Temecula man arrested for allegedly running online auto auction scam
Published March 3rd, 2006
A task force made up of officers from Riverside, San Diego and Imperial counties arrested a man Wednesday who allegedly used the Internet to bilk 11 victims out of about $53,000.
Stefon Bellocchi, 37, of Temecula was arrested on grand theft and fraud charges, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Investigators arrested Bellocchi without incident about 7:30 a.m., after serving a search warrant at a residence in the 32000 block of Cercle Beauregard.
The arrest stemmed from a five-month investigation. Authorities with a task forced dubbed C.A.T.C.H – for Computer and Technology Crime High-Tech Response Team – said people who thought they were buying vehicles on an online auction site never got their merchandise.
Bellocchi was taken to the Vista Detention Center, where bail was set at $25,000.
Anyone with more information about the case is asked to contact Sgt. Chuck Kaye of C.A.T.C.H, (858) 715-2365.
