Two in credit card scheme take plea deals

The two were tied to an identity theft case San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies were investigating at the Residence Inn in San Carlos. Just after 10 a.m. Aug. 22, Vehicle Theft Task Force agents, Crime Suppression Unit detectives and San Carlos patrol deputies contacted two people on probation, Hayward resident Samuel Colon, 31, and San Ramon resident Ciara Renois, 27, in the parking lot of the hotel.

While speaking with them, deputies learned four additional people on probation, Tracy resident Erica Gutierrez-Salaiza, 27, Hayward resident Mario Rodriguez, 39, as well as Kazakevich and Lopez, were in two associated hotel rooms, according to the Sheriff’s Office previously.

Investigators found inside Kazakevich and Lopez’s room a credit-card-making apparatus, personal identifying information for other people and fake driver’s licenses with their photos in them, according to prosecutors.

In October, Colon pleaded no contest to felony possession of methamphetamine for sale and identify theft and was sentenced to three years in prison which he will serve in county jail. Gutierrez-Salaiza pleaded no contest to felony identity theft and was sentenced to two years in county jail and one year of mandatory supervision. Rodriguez pleaded no contest to one count of felony identify theft and was sentenced to three years probation and six months in county jail. All three received 108 days credit for time served, according to prosecutors.

Renois is out of custody after having posted a $100,000 bail bond and will next appear in court Jan. 15 for pretrial conference, according to prosecutors.

Lopez’s defense attorney Michael Hroziencik and Kazakevich’s attorney Jeff Jackson could not be immediately reached for comment.