27 Arrested in Orange County Fix-It Ticket Scam

California Highway Patrol Capt. Gil Campo, at podium, speaks about 27 arrests as part of the ongoing Operation Sign-Off in Santa Ana, Calif., on Dec. 7, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

SANTA ANA, Calif.—California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials released details Dec. 7 of an alleged fix-it ticket scheme for illegal street racers which led to 27 arrests in Orange County on Tuesday.

“It is very rare to find and arrest all the suspects involved in an investigative case,” CHP Capt. Gilbert Campa said during a news conference. “Their illegal activities were posted over social media.”

In August, CHP officers arrested illegal street racing promoter Angel Zahid Sanchez-Peralta, 21, of Los Angeles, kicking off an ongoing investigation seeking the arrests of those involved in his alleged unlawful business, where signatures of CHP officers were forged signing off on “fix-it” violations, such as a vehicle having been illegally modified or missing a part, as being repaired..

California Highway Patrol officers speak about 27 successful arrests as part of the ongoing Operation Sign-Off in Santa Ana, Calif., on Dec. 7, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

According to authorities, Sanchez-Peralta allegedly forged over 250 such citations issued to those who had been involved in street racing in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

For his services, he charged clients $300, according to officials.

“[Sanchez-Peralta] signed off on these citations for profit using the names of current and former law enforcement officers,” Campa said.

Sanchez-Peralta, who promoted the alleged scheme using social media platforms—like Instagram under the name @angelthedemon—was often promoted by clientele using Instagram’s story function, allowing users to post temporary stories and linking opportunities to the suspect while also revealing the buyers of his services.

The gear shifter of a car in Santa Ana, Calif., on April 29, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Evidence ultimately seized from Sanchez-Peralta led to the arrest of all suspects involved in the operation.

“Street racing is always illegal and extremely dangerous as onlookers and participants can be killed or extremely injured,” Campa said. “Public assistance is essential to stop street racing.”

Sanchez-Peralta was charged in October with 33 felony counts of forgery, according to court records. The dates of the alleged violations range from October 2020 through January of this year.

He was arrested in August and released from jail after posting a $20,000 bail. He is due back in court for a pretrial hearing Dec. 21 at the Central Justice Center of Santa Ana.

City News Service contributed to this report.