Scammed: California’s unclaimed property website

A group of eight Southern Californians are accused of defrauding the state of at least $1.5 million by filing false claims through California's unclaimed property website.

A federal indictment against the group was unsealed in San Diego this week by the U.S. Attorney – three arrests had been made as of Thursday, another five suspects remain at large.

Ignacio Garcia Nunez, and Cesar Alfonso Benitez, both of Calexico, and Alma Gurrola, of Agoura Hills have been apprehended, while Stan Gurrola, Moises Y. Covarrubias, Manuel Reyes Ornela, Moises Covarrubias Angulo, all of Calexico, and Claudia Griselda Stolp of Newbury Park remain at large.

The suspects face charges of conspiracy, mail fraud, and money laundering, which carry charges of up to 20 years in prison.