An Indio man was behind bars Friday on suspicion of bilking $12,000 from a La Quinta resident with a bogus check and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Phillip Padilla, 36, was arrested Thursday when Riverside County sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant in the 45000 block of King Street, according to Sgt. George Acevedo.
Deputies received a report of the alleged fraud back in August, with the La Quinta victim reporting a loss of up to $12,000 due to a fraudulent check.
During Thursday’s search, deputies discovered Padilla was in possession of a firearm, ammunition and a “high capacity magazine,” according to Acevedo.
Padilla was arrested without incident and booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio on $30,000 bail.
Jail records indicate he could make his initial appearance at the Larson Justice Center as early as Tuesday.
Padilla’s documented felony history was not immediately available.