Sheriff's Deputies Make Arrest in ATM Fraud Case
Goleta - March 19th, 2008
In February 2008, the manager of the Fuel Station located at the intersection of Turnpike Road and Calle Real in Santa Barbara, discovered shortages totaling $30,000.00 over a one month period from an exterior ATM machine. In speaking with Sheriff’s Detectives the manager stated that the machine did not appear to have ever been tampered with or otherwise damaged during this period of time.
The manager of the service station conducted his own research and discovered a process, which provided insight into how money can be obtained from ATM machines. This process requires specific computer knowledge in addition to knowledge of ATM machines and how they operate; only with this knowledge can a person defeat the internal security systems of ATM machines. With this knowledge, the Manager enlisted the assistance of a private investigator to conduct surveillance of the ATM machine. Within one day, on March 13, 2008, the suspect returned to the ATM machine and obtained money from it fraudulently. This subject was then followed as the Sheriff’s Department was contacted. Sheriff’s Patrol Deputies conducted a vehicle stop and shortly there after assisted by Sheriff’s Detectives.
During the subsequent investigation, Sheriff’s Detectives learned that Joseph Porche had defrauded the same ATM machine 14 times over the past month. Additionally, Porche was captured on camera each time, and found to be in possession of marked money which had been placed into the ATM machine.
A search warrant later conducted at Joseph Porche’s residence located in the City of Van Nuys, provided Sheriff’s Detectives with additional evidence further linking Joseph Porche to defrauding the ATM machine at the Fuel Station. Joseph Porche was arrested for Computer Crimes Fraud. He was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail and held in lieu of $100,000.00 bail.
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