Sonora, CA…From the Tuolumne Sheriff’s Dept..”A suspicious vehicle check nets two arrests for crimes related to identity theft and drug charges. Just after two o’clock Monday morning, Cpl. Benson spotted a white U-Haul rental pick-up parked on a gravel easement just off of Chicken Ranch Road in Jamestown. The female passenger, 27-year-old Heather Roberts of Jamestown, exited the truck when she saw the patrol car spot light and claimed no one else was inside. 36-year-old Thomas Alvarado of Modesto was found hiding in the cab of the pick-up. Alvarado identified himself with the driver’s license of a Sacramento area man. Even though the picture on the driver’s license did not match that of Alvarado, he stood firm that he was someone else.

A search of Alvarado and the truck turned up several washed and forged bank checks, three fake driver’s licenses, possible stolen mail, credit cards not belonging to him, and his issued driver’s license which was hidden in his shoe. A small amount of methamphetamine and a methamphetamine smoking pipe were also found.

Alvarado had two felony warrants out of Stanislaus County for charges of burglary, grand theft, identity theft, and drug possession. He was also wanted in Tuolumne County for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Alvarado now faces additional charges of false personation of another, possession of forged bank checks valued at more than $950, forgery, identity theft, possession of deceptive government identifications, false identification to law enforcement, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Roberts is facing charges of possession of drug paraphernalia.

The pair were transported and booked into the Tuolumne County Jail.

Deputies found information for up to 10 identity theft victims during the initial investigation of this incident.
Attempts will be made to reach out to these victims who reside in Sacramento, Stanislaus, Alameda, and Tuolumne Counties.