Suspects charged with trying to cash benefit checks sent to family of fallen Yolo deputy

Two people in Woodland are facing multiple felony charges in connection with a plan to cash benefit checks mailed to family members of a Yolo County deputy who was killed in the line of duty more than a decade ago.

Authorities had been contacted by Yolo County’s insurance provider about a possible fraud case, according to a statement from the Yolo County Sheriff’s Department.

The Sheriff’s Department and Yolo County District Attorney’s Office investigated the claims and identified Dawn and Jensen Faulk as suspects, serving a search warrant on Thursday at a home in the 200 block of Palm Avenue in Woodland.

“Numerous fraudulent credit cards, stolen mail, and false California Identification cards were located along with two of the stolen benefit checks in the name of Tony Diaz,” the Yolo County deputy who was killed in June of 2008, a department statement read.

Police also found methamphetamine and related drug paraphernalia.

Dawn Faulk was charged with identity theft, possession of methamphetamine and heroin and for filing a false/fraudulent insurance claim. Jensen Faulk faces charges of conspiracy to commit identity theft and possession of methamphetamine.

The suspects are being held in the Yolo County Jail in Woodland.

This story was originally published August 7, 2020 at 12:03 PM.