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SANTA BARBARA, CA — On 04/06/09 police responded to the 200 block of North Soledad Street on a call of a theft investigation. Upon arrival officers were informed by the 55 year old victim that she had been tricked out of approximately $12,000 by two individuals who claimed to have a winning lottery ticket. The individuals told her that they couldn?t cash in the ticket because the ticket holder was not in the United States legally. If she assisted them, they would compensate her for her trouble but only after giving them a deposit.

On 04/27/09, at approximately 9:00 a.m., one of the officers that had been involved in the investigation on 04/06/09 was patrolling the area of 900 block of East Montecito Street. As he was pulling into the Scolari?s parking lot, he noticed a Hispanic male adult speaking with an elderly female. It appeared as though the female was pointing towards Milpas Street in an attempt to give directions. The officer felt that the Hispanic male fit the general description of one of the suspects involved in the incident on 04/06/09. He continued to observe as the elderly female attempted to end the conversation several times and go into the store. Each time, the Hispanic male appeared to ask more questions. The Hispanic male noticed the police car and terminated the conversation with the elderly female. The officer continued to watch the Hispanic male as he used a payphone nearby and then was picked up by a second Hispanic male driving a vehicle.

The officer followed the vehicle and noticed that it was displaying expired registration. The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle on the 200 block of North Milpas Street. The officer contacted the driver who identified himself with a Mexican Driver License as Raul Gonzalo Santana, age 44. Both subjects stated that they were tourists and were staying in a hotel in the Los Angeles area. Other officers arrived to assist. As the investigation continued, officers found Lotto tickets and money in the vehicle. Santana was arrested for being an unlicensed driver and was transported to the station. Once at the station, a fingerprint check was conducted on Santana and it revealed that he was wanted on theft charges out of New York under a different name. The passenger was interviewed and released at the traffic stop location. The victim of the theft that occurred on 04/06/09 was located and identified Santana as one of the subjects involved in the theft of her $12,000.

Santana was booked at Santa Barbara County Jail for Grand Theft and Unlicensed Driver. The police are continuing the investigation and asking that anyone who has been a victim of a Lottery scam or similar trickery to call the Santa Barbara Police Department Investigative Division at 897-2335.

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