealing car stereos from a Sunset Village parking lot last
week, they had no idea they were dealing with a man who may be
responsible for the loss of over $75,000 worth of stolen
merchandise and fraudulent checks.
But after arresting the suspect, who identified himself as
Hector Cadillo, the subsequent investigation led police to the
suspect’s home in Pacific Palisades, where they discovered more
than $60,000 in stolen merchandise – including car stereos,
cellular phones, laser printers and Porsche rims.
Investigators also said they found birth certificates, passports
and driver’s licenses under four different names, as well as
checkbooks under nonexistent accounts.
Police believe Cadillo used the high-tech computers, fax
machines, laser printers and laminators found in the apartment to
create fake pieces of identification. After further investigation
police also concluded that Cadillo was responsible for a recent
fraudulent check case at the Ackerman bookstore.
Cadillo is suspected of having written a $5,000 dollar check
using a false checking account. The USC Police Department was also
brought into the investigation when evidence suggested that Cadillo
was also enrolled at USC. He is also believed to have used his fake
checks on more than $10,000 dollars at the USC bookstore.
"The suspect is very intelligent and resourceful," said
university police Sgt. James Vandenberg. "He was financing his
scholastic career off other student’s backs."
Police also reported that Cadillo said he was not working
alone.
"Another UCLA student may be involved," Vandenberg said.
The suspect has also told police that he knows where more stolen
merchandise is located, although he has refused to divulge the
whereabouts.
Cadillo is currently enrolled at UCLA as a chemistry graduate
student, although he is enrolled under another name.
He was released on a $30,000 bail and will face counts of grand
theft and burglary in court next Monday in West L.A.Comments to
[email protected]
