Manhattan Beach Bank Fraud Defendants Make Pleas

Plea deals were made this week for the last three defendants remaining in a massive bank fraud case uncovered by Manhattan Beach police officers. Luiz Ceron, 37, and Jose Ortiz, 32, were each sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday in Torrance Superior Court, according to Detective Joe Aiello. Using a computer, Ceron manufactured fake identifications, including Mexican consular cards, which he sold to others. The others opened up bank accounts with the cards. Then they wrote checks from one account, deposited them into another and then withdrew the nonexistent funds. The operation cost four banks more than $140,000, Aiello said. Ortiz was the "runner" in the operation who acted as a middleman between Ceron and others in the ring. Posted in: Check Fraud