Palm Springs Vacation Rental Fraud Investigation Leads to Three Arrests

PALM SPRINGS, CA — A trio of suspects were in custody Thursday on suspicion of fraud, firearm and drug-related charges following a Palm Springs police investigation into the use of stolen credit cards to rent out local vacation rental properties.

David Anthony Hurtado, Jr., 39, of Mecca; Gabriela Munique Vidal, 33, of Cathedral City and Evania Racquel Lopez Salgado, 24, of Hemet, were arrested at about 3:45 p.m. Tuesday outside a vacation rental in the 700 block of West Via Vadera.

Police were investigating the use of stolen credit cards to rent out Palm Springs vacation rentals on five separate occasions when they found the suspects inside a parked car outside the Via Vadera property, said Palm Springs police Sgt. William Hutchinson.

The five alleged incidences of fraud occurred "over the past several months" and were perpetrated "by at least one female suspect," according to Hutchinson. The fraud and identity theft investigation is continuing, according to police, with more than a dozen potential victims identified.

A search of the car turned up a stolen, loaded .40 caliber handgun, an unregistered AR-15 .223 caliber semi-automatic assault rifle, a loaded high- capacity AR-15 rifle magazine, ammunition, just under a pound of methamphetamine, 11 grams of heroin and "multiple items of identity theft," Hutchinson said.

Prosecutors charged Vidal Thursday with 18 felony counts, including nine counts of identity theft, burglary, attempted burglary, possession of assault weapon and possession of controlled substances.

Hurtado, who previously made headlines for arranging the attempted murders of two California Highway Patrol officers and a Border Patrol officer in 2012, was charged with possession of controlled substances for sale and allegations of owning firearms.

Hurtado pleaded guilty in 2015 to charges that include assault on a peace officer for calling upon another man to fire at the officers after they pulled Hurtado over during a traffic stop in Indio. The officers were able to duck for cover and were not struck by the gunfire.

The alleged shooter, Samuel Carrillo Ortiz, 43, remains in custody on $1 million bail and is awaiting trial for three counts of attempted murder.

Hurtado was sentenced to eight years and eight months in state prison, but also received credit for about three years served in county jail prior to his plea agreement. It was uncertain when he was released on parole.

Lopez was charged with attempted burglary, identity theft, firearm possession, vandalism and giving a false ID to a police officer.

All three -- who were each either on parole or probation at the time of their arrests -- pleaded not guilty to all charges Thursday afternoon and are due back in court Sept. 12 for a felony settlement conference.

— By City News Service / Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone