Tustin Man Accused in Credit Card Scheme

A Tustin man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of using credit card numbers stolen from a pet insurance company’s database with more than 77,000 accounts, officials said.

Fernando Orozco Monje, 32, was arrested in Santa Ana for investigation of 68 felony counts, including identity theft, grand theft, unlawful use of computer data and unlawful possession of credit card accounts, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.

Monje worked as an information services technician at Veterinary Pet Insurance in Brea from 2002 through 2003. Authorities believe he accessed client information and attempted 60 identity theft transactions, said Mark Sevigny, a senior deputy district attorney.

“One common theme ... was that all the victims seemed to be people who had gotten insurance through VPI and paid for their insurance online with their credit cards,” he said.

Twenty of the transactions were successful and resulted in losses of more than $28,000, Sevigny said. Jewelry, wine and other goods were bought, he said.

Santa Ana police, acting on an arrest warrant, took Monje into custody at his in-laws’ home. He is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Santa Ana.