On 05/15/15 at about 2:30 PM, a Deputy John Gray was flagged-down by a CVS employee regarding a theft in progress. The employee pointed towards a White Male Adult standing next to a Red Mitsubishi Eclipse in the parking lot, telling the deputy the individual was stealing alcohol from the Cameron Park store. The male was accompanied by three other persons, and seeing the deputy, got quickly into the car.

Deputy Gray contacted the group. The person the employee was pointing towards was identified as 21 year-old Samuel White of Sacramento. With him were 23 year-old Rudolph Beltran of Sacramento, 23 year-old Jasmine Wasi of Elk Grove, and another 16 year-old female juvenile from Rancho Cordova. All four were detained pending a theft investigation.

Checking Samuel White for weapons, Deputy Gray located seven bottles of alcohol concealed on his person. He removed a bottle of Crown Royal, a bottle of Elijah Craig, a bottle of Gentleman Jack, and four bottles of Smirnoff Vodka. The bottles were in White’s waist band, crotch area, and down his pant legs. When taken into custody, White thought he’d be released with a citation due to the passage of Prop 47.

Deputy Steve Coburn arrived to assist. Searching the vehicle, twenty-two more bottles of alcohol were located in the trunk (see attached photo). A backpack inside the car also contained numerous bottles of alcohol to include 151 Bacardi, a bottle of Captain Morgan, more Crown Royal and Gentleman Jack, and three bottles of Sailor Jerry. The alcohol in the trunk appeared to have been stolen.

During the investigation, deputies learned the group had formulated plans on how they were going to steal alcohol. They would go into a store with baggy clothing or the backpack, fill their clothes or the backpack with hard alcohol, and unload the stolen property into the vehicle. Once unloaded, they would start again at another store. Also located inside the backpack was processed marijuana. More processed marijuana was found in the glove compartment of the vehicle.

Samuel White and Rudolph Beltran were booked into the El Dorado County Jail for shoplifting and conspiracy. Beltran received an additional charge of possession of concentrated cannabis. Jasmine Wasi was also booked for possession of concentrated cannabis. The vehicle was towed and the female juvenile was released to a parent.

Due to the passage Prop 47, the deputies could not charge the suspects with Burglary (entering a building with the specific intent to commit a theft – a felony). Under Prop 47, even though there was pre-planning and multiple thefts in the same day, deputies could only charge them with shoplifting or petty theft under new California Law.

Lt. Tom Murdoch

Bottles from the suspect vehicle (the bottles found inside the backpack and on Samuel White are not included in this photo).

Booking photo of Samuel White

Booking photo of Rudolph (Rudy) Beltran

Booking photo of Jasmine Wasi

On 04/07/15 at about 7:00 AM the Sheriff’s Office took a report from Safeway off Missouri Flat Road where a Hispanic Male Adult attempted to make a purchase using a fake $100 bill. The suspect left the store and got into a silver SUV being driven by a female. The male was described as being in his late 20’s wearing a dark blue sweater and black pants.

On 04/28/15 at about 12:25 PM deputies were dispatched to the Sizzler Restaurant in Cameron Park regarding a counterfeit $100 bill. The suspect was described as a Hispanic Male Adult, in his late 20’s, 6’ tall, with a heavy build last seen walking towards Safeway. He appeared to the same suspect that used a phony $100 bill the week prior at the same restaurant.

On 05/08/15 at about 3:37 PM, the Sheriff’s Office responded to the Round Table Pizza on Missouri Flat Road regarding counterfeit money. The suspect was described as a Hispanic Male Adult accompanied by a Hispanic Female Adult driving a green BMW. The male reportedly tried to use a fake $100 to buy food. While the restaurant called EDSO, the suspect left. Deputy Jeff Tucker assisted by Deputy Tim Peterson located and stopped a vehicle matching the description near Green Valley Road and Mallard Lane in Placerville. Arrested was 30 year-old Marcus Rodriguez of West Sacramento. The female, 23 year-old Shayla Godsey of the Shingle Springs Rancheria, was cited for driving with a suspended driver’s license. Rodrigues is also a suspect in similar activities in Washoe County, Nevada.

Booking photo of Marcus Rodriguez

05/09/15 at about 5:15 PM, someone used a counterfeit $100 bill to purchase clothing at Snowline Hospice in Cameron Park. The suspects were a male and female who were shopping together. The male was described as a Hispanic Male Adult, 25 years old, 6’01”, weighing about 200 pounds. The female was described as a Hispanic Adult, 25 years old, about 5’04” tall, weighing about 125 pounds. No vehicle seen.

On 05/12/15 at about 2:40 PM, a Hispanic Male Adult attempted to pass a $20 bill at the 76 gas station on South Shingle Road. The suspect was driving an older blue Nissan Pickup Truck with a lumber rack. The male was described as being in his mid-20s, 5’ 5” tall, about 130 pounds, wearing a black hat, a black t-shirt, and jeans.

On 05/15/15 a counterfeit $100 bill was located by Revenue and Recovery in Shingle Springs. The business received the fake bill through a customer transaction who reportedly got it from Walmart in Folsom when cashing a Social Security check. There is no suspect information.

On 05/17/15 at about 4:15 PM, Safeway in Pollock Pines reported receiving a counterfeit $20 bill. The bill was located in one of their cash registers. There was no suspect information.

These cases may or may not be related however an increase in the use of counterfeit money has noticeably increased in El Dorado County. Businesses are encouraged to check all cash received to ensure it is genuine before completing a transaction. If any suspicious currency is received, please keep the bill and call 911. If the person leaves, make note of the person(s) description, what they are driving, license plate number, and direction of travel. If anyone has information on any previous case, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at (530) 621-5655 or email us at EDSO.org.

Lt. Tom Murdoch

On 05/08/15 at 7:18 PM, deputies responded to the Fairplay Road, Mount Aukum area for a reported kidnapping by force. The suspect was allegedly armed with a gun and held a female adult against her will. The female was a passenger in the suspect’s vehicle, a GMC 4X4 Pickup Truck, headed towards Highway 50.

On Highway 50 in the area of Red Hawk Parkway, the suspect vehicle was located and pulled over by Deputy Sean Gillespie. Deputy Bryan Payne and his partner assisted with the traffic stop. Due to the driver possibly being armed, the deputies had the occupants exit the vehicle at gunpoint. The driver was later identified as 34 year-old Sumanpreet Singh of Sacramento.

Singh was not very cooperative with the deputies. He would not follow basic directions and actively pulled away and resisted when handcuffed. He appeared to have been drinking but refused to cooperate with a DUI Investigation. Searching his vehicle, deputies located a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun and a Ruger .22 rifle.

The female that was with Singh said she was scared but had not been kidnapped. Deputies transported her to Folsom where she could catch a ride home. Singh was subsequently arrested for carrying a concealed firearm, under his immediate control in his vehicle, and resisting arrest. He was released on $10,000.00 bond.

Lt. Tom Murdoch

Booking photo of Sumanpreet Singh