More than 40 people and businesses compromised in Butte County identity theft case

An Oroville man was arrested Friday on an outstanding warrant for identity theft, creating fictitious checks and petty theft, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office. A second person is sought for questioning in the case.

James Dye was identified as a suspect in the sheriff’s office investigation after an 80-year-old resident of the Oroville area reported an identity theft near the end of February, the sheriff’s office said in a press release.

A sheriff’s office investigation allegedly linked Dye to cashing fake checks, and he was apprehended Friday while driving near a Walmart store in Oroville, according to the press release.

Deputies who searched Dye’s car found information connecting him to more than 40 potential identity theft victims, including businesses in Sacramento, Nevada and Texas, the press release said.

A fake check using the identity of the 80-year-old who filed the February report was discovered in the car as well, according to the sheriff’s office.

Dye allegedly was also using information from mortgage payout checks from Camp Fire victims, the sheriff’s office said.

Since the arrest, Dye has been charged with counts of identity theft of 10 or more victims, forgery, being in possession of stolen property and being in possession of burglary tools, according to the press release. His bail was set at $531,000.

The sheriff’s office identified a second person who is wanted for questioning in the case. She is Ashley Buck, 28, from the Biggs and Oroville areas.