BARSTOW — A 21-year-old Barstow man was behind bars Friday after police allege he presented himself as a Army recruiter and scammed his accomplice’s mother and grandmother out of $13,000.
Ciro Angel Ardon Rivas pleaded not guilty in a Victorville courtroom Thursday to a felony grand theft charge and is due back in court Aug. 13, court records show. Barstow police arrested Ardon Rivas and two teenage boys on suspicion of grand theft and conspiracy to commit theft by false pretense on Tuesday.
Police began investigating after a 17-year-old boy’s mother reported to police that she was scammed by a person posing as an Army recruiter. The victim said a man identified himself as Capt. Daniel Angel Lopez at her home and discussed the possible enlistment of her son, police said.
The “recruiter” presented a program for her son and said the enlistment required a cash installment of $13,000, police said.
The victim and her mother paid the money “in hope it would benefit their son and grandson,” police said. On Wednesday, the boy’s mother reported the incident to police after actual Army recruiters told them they were scammed.
Police began the investigation and said they identified the “recruiter" as Ardon Rivas. Barstow detectives confirmed that none of the U.S. Armed Forces require any payment to enlist.
Detectives also learned that Ardon Rivas was not even an actual member of the Army, police said.
Police allege the victim’s son conspired with his 17-year-old friend and Ardon Rivas to scam his mother and 77-year-old grandmother out of the money. Police said the trio divided the $13,000 between them. The victim's son used his $3,500 share to purchase clothes, his teenage friend took the lion's share of $8,000 used it to purchase a 2003 Nissan 350Z, police said. The Nissan was located and seized as evidence.
The trio were arrested and the boys were booked at San Bernardino County Juvenile Detention Center in Apple Valley.
Ardon Rivas was being held at High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto in lieu of $35,000 bail, booking records show. Ardon Rivas had his bail reduced from $50,000 by a judge during his arraignment, court records show.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with any information is asked to call the Barstow Police Department at 760-256-2211