Authorities in Corona have arrested two men accused of orchestrating a sophisticated vehicle fraud operation, which allegedly scammed victims out of thousands of dollars.
The Corona Police Department reported the arrests on Feb. 26 after a victim came forward claiming they had been deceived out of $23,000 while attempting to purchase a vehicle through Craigslist.
Fraudulent Sale Leads to Investigation
According to investigators, the victim had met with the seller at a local bank, where they were shown what appeared to be legitimate DMV registration documents. Convinced the paperwork was authentic, the buyer completed the $23,000 payment. However, they later discovered that the registration documents were forged, and the vehicle had actually been rented through the Turo app.
Setting Up a Sting Operation
Authorities, working with the victim, located another suspicious vehicle listing that matched the previous scam. A meeting was arranged, leading to the arrest of Sebastian Flores, the alleged seller, who arrived in yet another fraudulent vehicle.
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Bodycam footage captured a sergeant questioning Flores, who claimed he had simply gone to Starbucks for coffee and a croissant despite staying in Pomona and claiming to be a resident of Arizona.
Further Investigation and Second Arrest
A background check revealed that Flores had an active felony warrant for conspiracy and auto theft. Inside the vehicle, police uncovered additional fraudulent paperwork.
Meanwhile, detectives also stopped a second vehicle attempting to leave the scene. The driver, identified as Lasso Floris, was found to have a felony warrant for trafficking stolen vehicles.
Both suspects, who have a history of similar crimes, were booked on multiple felony charges, including conspiracy, fraud, and grand theft auto.
Authorities Urge Caution
Investigators believe there may be additional victims and encourage anyone who may have been defrauded by the suspects to contact local law enforcement.
Police are also advising the public to verify all vehicle documents directly with the DMV before finalizing any private-party car purchases .
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