A Bay Area man who reportedly set up a “sophisticated identity theft factory” in a Ukiah hotel room was recently sentenced in Mendocino County Superior Court to 48 months of prison time, the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office reported.
According to DA David Eyster, James R. Arias, 42, of Oakland, “was convicted by plea in mid-November of felony identity theft with a prior El Dorado County conviction for felony identity theft, (and) also admitted having suffered a prior Strike conviction.”
The recent conviction followed an investigation launched in late January 2025 by the Ukiah Police Department, which the DA reports was “notified by an out-of-county victim of a person using the victim’s personal credit information in Ukiah to pay for a local hotel room. When the UPD responded to investigate, the desk clerk identified defendant Arias as the man who checked in and rented a room using what turned out to be the Los Angeles man’s stolen credit card number and verifying information.”
The DA notes that “the Los Angeles victim was a private investigator who was experienced in crimes involving fraud, (who) was awakened by a cell phone alert around 3 o’clock in the morning saying his credit card was being used in Ukiah. He responded to the alert with a fraud reply, and then called the UPD to report the crime.”
When law enforcement search the suspect’s room after his arrest, the DA reports that they found “he had printers, laptops, computer tablets, credit card processing devices, information from the dark web and everyday mail that (he could use to) produce counterfeit credit and debit cards, counterfeit checks, and digital payment wallets on a cell phone using stolen Social Security numbers and other stolen personal identifiers. He was in possession of personal information that would have allowed him to victimized at least 47 individuals, many living and working in Sonoma County.”
The DA adds that “the defendant had been targeting unlocked residential mailboxes in an effort to add to his stash of stolen information. He was also mining the ‘dark web’ to find information that had been uploaded by unsavory and criminal-minded individuals.”
Previously, the DA notes, Arias “was convicted in 2021 of the same identity theft conduct in the El Dorado County Superior Court. He also served a lengthy sentence in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute hard drugs. The defendant’s prior Strike conviction was out of the Yuba County Superior Court in 2020 for furnishing hard drugs in 2017 to a female minor.”
Eyster also shared some tips on how to prevent Identity Theft, which “occurs when someone uses your personal information — such as your Social Security number, credit card details, or bank account info without permission — to commit fraud, open accounts, or steal money.”
Some effective prevention strategies include:
Freeze your credit. This is one of the strongest protections. A credit freeze prevents new accounts from being opened in your name by blocking access to your credit reports. It’s free, and you can lift it temporarily when needed (e.g., for a loan application). Contact each of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Monitor your credit reports regularly. Review them for unauthorized accounts, inquiries, or errors. Early detection may stop thieves faster. Use strong, unique passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA). Create complex passwords (mix of letters, numbers, symbols) and never reuse them across accounts. Enable MFA wherever possible – it adds an extra verification step (like a code sent to your phone). Protect your Social Security number (SSN). Don’t carry your SSN card in your wallet. Only share it when absolutely necessary, and ask if alternatives (like a different ID) can be used. For tax-related risks, get an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS. Shred sensitive documents and secure your mail. Use a cross-cut shredder for anything with personal info (bills, statements, pre-approved credit offers). Collect mail promptly and consider a locked mailbox. Be cautious online and with communications. Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions. Don’t click links or attachments in unsolicited emails/texts (phishing scams). Verify requests for info by contacting organizations directly using known numbers. Review accounts and statements frequently. Check bank, credit card, and other accounts often for unauthorized activity. Set up alerts for transactions. Consider fraud alerts if at higher risk. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports (free, lasts 1 year initially) to require extra verification for new credit applications. Additional tips: Use antivirus software and keep devices updated.; be wary of data breaches – monitor affected accounts closely; for children or dependents, consider freezing their credit when available.Hence then, the article about da oakland man convicted of id theft in mendocino county was published today ( ) and is available on Ukiah Daily Journal ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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