SONOMA COUNTY, CA – Santa Rosa man accused of using someone else’s identity to purchase a car from a local dealership, and detectives believe he may have stolen information personal to other victims in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County and throughout California.

The Santa Rosa Police Department was made aware of the fraudulent car loan in early September and it was then that an investigation began.

Detectives identified Daniel McRae, 27, as the suspect and arrested him on September 22 while conducting surveillance near Dutton Avenue and National Highway 12.

“At the time of his arrest, McRae was in possession of a significant amount of mail and other documents containing personally identifying information for other victims,” said Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Christopher Mahurin said in a press release Friday.

Detectives served search warrants on the same day at two residences; one in the 400 block of Link Lane and one in the 500 block of Aston Way. They also searched a storage unit in the 900 block of Hopper Avenue.

During the searches, detectives found an unregistered and loaded firearm as well as evidence of fraudulent credit cards and identity cards; stolen mail and personally identifiable information records for more than 100 victims in Sonoma County and the state of California, police said.

“In most cases, McRae had social security numbers, birthdays, addresses, names, maiden names and other sensitive personal information,” Mahurin said. “The evidence revealed that McRae used this information to obtain credit cards and loans on behalf of various victims and to establish online accounts for various consumer services.”

McRae has a criminal record and is already on formal probation for five convictions, including burglary, forgery, identity theft and being a felon in possession of a gun, police said.

McRae was incarcerated in Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of 27 new crimes, including burglary, car theft, false identity (three counts), identity theft (three counts), forgery, possession of personal identification information with background (three counts), unauthorized possession of personal information of 10 or more victims, forgery of records, forgery of driver’s license, grand theft of access cards, forgery of access card for defrauding, equipment for forgery of access cards, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition12, violation of probation (five counts) and falsification of the vehicle registration.

McRae remained in custody Friday at the Sonoma County Jail where he was being held without bail Friday, records show.

The investigation was underway on Friday, with further follow-up needed for detectives as they work to contact all possible identity theft victims linked to the case, Mahurin said.

Police posted McRae’s booking photo and encouraged anyone who believes they have been a victim to contact SRPD Property Crime Detective Tim Gooler at [email protected]

“Before contacting us, please check if you have not been the victim of identity theft (lines of credit unknown on your credit report, notified by your bank / credit union of suspicious activity on your account , etc.), ”Mahurin said. .