Friday, October 31, 2008

AmCan man arrested for check fraud

By MARSHA DORGAN
Register Staff Writer

Three people ended up waiting it out in a jail cell after one of them attempted to cash a bogus check at an American Canyon bank on Wednesday.

Narcisco Santiago Decastro went into the Bank of America near the Wal-Mart Super Store and presented a check to the teller on an account that was no longer in use, American Canyon Police Sgt. Mike Hunter said.

The teller refused to cash the check, and Decastro left the bank. Bank staff contacted police.

Investigators called the person whose name was printed on the check, Hunter said.

“He lives in San Francisco and told us his checks were stolen last month.”

Next, detectives went to the address that was printed on the check — on the 100 block of Wetlands Edge in American Canyon.

When they arrived the house appeared to be vacant, Hunter said. “We talked to neighbors who said they thought the house was being used for parties.”

The officers left and returned later to find a car in the driveway.

Decastro was inside the car, Hunter said. “He was taken into custody.”

After obtaining a warrant, investigators searched the house and found Cheryl Ann Alviar and Analy Villasenor hiding in a closet, Hunter said.

Drugs and drug paraphernalia were also found in the house.

Decastro, 33, of American Canyon, was arrested on suspicion of felony mail theft, possession of stolen property, forgery and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Villasenor, 25, of Napa, was arrested on suspicion possession of drug paraphernalia.

Alviar, 30, of South San Francisco, was arrested on possession of drugs and violation of probation.

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