Monday, September 23, 2013

Valentine's Day Scammer Heading Back to Prison

Jeffrey Elvington

Jeffrey Elvington


[KHTS] – A Saugus man who’s been arrested twice for thefts he perpetrated with the help of online dating sites is set to head back to prison for a two-year sentence.


Jeffrey Elvington, 40, of Saugus, pleaded no contest to California Penal Code Section 459, which is a burglary charge, in a San Fernando courtroom Monday.


Elvington was scheduled for a probation violation hearing and  facing two charges, one for burglary, and one for grand theft. [Jeffrey Elvington mugshot]


He was allowed to plea to the lesser charge in exchange for the other charge being dismissed.


In June, Elvington was arrested for crimes similar to the ones for which he already was sentenced to a year in jail, according to Deputy Josh Dubin of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.


Elvington was accused of meeting women through online dating, wooing them and then stealing their property.


One victim claimed she had a credit card taken out of her purse when she went to the restroom on a date with Elvington. Elvington then paid for the dinner with the victim’s card and took credit for it.


Through their investigation, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station detectives identified at least 20 victims of Elvington, according to a station officials.


In a plea deal on his previous charges that were filed earlier this year, Elvington was sentenced to 365 days in jail and three years of probation the first time he was caught, according to officials with the District Attorney’s Office.


“He pleaded no contest to one count of second degree commercial burglary that occurred on Nov. 2 at Macy’s,” said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office, earlier this year.


Elvington served fewer than 60 days on those charges.


Elvington was also noted on a website, “Guardian of Valor,” which claimed to have pictures of a fake uniform that Elvington used to con women.


Elvington was re-arrested earlier this month, because detectives had acquired more evidence linking him to suspected crimes.


“The suspect has allegedly contacted many women over the past two years and appears to be continuing his attempts to gain the trust of unsuspecting victims, despite the recent charges and arrests,” according to a Sheriff’s Station statement on Nixle. “Most of the women have been from the Santa Clarita Valley area.



Valentine's Day Scammer Heading Back to Prison