UKIAH, CA., 12/22/25 – A repeat identity theft offender was sentenced to four years in state prison after police uncovered a fraud operation inside a Ukiah hotel room, Mendocino County District Attorney David Eyster announced Thursday.
In January, a Los Angeles-based victim reported that his credit card was being used to pay for a hotel room in Ukiah, police said. James Robert Arias, 42, of Oakland, used the stolen card to check into the hotel.
Officers later found equipment and stolen personal information that could be used to create counterfeit credit cards, checks and digital payment accounts. According to prosecutors, Arias possessed information linked to at least 47 potential victims.
Arias was convicted in November of felony identity theft. Prosecutors said prior identity theft and strike convictions increased his sentence.
Residents are encouraged to take steps to prevent identity theft, including freezing their credit, monitoring credit reports, using strong passwords and shredding sensitive documents. Visit IdentityTheft.gov for more tips.