UCLA graduate student suspected of financial fraud, theft

Thursday, March 14, 1996

UCLA graduate student suspected of financial fraud, theft

By Marie Blanchard

Daily Bruin Contributor

When university police officers arrested a UCLA graduate student for stealing car stereos from a Sunset Village parking lot last week, they had no idea they were dealing with a man who may be responsible for the loss of over $75,000 worth of stolen merchandise and fraudulent checks.

But after arresting the suspect, who identified himself as Hector Cadillo, the subsequent investigation led police to the suspect's home in Pacific Palisades, where they discovered more than $60,000 in stolen merchandise - including car stereos, cellular phones, laser printers and Porsche rims.

Investigators also said they found birth certificates, passports and driver's licenses under four different names, as well as checkbooks under nonexistent accounts.

Police believe Cadillo used the high-tech computers, fax machines, laser printers and laminators found in the apartment to create fake pieces of identification. After further investigation police also concluded that Cadillo was responsible for a recent fraudulent check case at the Ackerman bookstore.

Cadillo is suspected of having written a $5,000 dollar check using a false checking account. The USC Police Department was also brought into the investigation when evidence suggested that Cadillo was also enrolled at USC. He is also believed to have used his fake checks on more than $10,000 dollars at the USC bookstore.

"The suspect is very intelligent and resourceful," said university police Sgt. James Vandenberg. "He was financing his scholastic career off other student's backs."

Police also reported that Cadillo said he was not working alone.

"Another UCLA student may be involved," Vandenberg said.

The suspect has also told police that he knows where more stolen merchandise is located, although he has refused to divulge the whereabouts.

Cadillo is currently enrolled at UCLA as a chemistry graduate student, although he is enrolled under another name.

He was released on a $30,000 bail and will face counts of grand theft and burglary in court next Monday in West L.A.Comments to webmaster@db.asucla.ucla.edu