FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Suspect John Mahoni

IN-CUSTODY

Since May of 2022, the San José Police Department Burglary and Financial Crimes Unit Detectives have been investigating a series of cases involving check fraud and identity theft resulting in a loss of over $1,000,000 with multiple victims. 

During a thorough and lengthy investigation, Detectives identified John Mahoni as the primary suspect associated to a crime ring responsible for altering money orders, printing fraudulent checks, theft of personal checks, and using proceeds from their criminal enterprise to purchase firearms, drugs, and jewelry. 

In partnership with Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office Investigators, SJPD Detectives obtained a $1,000,000 warrant for the suspect and a search warrant for his residence. On December 14, 2023, SJPD's Covert Response Unit (CRU) located and arrested the suspect. Mahoni was arrested in possession of a loaded privately-made firearm, also known as a ghost gun, with an extended magazine.

SJPD Detectives, DA Investigators, and U.S. Postal Inspectors executed the search warrant at the suspect's residence and located a short barreled assault rifle, a second unregistered pistol with extended magazines, ammunition, cash, jewelry, 100 altered money orders, and over 600 fraudulent checks belonging to victims. 

Suspect Mahoni was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for his warrant, and for felony weapons charges.

Anyone with information about these cases or similar cases is asked to contact Detective Wellman #4447 of the San José Police Financial Crimes, Burglary Unit via email: 4447@sanjoseca.gov.

Submit crime tips and remain anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, or by calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP. If the information you submit leads to an arrest, you are eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.