Holy Fire Fraud; Gal Accused Of Faking Firefighter Hubby For Cash

SAN CLEMENTE, CA —While Orange County watched the Holy Fire rage in August 2018, one south Orange County woman decided to use their sympathy to benefit herself, police say.

On Tuesday Police arrested Ashley Bemis, a 28-year-old San Juan Capistrano woman, on multiple felony charges for defrauding the good people of Orange County out of money, goods, and donations they thought would help the firefighters on the front line, according to Orange County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Carrie Braun.

Bemis posted pictures of herself and her fictitious firefighter husband asking for donations, Braun said.

She then used social media to solicit for items she claimed would benefit the firefighters working alongside her husband battling the blaze that ultimately burned more than 23,000 acres in the Cleveland National Forest and destroyed 18 structures.

People and businesses in San Clemente made donations, however when some began to question her motives, Bemis did make a showing of delivering some items to a post in Irvine, Patch reported in August. Investigators later discovered a trove of items in Bemis's garage. She is suspected of taking more than $2,000 in cash and items such as socks, sports drinks, water, and camping equipment, Braun said.

"A captain with a local fire agency became suspicious of Bemis' requests, and contacted the Orange County Sheriff's Department to investigate," Braun said. "Investigators interviewed victims and obtained search warrants for Bemis' vehicle, residence, and garages. They recovered donated items consistent with the items Bemis collected intended as donations for the Holy Fire."

"They also became aware, through additional social media posts from members of the community, of past (allegedly) fraudulent activity by Bemis, including multiple prior faked pregnancies in an attempt to illegally obtain money from unsuspecting victims."

The investigation led to OCSD serving a warrant for Bemis' arrest.

Bemis was booked on suspicion of felony grand theft, second-degree burglary, witness intimidation and making false financial statements, Braun said.

She was being held on $50,000 bail.

Related: Did You Donate To Holy Fire Scam?

OCSD photo